Install Guide

Installing Dell EqualLogic MEM

This section contains installation information about the Dell EqualLogic Multipathing Extension Module (MEM).

See the Dell EqualLogic Multipathing Extension Module Release Notes for installation requirements and information, including:

• Minimum software and firmware prerequisites

• Unsupported VMware environments

• Notes about using EqualLogic MEM with HBAs

Topics:

• Obtaining the MEM Installation File

• iSCSI Network Configuration Requirements

• Using the Setup Script for Network Configuration

• Configuring Your Network for the Dell EqualLogic MEM

• Installation Considerations

• Installing Dell EqualLogic MEM on Your VMware ESXi Host

• Removing the Dell EqualLogic MEM

• Verifying the Installation

• Performing an Upgrade Installation

• Disabling MEM

• Using the MEM with AutoDeploy

Obtaining the MEM Installation File

The Dell EqualLogic MEM installation .zip file is available from the Technical Support website. The .zip file has the following contents:

• setup.pl – A configuration and installation script. To use this script, install the vSphere CLI on a Linux or Windows host. If you are

using vSphere CLI version 6.5 or 6.7, download and install Strawberry Perl version 5.24. See Installing MEM Using the setup.pl Script

for more information about using Perl.

• dell-eql-mem-esx6-version.zip – The offline bundle for ESXi 6.0 containing the VIB to install on an ESXi server. Do not

extract the bundle, because the installation tools expect it in .zip format. The bundle can be installed through vCenter Update

Manager.

NOTE: VMware Management Assistant (vMA) does not support vSphere version 6.7 or later.

iSCSI Network Configuration Requirements

Before you can use the MEM, configure the Dell EqualLogic MEM, VMware ESXi iSCSI networking on your server. Ensure that you

complete the configuration tasks identified in Configuring Your Network for the Dell EqualLogic MEM .

Table 2. iSCSI Network Configuration Requirements

Task Action Description

1 Create a vSwitch. Create a vSwitch to use for iSCSI traffic. Assign physical NICs that

are used for iSCSI traffic to this vSwitch.

2 Enable jumbo frames. If you intend to use jumbo frames, enable them for each vSwitch and

each VMkernel port (virtual network interface that the VMkernel

uses) interface. You can verify that jumbo frames are enabled on the

vSwitch and VMkernel port through the vSphere client or by using

the commands esxcfg-vswitch -1 and esxcfg-vmknic -l.

Before enabling jumbo frames, check with your hardware vendors to

ensure your physical network adapter and other network equipment

support jumbo frames.

Installing Dell EqualLogic MEM 9