Why several vmkernels for iSCSI multipath?

Similar Questions

• iSCSI multipath vs network redundancy?

  If I have a redundant network, say a VMkernel port on a vSwitch with two VMnic, maybe Port ID load balancing and the two vmnic goes to two different physical switches and there are redundant links on all switches between the ESXi host and iSCSI SAN and it is Rapid Spanning Tree set up, and there is a kind of Etherchannel / Link aggregation on the iSCSI Server , but only a single IP address...

  Is there an advantage to configuring iSCSI multipath and let the VMkernel manage failover, rather than let the network itself, make sure that there is a path between the host and the target?

  Primary storage provider use several IP for storage NIC (in some cases two different networks).

  With the VMware multichannel modules, you are limited to only one path (at that moment) to a LUN, but the seller might have is multichannel modules, or of course, you can use LUN more have used more of paths.

  Bandwidth could be interesting with several virtual machines... or I/O loads.

  André

• iSCSI Multipathing vs just make the NICs active/active (vSphere)

  Hello

  I have 2 physical cards in my iSCSI vSwitch for dedicated and I understand that if I want to use multipathing I need to create 2 VMKernel ports, assign to each NETWORK adapter and connect them to the iSCSI initiator using the CLI interface.

  It is, what are the benefits this new management feature gives multichannel just teaming network adapters in an Active / Active configuration? The two configurations are not only as redundant ones than the others?

  Thank you

  Pete

  MPIO allows a server with multiple NICs for transmitting and receiving of I/O across all interfaces available in a compatible SAN corresponding MPIO.  If a server had four 1 GB/s network adapters and SAN had four 1 GB/s network adapters, the theoretical maximum rate would be about 400 MB/s (3.2 Gbit/s).

  Aggregation by grouping NETWORK adapters (or LACP, PAgP, 802.3ad, etc.) doesn't work the same way. Aggregation of links does not improve the throughput of a single traffic flow (a single source of communication with a single destination).  Only one stream will always travel the SAME path.

  The advantage of the aggregation of links is seen when several 'unique' streams (each with different source / destination) exist.  Each individual stream is sent down from its own available NETWORK adapter interface (computed by a hash algorithm).  Most unique feeds, most used network cards, more view aggregate throughput achieved. Aggregation of links will not improve throughput for iSCSI, although it gives a degree of redundancy.

  I hope this helps.

  Paul

• Problems with iSCSI Multipath i/o

  Hi people,

  I just started testing with ESXi 4 and hit a snag with the software iSCSI adapter and Multipath i/o.

  A bit of background reading, I understand that the storage architecture is a little different to 3.5, with the new PUBLIC service announcement.

  Anyway, here's the implementation.

  Single host ESXi 4.0

  -vSwitch1

  -Two cards of uplink physical

  -Two ports, with a VMKernel interface in each group (see attachment "Storage4 - Network.jpg'")

  -10.42.80.107 & 10.42.80.108

  -L' order of the adapter has been supplanted in the port groups while only 1 adapter is active in two groups of offices

  -Added the two interfaces VMKernel (vmk1 & vmk2) for iSCSI adapter, using the commands 'esxcli nic swiscsi.

  -Basically, everything described in the VMWare "iSCSI SAN Configuration Guide"

  Thecus R4500i iSCSI SAN

  -Two physical network adapters

  -Each physical NETWORK card has it's own IP address

  -10.42.80.200 & 10.42.80.201

  So in this configuration, I should end up with 4 paths:

  ESXi 10.42.80.107 - SAN 10.42.80.200

  ESXi 10.42.80.107 - SAN 10.42.80.201

  ESXi 10.42.80.108 - SAN 10.42.80.200

  ESXi 10.42.80.108 - SAN 10.42.80.201

  That is what I get, if I look in the "Configuration\Storage Adaptors\iSCSI software adapter" (see attachment "Storage2 - Paths.jpg'").

  But here's the problem, when I take a look in "Configuration\Storage\Devices\iSCSI Software Adaptor\Manage paths", I get only one path (see attached "Storage3 - Paths.jpg").

  Can someone help explain this? Did I miss something?

  This same configuration (servers, network cards, SAN, etc.) everything is perfect with multiple paths in ESXi 3.5

  (And Yes, I know that the Thecus ' "is not on the HCL supported, but we are only talking about standard iSCSI here, no additional Plugins storage, etc.)

