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6. Configure Storage

After configuring your logical networks, you need to add storage to your data center.
Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization uses a centralized shared storage system for virtual machine disk images and snapshots. Storage can be implemented using Network File System (NFS), Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) or Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP). Storage definition, type and function, are encapsulated in a logical entity called a Storage Domain. Multiple storage domains can be used in a Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization environment.
For this lab you will use two types of storage domains. The first is an NFS share for ISO images of installation media. You have already created this ISO domain during the Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Manager installation.
The second storage domain will be used to hold virtual machine disk images. For this domain, you need at least one of the supported storage types. You have already set a default storage type during installation as described in Example 1, “Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Manager installation”. Ensure that you use the same type when creating your data domain.
Select your next step by checking the storage type you should use:
  1. Navigate to the Tree pane and click the Expand All button. Under System, click Default. On the results list, the Default data center displays.
  2. On the data center entry, the Storage Type column displays the type you should add.
  3. Now that you have verified the storage type, create the storage domain:

6.1. Create an NFS Data Domain

Because you have selected NFS as your default storage type during the Manager installation, you will now create an NFS storage domain. An NFS type storage domain is a mounted NFS share that is attached to a data center and used to provide storage for virtual machine disk images.

Important

If you are using NFS storage, you must first create and export the directories to be used as storage domains from the NFS server. These directories must have their numerical user and group ownership set to 36:36 on the NFS server, to correspond to the vdsm user and kvm group respectively on the Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Manager server. In addition, these directories must be exported with the read write options (rw). For more information see the Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Installation Guide.
To add NFS storage
  1. Navigate to the Tree pane and click the Expand All button. Under System, select the Default data center and click on Storage. The available storage domains display on the results list. Click New Domain.
  2. The New Storage dialog box displays.
    Add NFS Storage
    Figure 13. Add NFS Storage

    Configure the following options:
    1. Name: Enter NFS-share.
    2. Data Center: The Default data center is already pre-selected.
    3. Domain Function / Storage Type: The Data/ NFS option is already pre-selected because during installation you set NFS as your data center's default storage type. The storage domain types which are not compatible with the Data Center will not be available.
    4. Use Host: Select any of the hosts from the drop down menu. Only hosts which belong in this data center will display in this list.
    5. Export Path: Enter the IP address or a resolvable hostname of the chosen host. The export path should be in the format of 192.168.0.10:/Images/NFS-Share or domain.example.com:/Images/NFS-Share.
  3. Click OK. The new NFS-share data domain displays on the Storage tab. It will remain with a Locked status while it is being prepared for use. When ready, it is automatically attached to the data center.
You have created an NFS storage domain. Now, you need to attach an ISO domain to the data center and upload installation images so you can use them to create virtual machines. Proceed to Section 7, “Attach and Populate ISO Domain”.