EMC VNX for File Simulator – installation and configuration.pdf

4/17/2015 EMCVNXforFileSimulatorinstallationandconfiguration.|PiszkiLab|EN

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Often we do not have access to the specific vendorhardware. Storage are very expensive toys and do notappear, just like that, in home labs. Fortunately,companies such as EMC provide simulators. VNXsimulator, for example. Of course, this product is devoidof block parts (FC) but it is a fully functional file-part(including the full management interface). Completelyfree. What does that give to us? Ability to check inpractice as it looks professional disk array and thepossibility to test several solutions. Replication betweenarrays (this requires a two simulators) for example. Andof course, satisfy curiosity as always.

EMC VNX for File Simulator installation andconfiguration.2014/10/21 by Piotr Pisz | 8 Comments

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In this post I will show you how to install and configurethe EMC VNX for File (in the next post will be aboutinstalling EMC Isilon and ViPR). The simulator is availablefor free (with a licenses to support NFS, CIFS, Snapshot,File Replicator and Retention) on EMC pages, or can bedownloaded directly from me. Import machine tovSphere (or VMware Workstation / Player) is a standardprocess:

VNX version is 8.1 which is for the moment the newest:

We can also download version 7.1.6 (the version that isinstalled in VNX5300 arrays) with one controller (lessdemanding). The machine has two interfaces and needstwo IP addresses, if you have your own DNS server,preferably immediately create appropriate records A /PTR (to facilitate us swapping SSL certificates). Obviouslythis is not a step required for proper operation. Thesetwo addresses is for management, you will also need atleast one IP address for running services.

When you start the machine, log in to it as root/nasadminvia console:

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And configure the network by typing netconfig -d eth0(and eth1):

When configuring interfaces is end, issue the commandifup eth0 (and eth1). In the file /etc/sysconfig/network Wecan disable ipv6:

At this stage we can log off (wait a few minutes) and go tothe management interface. Connect via web browser tothe address of the first interface (in my case:http://vnx1a.piszki.pl), if everything is ok, we see this:

We run Unisphere and review the configuration(username and password is root / nasadmin). Unisphereneeds Java and security settings to medium (ControlPanel -> Java). To use our simulator, we have to activateall (or selected) licenses, we do it in the Settings ->Manage Licenses:

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The simulator in this form is ready and you can play withit. If we want to use it for more serious tests (remember,performance will not be the biggest) we need to makethree more steps. In the first step we stop array and addits 2GB of RAM (in order to have a minimum of 6GBRAM), without this, secondary controller (data_mover3)will be inoperate (message slot_empty). In the secondstep, we move one of two controllers (data_movers) forthe second, configured by us earlier, network interface(/opt/blackbird/tools) via command configure_nic:

And the last step, restart storage by reboot command.After the restart we can verify the new configuration:







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The storage is configured with two pools tagged aseconomy (about 20GB) and performance (about 90GB)which should be sufficient for testing completely. Ipersonally installed the two VNX simulators, do I need totest EMC VIPR which I will write in another post. Holdersof its own CA who want to replace the SSL certificateswhich shows the Control Station (Unisphere) may lookhere. Prepare the appropriate DataStore can be done intwo ways. The first method, traditional, boring and passe:were create on the array side and connect it to the ESXitraditionally. As it is the first of my posts about EMCproducts, I describe here the other way. In this way, in asoftware defined storage world, we use EMC VSI forvSphere. It is a plugin for vCenter Web Client installed asa virtual appliance and providing integrated support forEMC product (available for free). Installation is verysimple (deploy ova), after installing, configuring andstarting the appliance, log in to the administrativeinterface and integrate VSI with our vCenter (https://IP_appliance:8443/vsi_usm/admin Username: admin /ChangeMe):

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In the next step, go to the vSphere Web Client and in thevCenter-> EMC VSI-> Solutions Integration Servicesconnect your VSI:

As you can see, in return will use the same login used inconnecting vCenter to VSI, you need Administratorprivileges to the vCenter for this login. The effect ofintegration:

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Now in the Storage Systems add your virtual VNX array:

The integration proceeds without problem:

And finally we can create our new datastore for thevirtual VNX arrays from the menu available by clicking onthe level of a cluster or a single server:



Parameters of the sample datastore:



This method of creating datastores is much moreefficient and faster than the traditional model. VNX forFile work very well, I highly recommend testing them.Installation instructions can also be downloaded fromhere, it is also written on how to extend disk space. Ifthere are any questions I will be glad to answer them.

