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