R MOD 08-ESXi Host Installation and Integration For Block

ESXi Host Installation and Integration for
Block
Upon completion of this module, you should be able
to:
Describe ESXi storage connectivity limits and
guidelines
Describe the implementation of ESXi FC
connectivity
Describe the implementation of ESXi iSCSI
connectivity
Copyright 2014 EMC Corporation. All Rights
ESXi Host Installation and Integration for Block

Block
Lesson 1: ESXi Storage Connectivity
This lesson covers the following topics:
ESXi system limits and guidelines
ESXi HBA utilities
VMware VAAI Integration
VNX VASA Configuration
ESXi Connectivity: Requirements
One or more VNX storage systems

One or more ESXi hosts
Supported HBAs, HBA drivers, switches and cables
Correctly configured switch zoning
Correctly configured network
A management station in the environment
Supported host and OS
Supported browser
Supported JRE
Network connectivity to storage systems
Array Storage Considerations

Central repository
Scalable and recoverable implementation
Multiple hosts can access the same storage space
Virtual machines can be clustered across physical hosts
Virtual machines can take advantage of vSphere features
vMotion
vSphere HA (High Availability)
vSphere DRS (Dynamic Resource Scheduler)
vSphere FT (Fault Tolerance)
Data management capabilities with array software
LUN/File system expansion and mobility

Thin provisioning
Storage Tiering and Cache capabilities
Archiving and Deduplication
Local and remote replication
Storage Design Considerations: General SAN

Apply VNX Best Practices for ESXi host
Storage
Ensure Cache is Enabled for the Array

and Individual LUNs
Plan to dedicate an entire LUN to a VMFS

Volume
Do not create Multiple VMFS Partitions on the same LUN
Place each LUN in a RAID group or Pool

that provides the necessary performance
levels
Storage Design Considerations: RDM
Use RDMs when VMFS virtual disk would become
too large to effectively manage

Use RDMs to leverage native SAN tools
SAN snapshots
Direct backups
Performance monitoring
SAN management
Emulex OneCommand Manager Plug-in
Qlogic QConvergeConsole Plug-in
Brocade Network Advisor Management Plug-in
VNX and VMware VAAI Integration
VAAI vStorage API for Array Integration

A VMware vendor neutral storage API
Offloads ESXi storage functions to compliant

storage arrays
Hardware acceleration of ESXi host storage
operations
Reducing CPU, memory and storage fabric bandwidth
consumption
More ESXi compute power available for running virtual
machines
VNX is compliant for block-based and file-based

Block
API
Commands
ESXi storage operations
NFS
VAAI
10
VNX Block-based VAAI Operations

Feature
Typical Scenarios
VM Provisioning from
Array Accelerated Bulk

Zero
Array Accelerated Full

Copy
templates
VMware Cloning
Rapid reprovisioning
when older VMs are being
retired
VM provisioning from
Improved Performance
accessing a LUN
containing multiple Virtual
Machines
VM deleted/migrated from
Thin provisioned
datastore
Thin LUN out of space

Stun and Resume
conditions
performance
using internal array Copy

command
Multiple ESXi Servers
Thin Provisioning
Background Zeroing
Improved provisioning
Improved performance by
templates
Storage vMotion
Array Accelerated
Hardware Locking
Benefits
and Scalability
Space reclamation on
Thin LUN
Prevents data corruption

Ease of management
when using Thin LUNs
11
VNX and VMware VASA Integration
VASA VMware Aware Storage API

A VMware vendor neutral storage API
Out-of-band HTTP communications with storage
VNX provides storage capabilities to vCenter

Storage Processors, LUNs, I/O ports and file systems
Monitors VNX health and capacity status
VNX is compliant for block-based and file-based

capability and status monitoring
Array capabilities
& status
VASA
12
Configure Unisphere
user for VM
Administrator role
Add Vendor Provider

into vCenter
A Storage Processor for
block
Control Station for file
13
VASA and Storage Profiles
VASA enables VMware

Storage Profiles
Associates virtual
disks to a specific
storage capability.
A Storage Profile used

instead of an actual
storage device in
vSphere management
workflows (e.g. vMotion
or Cloning) and the
system will:
Flash Drives
Platinum
Profile
SAS drives
Gold
Profile
Determine a target
device that matches

the profile
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the
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14
Lesson 1: Summary
During this lesson the following topics were covered:
ESXi system limits and guidelines
ESXi HBA utilities
VMware VAAI Integration
15

Block
Lesson 2: ESXi FC, FCoE, and iSCSI Connectivity
VNX FC connections to ESXi
VNX FCoE connections to ESXi
VNX iSCSI connections to ESXi
16
Viewing Block Storage Ports
17
Initiator Registration Records: Fibre
18
Initiator Registration Records Format: Fibre

Channel
Hostname
Host IP address
Host HBA WWNs
128 bit number - WWNN + WWPN
VNX port WWNs