EDIT 2015.03.16 @Sly:

Boring and old-fashioned method looks like this:

1. Create a new network interface, address given aboveare intended only to manage VNX. This interface ismandatory to serve CIFS/NFS:



2. Create a new filesystem:



3. Create NFS export:

4. Mount new datastore:



5. Enjoy :-)

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Categories: Laboratory | Tags: EMC, VNX | Permalink

Author: Piotr Pisz

Computer always, since I got a Commodore64 at the end of primary school, throughhis beloved Amiga and Linux infinitenumber of consoles, until today, fullyvirtual day. Since 2001, Unix/Linux SystemsAdministrator, for seven years a faithfulcompanion and protector of Solaris system,until his sad end. In the year 2011 came inthe depths of virtualization, then smoothlyascended into the clouds and continuesthere today. Professionally working asSystems Architect in the Polish SecurityPrinting Works.

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Sly2015/03/15 at 17:42

Hey Piotr,

Thank you very much for your contribution! Itsgreat to have someone who masters the wholething to share that knowledge!

Ok, my question, I need to test ESX snapshotsfrom a famous Backup product. For this, Ithough of using the VNX simulator, as it caninteract with vCenter/ESX as a real life SANenvironment. I saw on your blog that the coolway was to use the plugin for VMWare WebClient with vCenter. But in my case, I am doingthe tests through ESX only (for now). Would youmind explaining the old way?

What should I do in order to set a newDataStore on the VNX simulator for my ESXi 5.0server?

Thanks in advance!!Cheers,Sly

Piotr Pisz2015/03/16 at 13:38

Hello Sly,

I updated the article with a description ofthe manual method, only four simplesteps. But remember, this is not theenvironment type Block/SAN. Cellera (akaVNX for File) is only a simple NAS, but Ithink for your test will be ok. All backupsolution providers operate on the sameVM snapshot method.

Regards,



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Piotr

Sly2015/03/18 at 01:43

Hi Piotr!

I just followed all your steps and finallymanaged to configure a new DataStore on theVNX! How cool is that! :))

Thanks again for everything!!!

Cheers,Sly

Piotr Pisz2015/03/20 at 07:52

Hi Sly,If you want, you can install on your ESXivSphere APIs for Array Integration Plugin2.0 this VIB add support for VAAI on VNXfor File. Yoy can download it from EMC(any VNX download section). Ofcourse, it isnot necessary, its only add-on :)Regards,Piotr

Sly2015/03/20 at 11:43

Hi Piotr,

I finally found the download link inthe EMC support page. It took me alittle while as the words plug-in couldnot be used in my search! ;-) I see itwas just released by EMC a few daysago! March 16, 2015! Will give it a try.

https://download.emc.com/downloads/DL36290_vStorage-APIs-for-Array-Integration-(VAAI)-Plug-in-2.0.zip



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Apart from this, I used the same firtssteps that you provided in your blogto create a CIFS share: Create a new network interface onVNX Create filesystem Then create a Server and a Share Map network drive from Windowsservers.It works great.

It is cool to have to opportunity to doall these things myself, as I had torely on the corresponding teams(SAN team, VMWare team, etc) foreach one of these in real world!

Even though VNX is already adinosaur, with its 4-5 yearstechnology, it is still cool to have toopportunity to use it in a simulator.

Question: Do you know if there couldbe a way to test NDMP with this VNXsimulator? I have a NetApp simulatorthat does provide NDMP, but it doesnot have the license to snapshot. VNXhas snapshot, but I cannot see howto use NDMP. I am left out with nopossibility to test NAS snapshotsfrom within Commvault!

Best regards!Sly

Piotr Pisz2015/03/20 at 13:00

Hello,

Im sorry but I do not knowanything about NetApp andNDMP, I will not help you in thismatter :(

Regards,Piotr



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Sly2015/03/20 at 18:22

Ok, interesting.

How do you suggest to install the VIB on theESXi?

I tried the following, without results:0. Firts I renamed the downloadedEMCNasPlugin-1.0-11.zip package toEMC_VIB.zip1. I enabled ESXi Shell and SSH on the ESXi 5.02. I used WinSCP to copy the downloaded ZIPfrom EMC to /tmp on the ESXi3. I connected to ESXi with Putty and tried: esxclisoftware vib -d /tmp/EMC_VIB.zip

Do you see where I am doing wrong? I also triedwith unzipped package, but then I did not knowto treat the vib as it was in another folder thanthe index.xml..

Anyway, if you have a light for this.. ;-)

Thanks in advance!!Regards,Sly

Piotr Pisz2015/03/23 at 09:02

Hi Sly,Copy VIB to /var/log/vmware, install andreboot ESXi :-)

/var/log/vmware # esxcli software vibinstall -d EMCNasPlugin-2.0-5.zipInstallation ResultMessage: The update completedsuccessfully.Reboot Required: trueVIBs Installed:EMC_bootbank_EMCNasPlugin_2.0-5VIBs Removed:VIBs Skipped:/var/log/vmware #



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EMC VNX for File Simulator – installation and configuration.pdf