EMC Unified vCenter Plugin v2.0 – HOWTO and details

The elves at EMC have been busy :-)

Last week, the EMC Unified Storage vCenter plugin hit it’s second major version (codenamed “Vinson”).    This plugin, on it’s own does everything provisioning-related a customer using vSphere (vSphere 4.0 and vSphere 4.1 are fully supported) really needs with EMC Unified Storage.   Older CLARiiONs (block only) and Celerras (including NAS only and block and NAS use cases) are supported if they have the proper firmware revs.

• We’ve been working to make it simpler and easier.
• We’ve been working to unify NAS and VMFS provisioning into a single plugin (previously two seperate plugins that needed to be both installed)
• This is also a important step down the path towards our long term vCenter plugin roadmap at EMC (read on for more details)
• As always, it’s provided FREE.

A great vSpecialist – Clint Kitson – was kind enough to make a simple and easy HOWTO video, and post some common issues and workarounds to the Everything VMware @ EMC community (which is completely open to the world)

Here’s a HOWTO video showing installation:

You can download it in high-rez MOV and WMV formats.

You can download a STEP-BY-STEP HOWTO document here.

If you’re interested in more, please read on for details (some important ones if you’re a customer/partner)….

Ok – a few comments:

Q: What does this have to do with EMC’s other vCenter plugin – the Virtual Storage Integrator?

A: They are closely related.  Virtual Storage Integrator is the papa bear of all EMC vCenter Plugins.  It provides extensive mapping of VMware and Storage objects, providing simple, easy end-to-end VISIBILITY across all EMC platforms.  It also provides the more granular provisioning control needed for very large vSphere deployments on EMC Symmetrix.   Technically you DON’T NEED it if you have an EMC Unified storage platform, but I would recommend it.

Q: Does the EMC Unified Storage Plugin have other dependencies – like EMC Solutions Enabler?

A: Beyond what is in the doc, for the EMC Unified Storage plugin there are no other dependencies – you can install it tickey-boo without needing anything other than the IP addresses of your EMC storage :-)   PERIOD.

Well, it’s actually “COMMA!” :-) Often this question is rooted in EMC Virtual Storage Integrator (VSI).    VSI depends on Solutions Enabler for communication with EMC arrays via APIs, and in the case of Symmetrix, via Solutions Enabler which interacts with gatekeeper LUNS (management traffic on Symmetrix is done via these devices, not IP – and solutions enabler makes API and network-based configuration possible).    Solutions Enabler is included in the VSI package, and you don’t need ANY further licensing to use it, but does require proper Solutions Enabler configuration.

Q: Why are there still two EMC vCenter plugins? 

A: The EMC Unified Storage Plugin does what most EMC Unified customers need without anything else.   It’s designed to be as simple as possible.  We’re finding that most customers don’t use the plugins (my colleagues at EMC competitors find the same for theirs), so we’re trying to make the “barriers to value” as low as possible.    VSI provides more visibility, and more comprehensive path management, and Symmetrix-specific stuff, that generally has more complex management models (customers in those segments typically have specific requirements.

There is a master plan :-)   VSI is at version 3.0.1 right now.   The next version (expected shortly) – version 4 moves it to a super-framework design that all other EMC plugins “snap into”.   This means that we can have the product teams for Avamar, Replication Manager, RSA, DPA and others can innovate and invest, but for customers, it remains simple, vCenter integrated with a common look and feel.   This is Andrew Kutz and Lee McColgan’s masterpiece.   TRES COOL. The EMC Unified Plugin v2.0 (the one we’re talking about here) is the first plugin designed for that framework, so while it also stands on it’s own, it will snap directly into VSI 4.0 when it is released.

Comments

[Charleshood]

Don't forget the new Connectrix Manager 10.4 vCenter plugin that gives administrators proactive SAN monitoring capabilities and end-to-end visibility through the storage network. These plugins augment one another nicely!

[Joe Houghes]

Quick heads up. The link for the EMC Storage Plugin does not work. You have an extra space after 'vmwarechampion' in the URL.

[Glenn Anders]

The "You can download a STEP-BY-STEP HOWTO document here." link does not work..I really would like this as I have run into issues trying to get it to install.

Thanks.

[Ajay]

hello Chad,

i have the VSI 3.0.1 now. SO if i install this new EMC unified plugin, i can do all that VSI now does through this new plugin? in that case one would not require the VSI moving forward.
My clariion at the backend is not the Unified model. It is SAN based.

[Jmlopez]

Hi Chad.

I tested this fantastic plugin in our vSphere 4.1 and vSphere 4.0 and works well, but, when I do a provision storage Disk/LUN, it creates always a thick lun (CX4-240 with flare 30). I prefer to create thin luns for datastores, but this plugin dont have option to select it ¿it is correct?
I follow your fantantic blog, and I think you recommend use thin luns a array level.

Thanks four your impresive work.