VSphere 4.1 and Dell MD3000i iSCSI raid firmware version

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• VMware vsphere essentials more and Dell MD3000i iSCSI - virtual disk not on preferred path

  Hello world

  I am trying to set up our new vmware vsphere essentials plus the facility. We have 2 x Dell R710 servers running vmware esx4 and have a md3000i SAN.

  Each server has a network cable to connect to a network SAN controller.

  vmserver1 a vmnic6 IP 192.168.130.110 the IP controller connection 0 192.168.130.101

  vmserver1 has IP 192.168.130.111 vmnic4 connection to controller 1 IP 192.168.130.102

  vmserver2 a vmnic 6 IP 192.168.131.110 the IP controller connection 0 192.168.131.101

  vmserver2 has IP 192.168.131.111 vmnic4 connection to controller 1 IP 192.168.131.102

  Whenever I start a virtual server it causes the dell md3000i start flashes orange, and management tool says disc not on favorite virtual path.

  After entering the tool configuration and affecting the path preferred, from the commencement to vmware, even with a single connected server it causes the error.

  I tried to configure vmware to use direct fixed and alternate paths.

  I did a quick search on Google and found these sites:

  http://www.delltechcenter.com/page/VMware ESX4.0andPowerVault MD3000i

  http://en.community.Dell.com/support-forums/storage/f/1216/t/19269507.aspx

  Strange configuration.

  Looks like you are using some cross cable?

  Each host must have 2 vSwitches, each with a port vmkernel on one of the two iSCSI network.

  Each host must reach all 4 of the MD3000i (test with the vmkping command) interface.

  See also:

  http://www.delltechcenter.com/page/VMware ESX4.0andPowerVault MD3000i

  André

• with vSphere and Dell MD3000i iSCSI design

  I installed a server ESX 4 (the first of three for this cluster), and a SAN Dell MD3000i iSCSI connected through two switches Dell PowerConnect 2816.

  Now I read the VMware 'iSCSI SAN configuration guide', and I wanted to just make sure I did the design correcly.

  I have connected a Teddy ESX (vmnic1) to one of the pSwitch and another (vmnic5) in the second. This pSwitch SAN iSCSI ports are connected, so that one of the switches carry the 10.10.10.x subnet and the other the 10.10.11.x (see IP plan below)

  The two natachasery have a vSwitch each (a do not share), a portgroup each and are configured on different subnets, IP (see attached screenshot)

  Plan of intellectual property:

  Port iSCSI-10 group (VMkernel): 10.10.10.1

  Port group iSCSI-11 (VMkernel): 10.10.11.1

  0-0 SAN controller: 10.10.10.10

  SAN 0-1 controller: 10.10.11.10

  Controller 1-0 San: 10.10.10.11

  SAN 1-1 controller: 10.10.11.11

  By using this configuration, I could see four different paths for each LUN. and I was able to make the ESX Server will switch to different switches/controllers as I unplug the vmnic1 network cables and vmnic5, one at a time.

  Then I found the section on 'esxcli' configuration guide and multipathing configuration, which I carried out in accordance with the instructions ("esxcli swiscsi nic add - n vmk0 d vmhba34" and "esxcli swiscsi nic add - n vmk1 vmhba34 d ')

  Now I have eight different paths for each logic unit number, three of whom are 'Active' and an 'active (i/o)' (see my screen attached the capture).

  So, my questions are:

  1. the eight paths to each LUN really normal in designs of iSCSI?

  2. is my vSwitch/Teddy/pSwitch correct design choices?

  Thanks in advance!

  / Anders

  @hennish,

  As long as your new design continues to meet your needs of failover and workload, your infrastructure design should be fine.

  But you might want to take a look at this design Dell. In particular, step 12 that configures multiple paths in round-robin policy using the VI GUI client, for

  Each LUN exposed to the ESX Server. This allows balancing on two

  Active paths to the LUN. After completing this step, you should see2 "IO Active" paths.

  Kind regards

  KongY@Dell Inc.

• To access ESXi 4 Update 1 custom server from dell MD3000i iSCSI SAN

  Hello

  I'm brand new on VMware ESX/ESXi products and for the most part, no.  I configured several machines virtual with server 1 and 2.  I am trying to connect a virtual ESXi 4 server in a SAN and starts to become very confused about what I can or not do.  I hope that someone here can break it down for me because I couldn't find the answer to my specific questions.

  Here's how I'm Setup:

  I have a Dell PowerEdge R710 with ESXi 4 Update 1 'Custom Dell' (whatever that means) is installed.

