vSphere 4.1 – Cross-EMC support – what’s the good/bad/ugly?

UPDATE Sept 23th, 2010 – vSphere 4.1 (ESX and ESXi) is now universal across all of the major EMC capabilities.

UPDATE July 18th, 2010: a bit more info on Site Recovery Manager & Avamar…

Whenever there is a major VMware release, a common question from EMCers, EMC customers, and EMC partners is: “what is supported day one, and what will break if I upgrade?”

Any vendor who tells you “nothing will break” is either:

1. lying (lying maliciously)
2. delusional (lying, but unintentionally) – if you’re a competitor that piles on to this post, remember I have most competitor’s products myself, and I’ll call you on it :-)
3. a one-product company

As soon as you have a broad portfolio – getting everything to line up is impossible.  As we near major VMware releases, as the “face for VMware inside EMC”, I rally across the product teams to make sure we’re aligning.   We all work hard, and push as much as possible – but inevitably there are little time gaps.    They are all on eLab and the VMware HCL – but I’ve found it’s useful to have it integrated in one place. 

So – I’m taking the high road here and being as explicit as possible – even with gaps.  

Read on for details, but in a nutshell – core storage support is a rock on day one, and almost everything else lands within Q3, with some Q4 stragglers.

BTW – also getting the inevitable “can I get a Vblock with vSphere 4.1?”.  The answer now is YES.   That one is a firm NO right now.   Remember – the core idea of a Vblock is that it’s all integrated and tested so you don’t need to.   That means that by definition it will always lag any given component a little bit – and that’s a GOOD thing.   Of course, expect an update soon :-)

Remember everyone – always test before putting anything into production!!!!

Read on for details…

• Storage:
  • Platforms = YES.  Day 1 support is perfect – and you can see it here.   Every EMC storage platform target (Iomega, CLARiiON, EMC Unified/Celerra, Symmetrix and VPLEX) is on the VMware HCL day one across all protocols.  This was a chunk of work – so thank you from me to the VMware and EMC teams that made that happen.
  • VAAI support: YES on EMC Unified/EMC CLARiiON, Q4 on VMAX.   VAAI support doesn’t come from a “plugin”, it is a function of the array target’s responses to SCSI commands, so in other words, it’s a firmware/array software thing.   EMC’s committed VAAI support is right around the corner on the CLARiiON CX4, EMC Unified EMC Unified and EMC CLARiiON are supported in the FLARE 30/DART 6.0 update which is fully GA, and in Q4 on EMC VMAX in the Enginuity 5875 update.  You can read more about that here. 
  • PowerPath/VE = YES.   FULLY SUPPORTED as of PP/VE 5.4. SP2, now GA. There are some caveats here – PowerPath/VE 5.4.1 (GA today) works – but management and updates via VUM were broken (you fall back to CLI based updates/management).  Also, vSphere 4.1  ESX completed it’s certification testing, but ESXi did not in time.  RPQs are being accepted on ESXi.   PowerPath/VE 5.4.2 (which lifts all caveats listed earlier) is Q3.
  • EMC Replication Manager = YES.  Replication Manager 5.3 supports vSphere 4.1.   NO.   Replication Manager will support vSphere 4.1 in Q3.
  • Recoverpoint = YES.
• Site Recovery Manager:
  • With vSphere 4.1, you need to use SRM 4.1, but this time, VMware did a great job getting SRM updated near synchronously with vSphere 4.1
  • Very good news on this one – all EMC’s SRAs are certified and posted.
• vCenter Plugins
  • UPDATE 7/29/2010 – EMC Virtual Storage Integrated 3.0.1 has shipped, and fully supports vSphere 4.1   You can download it, and the docs on Powerlink here:

  Home > Support > Software Downloads and Licensing > Downloads T-Z > Virtual Storage Integrator (VSI)

  and the Release Notes from Home > Support > Technical Documentation and Advisories > Software ~ T-Z ~ Documentation > Virtual Storage Integrator > Virtual Storage Integrator for vSphere > 3.x.

  •  EMC Virtual Storage Integrator = NO.   EMC Virtual Storage Integrator (currently at v3.0) supports vSphere 4 (including update 2).  The next release (v3.0.1) which along with vSphere 4.1 support also includes support for various other new things is targeted for the end of July, so very close.   v3.1 targeted for Q4 has LOTS of goodies (I can’t wait!!)
  • EMC NFS Plugin = NO.  The next release which along with vSphere 4.1 support also includes merges block storage management for a Unified platform plugin (see below) and various other goodies.  It’s scheduled for the end of Q3.
  • EMC CLARiiON Plugin = NO.   The next version of the plugin is folded into a Unified platform plugin (see above)
• Backup
  • Data Domain = YES.   Data Domain is an easy yes, as it’s independent from VMware from an interop standpoint.
  • UPDATED: Avamar = YES.   Supported as of Avamar 5.0 SP3, which is GA . UPDATED: Avamar = NO.   Testing seemed to show some issues in some restore scenarioes with vSphere 4.1.   SP3 is close, and will support vSphere 4.1.   There will be an Avamar Virtual edition which with either be concurrent, or lag by just a few weeks.
  • NetWorker = NO.   NetWorker 7.6 SP2 – is where NetWorker gains integration with VADP, and is supported with vSphere 4.1.  Target is Q4.
• RSA
  • Envision = NO – support arrives in Q3
  • SecureID = NO – support arrives in Q3
  • DLP = YES – no vSphere dependency

Thanks – if there’s something you’re curious about, comment, and I’ll work to get the answer!

Comments

[Duane Haas]

Chad, would you happen to know what makes the NS502 not make the official list of supported arrays? I've been running it in production for awhile, and although it hasn't become an issue with vsphere, i am flooded with messages in the log about unsupported array.

