I’m always surprised how few customers know that vCenter Operations is useful for more than their VMware environment – there’s a growing set of connectors for physical gear, and when it comes to the analytics of reams of data, vCenter Operations is a great tool.
Last year we announced that EMC were doing a custom OEM of vCenter Operations (intent was simple: the version of vCenter Operations that enables third part connectors is part of the Advanced package – which is awesome but not priced for volume, and we wanted to have something that every VNX customer could add).
EMC Storage Analytics is that – and includes the VNX/CLARiiON/NS connector (if you are already using vCenter Operations Advanced, you can use the ESA connector).
BTW – we are looking at expanding ESA to include VMAX, VPLEX and Isilon.
Best of all – it’s priced for EVERY VNX customer to add it (press your EMC or EMC partner sales teams) to their configs. Along with the Management and Reporting package (which adds even more performance and capacity reporting), ESA is very cool.
We’ve created a community where customers can share their ESA/vCenter Operations dashboards. Check out the EMC Storage Analytics (ESA) Dashboard XChange community here: https://community.emc.com/community/connect/esa
Curious to give it a whirl (a great way to learn vCenter Operations while you’re at it)? You can go to town for free.
[UDPATE – July 8th, 2013, 12:50pm ET - BTW – to be clear, this is for a 90 day period – after that, if you dig it, it’s peanuts to buy]
Read on for more details. (Not sure if I’m supposed to post this, but hey, what the heck)
- System Requirements
- For a VNX or VNX VG array, ensure your system is at R31 Block: 05.31.000.5.502 and higher, R31 File: 7.0.35.3 and higher; R32 Block: 05.32.000.5.006 and higher, R32 File: 7.1.47.5 and higher.
- For a CX4, ensure your array is at 04.30.000.5.004 or above.
- For an NS-120/480/960, ensure your system is at 6.0.40-0 and above.
- Ensure you meet the minimum requirements to run vC Ops 5.0.3 or later (vC Ops 5.7 is strongly suggested for use with EMC Storage Analytics v1.5)
- Always reference the need for licensing in the case title/header. This will ensure the request gets auto routed to the licensing team.
- Specify the audience:
- Partner/Reseller
- EMC employee use
- Customer POC (in-house partner demos)
- Customer POC—Support will require your Site ID and contact info
- Opening a Service Ticket
- Live Chat: Directly engage EMC licensing agents for quick answers to your support questions. Note - EMC Live Chat is available for Licensing from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Eastern. https://support.emc.com/servicecenter/liveChat/
- Open Service Request: Open, track, report on, and manage account access for Service Requests here: https://support.emc.com/servicecenter/
To open a new request, go here: https://support.emc.com/servicecenter/createSR/ - Note: For VNX Series Online Support, please click here.
- Licensing Contact Information
- For live support of this product please call:
800-782-4362, option 4, option 4 (24 X 7). - EMC Worldwide Licensing Support will contact you within 2 business days
- They will ask for your Array Model and Serial Number.
- Send this array info to Support for tracking and to expedite the process.
- For Customer POCs include the name of your local vSpecialist, if known.
- For live support of this product please call:
You should receive keys for both vC Ops (ESA Storage OEM version) and the VNX.
To download your software, you can access software downloads from the EMC Online Support website:
1. Log in to EMC Support at http://Support.EMC.com.
2. Select Support by Product.
3. In the “Find a Product” field, type Storage Analytics
4. Select Downloads
HAVE FUN!
Chad,
You forgot to mention how easy it is to deploy !
One of my local customer sent me a screenshot of their dashboard less than one hour after I sent them the announcement of the availability of ESA 1.5.
ESA and VCOPS Rock !
Eric.
(Emc employee)
Posted by: Eric De Witte | July 02, 2013 at 01:53 PM
Hi Chad,
Not sure what you mean by priced for 100% attachment but when I pressed our partner there is no way we will pay the price we were quoted for the plugin given the cost we already spend on our VNX..... Would love to see/use it but down here in NZ I'm not sure the message has got through.
Posted by: Brett | July 02, 2013 at 07:03 PM
great use case!
Posted by: Vmw_ray | July 03, 2013 at 10:36 AM
Hi,
I had this quoted by my VAR and it was something like $70K for mu VNX5500. Way too pricy.
If I had $70K, I'd spend it on SSDs or more spinning disks.
Posted by: Chris | July 03, 2013 at 10:46 AM
Chad, I tried to obtain this in the fashion you mention here and EMC Licensing told me this was inaccurate. I have emailed you, and would love to get some more details. Thanks!
Posted by: Eric G. | July 18, 2013 at 11:09 AM
Hi Chad, how does this integrate with the new vCenter Operations Manager (Foundation edition) that is bundled free with vSphere now?
Can the EMC Adapter just be added to Foundation edition or does it need a second “vCenter Ops for EMC Storage” instance dedicated to the adapter because it relies on the storage features only found in the Advanced editon?
Posted by: Leigh | July 19, 2013 at 06:38 AM