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beng
06-12-2008, 04:57 PM
G'day, I notice that you are now certified by VMware for iSCSI, as per http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi35_san_guide.pdf
It states " Open‐E DSS with Intel S5000PAL/SR 2500 Active‐active Fixed Data Storage Server"

However there is no mention of it on your site? and no mention of the full server specifications either.
ie SAS or SATA and if it is the full Raid or the default onboard etc.

Also, is DSS Lite also certified? I would like to run it in a production system and if all went well upgrade to the 4TB DSS.

What about the NAS and iSCSI versions?

Rgds Ben.
To-M
06-12-2008, 05:43 PM
Thanks for sending this information. Open-E as of last week passed the certification and are in the process of updating the website.

Open-E DSS iSCSI Target function was certification with VMware ESX 3.5. Open-E DSS FC and NAS features and functions are currently not certified, we will evaluate this at a later date but no set time frame has been established.

DSS LITE will not be certified as this is a free product. Please test with the DSS Demo-CD as this has a 60 day evaluation period and is the full version of our professional product providing 160TB storage support.


Specifications:

• Model: Open-E Data Storage Server
• Version: 5.0.DB44000000.3025
• Release Date: 2008-02-27
• Licensed Storage Capacity: 16TB

Intel SRS2500 server specifications:

• Intel SRS2500
• Intel S5000PAL
• Intel 1x Xeon 3.73GHz
• Bios Version s5000.86b.10.00.0084
• BIOS Build Date 10/17/2007
• 2GB Memory
• 2x Intel GbE Ethernet Controller 80003ES2LAN (Copper)
• LSI SAS1068 PCI-X Fusion-MPT SAS
• 4x SATA Drives Seagate Model: ST3500630AS
• Raid-0 was used
beng
06-13-2008, 02:08 PM
Excellent! Thankyou for such a comprehensive reply. Many thanks. Looks like I have 60 days :-)

Rgds Ben.
SeanLeyne
06-13-2008, 11:20 PM
Todd,

How was the active-active HDD controller portion of the config accomplished?

Or does active-active refers simply to the iSCSI target functionality via the 2 GbE controllers?
To-M
06-13-2008, 11:30 PM
Hey man - long time no speek!

Yes you are correct it is with 2 x GbE NIC's (Balance rr)

Go to page 45 then Table 56. ""Open-E""

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi35_san_guide.pdf
silicon
06-18-2008, 01:47 AM
The certification is great news.
Can I ask if there's any thought to certifying DSS running on the Intel SSR212MC2?
I guess this is a question for Open-E and Intel combined.

I know Intel have done ESX running on SSR212MC2 hardware, and now Open-E have done ESX connected to DSS running on a standard Intel hardware platform.

Some cutomers may still say that the OPen-E certification config (SR2500+S5000PAL) is close but not the same as what our company is tying to sell them (the SSR212SSR has a Xyratex chassis/enclosure management+S5000PSL+etc). We would say to them that it's "effectively" the same so they should be comfortable with that, but would have to agree that it's not identical.

How do you think we should handle this situation?
Thanks for the help.
To-M
06-18-2008, 03:15 AM
I understand there are other systems many of you would like to have certified but unfortionalty the VMware certification is very expensive. At the time we started the certification process the MC2 was not on the VMware's HCL and the SRS2500 was. We are currently certifying with the Intel Modular Server MFSYS25 because of the blade technology plus other features. This does not rule out that in the future we won't certify with the MC2. So with the combination of these 2 systems we should be on a good start.
So please be patient as we grow to other platforms.
SeanLeyne
06-18-2008, 04:29 AM
...We are currently certifying with the Intel Modular Server MFSYS25 because of the blade technology plus other features...

I'd like to hear more about the choice of this platform, especially since this server has a storage controller module which by my reading provides SAN functionality.

