droboelite vmware best practices

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Data Robotics DroboElite andVMware vSphere4

Best Practice and Configuration Guide


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Data Robotics DroboElite and VMware vSphere 4 Best Practice Guide v4 May 2010 Page 1

Quick Reference & Notes:

Section 1: DroboElite storage array For highest availability, please use at least two switches. You may use one gigabit switch, but we

recommend configuring it with separate VLANs and/or networks. Configuring your switch in this

manner makes it easier to move to a redundant network topology in the future.

Section 2: Preparing DroboElite for use with VMware vSphere 4 Although DroboElite supports 16TB volumes for use with RDMs, VMware VMFS supports a

maximum LUN size of 2TB.

Section 3: Configuring VMware iSCSI adapters There may be a slight delay while the iSCSI discovery process completes. For ESX/ESXi servers supporting VMotion, HA, and DRS, a host group must be defined so that

the DroboElite storage system has a configured iSCSI path to each of the hosts.

Section 4: Creating a VMFS datastore to use DroboElite For more information on configuring ESX/ESXi, see the VMware Support website at

support.vmware.com. Data Robotics has determined that optimal performance is achieved with 8MB block sizes. Using

a smaller block size will adversely affect performance.

Other Tips, Tricks, and Notes If you experience iSCSI timeouts with your DroboElite, we recommend that you increase the

iSCSI timeout setting to 14 seconds using the following command:

esxcfg-advcfg -s 14000 /VMFS3/HBTokenTimeout

The recommended Multi-pathing method is MRU (Most Recently Used). By default it will befixed. To change the parameter use the following command:

esxcl i nmp satp setdefaultpsp --psp VMW_PSP_MRU --satp VMW_SATP_DEFAULT_AA1

NOTE: Operating system alignment is critical within a VMFS datastore.

Although vSphere4 ensures proper alignment at the (VMFS) volume level, the issue of properguest operating system alignment is still a potential issue with VMware performance with theDroboElite.

It is critical to ensure proper alignment of the guest operating systems, within the virtualmachines (VMs). Misaligned guest O/S partitions are likely to result in degraded performanceand could ultimately cause a loss of connectivity to the datastore on the DroboElite.

VMware has great documentation on the topic and several are referenced below.

Although, the following VMware document was created for version 3.0, the section entitled"Instructions for Guest File System Alignment", is still applicable to vSphere4.0


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http://www.vmware.com/pdf/esx3_partition_align.pdf

Please follow the instructions carefully.

Finally, here is VM Ware's Best Practices for vSphere4.0:

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/Perf_Best_Practices_vSphere4.0.pdf

Please refer to the section entitled: "ESX Storage Considerations.
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/esx3_partition_align.pdfhttp://www.vmware.com/pdf/Perf_Best_Practices_vSphere4.0.pdfhttp://www.vmware.com/pdf/Perf_Best_Practices_vSphere4.0.pdfhttp://www.vmware.com/pdf/esx3_partition_align.pdf


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Executive SummaryData Robotics, Inc. is excited to announce VMware certification with VMware vSphere 4 using theaward winning DroboElite iSCSI storage array. This document will detail best practices for a successfuldeployment using the DroboElite in an ESX/ESXi environment.

iSCSI is recognized for its simple integration, interoperability, lower cost, and the ability to utilize acompanys inherent networking skills for quick and rapid adoption. iSCSI is a standard IP-based storageaccess protocol for interconnecting servers and storage using standard Ethernet. iSCSI is built upon theSCSI and TCP/IP protocols, the dominant standards for storage and networking in use today.

The DroboElite allows an organization to effectively leverage the capabilities of the VMwareInfrastructure (including VMotion, Distributed Resource Scheduling, and High Availability). Storage mustbe network accessible, highly available, and easily scaled without impacting applications as workloadschange and grow. The chosen storage solution must be simple to deploy, easy to manage, andintrinsically reduce ongoing costs to truly leverage the economic benefits of server consolidation.

