HI,
does anyone have already ESXi 7.0 up and running and can approve that VAAI is working?
In our Setup we get this not running.
Aha! This worked:
esxcli software vib install -n NetAppNasPlugin -d file:////vmfs/volumes/b3c3f044-abc1234/ova/NetAppNasPlugin.zip
Hi,
It could be just incompatibility.
NetApp Interoperability site says : Maximum supported ESXi version is '6.7 Update 3' for VAAI Plug-in specifically.
Screenshot attached.
You may also verify:
http://support.netapp.com/matrix
Thanks!
Let me start off with saying: Always check the IMT for supported configurations!
I did a quick test this AM. I have a single-node FAS2650 here. ONTAP 9.7P2.
Created /vmware, exported to 0.0.0.0/24 - NFS - RW/any - RO/ANY - Allow SuperUser
Enable NFS vstorage on SVM
On my PC, installed ESXi 7.0 under Workstation Pro and installed the NetApp VIB.
Note: installing the VIB file did not work (it hung for way too long). Installing the ZIP version seemed to work:
[root@Host000c29c8a000:/tmp] esxcli software vib install -n NetAppNasPlugin -d file:///tmp/NetAppNasPlugin.v23.zipInstallation ResultMessage: The update completed successfully, but the system needs to be rebooted for the changes to be effective.Reboot Required: trueVIBs Installed: NetApp_bootbank_NetAppNasPlugin_1.1.2-3VIBs Removed:VIBs Skipped:
Rebooted and mounted the /vmware exported volume above:
[root@Host000c29c8a000:~] esxcli storage nfs add -H 192.168.1.12 -s /vmware -v vmware[root@Host000c29c8a000:~] esxcli storage nfs listVolume Name Host Share Accessible Mounted Read-Only isPE Hardware Acceleration----------- ------------ ------- ---------- ------- --------- ----- ---------------------vmware 192.168.1.12 /vmware true true false false Supported[root@Host000c29c8a000:~] vmkfstools -Ph /vmfs/volumes/vmware/NFS-1.00 (Raw Major Version: 0) file system spanning 1 partitions.File system label (if any): vmwareMode: publicCapacity 200 GB, 200 GB available, file block size 4 KB, max supported file size 16.0 TBDisk Block Size: 512/512/0UUID: aee4ad33-6d95bbba-0000-000000000000Partitions spanned (on "notDCS"):nfs:aee4ad33-6d95bbbaNAS VAAI Supported: YESIs Native Snapshot Capable: YES[root@Host000c29c8a000:~]
So, the question of, will it work seems to be yes, on the surface anyway. Is it supported Not yet according the NetApp IMT as already indicated.
The big fat question is: Did anything change in version 7.0 to warrant an update to the NetApp VIB for VAAI. We will likely need wait and see.
Would I be running 7.0 in production with NetApp and NFS? probably not yet if I wanted VAAI. I mean...it just came out!
I understand wanting to play with all the new shiny things. But leave that for the testbed/non-prod areas.
Looking compatibility matrix at VMware site I found this, but you are right, the vib is not installing out of the box in esxi 7.0, I think NetApp should release an updated plugin for 7.0
Aw man, really regretting assuming that with ESX7 being out for 6+ months, the support would be there by now.
I have just added some ESX hosts running 7.01, and mounting NFS datastores that are already mounted on a dozen hosts running ESX 6.5, using the plugin on all of them.
Did I just introduce risk on the NFS datastores by introducing a mix of clients with and without VAAI?
About vLCM support:
The current version of the NFS plug-in for VAAI is only compatible with VMware ESXi 7.0, but not with 7.0.1. The next version 2.0, which will be compatible with 7.0.1, was scheduled for release this month and would contain this feature. I would recommend you to subscribe to the below RFE in order to be notified for updates:https://mysupport.netapp.com/NOW/cgi-bin/bol?Type=Detail&Display=1356694
Thanks @navion , subscribed to that. I hope that new plugin will also be compatible with the just released ESX 7.0.2.
Follow-up query:
I'm currently running ESX 7.0.1 on over 20 hosts, and all using the NFS plugin for VAAI.
Can you share documentation on why this is not compatible in 7.0.1, but is ok on 7.0? I would like to review what kind of risk there is with my current configuration.
It should work with 7.0.1, but you can't install the plugin with vLCM.
In addition, only vSphere 7.0 U2 provides the ability to use native NFS snapshots:
https://blogs.vmware.com/virtualblocks/2021/03/09/vsphere-7-u2-core-storage
Version 2.0 released today:
https://mysupport.netapp.com/site/products/all/details/nfsplugin-vmware-vaai/downloads-tab/download/61278/2.0