NetApp All-Flash SAN (ASA) arrays deliver a simplified and dedicated SAN experience and come with some really great tools that simplify storage management and provide data protection in VMware Cloud Foundation domains. At NetApp we have recently released some new solutions for using NetApp ASA arrays with VMware Cloud Foundation. In this article I’ll be pointing out those solutions and providing some of the key benefits of using NetApp storage in VCF deployments.
NetApp All-Flash SAN (ASA) arrays are optimized for block storage applications and feature a highly performant active-active technology that allows host systems to utilize all available paths on all controllers. Each controller continuously replicates essential LUN metadata to its partner which makes each controller fully prepared to take over data serving responsibilities in the event of a sudden failure of its partner.
Of course, you get all the great features that ONTAP storage systems are known for such as storage efficiencies, integrated data protection, data management features, and analytics (Cloud Insights anyone?). But the key benefit that makes integration with VCF a breeze, is our plug-ins for VMware vSphere.
The recent solutions we have published involve using ONTAP Tools for VMware vSphere to provision storage for VCF workload domains and the SnapCenter Plug-in for VMware vSphere to protect and restore data on VCF workload domains.
Let’s review the key components of the solution:
ONTAP Tools for VMware vSphere
The ONTAP Tools for VMware vSphere allows administrators to manage NetApp storage directly from within the vSphere Client. ONTAP Tools allows you to deploy and manage datastores, as well as provision vVol datastores.
ONTAP Tools allows mapping of datastores to storage capability profiles which determine a set of storage system attributes. This allows the creation of datastores with specific attributes such as storage performance and QoS.
Check out the ONTAP tool for VMware vSphere documentation site for detailed information.
SnapCenter Plug-in for VMware vSphere:
The SnapCenter Plug-in for VMware vSphere (SCV) is a software solution from NetApp that offers comprehensive data protection for VMware vSphere environments. It is designed to simplify and streamline the process of protecting and managing virtual machines (VMs) and datastores.
The SnapCenter Plug-in orchestrates the quiescing of virtual machines in conjunction with hardware-based snapshots on NetApp storage arrays. SnapMirror technology is utilized to replicate copies of backups to secondary storage systems, including in the cloud.
And, by the way, if you’re using SCV, also consider a 3rd copy of data to object storage using BlueXP. 3-2-1 backup strategies are the most comprehensive and we’ve got an easy-to-use solution you should really check out.
Take a look at the blog here: 3-2-1 Data Protection for VMware with SnapCenter Plug-in and BlueXP backup and recovery for VMs.
And the full solution here: 3-2-1 Data Protection for VMware with SnapCenter Plug-in and BlueXP backup and recovery for VMs
VMware Cloud Foundation
VMware Cloud Foundation extends the capabilities of VMware vSphere by adding a host of additional functionality with bundled features such as NSX Manager for virtualized networking and the Aria suite of products for detailed insights and automation. VCF is a comprehensive virtualized datacenter with centralized management provided by the SDDC manager and the concept of management and workload domains for providing units of application-ready infrastructure.
An overview of the technologies in the full NetApp solution discussed here, including VMware Cloud Foundation, can be found in the overview section of the solutions, at VMware Cloud Foundation with NetApp All-Flash SAN Arrays on the NetApp Solutions Documentation site.
For another great overview of VMware Cloud Foundation and some key benefits of using NetApp storage with VCF, refer to my colleague Suresh Thoppay’s blog, VMware Cloud Foundation deployment options with NetApp.
Also, refer to VMware’s comprehensive VCF documentation located HERE.
VCF Storage Options
VMware divides storage options for VCF into principal and supplemental storage. The VCF management domain must use vSAN as its principal storage. However, there are many supplemental storage options for the management domain and both principal and supplemental storage options available for VI workload domains.
NetApp ASA arrays provide storage services for all block storage protocols supported by VCF, and many of the steps needed to mount ONTAP supplemental datastores on VCF management domains are provided as automated processes using ONTAP Tools for VMware vSphere.
NetApp solutions for using NetApp ASA arrays with VMware Cloud Foundation
Here is an overview of four (4) new solutions available for managing and protecting storage on VCF management and workload domains using NetApp ASA storage arrays.
iSCSI as supplemental storage for VCF management domains:
Have you ever been concerned about the use of vSAN as principal storage for VCF management domains or were concerned about what to do if you run out of capacity on your vSAN cluster?
There’s really no need to worry if you are a user of NetApp ASA arrays. This solution goes through every step necessary to prepare the management domain for accepting iSCSI storage as supplemental storage. Every step needed to deploy ONTAP tools and automate the process of adding iSCSI datastores, on demand, is covered.
Check out the full solution at Use ONTAP Tools to configure supplemental storage for VCF Management Domains
vVols as supplemental storage for workload domains:
VMware virtual volumes represent a revolutionary new approach to storage management in vSphere clusters, providing simplified management and more granular control of storage resources. In a vVols datastore each virtual disk is a vVol and becomes a native LUN object on the storage system. The integration of the storage system and vSphere takes place through the VMware API’s for Storage Awareness (VASA) provider and allows the storage system to be aware of the VM data and manage it accordingly. Storage policies, defined in the vCenter Client are used to allocate and manage storage resources.
ONTAP Tools provides the VASA provider needed to enable vVols on ONTAP storage systems. This solution takes you through every step of the process, from preparing the ASA array, through enabling iSCSI networking on the vSphere cluster and the installation of ONTAP tools.
Check out the full solution at Use ONTAP Tools to configure supplemental storage (vVols) for VCF Workload Domains
NVMe/TCP as supplemental storage for workload domains:
NVMe over TCP was designed with a simplified command set to overcome some of the overhead associated with the legacy SCSI command set. It is the future and poised to potentially displace iSCSI as the preferred storage protocol running on IP networks. While not supported for automation purposes with ONTAP Tools yet (coming soon!), it is relatively easy to set up using ONTAP System Manager and the vSphere Client.
This solution takes you through creating an SVM and NVMe namespace in ONTAP System Manager and setting up the relevant networking components and software adapters in the vSphere Client.
Check out the full solution at Configure NVMe/TCP supplemental storage for VCF Workload Domains
Protect workload domains with SnapCenter Plug-in for VMware vSphere
As mentioned previously, SCV is designed to provide feature rich capabilities for backup and restore of VM’s in vSphere clusters including guest file system restores.
The SnapCenter plug-in is deployed from an OVA template into the VCF management domain and then registered with the vCenter appliance associated with the domain it is to protect. It takes advantage of both VM Tools, to quiesce file systems, and ONTAP Snapshots to provide comprehensive data protection features.
Snapmirror asynchronous replication is utilized to provide secondary backups and a third (3rd) copy can be replicated to object storage utilizing BlueXP backup and recovery for VMs.
This solution covers the entire process of deploying SCV, creating policies, taking backups, and then restoring VMs, VMDKs, and performing guest file system restores.
It’s all covered in Use SnapCenter Plug-in for VMware vSphere to protect VMs on VCF Workload Domains
Conclusion
Thanks for taking the time to time to check out our ONTAP storage solutions for VMware Cloud Foundation. There’s going to be more on this front as we tackle principal and supplemental storage options for NetApp AFF arrays for VCF. So stay tuned for more great content from NetApp Solutions.
Be sure to check out all the great content available at the NetApp Solutions Documentation site.