Nimble Storage Vmware virtual volumes

[giladzzz]

Hi

some questions about volume setup

1) is Dedup done at pool level or volume level

2) should I use different performance policy on volumes that hold SQL or Exchange (even if they are virtual machines).

3) if I have two exchange servers (DAG) should they be on sparate Datastores will Dedupe work on both.

4) is there a limit or recommendation on how many VMs should be on a DataStore.

Thank you

[mamatadesaiNim]

Hello,

When we think about virtual volumes, we have to think on a "per VM" basis.  Users do not create volumes on the Nimble array: they create VM Storage Policies on the vCenter which specify characteristics like dedupe, performance policy, etc.  Then create a VM with that VM Storage Policy.  The Vasa Provider (VP, for short) software on the array will automatically create the volumes with required characteristics.

We recommend no more than 1000 VMs with a total of 10,000 volumes on the higher end AF9000/AF7000 platforms.  Limits are smaller on the lower end platforms and you may need to refer to docs.

In the backend, all volumes with similar performance policies and application policies will belong to the same dedupe domain.  Is there a specific requirement (beyond dedupe) why you may be looking to place these in different datastores? 

--m

[Cali · Accepted solution]

Hi

1) is Dedup done at pool level or volume level

Default is Global, you can change to Domain/Application, Performance, Volume, or Pool, as you need.

2) should I use different performance policy on volumes that hold SQL or Exchange (even if they are virtual machines).

Only if you need Performance Setting (if the System is too slow) and the Database has an own Datastore (Volume).

Usually, all my Customer Nimble Systems have no need to set a Performance Policy.

3) if I have two exchange servers (DAG) should they be on separate Datastores will Dedupe work on both.

I would prefer to separate Datastore and Dedup always on if Nimble CPU is not too high.

See Question 1.

4) is there a limit or recommendation on how many VMs should be on a DataStore.

Differ by Nimble Modell, but most Times high enough.

Think about Backup/Restore time if a Datastore going corrupt (Why ever).

And how many VMs are going down if you lose a Datastore?

If you have one VM with 10TB of Data may be to use a Datastore only for this.

If you have typical VMs we put 10 -30 VM per Datastore.

Cali

[giladzzz]

Thank you for your detailed answer

giladzzz