  I have a Dell MD3000i SAN using iSCSI with a pre-configured dedicated virtual disk.

  I would like to create virtual machines on virtual disk said.

  I think that ESXi 4 is completely free.

  It seems that to manage the server, I need to use 1 of the 2 products.  The Vsphere client or web application of VMware Go.

  If I use Vsphere:

  I have the ability to add a type of storage through the user interface.

  I'm on a 60-day trial. I thought that it was free.

  If I configure my iSCSI via Vsphere and then the eval expires... what happens?  All jump on me and then I have to purchase a license to get it back?

  If I use VMware go:

  It seems I don't really have any options to do any kind of configuration iSCSI in VMware Go.  I do?

  I also have a XenServer that is configured in this way and it's all free. I wanted to try the bare metal of VMware solution, but now I wonder if I'll have to go back to Xen.

  Can someone please relieve me of my confusion until I have to pull the plug on this experience.  Maybe direct me to the proper documentation on how to configure what I need with what I have at the cost free-is possible.

  Thanks a lot for your comments and have a wonderful weekend!

  I'd go by QuickStart Webcast and Webcast ESXi Webstart to help get a better understanding.

  Here is a configuration to the MD3000i http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/solutions/esx_storage_deployment_guide_v1.pdf guide

• VMware HA with 2 x ESXi and Dell MD3000i?

  Hi all

  I have a task at hand to set up with VMware HA.

  What I've done so far,

  (1) to this end, I have 2 identical Dell PE 2950 servers and Dell MD 3000i as storage device.

  (2) installed ESXi 4 in servers (ESXi1 and ESXi2) and configured the static IP.

  (3) I configured the iSCSI SAN (MD3000i) and created the host (VMHA) group.  Added the two hosts in the host group

  (4) virtual disk created, which will be shared by both hosts and it mapped to the host group.

  I know how to install vCenter and how to create the HA cluster as well as adding guests inside.  But before that, I have a few questions.

  According to the theory the shared storage must be accessible by the two hosts.  How can I add storage shared on SAN in the hosts.  I know that the navigation, but miss me the theory somewhere.  I added shared as Datastore2 and ESXi1 and formatted with VMFS3 storage.  Now how could I add the same storage shared in ESXi2?  When I tried to add, the steps asked me to format again shared storage that I can't do?

  Thank you all for all the remedies fast

  Nadine

  You analyze it again on the second (and subsequent).   Add the that storage is being used on the first host.

  Dave

  VMware communities user moderator

  New book in town - Start Guide quick vSphere -http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2009/08/12/new-book-in-town-vsphere-quick-start-guide/.

  You have a system or a PCI with VMDirectPath?  Submit your specifications to the unofficial VMDirectPath HCL - http://www.vm-help.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=21.

• vSphere 5 and Dell Equallogic iSCSI

  Hi all

  I need some suggestions on how to implement my iSCSI network

  I habe 2 x power R520 edges with 2 network cards to edge, 4 x PCI Nic and 1 x Dual Port Nic Cards-> network so 8 total

  and an Equallogic PS4100 with 2 controllers and 2 network cards on each controller

  I have 2 Dell switches for my iSCSI network.

  The address of the Equallogic MGMT is 10.10.1.100

  The group IP address is 10.10.1.101 - or should these IP in the iSCSI network

  My iSCSI network should be

  192.168.1.x / 24

  do I need to a single network or do I have to use 2 different networks in order to obtain the failover job.

  I plan 2 or 4 NICs for iSCSI vmkernel traffic - what do you suggest?

  If I use 4 network cards - use 2 vmkernel ports with 2 links and aggregation of links on the switches? Or can I use 4 ports vmkernel and round robin?

  ESX1

  vnmic0 192.168.1.1

  vmnic1 192.168.1.2

  ESX2

  vnmic0 192.168.1.3

  vmnic1 192.168.1.4

  EqualLogic

  eth0 192.168.1.5

  eth1 192.168.1.6

  ESX1 + ESX2

  vmnic0 - iSCSI01

  vmnic1 - iSCSI02

  SwitchA

  vmnic0 Esx1, vmnic1 ESX2, eth0, eth1 ControllerB controlled

  SwitchB

  vmnic1 ESX1, vmnic0 ESX2, the controller has ControllerB eth0, eth1

  Do I have to master two switches?

  concerning

  Bestfriend

  Hello

  I recommend 2 virtual switches with 2 network cards in each. Multipathing in fixed for each switch if it's an active-passive array and Round Robin if it is an active-active array.

  1 VLAN should be fine.

  MTU = 9000 in all the components of your infrastructure iSCSI (jumbo frames).

