Posts made by ntoxicator

@DustinB3403 said in Get Large Disk Images on XenServer 6.5 on Local Filesystem?:

@BRRABill 16 in XS.

Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2
A spanned volume is a dynamic volume consisting of disk space on more than one physical disk. If a simple volume is not a system volume or boot volume, you can extend it across additional disks to create a spanned volume, or you can create a spanned volume in unallocated space on a dynamic disk.
You need at least two dynamic disks in addition to the startup disk to create a spanned volume. You can extend a spanned volume onto a maximum of 32 dynamic disks.

So can Span 16 disk, as 16 is limit with XS

Still no reason for folks to run ProxMox in Business environment? I know I got hit over the head before making this mention

@scottalanmiller said in Get Large Disk Images on XenServer 6.5 on Local Filesystem?:

@BRRABill said in Get Large Disk Images on XenServer 6.5 on Local Filesystem?:

Wonder why XS hasn't moved to VHDX?

Any thoughts?

Or QCOW, the native format???

I second this. QCOW would be better.

@Dashrender said in Get Large Disk Images on XenServer 6.5 on Local Filesystem?:

Damn, that took me 20 mins to get through (my most recent post before this was made when I started reading the thread).

While the requirement to use spanning sucks, it's a decent solution to this problem that really shouldn't be any more problematic than having a single large partition once it's configured. Given the choice between using spanning or buying a third party NFS mounting software for Windows, then buying external storage that supports NFS, then mounting that storage to Windows via NFS to then be shared out to users through Windows via NFS (possibly creating an IPOD) - yeah I'll keep spanning.

I'll agree with this. Otherwise <---- Gun to head, or we be $$$$$ throwing big money for full on NAS/SAN solution for HA setup.

@Dashrender said in [

Wait a min, what? isn't what you describe - a storage SPOF an inverted pyramid of doom?

That is indeed inverted pyramid, per Scottalanmiller descriptions and article.

HL-7 is standard language. However, alot of vendors will have it implemented differently.

Also SNOMED will play a role here very soon

@scottalanmiller said

Just use Filezilla or WinSCP. Boom, full GUI and super simple to use.

DUH. moment on my behalf. I went full stubborn for a moment. Thanks

@scottalanmiller

I know localized storage is majority times faster and less points of failure than having server + SAN for storage. However, with a SAN serving out NFS Shares as the Storage Repository for XenServer. You can easily navigate and access the actual disk file(s)

Where as, Localized storage. You're limited to straight CLI on CentOS. I'm assuming would have to use SCP command to take the disk file and copy to say an external NFS Share (migration reasons)

Otherwise, XS gives pretty good insight to what disk images are on the storage Repository, so can move them around if needed.

@scottalanmiller said

Yes, you can attach a lot of them and then you can use software RAID or you can use spanning to merge into a single device. Spanning normally.

how reliable would that be utilizing the XS localized storage repository. I guess as reliable as Microsofts Software raid implementation? As long as the Virtual Disks dont get dropped from the Guest VM?

True.. I just like it working; where during upgrades, things done break or go 'bump' in the night. yah know?

otherwise, could attach more than one(1) 2TB Virtual Disk to the Windows VM... and then move files/ folders around and keep the file share name.

Well, there goes my localized storage idea for moving towards future company needs. XS cutting us off at the needs. I read the XS documentation, but didnt believe the 2TB limit. as I know the Storage Repository pool can be as big as you need it.

This limitation would create an issue for us (company I'm with) due to our storage / company needs. our disks are virtualized, attached to Windows guest OS -- then the windows server has the SMB shares. Otherwise, we would have to strictly utilize a NAS; network storage server and it do the SMB shares for us. More moving parts.

maybe I should just look at the HC Scale setup and be done.

Was really liking these new HP DL380 Gen9 quotes...... nice servers...

@scottalanmiller

correction -- yes, a NAS network storage device. The SANITY!!

So, your saying with True HVM / XEN setup, you can present a virtual disk to Windows Guest operating system, which is greater than 2TB?

Limitation is strickly with XS 6.5 and prior, limiting to 2TB Virtual Disk sizes?

