VMFS DataStore - Access Netapp backed DS over multiple protocols

[darraghos]

Guys, our ESXi 6.5 estate with VMFS 5 datastores are backed by C-Mode Volumes/Luns i.e. shared access amongst multiple ESXi hosts. Is it possible for some ESXi servers to access a given DS over FC whilst others access the same DS over NFS ?

[D_BEREZENKO · Accepted solution]

FC is block-based storage with VMFS file system been on host level, so hosts working blocks of information while communicating with storage & on the upper level, it represented as files on top of that FS.

NFS is file-based storage with file system been served by the storage system, so hosts work only with files.

They are from two different universes, not compatible with each other on the architecture level.

Though you can access a LUN simultaneously with a SAN block protocols: FC, FCoE and iSCSI.

While you can access a file share simultaneously with NAS file protocols: NFS or CIFS (SMB).