So, I liked to head how Open-e fits into this picture.
To-M
06-18-2008, 04:54 AM
This was pushed from some very large opportunities that evolved us developing an installable version of DSS (not yet available for public - but soon). More information will be provided once this is listed. Until then only one of the blades was used and with all 2.5" drives RAID 0.
beng
06-19-2008, 12:23 AM
G'day Sean,
I agree it can be a bit frustrating selling solutions to customers if they are not strictly on the HCL.
However, perhaps Open-E can help here.
Since iSCSI and/or NAS are the protocols involved.

Tom, can Open-E provide a statement that would confirm that Open-E DSS conforms to the ESX VMFS requirements, regardless of the underlying hardware?

What I mean is, if when using iSCSI for example that there is no difference to ESX, regardless of whether you are using SAS or SATA, or a particular Raid Controller.
Therefore, so long as the Hardware is certified by Open-E for use with DSS, then we as integrators can be confident that it will work. In particular I am thinking of the drama around the SCSI RESERVE and RELEASE commands.

(Forgive me if the iSCSI protocol does not work this way, as I am not as familiar with it as other protocols)

I know that will not satisfy all clients, but it would give me the confidence to try to sell it to them. Particularly if I can convince them to try DSS-Lite in their Test environments first.

Rgds Ben
silicon
06-24-2008, 02:00 PM
Thanks for the reply To-M, we do understand not all platforms can be certified, but we will formally ask Intel to help out with the MC2! Do keep us informed about any developments for the ClearBay, it will be an important platform for us & our customers. Thanks.
To-M
06-24-2008, 07:02 PM
We should have news from VMware if the Clear Bay has passed. All preliminary tests have passed, so this is good news. We will post it on the website once VMware gives us the finial stamp. We should know by end of next week.
hologic
07-04-2008, 09:30 PM
Apparently Open-E is removed from the certified ESX SAN list.

Last Updated: July 2, 2008
Removed Open‐E DSS with Intel S5000PAL / SR 2500 Platform Model.

What happened & will you be recertified?
beng
07-05-2008, 11:40 PM
Apparently Open-E is removed from the certified ESX SAN list.

Last Updated: July 2, 2008
Removed Open‐E DSS with Intel S5000PAL / SR 2500 Platform Model.

What happened & will you be recertified?

Can I echo the above?
What has happened?
We have just spent the past two weeks building a basis for quotes, testing and preparing to go to our customers with DSS as the core to the SAN and now this happens?

Can someone from Open-E please responds, happy if it is via email, we just need to know....
Is this a short term issue? Will it be fixed? What does it affect and can we live with it?

I am just as ticked off at VMware's certification process. They do not list the full specs of the certified systems, nor do they seem to publish anywhere the full process of certification....

Rgds Ben.
To-M
07-05-2008, 11:52 PM
The removal from the VMware HCL was due to a communication error related to a press release - not for technical reasons. We did receive proper approval from VMware passing all technical certification requirments to be listed on their HCL for iSCSI. We have corrected the press release and await for VMware to reinstate Open-E.
beng
07-06-2008, 12:17 AM
[QUOTE=To-M]The removal from the VMware HCL was due to a communication error related to a press release - not for technical reasons. We did receive proper approval from VMware passing all technical certification requirments to be listed on their HCL for iSCSI. We have corrected the press release and await for VMware to reinstate Open-E.

In a word "Whew"!:D
beng
07-23-2008, 04:49 AM
[QUOTE=To-M]The removal from the VMware HCL was due to a communication error related to a press release - not for technical reasons. We did receive proper approval from VMware passing all technical certification requirments to be listed on their HCL for iSCSI. We have corrected the press release and await for VMware to reinstate Open-E.

G'day, have VMware indicated when they may be re-instating you?
I now have two clients who have cancelled their orders, because I could not provide them with certification, and even your own press release has been pulled.....

Is there a "real" problem or not?