  Try to have HA in each part of your infrastructure and you sure you don't have 1 vSwitch connected to the 2 ports on the same HBA and using the same switch...

  If you have the option to make the "fast track" in your switch, do it.

  CHAP authentication more secure, you can (if initiator software, I think that they are, mutual CHAP)

  You don't need chest 2 switches.

  Try to keep your number of VMs distributed among your LUN (to not collapse them with SCSI reservations)

  That's all I can think of at this time. I hope this has helped you! If that were the case, do not forget to assign the corresponding points, so we are all winners!

  Kind regards

  elgreco81

• Live iSCSI SAN upgrade production network (Dell MD3000i and PowerConnect & ESXi 4)

  Hi all

  For the moment, I have a direct connection to my Dell MD3000i iSCSI SAN in ESXi 4 2 x host with no switch between the two, all of the virtual machine is within the SAN and running on both hosts.

  If I want to put a switch between the two and add one more iSCSI SAN so that the two SAN can be accessed / shared with the 3 ESXi 4 guests total, how should I approach the issue?

  any idea or guideline would be greatly appreciated.

  What I have to plan the time or can I change the old IP on the existing SAN iSCSI manually cable one by one without damage/alter the existing operation of the virtual machine on SAN? or I have to stop the virtual machine and then terminate the connection manually iSCSI session and then restart the host SAN?

  Thank you

  AWT

  Standard installation on the MD3000i is for a port iSCSI on each controller on a subnet and one on each controller to be on another.

  There have been people working successfully on a subnet, reported problems too.   I wish we were longer on our Vsphere upgrade, I'm not at a point but where I test things like Vmotion.

• Reference Dell MD3000i and vSphere 5.5

  Actually I'm on vSphere 5.1. Running two servers of 5.1 on Dell R805 ESX and storage on a Dell MD3000i.

  Did anyone out there running vSphere 5.5 in combination with a Dell MD3000i SAN?

  Since the MD3000i is also not compatible with version 5.1 that I use.

  We run from separate md3000i 2 with of Dell R710.  I ran on vsphere 5.0, 5.1 and 5.5.
  The current host of 5.5 runs DR Veeam, so it has e/s of Veeam jobs but hosts only 2 running virtual machines.
  We spend 2 hosts of production 5.5 soon, do not anticipate any problems.

  Be sure to have the new firmware on the md3000i itself - the update of the firmware, I'm pretty sure that is very important for compatibility above 4.5.

  Rumors that I've heard of compatibility have been on failover - I still need to test the failover using network cables and forcing a failover to ensure that vmware panic.

• Fundamental and MD3000i ISCSI concepts

  Hi all

  I try to understand the concepts in a MS Windows and especially the MD3000i iscsi environment and online help does not help much. I understand that you need an innitiator on a host to connect to a target. A target is a San with a large logic unit number or multiple LUNS. A target may have a gigabit ethernet port or two. Each NETWORK adapter on the target must have a unique IP address. This is the case with MD3000i with one controller or connection "simplex". Let's say I set up 4 starts: exchange, sharepoint, sql, and files. These 4 starts will connect to 4 servers. Each server has two NETWORK adapter, an intranet, an iscsi network.  I only use a single NIC on the MD3000i, as I understand it, if I put the IP address of the target when configuring host innitiator on 4 servers. This means that a 1 GB connection is shared between 4 servers. Is this correct?

  Second, by presenting the diskgroup to the appropriate host, avoid a host 'touch' the another diskgroup host?

  For example, using the second NIC on the MD3000i, I will divide halved. I have to point two servers to a new IP address in the MS innitator and attend the diskgroup these two hosts correctly in the MD3000i. Is this a correct concept?

  Is it possible to combine two network cards on the MD3000i so that its total output/bandwidth is 2 GB?

  Now we have a second controller, which makes things more confusing for me. At this point, I would like to note that I speak not of "high availability of applications. In one controller, a controller has 4 starts. IIF this controller 0 failed, I'll lose data. In one two controllers, two controllers are configured as active/active. My understanding is that controller 0 can now own one or all four starts (or 2 own diskgroup and controller 1 has the diskgroup remaining, 3, and 4). So, in this case, my server must point to the 2 different IP addresses on the second controller. For simplicity, all IP addresses are the same subnet. Assuming that the controller 0 is broken, the diskgroup 1.2 will change ownership to controller 1.  Now, controller 1 will hold 4 starts. However, my server 1.2 will lose the iscsi network connectivity. In order for me to get the data back, I'll have to reconfigure the iscsi innitator pointing to the IP address of the controller 1. The question is, what IP addresses on the two network adapters on controller 1.

