vSphere: iSCSI Multipath

-
Once again, I have just learned about iSCSI Multipathing and tested it out in my home lab using a openfiler as my iSCSI virtual SAN and with nested ESX 4.1 and ESXi 5.0.

Reason why I taken such a combination of different Hypervisor is to show how this can be done.  In vSphere 5, where ESXi 5.0, there is a GUI to perform the MPIO binding unlike in vSphere 4.x, this has to be done via the command line.  Even changing the MTU value has been made easy in vSphere 5.

You can also do a load balance by changing the path selection to round robin.

vSphere 5


vSphere 4

Update: After setting up the mutipath, reboot the esx host and the path would be shown correct.

iSCSI binding Commands
Changing a vSwitch with MTU 9000 (Optional)
>esxcfg-vswitch -m 9000 vSwitch0

Add a vmknic to a port group with MTU 9000
>esxcfg-vmknic -a -i 172.16.200.91 -n 255.255.255.0 -m 9000 "Port Group"
Where port group is the name of the port group.

To view your vmknics for iSCSI 
>esxcfg-vmknics -l

My iSCSI adapter is vmhba33.  My vmknic are 1 and 2.
To bind the respective vmknic to adaptor 
>esxcli swiscsi nic add -n vmk1 -d vmhba33

>esxcli swiscsi nic add -n vmk2 -d vmhba33

 
To remove the vmknics, make sure the iSCSI is disabled and not datastore are connected.
To ensure a reboot is recommended.
>esxcli swiscsi nic remove -n vmk1 -d vmhba33
>esxcli swiscsi nic remove -n vmk2 -d vmhba33 


To see the vmknics associated with your adapter 


>esxcli swiscsi nic list -d vmhba35







References:

Changing MTU for vSwitch and vmk 

http://www.gavinadams.org/blog/2010/07/19/esxi-41-and-the-9000-byte-mtu-on-vmk0/

vSphere 4.x

http://virtualgeek.typepad.com/virtual_geek/2009/09/a-multivendor-post-on-using-iscsi-with-vmware-vsphere.html

http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2009/03/18/iscsi-multipathing-with-esxcliexploring-the-next-version-of-esx/

http://yourmacguy.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/vsphere-iscsi-multipathing/



vSphere 5

http://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2011/08/vsphere-50-storage-features-part-12-iscsi-multipathing-enhancements.html














































Comments








Post a Comment
























Popular posts from this blog









Why VMware or Why Not after Broadcom?






-















The Truth Yes, the news of VMware acquired by Broadcom has come to a realization. We cannot denied the truth since 22nd Nov 2023. Prior the acquisition, if you have made a multi-year purchase before that, you will have whatever you can consume after the acquisition. VMware after the acquisition has release new bundle of all their offerings and end the perpetual licensing offer to the market. The individual products are not make available and cannot be purchase as a standalone. But are offered via two bundle namely; VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF), VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF). Both of which are all subscription licenses. It also ends all sales and renewal of any perpetual licenses. Honestly, VMware has been trying to end its perpetual license and into subscription for the longest time. With the Broadcom acquisition, VMware has been one of the last major player that has moved to subscription license. Customer who are on VMware, has been enjoying the great pricing with no limit of cores








Read more










VMware by Broadcom, A New Chapter Forward






-















With Broadcom acquisition  of VMware completing in 22nd Nov, there have been lots of assumption made by many sources what will become of the business direction. Here are some of the updates that are publicly announced if you have not catch up on the news. To start with, VMware is now known as VMware by Broadcom and all originally VMware software will remain to be branded under VMware. The first announcement 27th November, Carbon Black is  now  an autonomous unit within Broadcom. In my opinion this is good news. I have seen not much integration on Carbon Black ever since acquired by VMware so with that move, it allows Carbon Black to innovate and do what they do best in Cyber security landscape. Next from the acquisition completion, there are many speculation on after the acquisition what will end up of End User Computing? With the  announcement  on 8th December, The End User Computing (EUC) division will be a diverse business. With that understanding, EUC division will operate on their








Read more










VMware vExpert 2024 Application is Now Open!






-















I believe many would have wonder if the vExpert Program will continue since VMware has been acquired by Broadcom recently. I am glad to announce that Corey Romero  the program manager for VMware vExpert is continuing the support for the program and this is also Broadcom is supportive of it community recognition. Just for information, VMware User Group is here to stay! For those who are not aware, the VMware vExpert 2024 application is now open. You can follow the post here . There are calls and multiple resources to help you out with your applications and explanation to the different path. Do take note you can fill in the form and save it and submit before 15 Dec 2023 closing date. So take your time to collect your thoughts on your contribution to the VMware community. There is no rush to fill it up at one go. If you need any advice or help, and need to talk to someone, go to the vExpert Pro  directory and find someone near you. I am honoured to be part of this directory. Personally I 








Read more