ESXi 5.0 - works or not?

[-Steve!]

TS-419P+ fw 3.6.0 Build 0210T

Is this unit compatible with the VMWare ESXi 5.0 native software iscsi initiator?

I am using the native VMWare software iscsi initiator. On my ESXi 5.0 host I can use dynamic discovery to successfully find the QNAP target and see the proper qnap target name in the iscsi initiator properties. The QNAP target management screen shows the ESXi connections, but my ESXi 5 hosts will never show the device anywhere besides the discovery tab. I do see an event n esx - 'The iSCSI initiator could not establish a network connection to the target. I am not using CHAP fwiw. Please help.

I did read many posts, but it's unclear if this should work or should not work on this firmware. Also, QNAP support site doesn't mention ESXi 5 anywhere that I could find.

Thanks,
-Steve!

[avvidme]

Not sure about official support, but it does work for me just fine. I use both iSCSI and NFS from ESXi5 and 3.6 firmware.

Cheers!

[hesi]

Hi folks,

Since setting up ESXi 5.0 on a Dell PowerEdge R610, I'm facing the problem that the VMware ESXi 5.0 is loosing the connection to the iSCSI target on the QNAP TS-809U-RP. Both the ESXi 5.0 and the TS-809U-RP are fully patched.

In parallel to the ESXi 5.0 there are running two ESXi 4.1 servers, which are connected to a seperate iSCSI target for each machine on the TS-809U-RP. These two ESXi 4.1 are running absolutely stable.

The QNAP logs don't show any noticeable problems. In the ESXi 5.0 syslog there is amongst others the following message:

Code: Select all

<timestamp> iscsid: The ARP lookup for <ip-address-QNAP-device> (via vmk0) failed, err_code=510

Is anyone else having these troubles?

Cheers,
hesi

[avvidme]

I did a while back, and I hard coded all my ports on the server and switch to full duplex and 1gig, this seemed to make an intermittent disconnect issue I had go away.

But, I'm also not using iSCSI, I'm using NFS.

Cheers

[hesi]

Thanks for the quick reply. I will switch to a dedicated iSCSI NIC port next week. I'm Just wondering why the ESXi 4.1 is running very stable while the ESXi 5.0 keeps crashing.

[avvidme]

Good question!

[winning29]

See other posts for details of the "known compatibility issue" between QNAP devices and ESXi 5. Also note that QNAP devices are not certified for use with ESXi 5 according to the VMware HCL. However, ESXi 4.1 is fully supported and several other posters say it is stable.

I'm part way through the vSphere 5 training course, so I'm curious about which vSphere 5 features you really need. Aren't most of the new features for Enterprise Plus licenses only? I would guess that most SMBs/SMEs using QNAP devices will be perfectly happy running ESXi 4.1 until this compatibility issue is fixed. Surely stability is the most important thing.

[Poooh]

Hi, just my 2 cents here: we're too facing problems with ESXi 5 and QNAPs: we have a 459-RP and a 870EU and they both run slow with ESXi 5 hosts and fast as lightning with ESXi 4 hosts.

From what a QNAP tech told me the other day, they're expecting to certify for ESXi 5 VIA NFS and the end of May with no ETA for iSCSI...

[patbaker82]

Any progress here? My organization is about to make a substantial investment into QNAP for use with ESXi 5.0. If it wont work with 5 and/or iSCSI then we'll have to bail for another product offering.

[PiroNet]

TS-419P+ fw 3.6.0 Build 0210T

Is this unit compatible with the VMWare ESXi 5.0 native software iscsi initiator?

Best way is to look at VMware HCL

And this unit doesn't even show up in the list...

The only one compatible with vSphere 5 is the TS-x79 Series and for NFS only!!!!!!!!

[tsz42]

Hello all,

Just wanted to post saying that I cannot get my QNAP TS-1279 to work via iSCSI in my environment. Cisco UCS B200 M2 running ESXi 5.0u1 with 2 dedicated vmnics for iSCSI, both are patched fully. iSCSI works fine with our Dell EqualLogic, just not with QNAP.

On the flip side, our ESXi4u2 servers are working fine with the same QNAP device (same hardware as above, Cisco UCS B200 M2s).

I'm very disappointed that QNAP isn't on top of things about this. We have several Qnap devices in our environment and I use them at home in my lab. But this lack of support for iSCSI and VMware is making us look at other vendors

[hesi]

I will switch to a dedicated iSCSI NIC port next week.

The idea using the secondary NIC for iSCSI only on the QNAP and spending an dedicated NIC on the ESXi 5.0 didn't solve the problem in the long run. The ESXi 5.0 kept losing the iSCSI connection to the QNAP TS-809U-RP from time to time although all latest patches for both ESXi 5.0 and the QNAP device have been applied.

Now I switched from iSCSI to NFS storage on the QNAP. Hopefully this fixes the problem of losing conntections to the storage device until the compatibility of VMware ESXi 5.0 to QNAP devices is assured.

[geowrian]

A few notes:

1) The suspected upcoming firmware update adds VMware ESXi 5/5u1 support to several models using iSCSI. It's in testing now, but the affected devices are listed in the VMware HCL now.
2) Cisco UCS using 5.0u1 is kind of in a limbo stage, IIRC. Cisco's ESXi 5.0u1 custom installer was pulled less than a month after release due to various issues. You can still run the generic ESXi 5.0u1 installer, albeit it's missing some of the customizations that Cisco throws in for UCS.
3) I can only speak for the x79 series, but 5.0u1 w/ NFS has been rock solid in both performance and stability for me.

[hesi]

A few notes:

1) The suspected upcoming firmware update adds VMware ESXi 5/5u1 support to several models using iSCSI. It's in testing now, but the affected devices are listed in the VMware HCL now.
2) Cisco UCS using 5.0u1 is kind of in a limbo stage, IIRC. Cisco's ESXi 5.0u1 custom installer was pulled less than a month after release due to various issues. You can still run the generic ESXi 5.0u1 installer, albeit it's missing some of the customizations that Cisco throws in for UCS.
3) I can only speak for the x79 series, but 5.0u1 w/ NFS has been rock solid in both performance and stability for me.

Thanks for the hint! I'm optimistic on a future iSCSI support for ESXi 5 or at least a stable NFS operation

[geowrian]

A few notes:

1) The suspected upcoming firmware update adds VMware ESXi 5/5u1 support to several models using iSCSI. It's in testing now, but the affected devices are listed in the VMware HCL now.
2) Cisco UCS using 5.0u1 is kind of in a limbo stage, IIRC. Cisco's ESXi 5.0u1 custom installer was pulled less than a month after release due to various issues. You can still run the generic ESXi 5.0u1 installer, albeit it's missing some of the customizations that Cisco throws in for UCS.
3) I can only speak for the x79 series, but 5.0u1 w/ NFS has been rock solid in both performance and stability for me.

Thanks for the hint! I'm optimistic on a future iSCSI support for ESXi 5 or at least a stable NFS operation

Release 3.7.2 is out for several models starting today. =]