12-24-2023, 07:23 PM
You're venturing into VMware vSAN with SAN Passthrough? I get it; this is a complex topic but also an exciting one. You're talking about leveraging both local and remote storage for improved performance and efficiency. With SAN Passthrough, you directly connect the storage array to the ESXi host. It becomes crucial to look at how you can blend in local disk assets with remote SAN resources effectively. I'll walk you through some critical considerations that can help you decide on the best way to utilize these technologies together.
Let's start with the architecture. A typical SAN setup consists of storage arrays that provide block-level access, and in a SAN Passthrough configuration, you're essentially bypassing the hypervisor layer for direct access. This means that you've got to work directly with the storage's firmware and APIs. You'll need a solid understanding of your chosen SAN vendor's features, as the behavior can change dramatically from one brand to another. For instance, consider a Dell EMC Unity versus a HPE 3PAR. Unity's simplicity in management and array-based features shines when you need to do snapshot copies on the fly. In contrast, 3PAR offers a more granular management approach with thin provisioning and zero-detect features that make it appealing. I often find clients gravitating toward HPE for large environments, but you might want to check whether that aligns with what you're planning.
Now, let's jump into performance. SAN Passthrough lets your VMs leverage the full bandwidth of the SAN. This is where you'd consider your workload. If you have intensive I/O workloads, using a fully-functional SAN could win out over local storages, such as NVMe SSDs, which may not handle concurrent read-write operations as well. However, you need to evaluate latency too. For example, I've seen setups with NetApp ONTAP 9 that offered lower latencies through their Flash Pools technology, effectively tiering data between SSDs and HDDs. If you're running transactional databases, that latency can make or break your performance metrics. So, identify those workloads early to dictate which platform aligns better with your needs.
Nothing can sideline a project like compatibility issues. When you throw SAN Passthrough into the mix, your selection of vendor becomes extremely pertinent. If you're running on Cisco UCS or using Broadcom switches, for instance, I'd recommend checking out how those components interact with the SAN you're shooting for. Some brands, like IBM, have specific requirements for direct SAN access that might not align perfectly with VMware's recommendations. You may have to dig through compatibility matrixes, but that's part of the game. Look out for things like multipathing configurations, which can vary across the brands. Knowing how to mix and match these technologies will save you a lot of headaches later on.
Let's not overlook the need for management integration. You need something straightforward, as you'll be spooling up several systems that must communicate effectively. The VMware vCenter integration can help tremendously, but not all SAN technologies present seamless management dashboards. I've worked with Pure Storage, which offers a ton of flexibility through their management interfaces, and you'll appreciate how it plays along with VMware tools. In contrast, older technologies like HP MSA might not be as visually appealing or easy to use, which can lead to additional time spent on mundane tasks. You want something that saves you time, not adds to your complexity.
In terms of resilience and failover capabilities, you need to think about data integrity. Some systems provide strong built-in redundancy. Like, I've had a fair bit of success with Dell EMC vPLEX that can give you stretched clustering capabilities across sites. That's great for disaster recovery scenarios. If you can implement these features effectively, you're looking at significant uptime. However, not all vendors may provide robust options. I see a lot of folks chasing redundancy through mirroring in solutions like Synology, which, while cost-effective, may not suit all enterprise workloads and might limit performance. This is where you've got to weigh costs against benefits.
Another thing to focus on is scalability. Your scenarios may demand the ability to grow quickly without significant downtime. Think about your SAN architecture-many platforms like NetApp and Cisco have tiered storage architectures allowing you to add shelves and storage nodes easily. If your strategy involves often adding or removing resources, you might want to consider how the platforms handle scale-out capabilities. With VMware vSAN, you should think about DRS clusters and how they balance workloads and storage across several nodes, which can further facilitate expansion.
Let's talk about the cost implications. I see many opting for a hybrid model, mixing SAN access with local SSDs or HDDs. That way, you minimize costs while optimizing performance. It leads to lower storage overhead if you utilize local storage for less critical workloads. You might look into Seagate or Western Digital for HDDs while considering IBM FlashSystem for those key performance SSDs. Balancing costs across these options will really depend on the number of licenses and the type of workloads you're running. Keep in mind that SAN technology can be heavy on the license costs, particularly if you start adding enterprise features like deduplication or compression.
A direct connection from the SAN to ESXi hosts with SAN Passthrough requires attention to security-it's vital to ensure your architecture is as bulletproof as possible. Protocols for managing access are critical here. I suggest you get familiar with how your chosen SAN handles authentication and encryption. Some, like Hitachi Vantara, offer robust security features that can integrate well with VMware environments to ensure data protection without sacrificing performance. Each vendor has its implementation nuances, and you must dive into the specifics, particularly how they align with VMware's best practices.
