iSCSI issue windows 2008 server

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oldbrazil
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iSCSI issue windows 2008 server

Post by oldbrazil »

I'm having very big issues with iSCSI
I use 2x2To disk to get => Striping Disk Volume: Drive 3 4 3664.62 GB

Windows 2008 server sees this as a lun and target for iSCSI
It worked well first, I think. The speed is very good, better than otherwise.

BUT I noticed corruptions of files.
maybe 10% of my millions of files went corrupted. chksdk just deleted them

I reformated the attached disk, and some weeks later, I have exactly the same issue.

Checking the event log shows things like (within 10sec)
WARNING : iScsiPrt
ERROR : iScsiPrt (Initiator sent a task management command to reset the target. The target name is given in the dump data.)
Information : iScsiPrt (A connection to the target was lost, but Initiator successfully reconnected to the target. Dump data contains the target name.)
Error : iScsiPrt : A connection to the target was lost, but Initiator successfully reconnected to the target. Dump data contains the target name.
Error : iScsiPrt : Target failed to respond in time to a Task Management request.

10minutes later:
Warning : Ntfs : The default transaction resource manager on volume S: encountered an error while starting and its metadata was reset. The data contains the error code.
Error : Ntfs : The default transaction resource manager on volume S: encountered a non-retryable error and could not start. The data contains the error code.

What Can I do ?
Rhis is the second time my data (thousand of files) get corrupted ...
:evil:
oldbrazil
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Re: iSCSI issue windows 2008 server

Post by oldbrazil »

... to follow on my previous post, I must say that I had and still have other issues with the TS459pro,
while writing to an external HDD via eSata, files got corrupted too.

Today, I started a "check" on the raid which hold the iScsi luns, and it de activated the other raid too !!

I have now serious doubt about the reliability of this system.
It seems all nice, you never get an error, it is fast, but your files get corrupted !!
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QNAPDavid
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Re: iSCSI issue windows 2008 server

Post by QNAPDavid »

Hi Oldbrazil:
I think I need more information from you:
Are there two or more Windows 2008 Servers connect to the iSCSI LUN at the same time?
Is the iSCSI LUN allocated in the Raid0 volume? Could you please provide the screen shots of the Volume Management and RAID Management?
What kind of application your are running with the iSCSI service?
What is your firmware version?
QNAP David Tsao
oldbrazil
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Re: iSCSI issue windows 2008 server

Post by oldbrazil »

Hi David,
I have only one server connecting. The connection is through a direct link on network 192.168.1.x
The machines are also connected via their respective 2nd nic card (network : 192.168.0.x)

Image

Image

Image

version 3.3.6 Build 1110T (Or the one just before)

On the iSCSI drive, I just copy files (with explorer or Salamander)

I get NO error while copying.
But, when trying to get the files back, many are corrupted...
WHY ?
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QNAPDavid
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Re: iSCSI issue windows 2008 server

Post by QNAPDavid »

Hi:
Please try bad block scan and see if there is any problem with your HDDs.
RAID 0 provides higher performance but NO DATA PROTECTION AT ALL. There is no fault tolerance in your configurations. One single bad block will corrupt your data.
Strongly recommend you to configure RAID volume to RAID1, RAID5 or RAID6.
We will still have a test in our lab and will let you know the result.
QNAP David Tsao
oldbrazil
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Re: iSCSI issue windows 2008 server

Post by oldbrazil »

Dear david
I'm very disappointed with your answer.
What's the point of offering Raid0 if you tell your customers they should NOT use it ?

Furthermore, my disks are well, not bad block.
Since my last post, I rebooted the Nas and NOw, Windows says it cannot read data and I have to FORMAT the ISCSI volume !!!

EVERYTHNG IS LOST :evil:

This is a logical problem here. I don't know whether MS or QNAP is "responsible" for this (which part of the iSCSI technology failed)
But I am concerned with the reliability of the combination

I have another issue with the same TS459pro :
Windows and QNap websrver tell me there is 640 GB free, out of 3800GB

BUT the amount of data I copied on it is 140 GB

Are there any HIDDEN FILES written by the Nas OS ???
:?:

So how do you explain those missing 3TB?