Rgds Ben
To-M
07-24-2008, 01:01 AM
We are still waiting for VMware to place us back on. Nothing we can do until then - unless you all email them to get moving and stop the delays :).....
To-M
09-10-2008, 03:08 AM
We are back on the list guys :)!

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi35_san_guide.pdf
beng
09-10-2008, 03:16 AM
G'day Todd,
That is great news! Lets hope they keep you there! :-)
It just states:
DSS with Intel S5000PAL / SR 2500.
Are you able to reveal the actual test system specifications?
ie DSS Version, Intel S5000PAL Bios, Controller and enclosure versions etc?
I have client who is very particular about this, so it is very useful to show them.

Rgds Ben
To-M
09-10-2008, 03:36 AM
Specifications:

• Model: Open-E DSS (Data Storage Server)
• Version: 5.0.DB44000000.3025
• Release Date: 2008-02-27
• Licensed Storage Capacity: 16TB

Intel SRS2500 server specifications:

• Intel SRS2500
• Intel S5000PAL
• Intel 1 Xeon 3.73GHz
• Bios Version s5000.86b.10.00.0084
• BIOS Build Date 10/17/2007
• 2GB Memory
• 2x Intel GbE Ethernet Controller 80003ES2LAN (Copper)
• LSI SAS1068 PCI-X Fusion-MPT SAS
• 4x SATA Drives Seagate Model: ST3500630AS
• Raid-0 was used
To-M
09-10-2008, 03:53 AM
Intel MFSYS25 “Clear Bay” system certified with DSS and VMware ESX 3.5

• Intel Clear Bay system (Intel Modular Server MFSYS25)
• 1 x Intel Xeon E5345 2.33GHz
• 1GB Memory
• Intel Gigabit Switch w/10 ports external 8003ES2LAN Ethernet Controller (Serdes)
• LSI Logic / Symbios Logic SAS1064ET PCI-Express Fusion-MPT SAS
• 10 x 67GB Seagate ST973402SS Drives in RAID-0 config with 1 has hot spare
• 611.87GB RAID-0


I dont have the BIOS ver.
vvezzola
10-03-2008, 12:05 PM
Any news regarding SSR212MC2 certification?
To-M
10-03-2008, 03:01 PM
Currently we are holding off on additional hardware certifications with VMware. We have certified the SSR212MC2 internally within our organization see link below.

http://www.open-e.com/partners/certified-systems/intel/ssr212mc2/
Andy.Yang
10-22-2008, 01:26 PM
Specifications:

• Model: Open-E Data Storage Server
• Version: 5.0.DB44000000.3025
• Release Date: 2008-02-27
• Licensed Storage Capacity: 16TB

Intel SRS2500 server specifications:

• Intel SRS2500
• Intel S5000PAL
• Intel 1x Xeon 3.73GHz• Bios Version s5000.86b.10.00.0084
• BIOS Build Date 10/17/2007
• 2GB Memory
• 2x Intel GbE Ethernet Controller 80003ES2LAN (Copper)
• LSI SAS1068 PCI-X Fusion-MPT SAS
• 4x SATA Drives Seagate Model: ST3500630AS
• Raid-0 was used

I noticed that Intel SRS2500 is using Xeon 3.73GHz CPU, can you let me know what's the CPU number? I can not find it in Intel Web Site.
To-M
10-22-2008, 06:09 PM
5080 Sl968
nightmare99
10-23-2008, 02:11 PM
5080 Sl968

Thats quite an old netburst CPU (P4 equiv) I don't think you can buy them anymore. I would just grab a cheap Quad should be at least as powerfull as that old 5080. The E5405 2.0ghz quad should be good enough.
To-M
10-23-2008, 03:18 PM
It was on the approved list over a year ago from the VMware HCL. Getting certified with VMware is not an overnight process also our products work well with many chip sets. So for the certification of VMware it was more than sufficient. Though you are correct that current cpu's are much faster and you are in the right direction for getting a faster processor :).