  I understand that if I want to achieve high availability of applications, I have 2 network cards on the server dedicated for iscsi between two controllers.

  I read this article and it has confused me more:

  http://support.Dell.com/support/eDOCS/systems/MD3000i/multlang/TS/FR483-info%20update/FR483A00MR.PDF

  According to this article: "two network cards on a controller can be aggregated to provide optimal performance. A host can be configured to simultaneously use the bandwidth of both ports on a controller of virtual disks, held by the access controller". This means that the total production is 2gbs? So in my case, is it possible to do it when I have a NETWORK to the iscsi network interface card? How to configure the host to take advantage of this?

  I know that I have a lot of questions, since it is a new concept for me. Thanks in advance for your time.

  
  

• Differences between the ISCSI connections to the storage in vSphere 4.1 and 5.0.

  I'm in trouble of setting up the connections of storage in a new VSphere 5.0 test environment. In our environment VSphere 4.1, it was possible to create a virtual switch add two Broadcom NetXtreme II 5709 NIC. Set assets. IP Hash value as load balancing. (LACP Etherchannel on physical switches) This configuration uses a grain port and a single IP address. Then add our NetApp NFS storage and ISCSI Equillogic storage. In VSphere 5.0, I can't create this same configuration. I have to create separate with separate IP addresses vmkernal ports? The idea was to have redundant connections to the storage and flow of these two NETWORK cards. Possibly adding additional if necessary to the futuer NETWORK cards. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

  How can I work around this:

  "VMkernel network adapter must have an active link exactly and no waiting rising to be eligible for the iSCSI HBA connection."

  I can certainly say that the way which allows you to configure the iSCSI Multipathing is incorrect.

  The main idea is to let Native Multipathing Plugin to decide what network path to choose, not the vSwitch.

  At the level of the network layer, you must have 1 VMK by a physical NIC.

  This technique applies as well for vSphere 4.1 and 5.0, but with the 5.0 it is configured easier and more quickly.

  Here's a very brief consequence of steps

  1. get 2 VMK interfaces and assign an IP by each VMK.

  2. set each VMK to use only one physical NETWORK adapter

  3 GB with storage iSCSI software adapter, turn it on and bind your VMKs 2.

  4 connect to your iSCSI storage space

  5 rescan devices, create the VMFS datastore

  6. set the desired load balancing VMFS method or just set up a prior default create new VMFS

  and it is strongly recommended to read this guide - http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-storage-guide.pdf

• vSphere 4, win2008r2 and alignment sql2008r2

  Hello group,

  I wanted to check what I read.

  We create a new virtual machine to host a sql server server and I wanted to make sure that I understand what I read.  Is it true that I don't have to do anything about alignment?  The use of vsphere when the vmfs LUNs is created with the VI client will automatically align the FS?

  In addition, new MS Windows 2008R2 operating systems automatically align the guest OS?

  I'm looking to make sure that I have to make the right choices here before you start.

  For the bottom, we have a farmer 3 Server with Dell R710 servers and a Dell MD3000i SAN with 15 SAS 15 K 600gig readers.  The san is divided into 2 groups-8 raid in raid 10 disks and 6 drives in raid 10.  The remaining drive is spare.

  Thanks for your ideas.  Also, if anyone can instruct me on how to confirm the alignment is set correctly it would be appreciated.

  You are right, there is nothing to do about the alignment of drive with Windows 2008 (R2). However, for SQL Server, Microsoft recommends to format the NTFS partition with a unit size 64 k. see http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd758814 (SQL.100) .aspx

  André

• 1 TB SAS 7.2 K vs 1 TB SATA 7.2 K (DELL MD3000i)

  Hi guys,.

  I'm new to the SAN thing and hope someone can enlighten us.

  I'm playing between the use of drives of 1 TB SAS or SATA 1 TB for my new DELL MD3000i SAN. Both drives work on 7.2 K rpm. It will be connected to the ESX and run "normal" virtual machines such as files and print Windows, Exchange, SQL, Linux, etc. Nothing very heavy.

  A. you have any input on how the performance, reliability, etc. would be like between these two types of drives - SAS 7.2 K vs 7.2 K SATA?

  (B) with 14 x 1 TB 7.2 K drives, should I run RAID5 or RAID10 to maximize performance? IIRC, 14 disks in a RAID5 configuration will have a rate of 14 pins, while 14 disks in RAID10 will throughout the 7 pins. Capacity is not a problem right now.

  (C) on a note related, how about 14 x 450 GB SAS 15 K disks? Their execution in RAID10 is a complete overkill? Or RAID5 would be the sweet spot since the disks are already 15 K RPM?