FINAL QUESTION:
I'll have to REFORMAT and start again. (once again ...)
I have 4x 2TB disks (see picture) and want a SINGLE storage space
I'm concerned with PERF/SPEED and EASYNESS OF USE
(not so much hardware fault tolerance)
How do you recommend I set up my volume ?
ext3 or ext4 formatting ?

please be precise.

iSCSI is out of the question of course
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QNAPDavid
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Re: iSCSI issue windows 2008 server

Post by QNAPDavid »

Hi:
Could you please contact our support team? This would be faster to verify your issue.
http://www.qnap.com/WarrantyService.asp
QNAP David Tsao
oldbrazil
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Re: iSCSI issue windows 2008 server

Post by oldbrazil »

David,

you do not understand my problem.
Why would I spend valuable time with support today ? I consider my data lost. I want a RELIABLE solution for the future
I may have done something wrong, but the fact that you cannot tell me right away what it is I should have done/not done, implies that this error is not obvious and will happen again.
Data corruption with iSCSI will happen again and I'll lost EVERYTHING (not just 100 files, 1000000 files ...)

As for my second problem, well, I don't want to lose time either. There must be obivous reasons for 3TB disappearing from the volume. QNAP Support might answer this one, but should I explain all over again ?

Finally, please answer my last question OR tell me where to look.
My question is (again): WHAT CONFIGURATION DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR YOUR QNAP SYSTEM NOT TO CORRUPT DATA ? (to lessen the chance it happens .... ) and remember, I'm not talking about PHYSICAL HARDDRIVE FAILURE. Talking about logical ones. Not that adding a logical raid volume gives more chance for corruption to happen ...
oldbrazil
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Re: iSCSI issue windows 2008 server

Post by oldbrazil »

... any follow up ?
P3R
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Re: iSCSI issue windows 2008 server

Post by P3R »

I don't see how anyone could follow anything up since you've proven that you won't cooperate.

You expect definate and clear answers despite giving only fragments of information. Furthermore you refuse to contact Qnap to make it possible for them to evaluate what have really happened.

Had you at least tried to make an effort they could maybe (it's not certain but so far you're not even giving them a chance) explain what happened to you. They could tell you what you have made wrong (if anything) and/or they could correct errors in the product (if any), but you deprive them of that opportunity.

Sure, somebody from the user community could perhaps also try to advise you on your questions. But your previous postings haven't really been inspiring...

You're too angry for your own (and the rest of the user community's) good. That's a pity, on many levels. :cry:
oldbrazil
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Re: iSCSI issue windows 2008 server

Post by oldbrazil »

And what do you think you are?
I bet I have the right to be angry, after loosing TWICE so many valuable data (talking about 4To, right), without having a clue why !
It's a chance I'm not desperate by now, because I have backup, but what a lost of time, and finally of trust in the brand.

You did not address ANY of my questions, and how can you say I gave little info ? Look at my posts !! Screenshots and all ! Who do you think pays for this?
The only answers I got, were answers like "Beware, Raid0 offers no redundancy". Well, if that is the only technical level that can be addressed in this forum, I was wrong to post here in the first place, indeed.
And so, didn't I ask a plain, simple, general question, about what you would recommand as config ? Even there, no answer !!
P3R
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Re: iSCSI issue windows 2008 server

Post by P3R »

oldbrazil wrote:I bet I have the right to be angry, after loosing TWICE so many valuable data (talking about 4To, right), without having a clue why !
It's a chance I'm not desperate by now, because I have backup, but what a lost of time, and finally of trust in the brand.
I'm not with Qnap so I really don't care about your trust in the brand.

