VM /ETC

Archive for the ‘storage’ Category

This is just a quick note that the previous issue with vSphere customers using NFS storage and CBT has been resolved with a recent patch. More on the previuous problem and the new patch in this KB article:

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1031106

The KB was updated 7.26.11

You’ve probably heard VMware virtualization and storage talk about VAAI (vStorage API for Array Integration. If you’ve listened to episode 4 of VIRTUMANIA or watched the recent video from the vExpert Panel session at the Carolina VMUG Summit then you’ve heard me talk about it with some of those most in the know on the topic. But what is VAAI exactly and how will it impact virtualization in the future?

Side note – I hate saying “V A A I”. IMO it’s quite a tongue twister. I have adopted saying “V double A I” because it is much easier to get out.

VAAI Introduced 2 years ago

Although it does not exist in vSphere 4.0 today, believe it or not VAAI was first introduced at VMworld 2008 when the vStorage API was announced.

VMware Unveils New vStorage Technologies to Deliver Leading Efficiency and Manageability for the Virtual Datacenter Operating System

New Capabilities Deliver Deeper Integration with Storage Partner Functionality
vStorage enables intelligent integration of storage products within the Virtual Datacenter OS through the new vStorage APIs. 

vStorage APIs deliver tight integration of advanced capabilities from storage partners with the Virtual Datacenter OS from VMware.  vStorage APIs for array integration will enable customers to leverage array-based capabilities, such as snapshots, provisioning, replication and restore, directly with individual virtual machines in conjunction with the clustering and pooling capabilities of VMware Infrastructure.  vStorage APIs for multi-pathing will provide customers the ability to integrate advanced load balancing capabilities provided by leading partners’ multi-pathing software with their virtual environment.

If you are like me you were probably so overwhelmed by the news of the VCD-OS (That’s what VMware was calling the hybrid Cloud at the time … I guess?) that you missed (or were not capable or ready to comprehend) how complete of a strategy already existed for building Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) with the vStorage API. For me, looking back 2 years later it is amazing to me it was all there – at least in concept.

Don’t confuse VADP and VAAI

VAAI is only one part of the vStorage API. VADP (vStorage API for Data Protection) is another, but the these two seem to have been easily confused lately. VADP is

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Over the past few years I’ve been asked to troubleshoot and explain why cloning a virtual machine (VM) from a master template would take a longer time than expected more than once. Usually when I’m asked the virtualization admin is frustrated at the hypervisor. “This shouldn’t take this long. It needs to be fixed!” they say. “I definitely agree,” I say, “but let’s take a deeper look at what is happening here first before we flame the vendor’s help desk technician on the phone.”

So, this post is about taking a deeper look at where the master template VM resides versus where the cloned template is destined. My math my be a little off or may not account for every factor involved, but my point is to be close enough to demonstrate that the disk/array/LUN design is can be the culprit more times than not.

When I started this post I emailed for some help. I asked for a sanity check from some storage experts. I’ve been reasonably happy with my own answer until now, but I figured I do some research before adding the content to VM /ETC. I got back a single reply that I am paraphrasing: “Sounds about right. Let me think about it some more and if I can stump you with anything else I’ll let you know.” He never did so I’ll take that as a positive confirmation meaning “yes VM moron, it is that simple.” Good enough for me! If anyone can point out any other factors I am not properly accounting for please leave a comment.

The following is part of my email for help. It not only explains my test scenario but it illustrates the problem and resolution as well. At the end of this post I make some suggestions for bettering the time it takes to clone a VM.

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As in the past, I have started a Picasa photo album for the images I have captured during the event. Go to my web album to see the full size versions or watch the embedded slideshow here.

I will be adding images from Day 2 of HP StorageWorks Tech Day 2010 both today and tomorrow. So, check back for more!

In an attempt to make it easier for VM /ETC readers to follow HP StorageWorks Tech Day 2010 I will be using CoverItLive’s tool to stream the tweets and add my own comments and reports. Anyone can watch here live once I start at 8:00 am CST Monday morning, and hopefully many will participate by adding their own comments and questions.  For those that want to contribute you will be able to use your Twitter or Facebook account to do so. Best of all, the event will be recorded and playable in the future as well!

There are a ton of features available with CoverITLive. I’ll do my best to add links, photos, and maybe even some media to keep things interesting.

Monday Live Blog

Click Here to get the Live Blog in pop up window or watch and participate in the embedded widget here.

 

I’ve been invited to another blogger event by HP, so I’m looking forward to returning to Houston, TX this coming week. The HP StorageWorks Tech Day will begin on Monday 3/29 and end Tuesday 3/20 afternoon. This time HP will show off how their StorageWorks team and products contribute to their Converged Infrastructure strategy. Regular readers may recall that the first HP event I was a part of was the 2009 StorageWorks Tech Day in Colorado Springs last fall. It was a great event then and I expect the same this time too.

Look for my usual coverage with quick photo videos, eventually my full photo album, and a few posts here on VM /ETC. I might even follow fellow attendee John Obeto’s lead and try out a live blogging service and widget. We’ll see.

I want to thank the folks at Ivy World Wide, Calvin Zito, and everyone involved at HP for putting another event together for us right on the heals of the HP Blades Event just few weeks ago.

To see our event agenda go to the official Event Web Page.

http://www.hp.com/go/techday2010

There’s a Monday Night TweetUp open to the public, so if you are in the Houston area RSVP and come say hello Monday night.

http://twtvite.com/HPHouStorage

Here’s more specific event details and the list of bloggers attending as taken from the blog of HP’s Calvin Zito:

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Over a year ago I was given a 4GB iPod Nano as a gift, but I never really used it for more than listening to music. In fact, it eventually came to rest docked in a small “boom box” in my kids’ room. I lost interest in the Nano partly because my Blackberry (with the addition of a mini SD card) was able to play everything the Nano could, partly because the 4 GB of space always seemed to reach capacity quickly, and partly because I got frustrated with iTunes. In the last few months I bought a 64 GB iPod Touch, decided to give iTunes a second chance (for the apps), and even found some software alternatives. I feel like I’m getting more out of my iPod than the first time around. I’m finding professional and career value in the iPod Touch in ways I did not expect. Subscribing to technical, storage and virtualization podcasts or uploading training materials in portable format to listen to while traveling is a huge benefit.

I explained my most recent personal evolution of media gadgets to point out that many devices are podcast capable, so even if you don’t have an iPod you probably can still subscribe with most any portable device. The point is any mp3 player could be used to broaden your virtualization and general technical knowledge. The trick is figuring out how to find, subscribe, and sync the content to your device with the least amount of effort.

For those looking for other software options, Read the rest of this entry »