- Is there a free version of StarWind Virtual HCI Appliance (vHCI)?
In the email that I received from requesting a free vSAN license, it is stated that a free version exists. However, I found no reference to a free version of HCIA on the website.However, if you're in the process of provisioning a brand-new HCI cluster (a "greenfield" deployment), we recommend considering StarWind Virtual HCI Appliance (vHCI) Free. - I have seen the option to receive a free full version with certain credentials (Microsoft certified, Reddit or Spiceworks reputation). Is this still possible right now? If so, is that license just for testing, for home use, or can it be used in production?
- Is management through the webinterface supported in the free CVM version?
My own testing showed that it is possible, but the email that comes with the free license, suggests that it isn't.The CVM approach is actually preferred because it has advanced features like ZFS, NVMe-oF support, web UI management (OK, not in the free version…), AI-powered telemetry, and so on, all unavailable in the Windows binary version. - When will NVMe over Fabric (NVMeoF) support come to the CVM version?
Right now, in my testing, I received a message that indicated that NVMeoF is not yet supported. - When NVMeoF support comes to the CVM version, will it be unlocked in the free version, or will it be locked (like in the free Windows version)?
I found https://forums.starwindsoftware.com/vie ... 099#p34250, saying that a GUI is need to enable NVMEoF in the Windows version. - Is RDMA, iSER, SMB Direct supported in the CVM?
- Can highly available (HA) SMB shares be created? If so, in the CVM, or in the Windows version?
In my testing, in the CVM, I was only able to create non-HA shares but HA storage was iSCSI only, whereas in the Windows version, I did not see an opportunity to create SMB shares. - How to make RDMA based features (iSER, SMB Direct, NVMEoF) work in a Hyper-V VM (either CVM or Windows based VM with vSAN installation)?
Should a physical network adapter be passed through (using Direct Device Assignment (DDA) in Hyper-V), or is it enough to create a virtual switch and add the switch to the VM? - Right now, using vSAN free, is it recommended to use the CVM or the Windows application?
- (edit: I forgot this question) Is the CVM a generation 1 Hyper-V VM or generation 2?
I found a documentation that stated that a new, generation 2, VM should be created based on the vhdx file from the download (with Secure Boot disabled), but found that such a VM does not boot. Instead I was able import the configuration file from the download in Hyper-V and it ended up being a generation 1 VM.
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