The Next Generation of vCenter Plug-ins

NetApp and EMC

Mike Laverick (VCP, VCI, vExpert)
mikelaverick@rtfm-ed.co.uk
www.rtfm-ed.co.uk
 PPTS available on rtfm-ed.co.uk shortly
 Disclaimer
 What is the vStorage API?
 NetApp
◦ Rapid Clone Utility (RCU)
◦ Virtual Storage Console (VSC)
◦ SnapManager for VMware Infrastructure (SMVI)
 EMC
◦ PowerPath for VMware (vSphere4)
◦ Storage Views (vSphere4)
◦ MirrorView for VMware (SRM4.0 Beta)
◦ VDI Deployment Tool (Vi3.5)
◦ Fast Clone Utility (vSphere4)
◦ CX4 & NaviSphere
 Most of this is Beta Software – Latest Versions
 No Guarantee of Future functionality – blah,

blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,

blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,
blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,
blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,
blah, blah, blah, blah....
 No Guarantee my demo’s won’t pear-shaped
 I’m no Storage Expert, Just a well intentioned

enthusiast!
 VMware Initiative
 vCenter Plug-ins and Performance
 My emphasis on vCenter Plug-ins
 What inspired this presentation...?
◦ Chad Sakac
◦ http://virtualgeek.typepad.com/
◦ Vaughn Stewart
◦ http://blogs.netapp.com/virtualstorageguy
 Thanks to:
◦ Alex Tanner (EMC)
◦ Luke Reed (NetApp)
 Server-side plug-in, vCenter install?
 Requires FlexClone
 NOT just for Cloning VMs!!!!!!!!!!

◦ Add Storage to N hosts

◦ De-Duplication Options
◦ Destroy and Grow
 DEMO!
 Add in your NetApp Filers...
 Bulk-add storage (NFS or VMFS with FC/iSCSI)
 Rapid Clone – Select Template to Clone...
 Rapid Clone... Select Filer/Location, VM
settings...
 Rapid Clone... Create New Storage (Optional)
 Rapid Clone... Select DataStore & Broker
Details...
 No VM Folder selection...
 Permissions are very, erm, permissive

◦ All Vmkernel Ports added to the ACL

◦ Work-around – Clean out...
 Similar to EMC Storage Views – “FREE”!
◦ NFS, FC-SAN, iSCSI SAN
◦ BUT No per-VM views (which EMC has!)
 Server-side plug-in, vCenter install
 Also includes:

◦ Set Recommended ESX HBA, NFS, MPIO values

◦ mbrscan/mbralign GOS Utilities
 DEMO!
 See Filers, ESX hosts, and Set NetApp
Recommend Values for NFS
 Volumes by SAN (FC or iSCSI)
 And of course NFS...
 Collect Support Logs
 Download Alignment Tools (Consult PDF!!!)
◦ Runs on ESX, chmod 555 mbrscan
◦ Power off VM or Snapshot
◦ /root/mbrscan web02-flat.vmdk
◦ web02-flat.vmdk p1 (NTFS) lba:63 offset:32256 aligned:No
 Like EMC’s “Replication Manager”
 Backup & Restore VMs
 Specific Agents for Exchange, SQL etc
 Restore “Agent” installed to VM...
 Email Workflow
 Enumerates NFS mounts on ESX hosts in
vCenter
 Discover VMs on mount points
 Add Scheduled Backup Job
 Multiple VMs, Multiple NFS mount points
 Add Scripts
 Email notifications/requests for corp
workflow
 Restore Entire VM, Virtual Disk and...
◦ Individual files!
 Mount snap for N period
 Email to VM Owner that Restore Session is

open
 VM owner downloads & installs
RestoreAgentSetup.exe
 Loads .SDR file attachment in MMC
 After selecting config file, VM owner mounts
disks... Similar to the vdrfilerestore.exe cli
 Uses the new Path Selection Plug-in (PSP) of
vSphere - Not for Free
 Setup: http://www.rtfm-ed.co.uk/?p=1360

 Replaces PSP VMware’s

◦ MRU, Fixed/Preferred, Round-Robin
 Does NOT require Active/Active on
Controllers
 DEMO:
 EMC Client plug-in to vCenter – “FREE”!
 Improve views of Storage & VM Storage
 vSphere4 only
 Requires Solutions Enabler on client
 Post-Configuration

◦ IP
◦ Username
◦ Password
 DEMO...
 Consistency check for Replication – “FREE”!
 Specifically for VMware Site Recovery Manager
 Embedded as part of the Site Recovery

Adapter
 Integrated Failback
 Vi3.5 Plug-in to clone VMs for Virtual
Desktops
 EMC Celerra, Plans for Clarrion version...
 Similar to NetApp’s Rapid Clone Utility
 Alternative to VMware “Linked Clones”
 Enable vCenter Access
 Enable Celerra Access
 Demo’d at Vmworld
 vSphere replacement of the VDI Deployment

Tool
 Improvements in the storage management
tools
 Flare 29, 64-bit only
 Virtual Machine Search and Virtual Disk Info
 (H) indicates specifically ESX host
 Shows VMs on that host
 Run Reports...
 Thin LUNs with Thin Virtual Disk Info
 Goodie Bag!