  Not uber-urgent, but annoying, as this lack of multipathing would stop a vSphere deployment.

  Thank you

  Graham.

  Looking at the trace, it seems that, the table is not confirming to the specification when it sends data VPD. Let's not id NAA format. According to "spc3r23, 7.6.3.6.1 basic format of identifier NAA", the first Quartet of the NAA id can be 0 x 2, 0 x 5 or 0 x 6. However, the trace shows 0 x 9. ESX 4.0 does not have several paths to the LUN b ' cos of this. Is there a way to disable 'Page of Identification of device' on the side table.

• Reviews for iSCSI NFS e 3100 & Catalyst 2960-S vs?

  I'll put up my first SAN, a 3100 e with 2 NICs by MS.  We chose a pile of Cisco 2960-S for redundancy at the network level, and during the planning phase, I had chosen to use NFS.  E does not deduplication with iSCSI support (someone?), and the performance is roughly equal to this environment.  It is 3 guests with approximately 15 production MV; I expect a usage rate of 20% per host based on statistics collected from the current production environment.

  The glitch is 2960-S is limited to 6 ports-channels, even in a pile!  Initially, my plan was simple enough, and a commercial engineer.  Create channel-port on each host to storage traffic and traffic VM vMotion/HA.  Each of them would be 2 gigabit NIC in a VLAN dedicated.  But, now that I have that 6 Channel ports to work with, what is the best solution?  I would go with NFS, if possible, but I can't understand a good way to provide a high availability and balancing at the network level (yes I know that the effectiveness of IP hash is questionable in a port channel).

  In the past, I have Setup iSCSI multipathing in environments of test with good results, but it is a little more complex that I want to get for such a small environment, and we lose deduplication.

  Is back to the original question - possible to NFS, highly available, without aggregation of links?  I am referring to each element of the stack - host, network and SAN.  Is there another method would you recommend, and if so, why?

  A few thoughts I had:

  Wouldn't be better to put the vMotion/HA NIC on access ports with 1 NIC in standby mode and use the port for NFS instead channels?  Once the environment is fully migrated, I expect vMotion will be made during failures and maintenance periods.

  If I assigns an IP address to a store NFS SP A and it fails, MS B will remain passive until a failure and then take control of this IP/action?  Or the store NFS appears twice in my list of data stores?

  Thanks for your comments!

  Here is my attempt at bad taking a picture to help visualize this

  I had to redact the names and IP addresses

  MGMT use vmnic1 as a primary vmnic5, as a backup. It is the VLAN 125

  vMOTION uses vmnic5 as a primary vmnic1, as a backup. It is 126 VLAN.

  vmnic1 and vmnic5 are shared resources at the level of the physical switch to allow the 125 & 126 VLAN.

  

• iSCSI multipath on a distributed vSwitch?

  I read that there are problems with this and I'm pretty positive, I read that it is still not supported in one of the documents ESX4u1 (although for the life of me I can't find this text of presentation this morning).  Is this even a question?  And if so, can someone explain why exactly this is not working?

  I'm documenting a config proposed for deployment using cards dual 10GbE and I do research using iSCSI multipath and dvSwitches.  Which raises another question, on a channel 10GbE same multipathing necessary?

  
  
  -Justin

  If you are talking about the use of links in the port, then you must use conventional switches for this purpose.  It is in the notes version of vSphere

  vExpert

  VMware communities moderator

  -KjB

• iSCSI multipath with Distributed Virtual Switch error

  Ive followed the iSCSI SAN guide and have iSCSI multipathing works well with a regular virtual switch. Ive cancelled all configurations and have begun to see if I can get this working with a dVSwitch.

  I get the error "Add Nic failed in IMA"

  Someone at - it ideas?

  I recently worked on a case of iSCSI with VMware support and they mentioned a known issue with iSCSI and dVS, this is also described in the release notes, but may still have a problem. You can contact the technical support for confirmation.

  • ESX/ESXi 4.0 4.0 does not support the compatible ports with DVS binding configuration VMkernel network interface cards

  If you configure compatible with vNetwork Distributed Switch port binding NICs VMkernel, the operation fails if you enter esxcli swiscsi nic adds - n vmkx d vmhbaxx and vmkiscsi-tool - V - a vmkx vmhbaxx orders through the service console or the vSphere CLI.

  Workaround: Use only inherited vSwitch VMkernel NIC for port binding.

