How present NetAPP ISCSI LUN to The Windows Host

I was give assignment to present ISCSI LUN to windows box. I have never done this before. We have to present storage from NetAPP filer FAS3050.This windows box was suppose to run SQL database. Earlier to present storage from filer ,MS ISCSI initiator along with SNAP mirroring were used. It was costing more than HBA’s .So we connected Qlogic HBA “QLE4062C ” and tested it from BIOS (Ctrl + S) to the filer.

1. Once windows is installed then make sure that we have driver for Qlogic card is installed. Because driver don’t get installed by default. Once driver is installed then you can find Qlogic card under device manager

2. After Qlogic card is installed then we have can also test the connectivity to the filer from card using device

3. But this is not the end of the story . My real pain started how to enter target IP .After searching Qlogic website I found that  “SANSurger HBA Manger “ is my friend

http://driverdownloads.qlogic.com/QLogicDriverDownloads_UI/SearchByProduct.aspx?ProductCategory=82&Product=1037&Os=64

4. Download and Install SANSurfer iSCSI HBA Manager in client mode

5. Make sure you choose “iSCSI  GUI and Agent” so that you can have agent and we can also do some additional troubleshooting in case there is problem

6. It will ask for destination to install

7. Select for all the Users Profile

8. Once it is installed lunch it using “local host”

9. Once it is connected it will show all the physical card as well as port

You have to expand the card to see all the ports. Before we configure the lun , we have to ensure that SAN admin has created Lun for WINDOWS. We also have to share IQN with SAN admin

10. You can find the link status and IQN number from this, This needs to be shared with Storage person

11. Select wizard from the top and select “General Configuration Wizard”. Select HBA port and then next

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12. It will give driver version and MAC address

13. Provide IP address for the HBA

14. Don’t choose anything if you are not using IPV6

15. Don’t select iSNS if you are not uins Storage Network Server

16. This part is very crucial . We have to add the target IP address of the filer. Click on the green + tab. It will ask for target IP address for

17. Select next after adding. It will give summary

18. Once we hit “Next” then it will give warning message

19. Now it is very important steps. It will ask for password and the password is “config”. This information you can find in admin guide. This is not root password not anything but default password for SAN surfer manager

. Once it finished you can find space under “Disk Management”

When root partition is full on ESX host

I had been in a strange situation when upgrade of ESX host was failing. It was giving me all kind of wired messages.
This host had NFS mount where I had placed my swap files. Host was suppose to moved from one location to other location. Person who powered off did not realize that it had NFS mount. When ESX host was powered on different location it started giving me error message that it is still trying to do NFS mount (ALT+F12 log).

I was also getting error message "Configuration changes were not saved successfully during previous shut down" . The reason for this was ,root file system was full (Please dont ask me why , we have many admin)

I used "esxcfg-nas " command to delete that mount. But still my root partation getting filled message didnot resolved.

So I thougth of running following command to find out what files are above 10GB.

find / -size +10240000c -exec du -h {} \; | less


I found that some one has stored ISO file under /vmimage . :)

Deleted thoso ISO and I was able to upgrade my host to 3.5U4

My new status in VMTM forum.

I had been member of VMTM forum since 2007. I had recently given status of “Hot Shot”. It really thrill me.

Level avilable inside VMTM's are

My design for ESX network

I had been trying to find out what would be the best way to configure NICS on ESX.

My college told me to use Tagged VLAN for each component. Then I got into trouble that I cannot use single switch to have two tagged VLAN associated and use that for additional redundancy.

I argued and told why you want to tag VLAN when it got trunked on my NICs instead you label it as VLAN1 (In layman term trunk all the VLAN which has been created) and if I wish I will tag the packets when I send it out of my vSwitch.

What I have read about tagging is “ It is just a help you in switch Administration and have nothing to do with technical advantage” . If that is the case then my dear network engineer you trunked every VLAN on each of the NIC and I will pick and choose. This will be very helpful for me to design.

If you want to achieve this then you need to have following config on each of your port associated on your vSwtich

description * ESX*

switchport access vlan 1

switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q

switchport mode trunk

spanning-tree portfast trunk

I have also shared my one of the network design

When Interviewer does not know their own stuff like Capacity Planner is Free?

I keep attending technical interview for various reason. I came across an interviewer who happens to be a working with big Indian MNC and who was interviewing me on VMware technologies. I don't claim myself as a "punter" but I assume I know my stuff to some extent.

He asked me if I have used capacity planner. To this I told yes I have used but in conjunction with VMWare TAM since these are paid service. He told CP is free. Well it is free but you can not use its functionality until you paid for this service. Which means you can download and install but won't be able to explore what it is suppose to do. I was absolutely correct

I wrote to cpprovisioning@vmware.com and this is what they have to say

"Yes, Capacity Planner is a free product but in order to get it you must attend the 2 day instructor led course which is not free. Retail cost is $1495. Please speak with a sales rep in order to see about a lesser price."

Please find the URL which explains the same

http://vmetc.com/2007/12/06/how-do-i-get-vmware-capacity-planner/

http://www.vmware.com/products/capacity_planner/

He then asked me what does the VMware recommend for lun size? I told VMware does not recommend any lun size. It's storage vendor who provide recommendation. And it make sense because that's vendor who represent lun, vmware just provide interface. This was discussed here http://communities.vmware.com/thread/104211

To this he started telling it is mention under best practice document from VMware . GOD why people want to prove themselves? This is just a interview and you are interviewing a person. It may happen that he knows stuff more than you but that does not mean that you will try to misdirect him. I really don't care for such person and neither would I like to work with such person.