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computing:storage:iscsi_vs_nfs
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iSCSI vs. NFS
This is a perennial subject when choosing shared storage for virtualization of VDI.
The common wisdom is that iSCSI is faster than NFS and NFS is easier to manage than iSCSI.
By default, iSCSI writes are async and NFS writes are sync. This goes a long way towards explaining the common impression that iSCSI (block storage) is faster than NFS (file storage).
With ZFS storage servers, you should implement a fast SSD (or better) SLOG device (per pool) which significantly speeds up sync writes.
In reality, the decision to use one or the other method of storage access is not so simple. It may take (somewhat tedious) testing in your own environment in addition to some significant research on your part to develop your own understanding.
Facts:
- This writer is more familiar with NFS
- iSCSI is block storage
- Storage is presented to the hypervisor as a block device
- NFS storage is file storage
- Storage is presented to the hypervisor as a share
- NFS is easier to manage
- Many admins choose easier over slightly better performance
- Transactional applications need better storage performance
- Sync writes are required
- Databases
- Virtualization
- The integrity of VHDs is critical
computing/storage/iscsi_vs_nfs.1439166176.txt.gz · Last modified: 2015/08/09 18:22 by gcooper
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