VMware ESX and NFS Performance issues at mount-time (was RE: NetApp Thin Provisioning and VMware ES
Hi JackNo, this is not normal.My first suspicion would be network connectivity problems, as NFS is quite sensitive to under/bad- performing networks.When tried mounting the export from another box, was the other box in the same subnet as your ESX machine?The other thing to of course check out is if you have configured virtual switches and virtual network architecture on the ESX machine.Depending on your situation (whether you are on-site and which bit of the network are mission critical and so on) I would first of all try putting a laptop or another box on the same place as the ESX server originally was, give it the same IP address and use a non-virtualised Linux/Un*x and see if you are able to mount the export successfully. This would then allow you to include/exclude ESX and ESX virtual infrastructure on the one hand and actual network infrastructure as the source of the problem.I would also check the filer messages log from the time you are trying to mount the system, as this may also reveal clues as to what is going on.Let us know how you get on or if this proves not feasible =(e.g. remote site)... maybe others on this dl also have some suggestions.Kindest regardsKennethKenneth HealStorage ConsultantSenet Eindhoven bv> Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:03:37 -0400> From: jack1729@gmail.com> To: mvstew@gmail.com> CC: drenthjd@wxs.nl; kheal@hotmail.com; toasters@mathworks.com> Subject: Re: NetApp Thin Provisioning and VMware ESX> > I am new to using esx on nfs. I have create an nfs export but when I > try to mount it from the esx box, it is really slow - it takes 2- 3 > minutes to mount?> > I assume that isn't normal, but I am not sure where to start looking for > problems. I assume it is probably doing something and then waits until > a timeout occurs before proceeding with the mount. I can nfs mount the > same filer / export on another box no problem (i.e. quickly) _________________________________________________________________ Play free games, earn tickets, get cool prizes! Join Live Search Club. http://club.live.com/home.aspx?icid=CLUB_wlmailtextlink
Thanks for the reply.
The filer has dot1q trunks to the core switch. I have vlan interfaces defined for several interfaces, but I am not sure there is an interface on the same interface as the esx boxes. I think NFS goes over the service console interface?
The non-esx box I tested with was on a subnet that had a vlan interface defined on the filer, but the dns for the filer does not point to the interface that is one that same vlan as the non-esx box e.g.
filer x.y.11.z <-- vlan interface on same network as non esx box --> x.y.11.a non-esx box. x.y.12.z x.y.13.z <-- dns for filer points to this interface
hope the ascii drawing helps instead of hinders my question.
Kenneth Heal wrote:
Hi Jack
No, this is not normal. My first suspicion would be network connectivity problems, as NFS is quite sensitive to under/bad- performing networks.
When tried mounting the export from another box, was the other box in the same subnet as your ESX machine? The other thing to of course check out is if you have configured virtual switches and virtual network architecture on the ESX machine.
Depending on your situation (whether you are on-site and which bit of the network are mission critical and so on) I would first of all try putting a laptop or another box on the same place as the ESX server originally was, give it the same IP address and use a non-virtualised Linux/Un*x and see if you are able to mount the export successfully. This would then allow you to include/exclude ESX and ESX virtual infrastructure on the one hand and actual network infrastructure as the source of the problem.
I would also check the filer messages log from the time you are trying to mount the system, as this may also reveal clues as to what is going on.
Let us know how you get on or if this proves not feasible =(e.g. remote site)... maybe others on this dl also have some suggestions.
Kindest regards
Kenneth
Kenneth Heal Storage Consultant Senet Eindhoven bv
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:03:37 -0400 From: jack1729@gmail.com To: mvstew@gmail.com CC: drenthjd@wxs.nl; kheal@hotmail.com; toasters@mathworks.com Subject: Re: NetApp Thin Provisioning and VMware ESX
I am new to using esx on nfs. I have create an nfs export but when I try to mount it from the esx box, it is really slow - it takes 2- 3 minutes to mount?
I assume that isn't normal, but I am not sure where to start looking
for
problems. I assume it is probably doing something and then waits until a timeout occurs before proceeding with the mount. I can nfs mount the same filer / export on another box no problem (i.e. quickly)
Live Earth is coming. Learn more about the hottest summer event - only on MSN. Check it out! http://liveearth.msn.com?source=msntaglineliveearthwlm
-
Jack Lyons -
Kenneth Heal