Nimble Storage Lab

Exercise

VMware: Nimble Storage Integration

v.date.9/18/2017

VMware: Nimble Storage Integration Copyright © 2017 Nimble Storage 4.2/6.5 9/18/2017
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 Contents

VMWARE INTEGRATION ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Basic vCenter Configuration ........................................................................................................................................................... 4
Task 1: Register the Nimble Plug-in................................................................................................................................................. 4
Task 3: Create a Nimble-backed Datastore .............................................................................................................................. 11
Task 4: Clone a Nimble-based Datastore .................................................................................................................................... 14
Task 5: Grow a Nimble-based Datastore ..................................................................................................................................... 16
Task 6: Create a VM on a Nimble-backed Datastore .............................................................................................................. 17
Answer Key........................................................................................................................................................................................ 21

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 VMWARE INTEGRATION
Background
Nimble Storage provides a plugin that works specifically with vCenter to manage datastores residing on Nimble
arrays. You can use either the desktop vCenter plugin, or the web-based vCenter plugin. Both provide the same
functionality, with slight variances in the user views, and other minor enhancements.

Registering the vCenter plugin with vCenter allows vCenter to manage VMware datastores on an array. It is part
of the NimbleOS but must be registered with vCenter.

The Nimble vCenter plugins allow you to do the following:

 Create, clone, grow, and edit datastores

 Take, clone, and delete snapshots
 Add Nimble-specific capabilities to vCenter server which can be used to create vCenter roles
 Edit protection schedules

Lab Topology

Login Instructions
1. Launch a Remote Desktop Connection (RDP) from your client os.
2. Type in the IP address provided to you by the lab administrator.
3. Use the following login credentials and click OK:

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 User name – [email protected]
Password – MSoft01!

Note: If you get a certificate warning, just click Yes to continue

Basic vCenter Configuration

Task 1: Register the Nimble Plug-in

1. Launch the Chrome browser by clicking on its icon on the Taskbar.

2. Type https://vcenter650.edu.lab in the address field and press enter.

Note: If you get a security warning, click ADVANCED then click on the Proceed to link.

a. Click the Log in to vSphere Web Client (Flash) link

b. Use the following credentials to login:

User name: [email protected]
Password: MSoft01!

3. Under the vSphere Navigator, click Hosts and Clusters

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 student

4. You will see an icon marked “Nimble”. This is the “Data Center’ which is the primary container
of inventory objections including hosts and virtual machines. Expand the Nimble Data Center to
review the two hosts.

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 5. Right click on the host named pod-esxi65-01.edu.lab and look at all the available options in the
submenu.

6. After reviewing the vSphere Hosts submenu open a new window in the browser by clicking on
the “New Window” tab and type https://vmlab-array01.edu.lab in the address field followed
by Enter.

Note: If you get a security warning, click ADVANCED then click on the Proceed to link as you did in
Step 1

7. You are now at the login prompt the Nimble Storage array. Input the Username of student and
password of MSoft01! Into their respective fields and click on the Log In button.

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 8. In the NimbleOS GUI go to Administration > VMware Integration

9. Enter the following information to register the array with vCenter

a. vCenter name: vcenter0

b. vCenter Host: vcenter650.edu.lab
c. Port: 443
d. Description
vCenter server appliance (Adding a description is optional but good practice.)
e. Username: [email protected]
f. Password: MSoft01!
g. Place a checkmark for Web Client. (Note, VMware does not support the Thick Client with
Version 6.5
h. Click the Save button.

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 i. Once registration is complete you will get a message indicating so, as shown below.

10. Return to the vSphere Web Client. Logout and back into the interface.

Credentials = [email protected]/MSoft01!

11. Click on Hosts and Clusters then right click on one of the hosts and look at the submenu.
Q1. What do you notice that wasn’t an option prior to connecting the array to vCenter?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Task 2: Nimble Connection Manager

Background

Nimble Connection Manager (NCM) manages connections from an ESXi host to Nimble Array volumes.
Instead of having to advertise all iSCSI network interfaces at the time of discovery, NCM only requires
one IP address (iSCSI discovery IP address) to be advertised. This simplifies configuring multiple
connections and MPIO. As connections are made to the same address (group target portal), the
connections are redirected to the appropriate iSCSI network interfaces.

