Unable to setup PrimoCache on LSI Raid 6 Disk Array ESXi Target

[paranoid87]

Hi All,

I started testing PrimoCache for L1 cache (my windows server 2008 has 32GB ram) to use as cache.

Reading this post:

http://thehomeserverblog.com/esxi-stora ... ram-cache/

http://thehomeserverblog.com/esxi-stora ... -for-1500/

Where Don used PrimoCache to speed up the access by using around 28GB ram between the ISCSI volume, however i am unable to set this up.

I am using StarWinds iSCSI software on a windows server for storage for ESXi, the RAID array is on LSI card on the same machine.PrimoCache also installed on this box.

However because the iSCSI disk is formatted under VMFS(esxi file system for storage) there is no windows driver letter on the SAN host.

I am unable to figure out how to setup primocache for L1 cache for the iSCSI raid volume, as from various posts online i have read IOPS / and access time greatly benefit from this setup.

Please guide me so i can also use the feature, If its a local disk drive i know i can speed it up the setup is straightforward.

Thanks!

[paranoid87]

I forgot to mention, as an iSCSI volume is a block device it does not have an associated drive letter on the windows server with starwinds iscsi server.

Also since the iscsi disk is reformat by ESXi host with VMFS this is obvioulsy not readable on windows.

please help..

[paranoid87]

I also read on this webpage:

http://thehomeserverblog.com/esxi-stora ... ram-cache/

"For iSCSI targets for ESXi, I use Starwind iSCSI SAN Free Edition. It runs on Windows and when it creates iSCSI targets/devices, it does so by creating a virtual drive as a file, which it then presents to ESXi as a LUN. I simply make my virtual drive/file on the same volume I'm using PrimoCache on. For example, in my lab, my RAID volume is M:, and that's where I run my iSCSI mounts and PrimoCache (among other things since my RAID volume is 32TB)"


@@How can you create a volume with drive letter in windows, then also use it as iSCSI target for ESXi?? maybe this has something to do with what im trying to achive.

Its been very confusing for me, i hope someone can figure this out...

[paranoid87]

Its amazing, after countless hours i think i just figured out answer to my own question!!

The person above basically had RAID array in windows with a drive letter, he just created a RAM IMG disk in starwinds that is exported as iSCSI disk and because the iSCSI target is actually an OS level file that is written to PrimoCache can be used.

i will test this out, but would appreciate any comments / correction if im wrong

Thanks!

[InquiringMind]

Would it not make more sense to have PrimoCache set up on the systems accessing the NAS rather than on the NAS itself? That way you reduce the overhead and quantity of network traffic, which is likely more of a limiting factor than media speeds - especially with a RAID array.