VMFS Gro- Hot Extend storage Capacity

Thin Provisioning for Fun and Profit

What is Thin Provisioning?

·      Disk space is not allocated until used by the Guest OS

·      Storage allocated in 1MB chunks

·      Not entirely new but a GUI for it and full support for all storage is

Why use Thin Provisioning?

·      Save you tons of $ on storage

·      Save space on VMDK moves and, potentially, backups

·      Not use space until you need it

·      VMware claims 50% storage savings in their lab

Thin Provisioning for Fun and Profit

1.   Fault Tolerance is NOT compatible with thin disks

2.   Configure an alarm so you don't become over-subscribed

3.   You can deflate a thick disk to a thin disk during a SVMotion

4.   You can inflate a thin disk to a thick disk during SVMotion

5.   If you get over-subscribed you may have to increase your VMFS or migrate disks using SVMotion (or convert thick to thin disks)

6.   Yes, you can dynamically expand your VMFS !

7.   Disks do not automatically shrink

Open Filer

·      OpenFiler can “open” your eyes to a SAN

·      Free SAN for all - downloading OpenFiler

·      Installing OpenFiler & configuring iSCSI

·      Configuring iSCSI in vSphere 4

·      Connecting ESX to an iSCSI SAN

·      You need a SAN to perform advanced vSphere functions like VMotion, SVMotion, VMHA, FT, DRS, and DPM

·      A SAN is the best way to manage storage

·      Recommend a dedicated server

·      Recommend OF for testing and devl

·      Configure a static IP address and DNS entry to it

·      Connect to it at:

v  https://<hostname>:446

·         Default username & password are:

v  openfiler

v  password

·            If using in a VM, create a second VMDK before boot

·            Configure NTP

·            Create partition & volume

·            Verify the IQN

·            Create filesystem & select iSCSI

·            Allow local network

·            Enable iSCSI

·            Add vMKernel network port

·            Configure a static IP on the port

·            Enable iSCSI on the port

·            Add vMKernel network port

·            Configure a static IP on the port

·            Enable iSCSI on the port

·            Configure the new storage adaptor for iSCSI

·            Enable it

·            Use dynamic discovery and enter the IP of the openfiler server

·            If it’s the first connection to the iSCSI SAN, use Add Storage to configure a VMFS datastore on it

·            iSCSi Communicate- 3260 Port

What is SVMotion?

·            Move the storage of RUNNING virtual machines from one datastore to another datastore

·         The running VM stays on the server that it is on and the memory for that VM never moves

·            Uses:

§  Balance the datastore utilization

§  Perform SAN maintenance or swap out

§  Setup features like VMotion/DRS/DPM/VMHA with no downtime

SVMotion Requirements

·  vSphere Standard, Enterprise or Enterprises Plus only

·  Shared storage connected to ESX server - iSCSI, FC, or NFS

·  All storage needs to be accessible to the ESX server where the VM is running

v               This works: local to SAN or SAN to local

v   Doesn’t work: local on ESX 1 to local on ESX 2

·          Moving a Powered on VM with snapshots is not supported

                (Applicable Only for vSphere4. vSphere 5 supports with snapshots)

·          Note that to use this option to change both Host & Data store, the VM must be powered off  (This condition applicable to vSphere 4&5 but vSphere5.1 patch supports vmotion svmotion at a time with no downtime)

·        Moving a large VMDK can take a LONG TIME, depending on your network connection

·        When you migrate storage you have the option to change from-

ü Thin to thick

ü Thick to thin

·           Why would you want to change to a thick virtual disk to a thin virtual disk?

·           Answer: Fault Tolerance (FT)

      Why you need vMotion

·         Move RUNNING virtual machines off of one ESX server and on to another ESX server

·         The VMs disk files stay where they are (on shared storage)

·         Uses:

•      Balance the load on ESX Servers (DRS)

•      Save power by shutting down ESX using DPM

•      Perform patching and maintenance on an ESX server (Update Manager or HW    

       maintenace)

VMotion Requirements

·               VSphere Essential Plus, Standard, Enterprise, or Enterprise Plus

       Shared storage between ESX servers - iSCSI, FC, or NFS

·               VM Disk will be kept on that shared storage

·               VM memory and config will be migrated

·               VMkernel interface on both ESX servers with VMotion enabled

·               Works with standard switches or dvswitches (vDS)

• CPU Compatibility or Family Compatibility, If Using

         Enhanced vMotion Compatibility (EVC) On Your Cluster.

                                                                                                                                            

Cold vMotion- Cold vMotion can do while Virtual Machine is in power off condition.