  =========================================================================

  William Lam

  VMware vExpert 2009

  Scripts for VMware ESX/ESXi and resources at: http://engineering.ucsb.edu/~duonglt/vmware/

  repository scripts vGhetto

  VMware Code Central - Scripts/code samples for developers and administrators

  http://Twitter.com/lamw

  If you find this information useful, please give points to "correct" or "useful".

• Reduce the number of iSCSI Multipathing in paths

  I'm experimenting with performance iSCSI on NAS. Currently I have 4 NICs on the host and 4 NICs on the NAS. That leaves me with 16 channels for iSCSI data store. I would like to disable multipathing so I find myself with 4 paths. I would try having NIC1 on the host go on the NAS NIC1 and NIC2 on the host then goes to NIC2 on the NAS, so on and so forth. Is this possible? I saw that I could disable paths but I did anyway to say which way goes to which nic so that I might finish with 4 paths all on the same network adapter. Any help would be appreciated.

  I found that if I broke to the top of each of the 4 NIC I used for iSCSI in different subnets traffic and then set the 4 network cards on the NAS in the same subnets I could get the number of paths down to 4. However with adapter for iSCSI for the VMware software there is no way to have more than 1 NIC of the flow value. Round Robin will use only 1 NETWORK with a value of debit card while I was stuck with the help of only 25% of the potential flow of the NAS for iSCSI traffic.

• I pay for several months for a subscription, but the program propose to install only the demo version of the software.

  I pay several months for a subscription cloud creative but the program offers me to install only demo version of the software. Why what is happening ?

  Hello

  Please see the below help documents:

  Applications creative Cloud back in test mode after an update until 2015 for CC

  Solutions to connection errors, activation and connection with creative Cloud applications and Creative Suite

  Kind regards

  Sheena

• Several SPID for a unique SID

  Here are the details:

  Version of database - 11.2.0.3

  node 4 RAC

  Version of the EBS - 12.1.3

  OS - AIX

  Here are the details of a session for which we see several operating system process ID. Can someone explain please why multiple SPIDs for the same sid, serial # combination.

  USERNAME SID SERIAL #.

  INST_ID SELECT OSUSER

  SPID

  ------- ------- -------------------- ---------- --------------- --------

  3651 60283 APPS	4	12320914
  3651 60283 APPS	4	15861340
  3651 60283 APPS	4	4326126

  NOTE: when I try to get the sid of the above (s) spid, I get the result for one of them.

  SQL > @pid

  SQL > set echo off

  Enter the Unix process id: 12320914

  Enter the instance id: 4

  =====================================================================

  1 sessions found with 12320914 as their process id of unix for the instance number 4

  =====================================================================

  SID/serial number: 3651,60283

  In the foreground: PID: 1234 -.

  Shadow: PID: 12320914 - oracle@extendp

  SQL > @pid

  SQL > set echo off

  Enter the Unix process id: 15861340

  Enter the instance id: 4

  =====================================================================

  0 sessions found with 15861340 as their process id of unix for the instance number 4

  =====================================================================

  0 sessions found with 15861340 as their process id of unix for the instance number 4

  Scroll down to see the details of all sessions.

  =====================================================================

  SQL >

  SQL > @pid

  SQL > set echo off

  Enter the Unix process id: 4326126

  Enter the instance id: 4

  =====================================================================

  0 sessions found with 4326126 as their process id of unix for the instance number 4

  =====================================================================

  0 sessions found with 4326126 as their process id of unix for the instance number 4

  Scroll down to see the details of all sessions.

  =====================================================================

  Kind regards

  Aditya.

  You are ignoring the fact that both views report for multiple instances in a CCR environment.  A SID can coexist in multiple instances.  A SPID can coexist in multiple instances.

  Your join must include INST_ID select.

  Optional: your WHERE clause can include a filter for INST_ID select

  Hemant K Collette

• iSCSI Multipathing - interesting questions

  Hi all

  Here is the scenario, I have an ESXi4.1 environment. I had 4 servers ESXi and vCenter server. I need to configure the iSCSI. I use a NetApp box for this. I create vSwitch which I create a VMkernel port and assign an IP address that is in the same subnet as NetApp box. I give this all active vSwitch 4 network cards and then activate the s/w iSCSI initiator. I am able to communicate with the NetApp box. now the question is through which nic I am communicating to the BOX iSCSI?

  What happens if one of the this vSwitch vmnic fails?

