Currently im in the staging process of getting my harddisk over to unraid.

 

I have a DATA disk that id like to be available at all vm.s

Id like to get some input about best practices.

1. Create a data.img on root of a disk, set data in that disk and mount it to several vms

CONS: But when i add a file in one vm, it doesnt get updated in the other vm until reboot.

PROS: on img file for my Data, fast copy over another hard drive if replacement is required

 

2. Create an share on the root of a disk, set data in that disk and work with shared.

CONS: Less Secure
PROS: Able to open Share on SMB/NFS etc. Editing on multiple vms is possible

 

3. Moun the disk physical to multiple vms's

CONS: When i add a file in one VM, it doesnt get updated in the other vm until reboot.

PROS: Can still read the disk in other pc's

 

4. Create Windows Server, add the disk as sata, physical and make shares.

CONS: Server has to be online the whole time

CONS: If Server doenst work properly i cannot access my data

PROS: Shared available to all kinds of OS with tools installed

PROS: Can Encrypt my Data

PROS: Can mount the disk in another pc

 

 

I wanne be able to access on linux, mac and windows, but i believe if i format the vdisk as ntfs all os are able, if not with an tool to read an write to the disk.

Id still like to have the ability to encrypt the drive and that as far as i now not possible with shares.

 

Anybody more cons/pros?

 

Thank You

Edited August 30, 20178 yr by Thomas van Dalen

Since unRAID is fundamentally a NAS, I'd obviously suggest the unRAID storage array for shared data.  How important is data encryption to you?

not so important no but just looking for the best method. thanks for the respond. haha youre username is my first and last name.

 

Option 3. Seems to be ok for me. I can create Windows Shares, still take out the disk and connect it to another pc if ever needit + encryption works this way.

 

Whenever my daily windows is shutdown i can assign it to another vm. 

 

Still need to think about this

Edited August 31, 20178 yr by Thomas van Dalen

On 8/30/2017 at 10:56 AM, Thomas van Dalen said:

Id still like to have the ability to encrypt the drive

 

This is coming. Wait for the next RC release.

ok im willing to move my data store to a raid disk.
How about games, over smb? is that fast anoug or better to mount the disk directly to windows, as im only using this games disk in windows?

 

I have online backup of my data drive, im really nerves about moving it to unraid smb share and the peformance

 

also is there some kind of premium support? if i have unraid working like i want, were are thinking about replacing windows servers at our costumers to unraid. instead of vmware hypervisor.

Edited August 31, 20178 yr by Thomas van Dalen

Directly mounting will be better, mentioning @bjp999 as he has more experience than I do optimizing for array access within a VM.

 

unRAID offers a limited form of premium support.

 

That said, I don't think that Limetech is really in the premium support business and the hypervisor functions, while very nicely implemented, are a relatively recent addition (unRAID was historically a NAS) so I personally would not be inclined to do a migration to unRAID as a hypervisor in a commercial setting.