home lab - nas to use as a datastore?

Hi Everyone,
Can anyone recommend a free/opensource solution to use as a datastore as NAS for a VMware lab? I just discovered Samba is not usable. Please correct me if im wrong.

Thanks!
Node

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Comments

stryder144

This might be what you are looking for.

Node Man

Thanks for the response. I think i was trying too hard. I found a solution by setting up a Centos server and adding the NFS Server packages to it. But now I moved on to a new problem. It appears folder seem to have a maximum data capacity. Suggestions?

capacity.jpg

Mike7

The 50 GB is probably the size of your CentOS / mount volume. You can do a df -h in CentOS to verify.

dave330i

FreeNAS Storage Operating System | Open Source - FreeNAS - Open Source Storage Operating System

november24

When I was doing practice on Lab, I used OpenFiler as the Storage solution.

Legacy User

I don't know about free but I actually just configured my synology nas 2 bay with a datastore with some LUN connections to my nested vmware esxi at home and it was easy and hella sweet.

kj0

FreeNAS,
OpenFiler
NAS4Free

and if you have a Windows server, under server manager, use the iSCSI feature.

Plenty of options.

Node Man

Mike7 wrote: »

The 50 GB is probably the size of your CentOS / mount volume. You can do a df -h in CentOS to verify.

This was correct. I fixed the problem by exporting the correct home volume.

Thanks!

Tremiata

For anyone looking at building a Homelab check out serverbuilds.net
I found out about this website when looking into building an all in one home lab type of server on the cheap. These guys started on plex subreddit i think and talked about hardware too much and then started another subreddit JDM_Waaat

Anyways I just built the anniversary build (Not Safe For Wallet). I went with Dual Xeon 8c/16t and 64mb ram (server holds up to 512mb). Motherboard has dual 10gb Ethernet, ipmi, and LSI SAS controller that is flashed to IT mode passing storage control over to freenas 11 VM, and nesting ESXi 6.7. Getting ready for Stanly CC class since I never took the test 4 years ago when i took the class before.

You can build it cheap or go as big as you want. I went mild i think and didn't hurt the wallet too much.

eillinois31

kj0 wrote: »

FreeNAS,
OpenFiler
NAS4Free

and if you have a Windows server, under server manager, use the iSCSI feature.

Plenty of options.

Openfiler and Windows ISCSI(easy to configure) are great options, used them many, many times in a VMware lab.

kj0

My only issue with OpenFiler is that there can be a fair bit of wait time between screens when setting it up, but 30 minutes to set everything up and just turning it on when you need it is definitely worth the wait times.

Marinad

i do not understand anything in this topic