  Can I configure the aggregation of links for this configuration with a single port VMkernel, it balances the load in this case?

  For iSCSI, I do not recommend to use the aggregation of links, but to set up the network, in the right way (and as suggested by the storage for vSphere provider) to use MPIO.

  NIC working? Generally, one for each LUN... (so more LUNS are a good idea).

  André

• Why several backupSETS simple backup command

  Oracle 10.2.0.4.0
  Oracle Linux 5.6 x 86-64
  
  In view of this backup script

  $ORACLE_HOME/bin/rman target / <<EOF >>$logfile 2>&1
  configure backup optimization on;
  configure channel device type disk format '$BACKUP_LOC/%U.rman' MAXPIECESIZE 4096 M;
  configure controlfile autobackup format for device type disk to '$BACKUP_LOC/%d_%F_ctl.backup';
  configure controlfile autobackup on;
  configure default device type to disk;
  configure retention policy to recovery window of 2 days;
  configure snapshot controlfile name to '$BACKUP_LOC/snapcf_hr91tst.f';
  show all;
  crosscheck backup;
  crosscheck archivelog all;
  delete noprompt force obsolete;
  delete noprompt force expired backup;
  delete noprompt force expired archivelog all;
  # ------- only for cold backup
  shutdown immediate;
  startup mount;
  backup as compressed backupset incremental level 0 database tag tag_$ORACLE_SID;
  alter database open;
  # -------- end only for cold backup
  sql "alter database backup controlfile to trace as ''$BACKUP_LOC/${ORACLE_SID}_ctlfile_${datestring}.trc''";
  list recoverable backup;
  EOF
  #

  I see this kind of interesting things of the acutal backup command

  RMAN> show all;
  
  using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
  RMAN configuration parameters are:
  CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY TO RECOVERY WINDOW OF 2 DAYS;
  CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION ON;
  CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO DISK;
  CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP ON;
  CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '/u01/app/oracle/backup/orcl/%d_%F_ctl.backup';
  CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE DISK PARALLELISM 1 BACKUP TYPE TO BACKUPSET; # default
  CONFIGURE DATAFILE BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO 1; # default
  CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO 1; # default
  CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE DISK FORMAT   '/u01/app/oracle/backup/orcl/%U.rman' MAXPIECESIZE 4096 M;
  CONFIGURE MAXSETSIZE TO UNLIMITED; # default
  CONFIGURE ENCRYPTION FOR DATABASE OFF; # default
  CONFIGURE ENCRYPTION ALGORITHM 'AES128'; # default
  CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG DELETION POLICY TO NONE; # default
  CONFIGURE SNAPSHOT CONTROLFILE NAME TO '/u01/app/oracle/backup/orcl/snapcf_hr91tst.f';
  
  <snip>
  
  Starting backup at 07-Dec-2012 05:30:26
  allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
  channel ORA_DISK_1: sid=211 devtype=DISK
  channel ORA_DISK_1: starting compressed incremental level 0 datafile backupset
       <snip list of files and backup pieces >
  channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:25:46
  channel ORA_DISK_1: starting compressed incremental level 0 datafile backupset
       <snip list of files and backup pieces >
  channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:19:01
  channel ORA_DISK_1: starting compressed incremental level 0 datafile backupset
  
       <snip more of same >
  
  channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:03
  channel ORA_DISK_1: starting compressed incremental level 0 datafile backupset
       <snip list of files and backup pieces >
  channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:03
  channel ORA_DISK_1: starting compressed incremental level 0 datafile backupset
       <snip list of files and backup pieces >
  channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:01
  Finished backup at 07-Dec-2012 06:41:10
  
  Starting Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 07-Dec-2012 06:41:10
  piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/backup/orcl/orcl_c-4286206908-20121207-00_ctl.backup comment=NONE
  Finished Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 07-Dec-2012 06:41:14

  and

  List of Backup Sets
  ===================
  
  BS Key  Type LV Size       Device Type Elapsed Time Completion Time     
  ------- ---- -- ---------- ----------- ------------ --------------------
  57      Incr 0  8.51G      DISK        00:25:37     07-Dec-2012 05:43:42
  
        <snip details of backup set>
  
  BS Key  Type LV Size       Device Type Elapsed Time Completion Time     
  ------- ---- -- ---------- ----------- ------------ --------------------
  58      Incr 0  5.54G      DISK        00:18:59     07-Dec-2012 06:01:36
  
