VVol goes Inactive

[liamgp106]

I upgraded our arrays this week to NimbleOS 3.5 and today I have been starting to look at VVols.

I've followed the steps and watched this video > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEwQYhTYd3U and it all seems to go OK. Then all of a sudden my new VVol datastore shows as 'Inactive' and I can't do anything with it.

Can't find much info out there just now, so wondered if anyone here could shed any light?

We're running ESX 6.0 Update 2 and NimbleOS 3.5. NCM is 3.3.0 and is the ESX6 specific version.

Any help most appreciated!

[Finnzi]

Hi,

Did you already engage support? That would be the first place to reach when having a issue like this.

Bgrds,

Finnur

[liamgp106]

No as it's just something I've been looking at on the side and don't have time to spend with support just now.

Just wondered if anyone else had seen the same issue and there was something I was missing.

[jason_crossley · Accepted solution]

What is your server platform?  If you are running a newer Cisco UCS blade and VIC, it does not currently support SLLID  which is required for vVol support.  Nimble Support and I discovered that last week.  There is an open enhancement with Cisco for this feature that has been open already for 9 months. 

[jason_crossley]

I also should mention that this was for fnic (fibre channel).  Not sure if the same applies to iSCSI.

[liamgp106]

Yes it is Cisco UCS. Not so new blades though, we are running B200 M3 with 1240 & 1280 VIC's.

Embarrassingly, I have not checked the HCL, generally with the UCS I just assume it is supported as everything usually is. Is it a software limitation just now? Do you have an enhancement ID request number I can contact TAC with?

Thanks Jason.

[liamgp106]

It is FC we are using, so it would apply. Away to verify on the HCL now (if it shows such info).

[liamgp106]

I've found this article Jason. Seems you will be correct and I'll be hitting this issue with SSLID not being supported. Good work!

https://supportforums.cisco.com/discussion/12597111/ucs-support-vmware-virtual-volumes-vvol-hba-driver-update

[jason_crossley]

So definitely check the HCL.  I made the same mistake thinking current gen hardware would come enabled with a feature they have known was coming for 4 years. 

https://bst.cloudapps.cisco.com/bugsearch/bug/CSCux64473/?referring_site=bugquickviewredir

[mblumberg16]

Great find, also to add on top of that there is the VMware KBA:

https://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2114975

The  esxcli storage core adapter list command will let you know if your adapter support SLLID.