For an extensive description of the Nimble Connection Manager and methods of installation, please
refer to the “VMware Integration Guide” document on Infosight. The following is a page from that
document:

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 NCM Installation Prerequisites:

 ESXi 5.0, 5.1, 5.5, 6.0, or 6.5 with Enterprise or Enterprise Plus licensing running on the host
 vCenter Server 5.0, 5.1, 5.5, 6.0, or 6.5
 Determine which version of ESXi host and NCM you want to use:
 If currently using, or updating to ESXi 6.x, use NCM for ESX 6.x
 If currently using ESXi 5.0, 5.1, or 5.5, use NCM for ESX 5.x
 Internet connection to the Windows or Linux host
 Login ID and password for the Nimble Storage Support downloads site
 SCP client on the Windows or Linux host, such as WinSCP
 SSH client on the Windows or Linux host, such as PuTTY
 Root access to the ESX host
 Able to put ESX host in Maintenance mode and Reboot the host

NCM cannot be installed on ESXi hosts that are in lockdown mode. If enabled, you must first
disable lockdown mode before installing NCM.

While logged in to the Vcenter web interface, put each host you are installing the NCM in
Maintenance mode.

NCM is a VMware VIB package available from Nimble Storage Support in the Downloads section of
Nimble’s InfoSight portal. There are several methods that can be used to install the Nimble VIB on ESXi
hosts, they are:

1. VMware’s Update Manager

2. The offline installation method using ESXi’s built-in command line utility esxcli. The offline
installation method requires downloading the VIB installation file from Infosight. The file will then
need to be copied to the ESX host using a SCP client or other method.

3. The online installation method using ESXi’s built-in command line utility esxcli

Note: For detailed descriptions of each of the Nimble VIB installation methods mentioned above,
please reference the VMware Integration documentation available in the Documents section of
Nimble’s InfoSight portal.

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 Using option 3 above, each ESXi host will need internet access and must be placed in maintenance
mode. Using an SSH client such as PuTTY, connect to the host and log in as a root user. After logging
in, from the root directory, run the command:

1. To install the plugin installation we performed on the first host, launch the SSH client PuTTY by

clicking on its icon on the taskbar.

Type the name of the ESXi server pod-esxi65-01.edu.lab into the Host Name field, then
click Open.
Log into the ESXi host using the following credentials:
Login as: root
Password: VMware01!

2. From the ESXi server command line, execute the following command:

esxcli software vib install –d https://update.nimblestorage.com/esx6.5/ncm

Note: Cut and Paste of this text into putty, may not work, Please type the above command.

Once installed you will see a success message in your SSH client window. The host must then be
rebooted. In the SSH client window connected to the host, type reboot. When the host(s) have
rebooted, use vCenter and exit each host from maintenance mode.

Using the VCenter Web interface, once the ESX server is back online (this may take a few minutes),
exit maintenance mode:

Verifying the NCM Installation:

For the purpose of this lab, we have installed the Nimble VIB on each host and each host has been
rebooted and taken out of maintenance mode for you. Verify the correct installation of the Nimble
VIB now using the following instructions.

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 1. To verify the plugin installation we performed on the first host, launch the SSH client PuTTY by clicking

on its icon on the taskbar.

 Type the name of the ESXi server pod-esxi65-01.edu.lab into the Host Name field, then
click Open.
 Log into the ESXi host using the following credentials:
 Login as: root
 Password: VMware01!
2. To verify the NCM installation type the following command in the command window:

esxcli software vib list | grep nimble

Q2. What is the result of the above command? _____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Close PuTTY by typing exit

4. Using the Vcenter Web interface, put the second ESX server into Maintenance mode.
5. Start the SSH client PuTTY again and input pod-esxi65-02.edu.lab for the Host Name and then click
Open. As you have done before, click Yes if presented with a security alert.
6. Login with root/VMware01!
7. To verify the NCM installation type the following command in the command window:
esxcli software vib list | grep nimble followed by Enter

Task 3: Create a Nimble-backed Datastore

1. From the vCenter Home screen in vSphere click on Storage either in the menu choices in the vSphere
Navigator or the Storage icon in the center of the Inventories section of the Home screen.

