This guide, or “cookbook,” describes how to design and deploy virtual infrastructure systems using VMware Infrastructure 3 with SANs (storage area networks). It describes SAN options supported with VMware Infrastructure 3 and also describes benefits, implications, and disadvantages of various design choices. The guide answers questions related to SAN management, such as how to:
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Manage multiple hosts and clients
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Set up multipathing and failover
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Create cluster-aware virtual infrastructure
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Carry out server and storage consolidation and distribution
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Manage data growth using centralized data pools and virtual volume provisioning
This guide describes various SAN storage system design options and includes the benefits, drawbacks, and ramifications of various solutions. It also provides step-bystep instructions on how to approach the design, implementation, testing, and deployment of SAN storage solutions with VMware Infrastructure, how to monitor and optimize performance, and how to maintain and troubleshoot SAN storage systems in a VMware Infrastructure environment. In addition, Appendix A provides a checklist of SAN system design and implementation. For specific, step-by-step instructions on how to use ESX Server commands and perform related storage configuration, monitoring, and maintenance operations, please refer to the VMware
ESX Server Guide, which is available online at www.vmware.com.
The guide is intended primarily for VMware Infrastructure system designers and storage system architects who have at least intermediate-level expertise and experience with VMware products, virtual infrastructure architecture, data storage, and datacenter operations.
Check it out, here.
Thanks to Henry Borns for the news!