Iomega StorCenter ix4-200d NAS Server

[vmware_noob]

Hello does anyone have experience with the Iomega StorCenter ix4-200d NAS Server?

We currently use a Dell MD3000 NAS Storage solution that uses ISCSI to connect to some Dell blades running VSphere. it works excellent.

For disaster recovery we were looking to buy something somewhat portable like a StorCenter ix4-200d NAS Server: http://go.iomega.com/en-us/products/network-storage-desktop/storcenter-network-storage-solution/network-hard-drive-ix4-200d/?partner=4760

We would replicate our VMs to this box and then if a hurricane wants to blow through town we can grab the NAS and run our VMs off it from our recovery trailer.

The only thing that worries me is that is uses 7200 RPM Sata drives. In a disaster we would be running about 9 VMs off of it. Does anyone have experience with this device (or similar) running almost 10 VMs?

--vmn

[golddiggie]

At this point I would stay clear of iomega storage devices at least when planned for use in a virtual environment... You can look through this thread to see some of the issues that have been experienced just recently, and iomega's poor response to these issues.

I would go with either another MD3000i chassis (or a newer version of that SAN) or look at the Promise VessRAID chassis (1830i and 1840i) if you don't have the budget for the Dell SAN... If you don't get another Dell SAN, I WOULD fill the new item with SAS drives that match the current SAN in performance (10k or 15k rpm drives)...

Storage is just one of the key elements you do NOT want to skimp on... Cutting corners there often leaves to cut throats later...

VMware VCP4

Consider awarding points for "helpful" and/or "correct" answers.

[vmware_noob]

Thanks for your prompt reply. i do agree that you would think 10k or 15k would be MUCH better. Why would they release a product that is only 7200 rpm and has an ISCSI interface and LUN support? I think this thread can be a good reference for people to look at if we can get a good discussion going on this. Remember I wnat to use this device only in an emergency for VMs until we got proper equipment to run it in normally. This Iomega device is VMWare certified which peaks my interest. Will it run my VMs sufficiently until i can drop another MD3000 in place? I wonder. Dont you? =) I mean look at that price...

cmon people, share your experiences!

[Hardison]

I have two ix2-200 StorCenters in my lab and they work well, easy setup and administration, etc. I have not tried these outside of a lab environment, but I do have ~30 VMs running on them with a 6-server Dell cluster. They are officially "VMware certified" storage devices, but I would be hesitant to use these in a production scenario for the reasons you stated. Great product for labs and testing, and the price is right for those scenarios.

Here's a link to performance testing from a 2009 article:

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/nas/nas-reviews/30954-iomega-storcenter-ix4-200d-reviewed?showall=&start=4

Hope this info helps some.

- H.

[vmware_noob]

Hardison, what types of VMs are you running? One of the VMs I would intend to run would be a SQL2005 server that gets used pretty heavily. Are you running Server OSs or workstations? Sounds interest that you have so many VMs running. It does giv eme hope that this could be a good stop gap solution for a short period of time (up to a week).

[Hardison]

My current lab setup is to test SRM mainly so I have 2 SQL 2008 vms, 2 vcenters, 2 Netapp simulators, 2 HP Lefthand simulators, 2 Active Directory vms, 2 Exchange 2010 vms - all of those are Win2008 (except the storage simulators). The remaining vms are a mixture of Win2008, 2003, and Linux with a couple of XP/Win7 vms for various testing purposes.

6 Dell PE R200s with 8gb ram each - Netgear GB switch.

Please keep in mind, however, I am the sole user in the environment, so resource utilization overall is very small.

My previous setup about 4 months ago was to test View, and the performance was acceptable - more a result of the host hardware than the storage though.

[golddiggie]

The VessRAID devices top out at about $2400 plus the cost of the drives. Not bad when you consider what you get for the money. I'm looking at those as well as a few of the QNAP chassis for my home lab setup. Being able to install the drives I want is worth more than you would think. Plus the multiple NICs in the VessRAID and redundant power supplies make it a great choice.

I hope to be placing my order before the end of September for the chassis.

[khughes]

You can take a look at the thread - http://communities.vmware.com/thread/230492?tstart=0 it'll have quite a bit of performance stats in there, but yes you should be able to run 9VM's no issue

-- Kyle

"RParker wrote: I guess I was wrong, everything CAN be virtualized "