  
        <snip more of same>
  
  
  BS Key  Type LV Size       Device Type Elapsed Time Completion Time     
  ------- ---- -- ---------- ----------- ------------ --------------------
  83      Incr 0  1.02M      DISK        00:00:00     07-Dec-2012 06:41:09
  
        <snip details of backup set>
  
  BS Key  Type LV Size       Device Type Elapsed Time Completion Time     
  ------- ---- -- ---------- ----------- ------------ --------------------
  84      Full    14.14M     DISK        00:00:01     07-Dec-2012 06:41:11
  
        <snip details of backup set>

  So, as you can see, this one statement backup finished uttering 28 backup SETS. I understand the multiple elements of backup by value (snipped from above), because that would be controlled by "MAXPIECESIZE 4096 M", but I don't understand why several SETS.

  backupSpec     A BACKUP specification list contains a list of one or more backupSpec clauses. A backupSpec clause minimally contains a list of one or more objects to be backed up.
  Each backupSpec clause generates one or more backup sets (AS BACKUPSET) or image copies (AS COPY). For AS BACKUPSET, the backupSpec clause generates multiple backup sets if the number of datafiles specified in or implied by its list of objects exceeds the default limit of 4 datafiles or 16 archived logs in each backup set.
  PLUS ARCHIVELOG     When you specify PLUS ARCHIVELOG, RMAN performs these steps:
  

  refrence decision-making
  http://docs.Oracle.com/CD/B19306_01/backup.102/b14194/rcmsynta009.htm

• Dedicated switches for ISCSI switches dilemma...

  Hello

  I bought two dedicated switches (I thought they were in any case) for ISCSI traffic that I had planned on just my ISCSI traffic from 3 dedicated ESX host connection.

  Now the network team is said it opened enough ports on switches from my heart for the IP traffic such as vmotion, machine VM... etc.

  How can I use the new switches that I bought for ISCSI traffic only, to include also the IP traffic, but everything in remaining secure? I would do that with the VLAN?

  If so, how would I go on this subject?

  I would use VLAN for that. Trunk at the bottom of the ESX host and dedicate and label your ports vmkernel or groups of ports.

  Example:

  vSwitch0 with -

  iSCSI: vlan 5

  VM traffic: vlan 6

  VMotion: vlan 7

  Configuration:

  VMkernel port ISCSI0, vmk1 tagged vlan 5

  Port group VM-traffic, the tag vlan 6

  VMkernel por vMotion0, vmk2 the tag vlan 7

  Regarding safety, it depends on your needs. You can always leave the VLAN iSCSI and vmotion again according to the requirements of connectivity to other systems.

  Something like that can work?

• error after creating a console service on vSwitch1 for iSCSI

  For iSCSI, I created vSwitch1 and put a NETWORK card and assigned IP address 10.1.1.1 and 10.1.1.2 default gateway on this (photo 0).

  on iSCSI host 10.1.1.2. The two connenct directly.

  VSwitch0 192.168.1.201, gateway 192.168.1.254 default with another NETWORK card

  Click on property for vSwitch1-> add-> service console

  put the IP address 10.1.1.1 and subnet

  and not changed Service Console Default Gateway (photo 1)

  Finally, get an error message (on photo 2) and the new Console of Service cannot be built.

  So changed Console Default Gateway to 10.1.1.2 Service (photo 3), got an error message too

  George,

  You can have the same IP addresses on the Service Console and VMkernel port!

  Network for software iSCSI Storage configuration describes how to configure iSCSI.

  André

• iSCSI Multipathing

  This feature is in part?

  Hi John

  When you say iSCSI multipathing are you askingif initiator iSCSI s/w supports iSCSI CIDs? As other posters have said, even in iSCSI 3.5.x load balancing / redundancy is supported. One of the best plates of search (over and top the iSCSI SAN configuration guide) is "TA2213 - VMware Infrastructure 3 storage: iSCSI implementation and best practices" presented at VMworld 2008.This apron covers some details very good implementation around load balancing and path multiple configurations.

  In vSphere, we made a lot of improvements iSCSI.  For example, we have ways to set up the iSCSI initiator ESX to each port allows to establish a session to a target.  This means more paths for failover or load balancing. It is documented in the new SAN iSCSI for vSphere config guide which will be online soon.

  hope this helps

  Lee Dilworth