P4500 storage array volume utilization is more that allocated size

[viv_nan]

HI all,

P4500 I have allocated 8x500gb volume to 6 x VMware ESX host shared with Thin provisioning enabled network RAID 1+0 (2way), when I see the used summary and volume use tab it shows me different value( more that what allocated)

first volume utilied 520 gb , second 300, third 200gb , rest are not utilized

Is this this a normal opertaion or ?

[Steven Clementi]

Ok, so....

You are using RAID 1+0 (2-way)...

So effectively... you are doubling up on the available storage? 500GB allocated would be 1TB out of the total?

What is your "Provisioned" space value(s)?


Steven

[viv_nan]

Please find the attached screenshot

is that a normal operation

[teledata]

That looks correct. RAID 1 + 0 can consume up to 200% of the volume size. Plus if you create snapshots it can be up to 200% plus 2x the size of all your snapshot deltas.

There are a few things to keep in mind with thin provisioning as well:

1) To get the highest utilization also thin provision your VMFS volumes

2) Be sure to only do "quick" formats within Windows, a "full" will "touch" every block therefore fully provision.

3) don't defrag volumes, this also will negate thin provisioning.