Installing the NetApp Virtual Storage Console (VSC) for VMware vSphere and Using it to Optimize NFS Settings

As a continuation from the previous post – NetApp Basic NFS Configuration Walkthrough with VMware – the following article provides a walkthrough installation of the NetApp VSC, and then using the VSC to optimize NFS settings on a VMware vSphere host.

Part 1: Obtain and Install the VSC

i) Download the Virtual Storage Console for VMware vSphere from https://now.netapp.com/eservice/Download.jsp

*This walkthrough uses the VSC-2.1.2-win64.exe, and installing here onto a VMware vSphere 4.1U1 vCenter. There is also a 32-bit version, and version 2.1.2 supports vSphere 5.

ii) On the vCenter Server, run the VSC Setup Launcher
Fig 1: VSC-2.1.2-win64 Setup Launcher
iii) Run through the InstallShield Wizard:

Next >
Accept the terms in the license agreement : Next >
Select Capabilities : Next >

*The capabilities include: Monitoring and Host Configuration (default,) Provisioning and Cloning, and Backup and Recovery (with license.) To use the VSC to optimize NFS only needs the default selection ticked; here though we might as well tick all selections to see the full feature set.

Fig 2: Virtual Storage Console – Select Capabilities
Choose Destination Folder : Next >
Install >
Finish

iv) Register the plugin with vCenter at https://localhost:8143/Register.html and complete the vSphere Plugin Registration.

Plugin service information
IP Address: {e.g. IP Address of vCenter}

vCenter Server information
Host name or IP Address: ???
Port: 443
User name: ???
User password: ???

Click 'Register' and if successful then the following appears "The registration process has completed successfully!"
Close the internet browser.

Part 2: Authenticating Storage Controllers in the VSC

Open up a vSphere Client connection to the vCenter server >
Select the Datacenter object (or cluster, or host object – does not really matter here) and select the 'NetApp' tab >
Accept the Security Alert >
Click on the 'Update' button in the top right corner >

Fig 3: NetApp VSC Plug-in with -'unknown-' Storage Controller
When the update has completed, right-click on the '-unknown-' controller and select 'Modify Credentials' >
Enter the credentials and click OK >
Wait for the Controller to display correctly under 'Storage Controllers' (click Update to speed up the process)

Fig 4: NetApp VSC Plug-in with an authenticated Storage Controller
Part 3: Optimizing NFS Settings on an ESX Host

From the 'NetApp' tab within the vSphere client, under 'ESX Hosts', right-click the ESX host and choose 'Set Recommended Values...' >

Fig 5&6: NetApp VSC Plug-in ESX Hosts and 'NetApp Recommended Settings'
Leave all boxes checked (only really need 'NFS Settings' box checked in this instance - will not hurt to update 'HBA/CNA Adapter Settings', and 'MPIO Settings' at the same time) and click OK >
Finally reboot the ESX(i) host server to apply the changed settings!

Fig 7 : NetApp VSC Plug-in ESX Hosts – host with recommended settings

Comments

  1. Thanks for this tutorial...works nice! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Highly recommend making sure that you log into the server you are installing VSC on as a local admin. Otherwise you will have installation issues. I use to support VSC at NetApp.

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    Replies
    1. From vcenter is there a way to know which server the virtual storage console is installed on? it is not installed on our vcenter server

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  3. Thanks a lot for the tips. I have got an issue, i have applied the settings on the host, rebooted it, but after an update (from VSC). The host need again a reboot :-/ Have you got an idea?

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  4. Not to nit pick but just for clarity the VSC Plugin registration URL is case sensitive: https://localhost:8143/Register.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much for the comment. Post updated with the capital R.

      Delete
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