2. Right click on the Nimble Datacenter then hover over Nimble Storage Actions
_____________________________
Q3. What are the options available with the new menu item?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

3. Right click on the Nimble Datacenter, click on Nimble Storage Actions then click Create Datastore

4. Select the group vmlab-arrays, click the Next button then use the following information to create a
datastore

 Datastore Name: ncm-datastore-01

 Description: NCM Lab
 Check the Nimble Datacenter box.

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 Q4. What would be the difference if you only selected one of the available hosts in the list versus all of
them? __________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
5. Click Next, use the defaults presented for Datastore size and Snapshot then click Next

6. Create a new Volume Collection by clicking on the Create new Volume Collection radio button and
typing vm-datastores in the name field.

7. Enable application consistent snapshots by checking the Configure synchronized snapshots checkbox
and use the following credentials:
User Name: [email protected]
Password: MSoft01!

b. Click the Next button and use the Schedule Template drop-down to set a schedule to keep
30 daily snapshots

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 c. Click Next and review your selections, when ready click Finish.

d. You will see a message stating the job to create the datastore is submitted.

Q5. What do you think happens when you click the Finish button? _________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q6. Aside from looking at the vCenter Recent Tasks list, what would be another way of seeing your
results? ___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q7. In the vSphere Web Client, where could you go to view the tasks completed by VMware related to
__________________________________________________
the datastore you just created?
__________________________________________________________________________

Q8. What are the tasks that were automatically created and completed?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Click on the Volume Collection vm-datastores using the Manage -> Data Protection Menu. Here you
will notice the Protection schedule you created when you created the datastore as well as any other
volumes (there are none in this case) that were or would have been created had you chose those
options when you created the datastore or added new datastores to the same volume collection
through the Nimble datastore creation menu in vCenter.

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 Task 4: Clone a Nimble-based Datastore
The Nimble vCenter plugin enables you to clone VMware datastores that reside on a Nimble array.
Clones are created from snapshots.

1. Switch back to the vCenter GUI by clicking on its tab in the Chrome browser. You should be in the
Storage section under the vSphere Navigator. Click the expand arrow to the left of the Nimble
datacenter then click the Refresh button on the vSphere Web Client to update the screen to show the
newly created datastore.

2. From the vSphere Web Client Home screen, select the Storage tab within the Navigator, Expand the
Nimble Datacenter, then right click on the ncm-datastore-01 you just created.

3. At the bottom of the pop-up menu click on Nimble Storage Actions and select Clone Datastore

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 4. Use the following information
a. Clone Name: cl-ncm-datastore-01
b. Description: Clone of datastore created with NCM (optional but a best practice)
c. Number of clones: 1
d. Choose Snapshot: Take new snapshot
e. New Snapshot Name: cl-ss-ncm-datastore-01

5. Click Clone – it may take a couple of minutes to complete, you can check the status under the
Recent Tasks section of the GUI.

Result: After the datastore is successfully cloned, all hosts that had mounted the original datastore also
show the cloned datastore as well.

Note: If you do not see the clone you created listed once the task has completed, click the
vSphere Web Client refresh icon.

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 If you would like to verify both hosts have access to the datastore click the Storage icon under the
vSphere Navigator, or click the vSphere Home icon and select Storage. Expand the Nimble datacenter
click on the clone (cl-ncm-datastore-01). In the center window, click on the Summary tab. Look for
Nimble Volume Access Control. There you can see the cloned volumes that were created and the
hosts that have access.

Task 5: Grow a Nimble-based Datastore

1. While still in the storage section in the vSphere Navigator right click the datastore called ncm-
datastore-01 and select Increase Datastore Capacity.

Q9. What happens when you try to increase the size of the datastore here?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q10. Why do you think you cannot increase the size of the Nimble-based datastore?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Close the Increase Datastore Capacity window by clicking the Cancel button.