  Thank you very much!

  My understanding is that the SAS drive interfaced will be 10-15% faster for the random i/o, even if speed control 7.2 k is the same. It is the ability of the difference between the fairly simple, integrated SATA on the drive controller and the SAS controller with double vent more advanced. So, all things being equal elsewhere the SAS interfaced by car will be a better choice for general use. For purposes of archiving, for example, there would be little difference. Pointing to the MTBF numbers are similar, readers are probably the same as their controller.

  What levels of raid are in my opinion is one of the determinants for raid 10 is the problems that can occur with a raid 5 is the rebuild time and performance hit.

  If you have several virtual machines running in production and you have a raid 5 rebuild during a working day, is it acceptable to have a lot of your virtual machine runs very slowly.

  If it is not then use raid 10 and get the best performance as well.

• Reference Dell MD3000i - Contoller Module 1 Stopped working, I think that

  I think that I lost my MD3000i Controller Module 1.  I'm not familiar with these devices and I donb't want to waste them.  I don't have spare parts.  Is it possible to see if I can get the Controller Module 1 working again?  The Module is NOT in offline mode.  I ping the outside management NIC of the band, but I can't view the IP information for Port 0 and Port 1 iSCSI network settings.

  Module controller 0 is working right now, but without the controller 1 I lose redundancy.

  Thank you

  PS - I have registered Support information but don't see nowhere here to tie it.

  Sam - I was able to get the module working again yesterday.  I had to put offline, cut the power, unplug the chassis unit and disconnect the NIC after these actions, I have it plugged it all back in and brought online and was able to redistribute the readers.  Everything works well again.  Backup controller order has been placed.

  Thank you!

• Change a failing drive - RAID Dell Poweredge H310 - RAID 1

  Hi guys,.

  Thank you for everything that support you in these forums. I'm new here.

  We have a Dell PowerEdge T320 server on my new place of work. It is Dell Poweredge H310 RAID controller on it. It is configured in RAID-1, with 2 discs.

  Now my question is: in the event that one of the drives breaks down:

  1 - I should insert the new drive into the slot where the failed disk has been inserted, or in the following location?

  2 - will be the new drive automatically "copied" with the healthy disk data or it will need some work?

  I read the manual and chapter 'Replacement year Online physical disk', says the following, but I don't know the answer to these questions:

  1. in the management of virtual disks window, select Virtual Disk # and press the arrow key down until the physical disks is highlighted.

  2. press arrow right key to expand the list of physical disks that are members of the virtual disk.

  3. press the down arrow and select the desired physical disk that you want to replace. Press to view the list of operations permitted on the disc.

  4. Select Replace and then start.

  5. tap on the down arrow to select a replacement disk and then press the SPACEBAR to select the disk.

  6. click OK to start the replacement.

  Any advice would be appreciated.

  Kind regards.

  Videoclocknet,

  You must remove the failed disk and replace it with another similar drive on the same niche. When you choose the following location, be sure to follow the steps in the virtual disk management screen (VD) as you have indicated.

  The failed drive will be replaced and the replacement drive will be one on the following location. Either way is perfectly fine. You can then monitor status of the VD and the reconstruction process using OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA).

  2 disks configured in RAID 1 act as a reflection of the other. Failure of 1 drive ensures that the same data are available on the other. When you replace the failed disk, the rebuilding process begins, and the same data gets automatically copied.

  Please let me know if you have any other questions.

• This VM could not become vSphere protected HA and HA cannot attempt to restart after a power failure

  ESXI 4.0 3 running virtual machines.

  600 GB HDD / 8 Gigas of RAM / Xenon QuadCore.

  ESXI 5.5 (I had two).

  Using Raid 01 (1 TB)

  RAM of 64 Gbite

  Hearts CoreI5 Xenon proceso.

  VCenter server deployment with Vmware Storage appliance.

  Problem:

  I've had enough material resources, in fact, I had twice the disk space and memory to four times more in the reception of news

  When migrating virtual machines in ESXI 4 server and get Vcentener turn it on the message "this VM could not become vSphere protected HA and HA cannot attempt to restart after a power failure.  "

  I do not understand because the servers have resources, I can't find what is wrong.

  Should I use another method of migration?

  Once that you have migrated, can solve this problem without re-migration of computers?

  I found this post, but it's no imformation. This VM could not become vSphere protected HA and HA cannot attempt to restart after failure of.

  Thank you

  See:

  Re: This VM could not become vSphere protected HA and HA cannot attempt to restart after a power failure.