Release Notes

NOTE: The capability to import EqualLogic storage to a PowerStore array requires VMware ESXi version 6.5 U2 or VMware
ESXi version 6.7 U3.
Versions of Individual VIBs
The Dell EqualLogic MEM is distributed as an offline bundle that contains multiple VIBs. The version numbers of the individual
VIBs do not necessarily match the version of the offline bundle.
New and Changed Features
This version of the Multipathing Extension Module includes the following new and changed features:
● Support for PS Series firmware version 10.0.3
● Support for importing EqualLogic storage to Powerstore (requires VMware ESXi version 6.5 U2 or VMware ESXi version 6.7
U3.)
Unsupported VMware Environments
The following environments are not supported by the Dell EqualLogic MEM:
● Offloaded data transfer (ODX)
○ Dell recommends using VMware VAAI as an alternative to ODX.
○ See the following Microsoft Tech Note: https://technet.microsoft.com/JJ200627 for the procedure to disable ODX.
● The ESXi iSCSI initiator does not support IPv6 addressing for iSCSI multipathing.
● The only supported distributed virtual switch (dvs) is the VMware vNetwork Distributed Switch (vDS).
● ESXi iSCSI multipathing requires a non-routed network between the host and the iSCSI storage. For details, see this
VMware Knowledge Base article: https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1009524
NOTE:
If you plan to import EqualLogic volumes to a PowerStore array, see the Importing External Storage to PowerStore
Guide for supported operating systems.
Changing the Multipathing Setting After Adding PE
Targets
If you add protocol endpoint (PE) targets to support VVols in your environment after your initial configuration of the MEM,
set the multipathing to DELL_PSP_EQL_ROUTED using the setup.pl script, esxcli, or vSphere UI. For details, see the Dell
EqualLogic Multipathing Extension Module Installation and User’s Guide.
Importing EqualLogic storage to PowerStore arrays is not supported when PE is configured on the host.
Using the EqualLogic Plugin with HBAs
The MEM fully supports the Broadcom NetXtreme II family with iSCSI offload. This adapter allows third-party components, such
as the EqualLogic Host Connection Manager (EHCM), to add and remove iSCSI sessions. Such programmatic iSCSI session
management allows the EHCM to maintain the optimal path configuration to each iSCSI target and realize the full benefit of the
EqualLogic MEM.
Independent HBAs, such as the QLogic QLE406xC, do not support iSCSI session management. Because iSCSI session
management is an important piece of the EqualLogic MEM functionality, you will not see any performance gain when using
the MEM with these HBAs.
You can use the Broadcom iSCSI offload initiator with the VMware software initiator. However, the two initiators must not
share physical NICs or VMkernel ports.
Each dependent HBA can have different scaling limits and can have different Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) support
for jumbo frames. See the latest VMware Compatibility Guide or check with your hardware vendor for details about specific
devices.
2