http://developer.cisco.com/web/unifiedcomputing/ucsemulatordownload

Enjoy ( I think you need a CCO login)

https://now.netapp.com/NOW/download/software/snapdrive_win/6.3/

It includes an amazing bit of functionality in the application consistent snapshots without the need for FC/iSCSI RDMS:

• Support for performing Snapshot copy operations on virtual machine disks (VMDKs) in an NFS or VMFS datastore, which requires Virtual Storage Console 2.0.1 or later. Please check the availability of Virtual Storage Console 2.0.1 and install it before using this feature.
• Support for space reclamation when using VMDKs in an NFS datastore
• Support for DataFabric Manager caching with RBAC
• Automatic download of the storage system access control (storacl.exe) tool as part of your SnapDrive 6.3 for Windows installation

This will allow us to remove a lot of complexity, just as soon as it supports all the different applications.  There are some considerations & limitations with the VMDK support:

• SnapManager for Virtual Infrastructure 3.0.1 or later (included with Virtual Storage Console 2.0.1) must be installed
• Attached VMDKs can only be basic disks
• Dynamic disks are not supported
• Multiple partitions are not supported
• The guest OS must be able to communicate with the IP address or storage system name
• configured in the SnapManager for Virtual Infrastructure server
• VMDKs cannot have multiple mount points

For a first iteration I think it is a leap forward.

IAG – https://now.netapp.com/knowledge/docs/snapdrive/relsnap63/pdfs/admin.pdf

Release Notes – https://now.netapp.com/knowledge/docs/snapdrive/relsnap63/pdfs/rnote.pdf

You may have noticed that my blog rate dropped a lot and I put that down to having 2 lovely children in 2 years and moving jobs in that time as well.

I have promised myself that I will up my blog rate again over the next few months and try to add value on my areas of knowledge around VMware, NetApp and Cisco UCS.

Once again I’m proud to be seen with such luminaries as those that have also won the award and it pushes me on to maintain the work-rate.

Cheers

Paul

prefvmx.consolidateDeleteNFSLocks  = “TRUE”

You will know whether it is working because you will see a .lck file appear in the folder containing the vmx file and snapshots should be opened and closed more quickly (try opening a ping to the VM being snapshotted and see if you lose fewer after making the change).

I have the displeasure of being hosted by one of the worst providers in the UK and I will now be moving away from them.  Until I have migrated away, I’ll be expecting a multitude of issues, so just beware.

Any suggestions as to a reliable provider in the UK would be much appreciated.

It has taken a lot of hard work to get to this point in the 9 months I have worked with the team, but it has all been worth it.

Well done to all of my colleagues at ANS Group.

The biggest issue and the one that caused me greatest consternation was the fact that Brocade have hard-coded all the new FC switches to accept only Brocade branded SFP modules.  Now this isn’t that big a problem for your shortwave connections due to the fact that the SFP modules you already own are probably not 8GB capable so you’ll have ordered new SFP modules at the same time as ordering the switch.  However, it is entirely feasible that any Longwave SFP modules you currently own are 4GB capable (which is equivalent speed to any Brocade LW SFPs) and thought you might be able to reutilise them and save a few grand.  You can’t!

Basically if you issue an SFP show command and any of the SFP Modules are listed as anything other than BROCADE under the Vendor ID, then they will not work in the new 8GB FC Switches.

The second issue is actually an IBM related problem and if you have ordered the SAN24B (8GB) Express then it doesn’t come with the capability of using E-Ports (ISLs).  I found this out the hard way as well, so save yourself a lot of irritation and don’t order the ‘Express’ version of the any of the new IBM 8GB fibre switches because in the long run there is nothing express about them!

An essential addition to any infrastructure running both VMware & NetApp it allows guaranteed crash consistent versions of Virtual Machines to be replicated to secondary sights.

New functionality and enhancements include:

• Singe file restore (SFR)
• A single wizard for creating manual and scheduled backup jobs
• New backup job options:
  • The ability to include independent disks
  • The ability to exclude specified datastores
  • The ability to trigger prebackup or postbackup scripts per backup job (the scripts must be in the server/scripts folder on the SMVI server before you can select them in the SnapManager 2.0 for Virtual Infrastructure user interface)
• An advanced find option to search for specific backup jobs:
  • Most recent backup (default)
  • Backups within a specified time period
  • Backups that include VMware snapshots
• New restore granularity option (besides SFR):
  • VMDKs

So a lot going on here and certainly worth the wait.  You can grab a copy now from the NOW site.

It has been a very long time since I have posted as I have started a new job that has completely consumed my life for the last 6 months.

I have been working on NetApp and VMware pretty much exclusively so expect to see lots of posts with NetApp focus as well as the traditional VMware topics from now on.

It’s good to be back!
Paul