Nimble Peer Persistence with VMware

[CRD]

Good day

We have a client where we installed a Nimble AF40 array in 2022 (iSCSI data protocol). Running esxi with Vcenter.

The client is now procuring a 2nd Nimble AF40 array and the WAN will be stretched accross to a 2nd DC about 2km from the 1st Nimbe installation. 

Plan is to setup peer persistence between the 2 sites so the new array will be joined to the existing array group.

I have 2 questions that I would really appreciate some feedback on:

1. According to the HPE NIMBLE STORAGE AND HPE ALLETRA 6000 PEER PERSISTENCE guide "Adding the second array The first array is ready to scale out with the addition of the uninitialized second array". Is this the only way as there is a chance that we migth need to setup and configure the hardware, OS and applications at a staging area first that will not be network connected to the client site and if we cannot initialize the new Nimble array at the staging site it will limit us alot.

2. Can you only have 1 VCenter instance for a Peer persistence setup or can each site have its own VCenter running. My thinking is the answer is NO because an ESXi host can only be managed by 1 VCenter instance and you need esxi hosts with peer persistence in the same Vmware cluster

Thanks

[Vipin_S · Accepted solution]

 Hello ,

1. We have one more method. We can initialize the array but need to make sure the configuration is the same as the Primary site array.
Network settings, naming for subnets, HW config, SW version. 
Once the secondary array is set up with the same config as like primary array,  we can log in to the primary and add the secondary array to it.
It won't get added if any config mismatches and it will throw an error specifying the same. So you should add the array in this way.

2. yes you are right an ESXi host can only be managed by 1 VCenter instance. So only a single Vcenter instance should be used.

[CRD]

Hi Vipin_S

Thank you very much appreciate your feedback.

1. This is great and will make sure we setup the Nimble with the same settings as the Primary array ie. Network settings, naming for subnets, HW config, SW version etc.  when we initialize it in our staging area.

2. Thanks for confirming

All the best regards

[Sunitha_Mod]

@CRD 

That's excellent! 

We are glad to know your concern has been addressed.