ViPR 2.1 - Add EMC XtremIO Storage to ViPR

Table of Contents

Overview

ViPR System Administrators can learn about ViPR support requirements, prerequisite information to prepare EMC® XtremIOTM storage systems for ViPR integration, and the steps to add the storage to ViPR.

This article further describes:

This article is part of a series

You can add storage to ViPR at anytime. If, however, you are setting up the virtual data center for the first time, complete the steps described in Step by Step: Setup a ViPR Virtual Data Center.

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XtremIO storage system configuration requirements

Before adding XtremIO storage to ViPR, ensure that the following version and preconfiguration requirements are met.

For supported versions, see the EMC ViPR Support Matrix on the EMC Community Network (community.emc.com).

Preconfiguration requirements
  • Physical connectivity between hosts, fabrics and the array.
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Add XtremIO storage systems to ViPR

Before you begin

Only System Administrators can add storage to ViPR.

The following steps describe how to add the storage system to ViPR using the ViPR UI. To use the REST API to add the storage system to ViPR see the Add EMC XtremIO Storage Systems to ViPR Using the REST API article.

Procedure

  1. Select Physical Assets > Storage Systems.
  2. Click Add.
  3. Select EMC XtremIO for the storage system type.
  4. Type the storage system name.
  5. Type the host IP address.
  6. Type the port used to connect to the XTremIO storage system host.
  7. Type the user credentials with XTremIO storage system administrator privileges.
  8. Click Save
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Storage system discovery and registration

Once a storage system is added to ViPR it is automatically discovered and registered. Storage system discovery adds the storage pools, and storage ports to ViPR. Storage systems that are registered are available to be used and managed by ViPR.

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ViPR storage system configuration

You can perform optional configuration steps on the storage system resources after the storage system is discovered in ViPR. The configuration steps are not available until the resources are discovered and registered in ViPR.

Once the storage system is discovered you can configure the following resources:

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Define the storage system resource allocation limit

By default, storage systems are configured with unlimited resources that ViPR can use. You can set resource limits, which define the amount of storage in the storage system that is available for use by ViPR.

Procedure

  1. Select Physical Assets > Storage Systems.
  2. Click the storage system name in the Storage System table.
  3. In the Edit Storage System page, disable Unlimited Resource Allocation setting.
  4. Specify the maximum number of volumes ViPR is allocated for provisioning on this storage system. The amount must be 0 or higher.
    The Resource Limit value is a count of the number of volumes allowed to be provisioned on the storage system.
  5. Click Save.
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Deregister storage pools

By default, all discovered storage pools are available for provisioning in ViPR. To make storage pools unavailable to ViPR for provisioning, deregister them.

If a storage pool becomes unavailable on the storage system, the storage pool remains in the list of available ViPR storage pools. You must deregister the storage pool manually in ViPR to ensure ViPR does not use it as a resource when a service operation is executed.

Procedure

  1. Select Physical Assets > Storage Systems.
  2. Locate the row for the storage system in which the pools reside.
  3. In the Edit row, click Pools.
  4. Check the row for each pool that you want to make unavailable to ViPR for provisioning.
  5. Click Deregister.
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Set the storage pool utilization limits

Storage pool utilization limits enable you to define the maximum amount of storage that ViPR can use from a storage pool, the maximum number of volumes that ViPR can provision from a storage group, and the maximum subscription percentage for thin pool provisioning.

Procedure

  1. Select Physical Assets > Storage Systems.
  2. Locate the row for the storage system where the pools reside.
  3. In the Edit row, click Pools.
  4. Click the pool name.
  5. Change the maximum utilization percentage.
    The default is 75%.
  6. For thin pool provisioning, set a maximum snapshot percentage.
    The default is 300%.
  7. Enter a numeric value for the volume limit available to ViPR to provision from this storage pool.
    By default, there is no limit on the amount of a storage pool that can be used by ViPR.
    The Resource Limit value is a count of the number of volumes allowed to be provisioned using the selected storage pool.
  8. Click Save.
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Deregister storage ports

By default, all storage ports are available for provisioning in ViPR after ViPR discovers the storage system. To make storage ports unavailable to ViPR for provisioning, deregister them.

Procedure

  1. Select Physical Assets > Storage Systems.
  2. Locate the row for the storage system where the port resides.
  3. In the Edit row, click Ports.
  4. Check the row for each port that you want to make unavailable to ViPR for provisioning.
  5. Click Deregister.
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Network configuration requirements for storage

After you add the storage system to ViPR, add the corresponding SAN Switch from the ViPR Physical Assets > Fabric Manager page.

When you add a SAN switch to ViPR, the Fibre Channel networks (Brocade Fabrics or Cisco VSANs), are automatically discovered and registered in ViPR. Additionally, through discovery of the SAN switch topology, ViPR discovers and registers the host initiators for hosts on the network, and identifies which storage systems are associated with the SAN switch.

For more information, see Add Fabric Managers and SAN Networks to ViPR.

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