MAS1500 and VMWare --> "preferred path mode" on MSA1500

[rfelgner]

MSA1500, acive/active, v7.00, ESX3.5U3

In VMWare it is advised to distribute the storage-pathes with the "preferred path"-option below "manage paths"...

What is the correct setting for the MSA1550 at ACU in "redundancy settings" and "preferred path mode" - automatic or manual?

When I change from automatic to manual, then I see the LUN-assignment exactly like the path settings in VMWare.
What is the difference between automatic and manual?

Thank you for your help
Rainer

[Uwe Zessin]

Let's check the documentation...
""HP StorageWorks 1000 Modular Smart Array
Installation Guide
Seventh Edition (October 2006)
Part Number: 254092-007

Automatic load balancing (Default - recommended) -- MSA firmware initially assigns ownership of all LUNs to one of the two MSA controllers, and then automatically re-assigns LUN ownership evenly between the controllers based on I/O loads of the LUNs.

Manual load balancing -- Through the ACU or the CLI, indicate the preferred path (controller ownership) for each LUN. This method is recommended for environments that are load balancing from the host.""

[rfelgner]

Hi Uwe,

yes - it's correct, but:

VMWare initiate all connections at the first path (first port on first controller) of the storage. After this, you must manually distribute the connections by VMWare...

The MSA (also EVA-Storage) will not change this path-distribution - i think so...
(Exception: The path fails...)

In the MSA now you can see the distributed connections.

1) What's happen, when the parameter on the MSA is set to "Manual"?
- It's possible to fix the path-distribution (f.i. for correct path-settings on new added VM-Server)?
- What's happen, if a path fails?
- What's happen, if a failed path is repaired?

2) If the parameter is set to "Automatic":
- Is the MSA trying, to change the paths for load-balancing???

Thanks a lot
Rainer