topic Modify an Existing VMware Integration in Array Setup and Networking

Modify an Existing VMware Integration

HTT91 — Mon, 02 May 2022 07:48:24 GMT

Hello guys, I am a DBA assisting the sys admin team with an issue. Our environment has 4 Exsi 7 hosts connected to a Nimble storage (via 10Gb iScsi network). The hosts are managed by a vCenter 7 server. The VMware Integration is set with Web Client only (VASA Provider not checked). We need to create a WFCS with 2 VMs on different hosts using a shared storage in Nimble. Per this guide https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-70-setup-wsfc.pdf we need vVol for shared disk. I found this https://community.hpe.com/t5/Array-Setup-and-Networking/Creating-vVOLS-with-Nimble-Connection-Manager/td-p/7013642#.YmxVG9rMKHs and it said we need to enable VASA Provider in VMware integration.

Since our environment is already in operation, any downtime is costly due to SLA's. If I enable VASA Provider in VMware Integration, will it cause any issues such as taking down the connections from the hosts to Nimble?

Thanks,

Re: Modify an Existing VMware Integration

Sheldon Smith — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 21:40:41 GMT

There should be no interruption.

Now take a look in the Nimble Adminstration Guide at Working with VMware Virtual Volumes:
https://infosight.hpe.com/InfoSight/media/cms/active/public/pubs_VMware_Integration_Guide_6_0_x.whz/index.html#ddd1480379576971.html

And finally, contact Nimble Support and have one of the Specialists standing by while you enable VVols and create the shared VVol storage..

Query: Modify an Existing VMware Integration

support_s — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 22:33:52 GMT

System recommended content:

1. HPE Storage Integration Pack for VMware vCenter 10.1 User Guide

2. HPE Storage Integration Pack for VMware vCenter 10.3 User Guide

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Thank you for being a HPE valuable community member.

Re: Modify an Existing VMware Integration

HTT91 — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 22:49:27 GMT

Hello Sheldon, so it is 100% safe when I mark the box next to VVol and click save for VMware Integration BUT still need HPE support standing by when I am doing that?

I am just trying to help the overwhelmed colleagues when the VMware admin left BUT don't want to be blamed if I break something :).

And thanks for your input.

Regards,

Re: Query: Modify an Existing VMware Integration

HTT91 — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 23:35:22 GMT

Hello support_s, I clicked Menu > HPE Nimble Storage then select the Nimble storage. It has VVol unchecked when I click on Action I have a wizard to create VVol Database. I entered some info and able to go to next screens until I saw the Create button. I stopped here.

VVol is not enabled but I still have the wizard to follow? And I have not enabled VVol yet as I need to make sure it won't cause any issue. The previous VMware admin simply created 1 array, 1 default pool with all disks.

Regards,

Re: Query: Modify an Existing VMware Integration

Sheldon Smith — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 13:23:38 GMT

First you need to turn on VASA support.
Log in to the Nimble array itself. From the main menu across the top go to Administration and drop down to VMware Integration. This controls the plugin within vCenter. The page shows a couple boxes: Web Client and VASA Provider. Check the VASA box and click Save. And logout.
Now go back to vCenter and use the Nimble plugin. You might need to log out and back in to vCenter.

Changing the Nimble's plugin settings is 100% safe. Given the hesitancy in your original post, you could still call Nimble Support for that 'warm fuzzy feeling'.

"The previous VMware admin simply created 1 array, 1 default pool with all disks." Which is exactly what should've been done.

One last thing: The Nimble Administration Guide has a section at the end, System Limits and Timeout Values. The System Limits table shows how many Nimble volumes are supported by your array model. Each Vvol is a Nimble volume.

Re: Modify an Existing VMware Integration

Cali — Mon, 02 May 2022 14:45:12 GMT

And if you don't want to implement VASA and vVols, you can use a RAW Device Volume.

Cali

Re: Query: Modify an Existing VMware Integration

HTT91 — Mon, 02 May 2022 21:57:05 GMT

Hello Seldon, I was able to enable VVol in VMware Integration and created a folder for VVol in Nimble GUI. Thanks.

However when I tried to add a new datastore for a host in vCenter I got a warning "For SCSI-backed vVol datastores, PE LUNs need to be configured manually. Configure SCSI PE LUNs before creating a datastore. If the datastore is created without configuring PE LUNs, the ESXi host marks corresponding vVol datastore as inaccessible". Of course the VVol datastore is marked inaccessible after created.

So I deleted that VVol then used Nimble Action to create VVol Datastore. This "Nimble Action created a folder on Nimble side and a volume in that folder. And in vCenter I got an error in Events "05/02/2022, 2:30:08 PM vSphere HA failed to create a configuration vVol for this datastore and so will not be able to protect virtual machines on the datastore until the problem is resolved. Error: Operation failed, diagnostics report: .vSphere-HA (Cannot Create File)". After a while (5-10 minutes) the VVOl datastore disappeared.

I am not sure what is going on. And on each host in Configure tab > Storage > Protocol Endpoints it is blank.

Thanks again.

Re: Query: Modify an Existing VMware Integration

Sheldon Smith — Mon, 02 May 2022 22:04:40 GMT

Hmm. Also puzzled.

Contact Nimble Support.

Re: Modify an Existing VMware Integration

mamatadesaiNim — Tue, 03 May 2022 19:47:32 GMT

>If I enable VASA Provider in VMware Integration, will it cause any issues such as taking down the connections from the hosts to Nimble?

No.

Re: Modify an Existing VMware Integration

mamatadesaiNim — Tue, 03 May 2022 19:48:29 GMT

> so it is 100% safe when I mark the box next to VVol and click save for VMware Integration BUT still need HPE support standing by when I am doing that?

Do not need HPE support standing by.

Re: Modify an Existing VMware Integration

mamatadesaiNim — Tue, 03 May 2022 19:49:40 GMT

Do not go to RDMs. It is a step back. vvols are recommended in comparison with RDMs.

Re: Query: Modify an Existing VMware Integration

mamatadesaiNim — Tue, 03 May 2022 19:50:48 GMT

How are you trying to create the vvol datastore? Can you try the Nimble vCenter plugin to create it?

Re: Query: Modify an Existing VMware Integration

HTT91 — Mon, 09 May 2022 21:08:11 GMT

I used the native wizard from vSphere client: right click on cluster name -> Storage -> Datastore then chose VVol. This time I was able to create a VVol datastore without any issues. VMware support said if I had the issue with Nimble Action in vSphere Client I should contact Nimble for support. Sound fair but I was able to create the VVol so I did not contact Nimble.

Thanks,

Re: Query: Modify an Existing VMware Integration

mamatadesaiNim — Mon, 09 May 2022 21:13:27 GMT

That's great news. So what's the next step for you, and is there any hurdle?

Re: Query: Modify an Existing VMware Integration

HTT91 — Mon, 09 May 2022 23:30:18 GMT

@mamatadesaiNim no there is no more issues for me. Thanks for your helps in this thread as well.