iSCSI LUN vs RDM LUN inside guest OS

[azhukovamt]

Hi Everyone,

Can I use iSCSI LUNs inside guest VM with software MS iSCSI initiator and MPIO ?

We are going to virtualize our file server. Several LUNs are connected to the fileserver.

We have custom backup and snapmirror scripts via sdcli for each LUN. I wouldn't like to do any changes, because it works.

Is it officially supported ?

I see only RDM solutions in many TRs/articles. My main purpose is 'don't change anything and easy migrate to VM'.

Software initiator/MPIO is working fine for me and I don't see reason to go with RDM.

If I will connect a iSCSI LUN as RDM, can I reconnect that later to another server via MS iSCSI initiator ?

Cisco UCS

ESX 5.5, VSC 4.2.1

guest OS: Win 2012, HU 6.0.2, Snapdrive 7.0, MS iSCSI initiator and MPIO, two paths via two fabric interconnects

Thanks

[rwelshman]

You can use iSCSI LUNs on a VMware guest - the MPIO might not work as before due to the virtualization of the network. But it should be ok, if you configure the VM with the same number of NICs / networks as the physical.

I'm not sure if you can easily switch between RDMs and iSCSI connectivity - probably simpliar to just stick with using iSCSI.