StarWind Software

Hi, currently trying out Starwind VSAN Free, using 2 CVM Ubuntu nodes. For now in a Hyper-V test environment.

I'd like to know if it would be possible to do the following with this setup:
1. Pause sync between two nodes, while keeping both iscsi targets usable
2. Perform file operations on the second node SW2 (meanwhile some data might get written to SW1 too)
3. Once finished, start synchronizing from SW1(as primary source) to SW2

So far i've tried maintenance mode and some other workarounds, but all attempts resulted in iscsi connection being lost for at least one node.

As I understand this functionality might not be officialy supported viewtopic.php?t=4560
Maybe i should be looking into other solutions similar to vsan?
Any suggestions? Thanks.

Welcome to SrtarWind Forum. StarWind VSAN features only active-active replication.
Since you are building a PoC cluster, I'd strongly recommend using Trial option and asking the account representative who sends you the key about a quick tour around the solution and helping you with PoC cluster.
Please also consider being a part of StarWind NVMe-oF Beta https://www.starwindsoftware.com/techni ... ew-program
Now let me answer your questions.

1. Pause sync between two nodes, while keeping both iscsi targets usable

No. You can stop CVM on one side, but targets from it will not be available. There's another node, though, which will publish the storage over iSCSI/ NVMe-oF. Once the CVM/starwind-virtual-san.service is up, fast replication (aka delta sync) will happen to let the node catch up with the replication partner.
Here, I'd like to share this article (should help you avoid unwanted full replication running)

2. Perform file operations on the second node SW2 (meanwhile some data might get written to SW1 too)

Yes, data will be written to 1.

Maintenance mode is not quite what you need. See more about the feature https://www.starwindsoftware.com/help/M ... eMode.html

Thanks for the info.
Could you also elaborate on how priority is assigned if a node becomes unavailable
For example, SW1(First priority) goes offline, and SW2(Second priority) get some file updated:
Which node will take prioriy when SW1 comes back online?

Could you also link this article again

Here, I'd like to share this article (should help you avoid unwanted full replication running)

Active-active replication implies that both nodes are equally good to publish storage over the network, as all store up-to-date data.
Priorities come into play only when replication links are interrupted; see more at viewtopic.php?t=5731.

For example, SW1(First priority) goes offline, and SW2(Second priority) get some file updated:
Which node will take priority when SW1 comes back online?

None; both will be available over ISCSI once quick replication is completed to let SW1 catch up with SW2.

Could you also link this article again

Sorry, lost it https://knowledgebase.starwindsoftware. ... may-start/