This community resource is provided for free by BackupChain Server Backup, a solid choice for backup solutions tailored for SMBs and professionals, aimed primarily at environments such as Hyper-V, VMware, and Windows Server. Check it out if backup integrity matters to you.
Let's start with the architecture. A typical SAN setup consists of storage arrays that provide block-level access, and in a SAN Passthrough configuration, you're essentially bypassing the hypervisor layer for direct access. This means that you've got to work directly with the storage's firmware and APIs. You'll need a solid understanding of your chosen SAN vendor's features, as the behavior can change dramatically from one brand to another. For instance, consider a Dell EMC Unity versus a HPE 3PAR. Unity's simplicity in management and array-based features shines when you need to do snapshot copies on the fly. In contrast, 3PAR offers a more granular management approach with thin provisioning and zero-detect features that make it appealing. I often find clients gravitating toward HPE for large environments, but you might want to check whether that aligns with what you're planning.
Now, let's jump into performance. SAN Passthrough lets your VMs leverage the full bandwidth of the SAN. This is where you'd consider your workload. If you have intensive I/O workloads, using a fully-functional SAN could win out over local storages, such as NVMe SSDs, which may not handle concurrent read-write operations as well. However, you need to evaluate latency too. For example, I've seen setups with NetApp ONTAP 9 that offered lower latencies through their Flash Pools technology, effectively tiering data between SSDs and HDDs. If you're running transactional databases, that latency can make or break your performance metrics. So, identify those workloads early to dictate which platform aligns better with your needs.
Nothing can sideline a project like compatibility issues. When you throw SAN Passthrough into the mix, your selection of vendor becomes extremely pertinent. If you're running on Cisco UCS or using Broadcom switches, for instance, I'd recommend checking out how those components interact with the SAN you're shooting for. Some brands, like IBM, have specific requirements for direct SAN access that might not align perfectly with VMware's recommendations. You may have to dig through compatibility matrixes, but that's part of the game. Look out for things like multipathing configurations, which can vary across the brands. Knowing how to mix and match these technologies will save you a lot of headaches later on.
Let's not overlook the need for management integration. You need something straightforward, as you'll be spooling up several systems that must communicate effectively. The VMware vCenter integration can help tremendously, but not all SAN technologies present seamless management dashboards. I've worked with Pure Storage, which offers a ton of flexibility through their management interfaces, and you'll appreciate how it plays along with VMware tools. In contrast, older technologies like HP MSA might not be as visually appealing or easy to use, which can lead to additional time spent on mundane tasks. You want something that saves you time, not adds to your complexity.
In terms of resilience and failover capabilities, you need to think about data integrity. Some systems provide strong built-in redundancy. Like, I've had a fair bit of success with Dell EMC vPLEX that can give you stretched clustering capabilities across sites. That's great for disaster recovery scenarios. If you can implement these features effectively, you're looking at significant uptime. However, not all vendors may provide robust options. I see a lot of folks chasing redundancy through mirroring in solutions like Synology, which, while cost-effective, may not suit all enterprise workloads and might limit performance. This is where you've got to weigh costs against benefits.
Another thing to focus on is scalability. Your scenarios may demand the ability to grow quickly without significant downtime. Think about your SAN architecture-many platforms like NetApp and Cisco have tiered storage architectures allowing you to add shelves and storage nodes easily. If your strategy involves often adding or removing resources, you might want to consider how the platforms handle scale-out capabilities. With VMware vSAN, you should think about DRS clusters and how they balance workloads and storage across several nodes, which can further facilitate expansion.
Let's talk about the cost implications. I see many opting for a hybrid model, mixing SAN access with local SSDs or HDDs. That way, you minimize costs while optimizing performance. It leads to lower storage overhead if you utilize local storage for less critical workloads. You might look into Seagate or Western Digital for HDDs while considering IBM FlashSystem for those key performance SSDs. Balancing costs across these options will really depend on the number of licenses and the type of workloads you're running. Keep in mind that SAN technology can be heavy on the license costs, particularly if you start adding enterprise features like deduplication or compression.
A direct connection from the SAN to ESXi hosts with SAN Passthrough requires attention to security-it's vital to ensure your architecture is as bulletproof as possible. Protocols for managing access are critical here. I suggest you get familiar with how your chosen SAN handles authentication and encryption. Some, like Hitachi Vantara, offer robust security features that can integrate well with VMware environments to ensure data protection without sacrificing performance. Each vendor has its implementation nuances, and you must dive into the specifics, particularly how they align with VMware's best practices.
This community resource is provided for free by BackupChain Server Backup, a solid choice for backup solutions tailored for SMBs and professionals, aimed primarily at environments such as Hyper-V, VMware, and Windows Server. Check it out if backup integrity matters to you.