128 bit number - WWNN + WWPN
Operating system type

Allows appropriate response to host SCSI commands
19
Unisphere Host Initiators: Fibre
20
Initiator Information: Fibre
21
Viewing SP Fibre Channel Port Properties
22
ESXi Server HBAs Hardware
23
FCoE with VMware
As a block level access protocol, currently, there is

limited VMware support for FCoE
Integrates with CNAs at the ESXi level
No direct pass-through to the guest Operating
Systems
CNA interfaces as either a traditional NIC or HBA,
depending upon which I/O stack is being utilized.
24
Initiator Registration Records: iSCSI Names
iSCSI address
Uniquely identifies nodes
Two variations
iqn. iSCSI Qualified Name (IQN)
iqn.1992-04.com.emc:cx.fnm00130702376.a5
iqn.1992-04.com.emc:cx.fnm00130702376.b5
eui. Extended Unique Identifier (EUI)
eui.50060162AEA5574E
25
ESXi Server: iSCSI Hardware
26
Unisphere Host Initiators: iSCSI
27
Initiator Information: iSCSI
28
Viewing iSCSI Front-end Port Properties
29

Block
Lesson 2: Summary
VNX FC connections to ESXi
VNX FCoE connections to ESXi
VNX iSCSI connections to ESXi
30

Block
Lesson 3: Implementing ESXi connectivity
Implementing FC connectivity
Implementing iSCSI connectivity
31
ESXi Connectivity Steps
32
Manual Host Registration
33
ESXi Server: Configure iSCSI Hardware
34
ESXi Server: Set up SW iSCSI (Vmkernel

Setup)
ESXi SW iSCSI support
Supports both send and
static targets discovery

Requires only VMkernel
port to be in the
network configuration
Supports multipathing
Supports NIC-teaming
Supports ALUA, failover
mode 4 for VNX series
systems
Supports EMC
PowerPath/VE
35
ESXi Server: Set up SW iSCSI (Enable)
36
ESXi Server: SW iSCSI (Send Targets)
37
Creating a Storage Group
38
Adding LUNs to a Storage Group
39
Adding Hosts to a Storage Group
40
vSphere Rescan
41
ESXi Server Useful Functions and Utilities

Function/Utility
vmkfstools
Definition
vmware-cmd
Command to provide an interface to perform

operations on a virtual machine, including to
retrieve
information about the power state, register
and unregister the virtual machine, set
configuration variables, and manage
snapshots.
resxtop
Command to retrieve performance statistics.

Command is included in vSphere command
line interface (CLI) and is part of the vSphere
Management Assistant (vMA), which is an
equivalent to esxtop that runs only inside an
ESX service console.
Command to create and manipulate virtual

disks, file systems, logical volumes, and
physical storage devices on an ESX/ESXi host.
42

Block
Lesson 3: Summary
Implementing FC connectivity
Implementing iSCSI connectivity
43
Summary
Key points covered in this module:
Connectivity requirements include:
Supported HBAs, HBA drivers, vendor management
software, and proper cabling to the fabric switches.

Fabric switches properly configured and zoned
Management station with supported OS, Web
Browser, Java, and network connectivity to the VNX.
Paired with VAAI, VNX provides a hardware
acceleration of the ESXi storage operations.

VASA enables the storage array to provide its
storage capabilities into VMware vCenter.
Steps to implement Linux connectivity in both a
Fibre Channel and iSCSI environment
44

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ESXi Host Installation and Integration for

Copyright 2014 EMC Corporation. All Rights

ESXi Host Installation and Integration for Block

ESXi Host Installation and Integration for

Copyright 2014 EMC Corporation. All Rights

ESXi Host Installation and Integration for Block

ESXi Connectivity: Requirements

One or more VNX storage systems

Copyright 2014 EMC Corporation. All Rights

ESXi Host Installation and Integration for Block

Array Storage Considerations

Data management capabilities with array software

LUN/File system expansion and mobility

Copyright 2014 EMC Corporation. All Rights

ESXi Host Installation and Integration for Block

Storage Design Considerations: General SAN

Ensure Cache is Enabled for the Array

Plan to dedicate an entire LUN to a VMFS

Place each LUN in a RAID group or Pool

Copyright 2014 EMC Corporation. All Rights

ESXi Host Installation and Integration for Block

Storage Design Considerations: RDM

Use RDMs when VMFS virtual disk would become

too large to effectively manage

Copyright 2014 EMC Corporation. All Rights

ESXi Host Installation and Integration for Block

Emulex OneCommand Manager Plug-in

Copyright 2014 EMC Corporation. All Rights

ESXi Host Installation and Integration for Block

Qlogic QConvergeConsole Plug-in

Copyright 2014 EMC Corporation. All Rights

ESXi Host Installation and Integration for Block

Brocade Network Advisor Management Plug-in

Copyright 2014 EMC Corporation. All Rights

ESXi Host Installation and Integration for Block

VNX and VMware VAAI Integration

VAAI vStorage API for Array Integration

Offloads ESXi storage functions to compliant

VNX is compliant for block-based and file-based

ESXi storage operations

Copyright 2014 EMC Corporation. All Rights

ESXi Host Installation and Integration for Block

VNX Block-based VAAI Operations

Array Accelerated Bulk

Array Accelerated Full

Thin LUN out of space

using internal array Copy

Multiple ESXi Servers

Prevents data corruption

Copyright 2014 EMC Corporation. All Rights

ESXi Host Installation and Integration for Block

VNX and VMware VASA Integration

VASA VMware Aware Storage API

VNX provides storage capabilities to vCenter

VNX is compliant for block-based and file-based

Copyright 2014 EMC Corporation. All Rights

ESXi Host Installation and Integration for Block

VNX VASA Configuration

Add Vendor Provider

Copyright 2014 EMC Corporation. All Rights

ESXi Host Installation and Integration for Block

VASA and Storage Profiles

VASA enables VMware