VMWare Workstation 6.5 Clustering Config

Here is my customized lines added to the .vmx file that enables two SCSI disks for use in VM Workstation 6.5 for use in clustering. I used this custom configuration to setup 2 disks for use in two VMs for testing clustering in Windows 2003 Server. Here are the added lines...

scsi1.present = "TRUE"
scsi1.virtualDev="lsilogic"

scsi1:1.present = "TRUE"
scsi1:1.fileName = "M:\vmachines\clusterdisk\clusterdisk1.vmdk"
scsi1:1.mode = "independent-persistent"
scsi1:1.shared="TRUE"
scsi1:1.redo = ""

scsi1:2.present = "TRUE"
scsi1:2.fileName = "M:\vmachines\clusterdisk\quorumdisk.vmdk"
scsi1:2.mode = "independent-persistent"
scsi1:2.shared="TRUE"
scsi1:2.redo = ""

disk.locking = "false"
diskLib.dataCacheMaxSize = "0"
diskLib.dataCacheMaxReadAheadSize = "0"
diskLib.dataCacheMinReadAheadSize = "0"
diskLib.dataCachePageSize ="4096"
diskLib.maxUnsyncedWrites = "0"

I relied heavily on the following blogs to assemble this code:

• http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=102&threadID=220875&start=0

• http://blog.baeke.info/blog/_archives/2005/5/5/654247.html

• http://crosbysite.blogspot.com/2007/10/clustering-in-vmware-workstation-6.html

• http://cs.thefoleyhouse.co.uk/blogs/karl/archive/2005/04/27/447.aspx

• http://invurted.com/2008/05/vmware-and-windows-2003-clustering-post-version-4/

• http://blog.randyjcress.com/2008/09/esxclustervmwareworkstation65beta.html

 

Comments

[ss]

In order to use w2k8 clustering you have to use SAS adapter

[James]

I gave up. Eventually just went to using StarWind and iSCSI which worked perfectly.
http://blog.baeke.info/blog/_archives/2005/5/6/657277.html

[David Smalley]

James, You fist need to create the extra disk(s) from the management console while the machine is off Make the disk sit on SCSI 1:1. Let's discuss in detail over email...

[James]

I've copy/pasted the code from this post (except the file paths) and the disks do appear in both W2K8 nodes. However, i get "No disks suitable for cluster disks were found" when i try to add storage. Validation test shows: Disk bus type does not support clustering." I am using bus type SCSI and LSI adapter. I thought they were compatible...?

[David Smalley]

My next test will involve downgrading the version to 6.0 upon installation and go from there. I will also perform the same tests using Windows 2003 Enterprise as I think this might be an issue with Windows 2008. Will post back after my next test. If anyone would like to email me directly... david@zertek.com

[David Smalley]

I have tried this with MANY configurations using Windows Server 2008 Enterprise without complete success. I was able to get the drive to mount to both servers just fine, but if you create a folder or anything on either server, the other server does not see it until you make the drive offline then back online again. I had the same results if I left it defaulted to lsisas1068 or when I created the servers with lsilogic.

[David Smalley]

I have a couple questions... the default settings when creating a VM in Workstation 6.5 are lsisas1068. You have shown here to use lsilogic wich you can select if you go through the CUSTOMIZE route. Is this a MUST or will it all still work using the lsisas1068 default setting? I also notice you don't state the shared bus line to say "virtual". Is this line not needed? Will these settings still work with Windows Server 2008 Enterprise? Since most people are now moving to 2008, this is VERY valuable to know.

[Sennastien]

Hi,

Few words to tell that even if Workstation (v6.5 build 118066)claims to be ignoring shared disks at the launching of the VM (Balloon saying Clustering is not supported for VMware Workstation. This setting will be ignored.) It DOES works inside the VM (Windows 2003 enterprise).

I was getting mad at this all this day :)

Thanks a lot for your "trick" so ;)

[Nehemoth]

Hey, really appreciate.

I will check this next week.

Best Regards