Yellow Bricks

by Duncan Epping

netapp

New whitepaper available: vSphere Metro Storage Cluster Recommended Practices (6.5 update)

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I had many requests for an updated version of this paper, so the past couple of weeks I have been working hard. The paper was outdated as it was last updated around the vSphere 6.0 timeframe, and it was only a minor update. I looked at every single section and added in new statements and guidance around vSphere HA Restart Priority for instance. So for those running a vSphere Metro Storage Cluster / Stretched Cluster of some kind, please read the brand new vSphere Metro Storage Cluster Recommended Practices (6.5 update) white paper.

It is available on storagehub.vmware.com in PDF and for reading within your browser. Any questions and comments, please do not hesitate to leave them here.

 

NetApp joins the EVO:RAIL party and includes a FAS

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NetApp announced yesterday that they are now part of the EVO:RAIL partner program. Although I have been part of the EVO:RAIL team it is not something I would have seen coming. But I can see why they decided to join and find their announcement interesting. I wasn’t planning on writing about it as Mike Laverick already did yesterday, but as I received 8 emails over night on this topic I figured I would share what is going to be included in this package.

NetApp has created a rapid deployment mechanism for theNetApp FAS unit that will be integrated with the  NetApp EVO:RAIL appliance. The FAS unit will connect into the same top of rack switch that the EVO:RAIL appliance will connect into. We have created a link and launch capability that NetApp can leverage from within the EVO:RAIL configuration engine to rapidly configure/integrate the FAS unit with the EVO:RAIL appliance. 

Yes, this does mean that that 2U hyper-converged appliance which includes vSphere, VSAN and LogInsight now also will include a FAS unit (FAS 2500 judging by NetApp’s website?) in NetApp’s case. Now this is not the first time I have seen vendors adding hardware to the VMware EVO:RAIL offering, but in most other cases physical switches were included. I think this is a very interesting play though, and am looking forward to see how these two products will be integrated. From a configuration perspective I can envision what this would look like, but from a management point of view that will be a bit more challenging and may take some more time. With cool features like Virtual Volumes coming out in the near future this could be a nice way of providing a customer multiple types of storage in a seamless way.

Virtualization Changes Everything: Storage Strategies for VMware vSphere & Cloud Computing

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A long long time ago Vaughn Stewart reached out to me and asked me if I wanted to write a foreword for his book. When Vaughn told me the topic I knew this was going to be a hit! For several reasons it took a while for the book to be released but now it finally is available. Vaughn and Michael Slisinger did an excellent job and I would recommend everyone who is interested in storage / virtualization / cloud to pick it up. I love the fact they went the self-publishing route and decided to make it available for $ 19.95 (print) and just $ 9.99 (location dependent pricing, so may vary) for the ebook! I would recommend everyone to pick up the ebook though, GO VIRTUAL!

I want to thank Mike and Vaughn for the opportunity to write the foreword, and congrats on the release… I hope you will sell millions.

Storage is a foundational component in the support of virtualization and cloud computing – and it is dynamically evolving. It is an aspect of the datacenter that is all-too-often overlooked, but without storage, there is no data, and without data, there is no cloud. Virtualization Changes Everything, by Vaughn Stewart and Mike Slisinger, examines the evolutionary influence of host virtualization and cloud computing in breaking storage deployment out of outdated silo models and into a dynamic, flexible hosting environment. Virtualization Changes Everything reviews common goals and challenges associated with providing storage service with cloud computing, and addresses each through the application of advanced storage technologies designed to scale in order to support the ever-expanding storage needs of the future. The examples within the book are pulled from real-world experience, and often involve the integration of multiple innovative technologies. If you are looking for measured guidance on high availability, efficiency, integration and performance for the storage in your cloud, then this book is for you!

 

NetApp is now officially vMSC certified

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As I had many people asking about this over the last couple of months I figured I would share it. I just noticed that NetApp is now finally officially vSphere Metro Storage Cluster certified (see SAN HCL). NetApp has certified their platform for the following array types:

  • NFS
  • iSCSI

Yes indeed, FC is currently not listed… But for me the great news is that NFS is listed! A KB article has been published with all the details… make sure to read it if you are looking to deploy a stretched cluster with NetApp and vSphere 5.0.

NetApp MetroCluster supported for 5.0?

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When doing some research for a paper I am working on I noticed something. On the 29th of February the KB Article that explains some of the failure scenarios for a NetApp MetroCluster solution was updated and support for “ESXi 5.0” was added. I haven’t seen an update to the vMSC HCL yet, but I would guess that this would happen soon… or I would hope it does.

[edit: apparently the KB article was incorrect, ESXi 5.0 support was removed soon after this article was published….]