3. Right Click on ncm-datastore-01 and select Nimble Storage Actions > Grow Datastore

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 4. Enter 20, then click on the Grow Datastore button to grow the datastore to 20GB

5. Select the Summary tab then click the Refresh link after the task has completed.

Q11. What is the result? ___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q12. How can you verify? _________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Task 6: Create a VM on a Nimble-backed Datastore

1. From the Home screen of the vSphere web client, click on Hosts and Clusters icon and expand the
Nimble Datacenter.

2. Right click the first ESX Host, pod-esx65i-01.edulab and selectNew Virtual Machine > New Virtual
Machine and click the Next button

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 3. Once on the Select a creation type screen, click Next.

4. Name the virtual machine CentOS. Ensure the Nimble datacenter is highlighted then click Next.

5. Expand the Nimble Datacenter, highlight the host pod-esxi65-01.edu.lab and click the Next button.

6. Leave the default VM Storage Policy of Datastore Default and select the datastore you created earlier
ncm-datastore-01, click Next.

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 7. Leave the default of ESXi 6.5 and later, click Next one more time and select Linux by clicking the
dropdown for Guest OS Family and select Linux. Click the Guest OS Version dropdown and select
CentOS 4/5/6/7 (64-bit) for the Guest OS Version.

8. Click Next to get to the Customize hardware screen. Expand the New Hard disk option and click the
radio button on the side of Thin provision then click Next one more time.

9. On the next screen verify your inputs, when satisfied click the Finish button.

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 End of Lab

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 Answer Key

Q1. What is the result of the above command?

Q2. Switch back to the Chrome browser and right click on one of the hosts. Look at the submenu.
What do you notice that wasn’t an option prior to installing the plug-in?
At the bottom of the pop-up menu, you see a new menu item called Nimble Storage Actions.

Q3. What are the options available with the new menu item? Create Datastore, Enable iSCSI Digest,
Disable iSCSI Digest and Mount Nimble Datastore(s)

Q4. What would be the difference if you only selected one of the available hosts in the list versus all of
them?
By selecting all the hosts, the datastore you are creating will be available to all the hosts instead of just
one.

Q5. What do you think happens when you click the Finish button?
vSphere connects to the Nimble Storage array and creates a volume of the size and options specified.
It then formats and mounts the volume as a datastore attached to the host or hosts specified during
creation.

Q6. Aside of looking at the vCenter Recent Tasks list, what would be another way of seeing your
results?
Log into the array, go to Manage then Volumes. You will see a new volume with the name you used
during the datastore creation. You can also check Volume Collections and verify a new volume
collection was created. Clicking on the volume collection you will also see the protection schedule
was also created. Going a step further, looking at Initiator Groups you will find a new i-group created
using the name of the host you attached the datastore to.

Q7. In the vSphere Web Client, where could you go to view the tasks completed by VMware related to
the datastore you just created?
Click on the Datacenter for the datastore just created, then go to Monitor and select the Tasks tab.
Another method would be to highlight the datacenter under the vSphere Navigator and click on the
Datastores tab

Q8. What are the tasks that were automatically created and completed?
Create Nimble datastore, Change Software Internet SCSI Status, Open firewall ports, Add Internet SCSI
send targets, Update Internet SCSI advanced options, Rescan HBA, Refresh host storage system,
Create VMFS datastore and Rescan VMFS

Q9. What happens when you try to increase the size of the datastore here?
If you look at the last column with the header Expandable, it has a No meaning you cannot increase
the size of the datastore. You can only add a new extent to the datastore.

Q10. Why do you think you cannot increase the size of the Nimble-based datastore?
You need to use the features installed with the NCM. To increase the size of the datastore right click
on it in the Navigator then use the Nimble Storage Actions submenu.

Q11. Click the Refresh icon after the task has completed. What is the result?
The datastore is now 20Gb

Q12. How can you verify?

Refreshing the Datastores window will update the datastore size. Or while still on the datastore screen
in vCenter, click the Summary tab, the upper right corner of the GUI will show the storage capacity.

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