I do however notice that they tried to help you, but you declined. That was in my opinion unwise. I will tell you why later.
You did not address ANY of my questions, and how can you say I gave little info ? Look at my posts !! Screenshots and all !
You don't have the knowledge to solve the issue yourself, yet you find yourself qualified to decide what information should be necessary :roll:

A forum have many advantages and can be very good for some things but it is rarely a good channel for solving more complicated technical matters. The tech guy often need to know more about other things than you find relevant. Also one piece of information often leads to a new question and having such a conversation in a forum is very ineffective. A direct contact, as suggested by Qnap, is usually far better in those cases.
Who do you think pays for this?
This is a user community where the vast majority participate on their spare time. I don't think being aggresive and angry will make anyone of them more motivated to help you. I'm the exception because I still find the psychological aspect of this conversation a little interesting but when I stop responding as well you now know why.
The only answers I got, were answers like "Beware, Raid0 offers no redundancy". Well, if that is the only technical level that can be addressed in this forum, I was wrong to post here in the first place, indeed.
That may very well be the best general advice possible with the information you provided, but I don't think it is a solution to your problem.
And so, didn't I ask a plain, simple, general question, about what you would recommand as config ? Even there, no answer !!
Using a fault tolerant disk configuration is generally a good recommendation for any application that have some importance. The possible configurations are RAID 1, RAID 5 or RAID 6 (RAID 10 is only available in beta yet). They all have different pros and cons that you can Google for. You're the only one that know your priorities so you need to make the final decision anyway.

I haven't worked enough with iSCSI to be able to help you with the details but I think that you may have made something else wrong, or that you may have discovered a bug somewhere. If you only choose another disk configuration, that you are unfortunately completely focused on now, You may very well run into the same thing again.

I'm not sure either, that Qnap will be able to help you but since they want to try it is in my opinion stupid to turn them down.
oldbrazil
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Re: iSCSI issue windows 2008 server

Post by oldbrazil »

P33R, I understand your point of view, which I find legitimate, but I think you got me partially wrong here.
First, I'm not that angry, even if I am quite disappointed.

I turned down the offer for support because of many reasons:
  • first, it would have benefited only myself, and I think it if for the better for it to be public.
    second, there are actually several issues of data corruption here, with different setups, data that I can live without because it was more or less a backup alreadly.
    third, support would have to access my appliance, so my network would have to be set up to temporarily allow that, and then some email exchanges would take place during several days .... (I already had issues involving support on simpler matters) ... and that would surely not be enough given that iSCSI involves yet another technology, another server and so on.
Points 2 & 3 make me think I will have to spend hours explaining, configuring, testing ... for un unknown result. As I said in one of my posts, It's simply not worth it.

I just find it quite light to always get back to the raid configuration, and the reliability of the harddrives (which I tested by the way, see previous post)
I have been using RAID0 for years on cheap motherboards under Windows server (2008 & 2003), without a single hickup.
I was disappointed because I thought that NAS specialists wouldn't come with answers like theirs about using raid ... (I'm talking about the answer from David from QNAP)
Maybe RAID0 is buggy in QNAP systems, but then I assume they would know it and at least recommend not to use it...

I believe it was logical for me to ask about a recommended (as foolproof as possible) conf using 4x conventional 2TB harddrives.
(Someone may also have similar issues with iSCSI and write about it : at least I did it)
Advice that could even benefit other people.

anyways, p3r, thanks for your time.
:|
oldbrazil
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Re: iSCSI issue windows 2008 server

Post by oldbrazil »

quick follow up for those interested in iSCSI with QNAP

I reformated 4x 2TB RAID5 as EXT3 and created a 5480 GB LUN (with header and data digest )
The QNAP 459 Pro is connected to a windows 2008 server through a direct TCP/IP link (a single cable link the 2 servers with no router in-between) and though a local network (so 2 networks there)
The iSCSI initiator is to connect through the direct link (no MPIO with Round-Robin through the both direct link and local network => I previously used this feature but given all the issues I had, I prefer not to for now)
Windows had problems formating the volume. The system event manager reported many errors, that the CRC and checksums did not match, with reconnection to the iSCSI target needed.
I had previously set up JUMBO FRAMES on the direct link : 7418 on the QNAP and 7KB MTU on the D-Link DGE-528T
Note that I'm not sure if "7418 = 7 KB" (I know that 7KB = 7168 B, but can't explain why QNAP says 7418 anyway)
Nevertheless => It seems to solve the problem. I can now format the volume and reach 38MB/s when copying medium sized files (1MB)

Jumbo frames, even on a direct link, seem to be a bad idea. Standard size not even seem to be standard at all ! ?

Note that I previously could use iSCSI with this jumbo frames setting : connection and file copy did not report error ::

I'm testing further ...
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