VMwares virtual server software and DroboElites virtualized architecture are complementarytechnologies that deliver tremendous rewards. Because virtual servers require a simple, flexible andcost-effective virtual storage solution, customers can now choose Data Robotics iSCSI storage overother, more expensive iSCSI solutions. The simple integration, flexibility and unmatched scalability aredriving more and more leading organizations worldwide to embrace virtualized iSCSI storage for the newvirtual data center.

IntroductionThis document describes the configuration steps to deploy VMware vSphere 4 solutions on DroboElitestorage arrays from Data Robotics.

Support MatrixDroboElite Supported ESX Software Versions and Features

Data RoboticsStorageDevice

SupportedVMwareSoftware

RecommendedESX HostsSupported

vMotion /StoragevMotionSupport

VMware HA /DRS Support

Support Notes

DroboElite vSphere 4 4-6 Yes Yes

VMFS datastores shouldbe formatted

with 8MB

block size2


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Section 1: DroboElite storage arrayStandard Configuration: The standard configuration includes a DroboElite storage array with a singlecontroller with two 1 gigabit Ethernet iSCSI ports. The DroboElite storage solution can be deployed tosupport four to six ESX/ESXi hosts.

Reference SolutionThe following configuration illustrates the recommended deployment for the DroboElite storage arraywith the ESX/ESXi software.

In the figure below, four ESX/ESXi servers are connected to the DroboElite storage array with onededicated VLAN. On each server, a virtual NIC is created with two NICs connected to an iSCSI VLAN. Formore storage, additional DroboElite arrays may be connected to the same VLAN. All DroboElite storagearrays are managed via a single instance of Drobo Dashboard (running on Windows or Mac OS X) perVLAN or iSCSI network.

NOTE: All the devices are in the same iSCSI VLAN.

*NOTE: To optimize DroboElite for performance, you should use a separate, dedicated gigabit switchfor iSCSI traffic or a dedicated iSCSI VLAN within a managed switch.3


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Section 2: Preparing DroboElite for use with VMware vSphere 4Unpack the DroboElite and install Drobo Dashboard on a computer running Windows or Mac OS X (noteplease check www.drobo.com/support for supported OS versions). Next, insert at least two SATA harddrives and connect the DroboElite to the computer using the USB cable included in the packaging. OnceDrobo Dashboard discovers the DroboElite, follow this procedure to configure the DroboElite for iSCSI.

1. Click on Advanc ed Co nt ro ls

2. Click on Tools


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3. Click on Check For Updates to make sure you are running the latest software and firmwareversions. Follow the instructions to update either if indicated. Then click on Settings.

4. Verify that the Disk Drive Spin Down is set to Never


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5. Click the iSCSI tab

6. Set IP addresses for both iSCSI1 and iSCSI2a) Set the IP address and subnet mask (record this information for later use.)b) Click OK

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8. Once restarted and rediscovered by Drobo Dashboard, Go to Advan ced Con trol s -> Tools ->Volume Management.

9. Listed are the Smart Volumes on the DroboElite. By default, there is a single 16TB volume created.Feel free to delete this volume, as it is not needed for VMware.

6Data Robotics DroboElite and VMware vSphere 4 Best Practice GuideNOTE: Although DroboElite supports 16TB volumes for use with RDMs, VMware VMFS supports amaximum LUN size of 2TB.


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10. Up to 128 Smart Volumes may be created. In this example, we are creating a 1TB volume. This unithad 48 Smart Volumes to begin with and we will add one more. Click Create Volume -> Multi Host

The Default size is 16TB, but please chose 1TB or 2TB. It is very important to choose Multi Host,otherwise only one ESX server will be able to see the Smart Volumes.

Click OK . Notice a new volume is ready to be created.

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8 Data Robotics DroboElite and VMware vSphere 4 Best Practice Guide11. Click Submit Changes -> Yes, Appl y Changes and allow the DroboElite to create the newSmart Volume(s).

