SnapDrive for Windows with VMware VMDKs on NFS Datastores in a vFiler Context

- we extend this to NFS datastores presented from a vFiler. Also, here we are not using RPC since our vFiler is not domain joined (cifs setup has not been run - but we do have DNS configured!)

Part 1: Our vFiler Configuration

# Creating the vFiler
vol create v_vflonntp01_01 -s none aggr0 100g
vfiler create vflonntp01 -i 10.0.1.125 /vol/v_vflonntp01_01

# Changing to the vFiler context
vfiler context vflonntp01

## All the following bits are done in the vfiler context
## vflonntp01@LONNTP01>

# Creating a Qtree and export to our VMware Hosts
qtree create /vol/v_vflonntp01_01/q_vflonntp01_01
exportfs -p rw=10.0.0.0/16 /vol/v_vflonntp01_01/q_vflonntp01_01

# We will configure vFiler access over HTTP* in SDW
options httpd.admin.enable on

# Create a user
useradmin user add local_sdw_svc -g Administrators

# This next bit is only to enable SSH (PuTTY) access to our vFiler so we can test our credentials
options ssh2.enable off
secureadmin setup ssh
options ssh2.enable on

*vFiler access is only possible over HTTP in the vFiler context - HTTPS is not an option. Why? options httpd.admin.ssl.enable is only an option in the vfiler0 context!

Part 2: Configuration of the VSC

The vFiler has already been added to DNS. We add the vFiler as a new storage system in the ‘Virtual Storage Console - Backup and Recovery’ section using its DNS name as below:

Image: vfiler (vflonntp01) added to SMVI/VSC
Part 3: Configuration of SnapDrive for Windows

Not that it is absolutely necessary (but useful practice) - here we have created a local administrator account on our server called ‘local_sdw_svc’ with the same password as we configured when running the useradmin user add local_sdw_svc command earlier. The SnapDrive and SnapDrive Management Services are set to use the local account as below.

Image: SDW services using local admin account with same name as account created on vFiler
In the SnapDrive for Windows MMC, and Transport Protocol Settings:
Default tab - unticked ‘Enable’
Storage Systems tab - added in our vFiler using HTTP and the local account credentials

Image: SDW Transport Protocol Settings - Default tab with ‘Enable’ unchecked
Image: SDW Transport Protocol Settings - Storage Systems tab
And proof that our VMDKs on NFS datastores presented by a vFiler are showing in SnapDrive for Windows!

Image: SDW - VMDKs on NFS via a vFiler
A Question

Q: If it possible to use RPC with a vFiler?
A: Yes. If cifs setup has been run on the vFiler as in the preceeding post here, then RPC will work with a vFiler in just the same way. With DNS resolution etcetera … all configured correctly, there is no need to specify the vFiler as a Storage System under Transport Protocol Settings, and the Default ‘Use RPC’ can be enabled.

An Error

Not the most useful insightful error! The below error was received whilst I was playing around with RPC and HTTPS to my vFiler (without having CIFS setup run, so the RPC was always doomed!) The error message could just say ‘Please use HTTP!’

Image: Error “Unable to modify or add transport protocol. Failed to get Data ONTAP version …”

Comments