@DustinB3403

RobinHood specifically believes that you should never virtualize your file systems or work-loads.

Right now, my file server is "Virtualized" and "Virtualized Disk" coming from xenserver Storage Repository.

So with that being said, rather than having a virtualized file system; is to better having a networked SAN serving out SMB/NFS for data over network?

I'm just full circle and I apologize. #logic.

as if you do not have a need to Virtualize your file systems / shared. Then the Storage Repository needs would be significantly less; as would only need to Create Virtual Disks big enough for the server NEEDS. Then rely on network storage solutions for doing the SMB/NFS shares which attach to desktops / server?

@DustinB3403

in which case use an iSCSI target.

So you're saying to use Microsofts iSCSI initiator to connect a disk? I've been hit over the head before to suggesting that.

So back full circle.

Any idea's how to circumvent this?

As we can have HUGE locaclized storage repository for XenServer, but the Guest (Windows server VM) will only allow 2TB due to Windows VHD limitations...

so for those of us running large file servers (myself). this 2TB is an issue; its too small!

So would have to pool the disks together?

or rely on some large external storage device with NFS/SMB shares? This just adds to the infrastructure costs and possible failure points.

@Scale computing nodes...... same limitations I presume?

@DustinB3403

Understood!

But then the scenerio comes back full circle, as when you're not maintaining the SMB shares FROM windows server. your networked storage device sharing out NFS/SMB will have to do AD-integration for user authentication to carry out the NTFS read/write permissions?

Typically do Share = Everyone. NTFS Permissions = by group/user.

I make my head spin with all the scenario's. As I myself am in a data situation.

EDIT: I realize that if i do a SMB share from a network storage, the actual file system does not need to be NTFS, can be say EXT4, as long as using SMB protocal. Windows devices and even Mac will see it and can read/write data. Its just the fact of allowing the appropriate and proper control on who/what has access to that share for read/write

@This - driving me crazy!. As we're looking to move to localized server/storage and AWAY from a NAS setup external storage.

So, attach 2TB disk to the Virtual Machine within XenServer. its 2TB limit due to Microsoft VHD limitations....

So, say we're attaching this 2TB disk to a Windows Server VM..... be limited as far as storage needs go. In our usage case, this would be for Employee profiles / save data. I see this being an issue in the long run.

Only way around, would be to setup a NFS share or SMB share and attach it as a network drive to the Guest Operating system and or GPO policy to map this network share to employee's to save data.

Then you're still including a network level SAN/external storage.... which is single point of failure.

@scottalanmiller always beats us up on having SAN/External storage. Unless ofcourse has split controllers / arrays for redundancy. I would love to have me a EMC VNXe..

EDIT: beats us up over the fact of single point of failure, or more than one point of failure by introducing server + external network storage. As if network storage device goes down, lose your Storage Repository.

Not that this post will help... but ive been looking for similar solution. As we have users not so computer 'compident' and Skpe for Business can be slow for screen sharing.

There use to be software that you could purchase as one time fee (Cheap), and deploy on workstations... Similar to TightVNC.. Was a weird name.... been trying to google find it for month.... cant seem to find it again

If your on Office365 exchange, your office use Lync/Skype for Business?

Users can do screen share with you that way.

Soo..

Just started trying Azure Rights Management ($2/user) add-on to an existing Microsoft Office365 E1 plan. Appears to work OK after some setup and head banging.

Trying to work out some DLP policies or keyword expressions to trigger automatic email encryption. I have it working to encrypt outbound messages for a specific person - just to test.

What I do not like is the fact the recipient receives a notification that they received an encrypted email; but then have to download a file 'message.html'. From there, they do a one-time logon to view message.

I just realized that Barracuda is offering hosted/cloud based email encryption and appears to be significantly cheaper than the Microsoft Azure Right management add-on.

It appears to be more straight forward. Recipients will receive a message with a web link to direct them to secure logon page and from there access that encrypted message.

Any Nay-sayers on the Barracuda Office 365 option? Anyone have long term experience with it? OR even with Azure Rights Management