Note: You can create and delete multiple volumes at once before clicking Submit Changes.

12. If you plan to use CHAP within VMware, please enable CHAP by clicking the Enable button next tothe newly created Smart Volume. The username is DroboElite for all CHAP volumes.

13. Connect the DroboElite to the iSCSI VLAN previously described above.


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Section 3: Configuring VMware iSCSI adaptersThis section lists the steps required to configure the software initiator on ESX/ESXi. For moreinformation, see the VMware Configuration Guide at www.vmware.com. Configurations examples areperformed on the VI client for vSphere 4 for all ESX servers.

Connect DroboElite to the iSCSI VLAN. Using vSphere, connect to the ESX cluster and follow the stepsbelow.

Check iSCSI Software Adapter.

1. Select Configuration -> Storage Adapters on the ESX/ESXi server.


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2. Select iSCSI Software Adapter and click on Properties. The iSCSI Initiator Properties window isdisplayed.

3. Ensure that the Software Initiator Properties Status is Enabled. If not then the iSCSI Initiatorneeds to be enabled to allow the ESX server to connect to the DroboElite.

a. Under the General tab, click Configure.b. Ensure it is enabled - click the Enabled checkbox, if necessary.

c. Click OK.d. Select Close.


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4. Select iSCSI Software Adapter under Storage Adapters . iSCSI initiator name is listed.

5. Select Properties under Storage Adapters.

a. Select the Dynamic Discovery tab.b. Select Add.

NOTE: There may be a slight delay while the iSCSI discovery process completes.

6. Enter the IP address of the DroboElite storage array (Port should be 3260 ) -> click OK

NOTE : Repeat the steps above for both IP addresses belonging to the DroboElite.


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NOTE: For ESX/ESXi servers supporting VMotion, HA, and DRS, a host group must be defined so thatthe DroboElite storage subsystem has a configured iSCSI path to each of the hosts. If you enabled CHAPfor the Smart Volumes Created, click the CHAP button.

Select Use CHAPEnter DroboElite as the username and the password you chose.

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Section 4: Creating a VMFS datastore to use DroboEliteConnect to the ESX/ESXi server/Virtual Center using vSphere and follow the steps below.

1. Click the Configuration tab

a. Select Storage Adaptersb. Select the iSCSI Software Adapter and right-click Rescan. The newly created iSCSI targetand LUN is displayed on the ESX/ESXi software.

NOTE: For more information on configuring ESX/ESXi, see the VMware Support website atsupport.vmware.com.

2. Go to Home -> Inventory -> Datastores. On the Getting Started tab click Add a datasto re


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Select which host to add the datastore.

11 Data Robotics DroboElite and VMware vSphere 4 Best Practice Guide3. Select Disk/LUN -> Next


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4. Select the newly created iSCSI LUN -> Next. The LUN id matches the Volume id when youcreated in Drobo Dashboard above. In this case, id49.

5. Review the disk layout -> Next

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6. Provide a name for the VMFS datastore -> Next

7. Select the appropriate block si ze (8MB) and capacit y for the VMFS database -> Next

NOTE: Data Robotics has determined that optimal performance is achieved with 8MB block sizes. Ablock size smaller than 8MB block size will adversely affect performance.


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8. Review the disk layout and click Finish to create the VMFS datastore. The new datastore is ready forstoring virtual machine images.

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NOTE: All NICs in a vSwitch must be in the same VLAN. If you connect the NICs directlyto the DroboElite storage array, then they will not be accessible on a VLAN.

Copyright 2010 Data Robotics, Inc. Data Robotics, DroboElite, DroboPro, Drobo, DroboShare, BeyondRAID, andSmart Volumes are trademarks of Data Robotics, Inc., which may be registered in some jurisdictions. All othertrademarks used are owned by their respective owners.

All rights reserved. Specifications subject to change without notice.

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