Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 14:12:14 +0200
Quote:
- VirtualPro
EMC VSI Storage Viewer, Solution Enabler and Symmetrix arrays
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Virtualpro/~3/yvtvtfp1DbE/
Text:
- Each VMware admin client with VSI deployed would need a direct array connection.
- Most Symmetrix arrays are FC attached and client PC’s are not.
- Arrays live in remote data centres and VMware admin PC’s live in the office.
- Increased security risk, i.e. too many direct array connections to secure
- Remote SE servers are usually already in place for storage management tasks.
- Available as a virtual appliance for quick deployment if not in place already.
- Supports connectivity by multiple remote VMware admins using VSI.
- Manage multiple Symmetrix arrays through one server.
- Decreases security risk, i.e. single device connection to array.
I’ve recently been looking at the implementation of EMC’s free Virtual Storage Integrator (VSI) with a few our older Symmetrix customers. Now customers using VMAX and VMAXe have the ability to deploy delegated storage provisioning for their VMware admins. However DMX customers only have the ability to use the read only storage viewer functionality as the DMX is not supported with Storage Pool Manager (SPM) which back ends the storage provisioning. Some interesting questions came up recently with a customer about how best to deploy the VSI storage viewer with DMX arrays and I thought it would be worth sharing the findings with a wider audience. Basically I’m looking to cover off the different ways the VSI can connect to a Symmetrix array and how some of the options selected affect end to end operations.
VSI to Symmetrix Connectivity
So the VSI tool can be used in two ways with Symmetrix arrays, you can utilise the local Solution Enabler (SE) installation that comes with the VSI or you can use a dedicated Solution Enabler server. It’s important to remember that Symmetrix arrays can only be discovered in-band, basically this means the SE install needs direct connection with the physical array. This is achieved through the presentation of small LUNs known as gatekeeper LUNs, something existing Symmetrix storage teams will be very familiar with. So lets look at the two different possible setups.
Local Solution Enabler Deployment
The local deployment model shown above would require a gatekeeper LUN being presented / zoned through to the machine that the VI Client, VSI and local SE install have been deployed on. Communication with the array in this instance flows directly between the client PC and the array. In the majority of instances this isn’t going to be very practical for a number of reasons.
Remote Solution Enabler Deployment
The remote deployment model shown above would require gatekeeper LUNs being zoned through to a dedicated server. VMware admins would then connect through this remote SE server when querying Symmetrix arrays from information with the VSI. Communication flow in this instance always goes through the server, however as you’ll see later results can be returned from the SE server or the array depending on VSI configuration. This kind of setup is more practical for a number of reasons.
Mix and Match
The model above is by no means rigid, you can craft a number of solutions out of the principals shown above. If your vCenter server sat in the same data Centre as the array then you could present gatekeeper LUNs to it and use this as a management point whenever you want to get information from the array. Another possible solution is to put a management virtual machine in the datacentre with the VI Client and VSI installed and present a gatekeeper as an RDM, whenever a VMware admin needs information from the array they connect into that management VM to carry out the work. Basically there is a solution for deploying VSI with Symmetrix arrays no matter what you’re setup looks like.
VSI Discovery Process Flow
One question that did come up recently was what happens when you select the AutoSync option for a symmetrix array and you are using the remote SE server solution. How often does it poll the array? Well the answer is it doesn’t, which is strange as the term Autosync gives the impression that it syncs with the array on a regular basis. So how does it work?
AutoSync enabled
When AutoSync is enabled each time you request array data, e.g. clicking on the EMC VSI tab for a datastore. The request forces the SYMAPI database on the remote SE server to be updated from the array, the up to date array information is then returned to the VSI. There is obviously a slight cost involved in doing this as the remote SE server needs to make the calls to the array in order to update it’s local database before responding. Typically this would introduce a 10 – 20 second delay but that cost means you guarantee the information received is up to date and valid.
AutoSync disabled
When Autosync is disabled each time you request array data the request is returned from the cached information in the local SYMAPI database on the remote SE server. This is obviously the fastest method as you don’t have the cost of querying the array directly for an update but the information may be out of date.
With Autosync disabled it’s up to the VMware administrator to initiate the sync of the array from within the VSI. Alternatively the storage team can initiate sync with the array directly through the SE server using SYMCLI. To initiate a sync manually go into the VSI tool and select Symmetrix arrays from the list of features, highlight the array and click on Sync Array.
Summary
The free EMC VSI Storage Viewer tool can be of great benefit to Symmetrix customers, allowing VMware admins improved visibility of the underlying storage layers. In larger environments where Symmetrix arrays are traditionally used you tend to find VMware and Storage are managed by separate teams. Anything that improves the information flow between the two teams during troubleshooting has to be a must have tool. As show above some thought needs to be given to how you set it up. My personal preference would be to always go for the remote SE server solution. Enable Autosync if your underlying VMware storage environment changes often and if it doesn’t then a manual sync every now and again should suffice.
Additional notes and links
SPC-2 Flags
It’s worth noting that SPC-2 flags need to be set on the FA port or on the initiator of the ESX host for the VSI to work correctly, in fact this is a required setting for ESX generally. This has come up a couple of times recently so I though it worth mentioning to ensure that people have it setup correctly, the following whitepaper gives you more information.
VSI installation Media
Home > Support > Software Downloads and Licensing > Downloads T-Z > Virtual Storage Integrator (VSI) – (Please Note: PowerLink account required)
Solution Enabler Media
Home > Support > Software Downloads and Licensing > Downloads S > Solutions Enabler(Please Note: PowerLink account required)
Solution Enabler Documentation
Home > Support > Technical Documentation and Advisories > Software > S > Documentation > Solutions Enabler – (Please Note: PowerLink account required)
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