HP VSA 2014 12.7 RDM or vmdk

[vsafan]

Hello,

i must install a 2 node VSA cluster, for each VSA Cluster i have  3 NVME SSDs, for the VSA VM i have a single ssd for each Host....

What is the better configuration? create 6 Datastore and in this datastore create 3 vmdks per host (jbod) and over the 3 x 2 Disk create the network raid...or is better  associate the single vmdks with RDM to the VSA 2014 vm?

Thx

Kind regard

[giladzzz]

hi

your description is not very clear but I understand that each host has 1 SSD for the use of the VSA guest and 3 NVME SSDs

for the VSA storage. I always prefer to use RDMs as that way you don't mix datastore that is in use by the VSA and datastores exported by the VSA.. also you shoud think where to create a FOM or Quorum witness.

Regards

[vsafan]

Hello gladzzz,

Thank you for the quick response of my question, exact this are my plan…

I have 2 DL380 with a sd card for Vmware a ssd for vsa 2014 OS and 3 NVME for Storage that i associate to the vsa.

This 3 NVME I associate with RDM ok?

For network traffic for each host i have 1 2x10gbit Nic for ISCSI traffic and 4x1Gbit Nics for VM and management, no vmotion HA etc. , i have only the basic vmware license.

I plan to create 2 Vswitch:
1 with the dual port 10gbit nic, in this switch i create 2 VMKRNL Ports, with overwrite switch settings, active the first nic and unused the second, the second VMKRNL port contrary.

The 2 Nics I connect with 2 10x GBit Switch with the other Host.
The VSA I configure with 1 nic in the iscsi Vswitch portgroup and the other Nic for Mgmt in the second Vswitch with 4 Nics.
In the 2 vswitch I has 1 Service console and 1 portgroupe for VM trafic.
On the ISCSI Vswitch and physical Switch I enable Jumbo frame.
In the Server lan I insert a Nas for use as Wetness quorum

That’s it

Thx for all

[giladzzz]

Hi

It looks OK

don't forget to change the RdmFilter parameter in VMware ( to enable using local disks as RDMs)

Regards

[vsafan]

Hello,

big Thanks for your ansfer,

Are this the steps to configure the RDMs Filter?

1. In the vSphere Client, click Administration > vCenter Server Settings > Advanced Settings.
   
   
• config.vpxd.filter.rdmFilter; false
• config.vpxd.filter.vmfsFilter; false

This Option still remain to false or after configure the VSA with the RDM Disk, i reconfigure to true?

Thx

Kind regards

[giladzzz]

Hi

you must chenge the default setting 

in the vsphere client you remove the V

I don't remember if it is faulse  or true but if it is

not correct setting you can not create RDMs from local disks

Regards

[vsafan]

Hello,

perfect thank you for your professional answer’s,

I have a last question:

After created the 2 VSA with 3x2tb NVME  (JBOD)  on both site and create a raid 10 I have 6 TB of RAW Space,

What is the better config or how would you do it:

 1.)    Create 1 x 6tb Thin Disk on the VSA and assign this to the VMware, create 1 Datastore on Vmware.

2.)    Create 3 x 2tb Thin Disk on the VSA and assign this to the VMware, create 3 Datastore on VMware.

3.)    Or create Datastores dedicated for Vms

                                o   1 for Exchange etc.

The handling Would be easier to assign all to vmware and manage all there…..

What is your opinion 

Very thx for all Kind regards

[giladzzz · Accepted solution]

Hi

from VSA point of view it does not

matter. you should do what is best for

you from VMware side.

Regards

give KUDO if this helps

[vsafan]

Hello giladzzz,

verry verry Thx for all,
your are a very professional contributor, 

Thank you for all

Kind regards

[vsafan]

Hello,

now is time to install the VSA solution,

Is possible that no exist solution to map NVME Disk as RDM and attach this to the VSA Guest?

The only solution that i found is create a sym Link with vmktools to the Datastore possible?

I have tried to reconfigure the advanced settings "RDM Filter" but no way..

Vmware not support local disk as RDM....

If this not works i must create 3 Datastore from my 1,87 TB NVME and then create 3 VMDKs with 1,8 TB and attach this to the vsa... but better are RDM mapping so the NVME Datastore are invisble....

Anybody has a solution?

Thx @all