[Chad Sakac]

Hmm - the NS500 did make the list of officially supported array Duane - it's on the VMware HCL.

Can you drop me an email, and I suggest opening a case - 1-800-SVC-4-EMC, that way we have a case to work from.

[PJ Spagnolatti]

Chad, thanx a lot for the transparency, very precious info. I suggest you add Recoverpoint to the list.

[Chuck Hollis]

Transparency is good -- thanks!

-- Chuck

[Dave Hulme]

Chad, do you know if there are any plans to have/add VAAI support for the DMX4 family of Symmetrix?

Thanks in advance....

[Robert Samples]

any support for the Celerra NX4? i'm really starting to feel like a red headed step child of EMC's....

:( I just purchased 2 arrays Nov 09, and one of the reasons was tight EMC partnership with VMware.

to see all these new goodies coming down the line, only to be left in the cold...

is very disapointing.

[Duane Haas]

Thanks Chad, and your right, it does show its compatible, I was filtering on NAS, and if you do that and select Vsphere 4 it does not display:

http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?action=search&deviceCategory=san&productId=1&advancedORbasic=advanced&maxDisplayRows=50&key=&release[]=13&datePosted=-1&partnerId[]=30&arrayTypeId[]=3&isSVA=0&rorre=0

Thanks, after removing filter it does show up ok. This is the specific message that vmkernel log shows:

Jul 14 20:42:25 mi-mke-imcesx1 vmkernel: 68:08:55:02.357 cpu0:25521)ScsiScan: 105: Path 'vmhba32:C1:T0:L0': Peripheral qualifier 0x1 not supported
Jul 14 20:42:25 mi-mke-imcesx1 vmkernel: 68:08:55:02.357 cpu0:25521)ScsiScan: 843: Path 'vmhba32:C1:T2:L0': Vendor: 'EMC ' Model: 'Celerra ' Rev: '0002'
Jul 14 20:42:25 mi-mke-imcesx1 vmkernel: 68:08:55:02.357 cpu0:25521)ScsiScan: 846: Path 'vmhba32:C1:T2:L0': Type: 0x0, ANSI rev: 5, TPGS: 0 (none)
Jul 14 20:42:25 mi-mke-imcesx1 vmkernel: 68:08:55:02.357 cpu0:25521)ScsiScan: 105: Path 'vmhba32:C1:T2:L0': Peripheral qualifier 0x1 not supported

[NA]

@ Robert Samples

The NX4 is supported in Vsphere 4.1 for NAS (nfs), iSCSI and FC. Check Duane's link above.

As well the NFS plugin works with the NX4 and Vsphere 4.0. From Chad post above it looks like it will be ready for 4.1 in Q3. Can't wait!

Most IT admins don't install these updates in production on day 1 anyways. The time lines above are completely acceptable.

-NA

[CC]

It would be great to have a test platform for Unified Storage and vSphere 4.1. ;) Chad do you have a version of the VSA with Flare 30 in it for this purpose?

[Chad Sakac]

@Duane - what version of DART do you have running? That error will get thrown if it's prior to DART 5.6. Do you have an open case #?

@CC - it will be a bit longer, but we're working away on your dream ask...

@Dave - VAAI support in Symmetrix will be VMAX only.

@Robert - I'll check on the plans for the AX4 that's in the NX4, but I don't think block VAAI is in the works there. Good news for you that comes from being an EMC customer:

1) You have platform support day 1.
2) Shortly, the EMC plugins that integrate with vCenter will be updated - you will be happy, and they work with your NX4.
3) I'm 99% sure that the work underway now for "future vSphere releases" (BTW - I **have** to say it that way) around NAS VAAI will work on your NX4. Will ensure that is the case.

In that price band - there's nothing out there that matches the NX4.

Thank you for being a VMware and EMC customer, we treasure every one!

[Ryan Russell]

Very pleased with the ESX 4.1 performance tweaks for NFS. Working well with my NS42 and NS480 that I use with ESX via NFS.

[Craig Waters]

When can we expect an update on Avamar?

[Robert Samples]

Chad thanks for the replies: thats good to hear. I purchased the NX4 for NFS backend, but had some performance issues so we went iscsi. after some limited testing with vsphere 4.1 and VDR 1.2, my NFS performance is much better, i may switch my Citrix VM's to NFS and see if the lock issues have been addressed. If that's the case. Would greatly ease my implementation. iscsi performs great, but there are lots of layers. looking forward to the vcenter vi-client plug-ins. and nfs improvements.

[John Wininger]

Chad, are the current versions of the site recovery manager SRAs for Symmetrix SRDF and Clariion MirrorView supported on vSphere 4.1?

[Carlos Capellan]

Hi Chad,

We are setting up a CX4 SAN and EMC is telling us that 4.1 is NOT supported. When we point them to the vmware HCL they say they do not work off that. What gives?

[JeffS]

Chad,

Any update on PowerPath/VE 5.4.2 release date?

[Chad Sakac]

@JeffS - great news - PowerPath 5.4 SP2 GAed on 9/10. Blog post going up on Monday....

Thanks for being a customer!

[Chad Sakac]

@John - All the EMC SRAs are fully supported with SRM 4.1

Thansk for being a customer!

@Carlos - the EMC eLab folks are the ones that actually make the submissions to the VMware HCL folks, so beside the lag (eLab updates monthly as it is much larger, VMware HCL updates weekly), they are ALWAYS in lockstep. The EMC "process" is to always check with eLab (which is good thing for you), but that means that sometimes that little lag results in a snafu. The snafu is MUCH better than deploying something that hasn't been tested.

That said, you've clearly run into a snafu. If you're still stuck, please email me, include your EMC contacts, and I will "unstick it".

Thanks for being a customer!