HP StorageWorks MPX200 - Simplified Cost-Effective Virtualization Deployment (October 2009)

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Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................ 2

HP StorageWorks MPX200 Architecture ............................................................................................... 2

Server Virtualization and SAN based Storage ....................................................................................... 3

VMware Architecture ...................................................................................................................... 3

MPX200 iSCSI Solutions for Traditional VMware Virtualized Environment ......................................... 3

HP StorageWorks MPX200 Solution – improved implementation methods for VMware .............................. 5

Implementation Option 1 ................................................................................................................ 5

Implementation Option 2 ................................................................................................................ 7

HP StorageWorks MPX200 Benefits ..................................................................................................... 9

Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 9

For more information .......................................................................................................................... 9

HP StorageWorks MPX200 – Simplified

Cost-Effective Virtualization Deployment

Summary of content (9 pages)

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HP StorageWorks MPX200 – Simplified Cost-Effective Virtualization Deployment Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................ 2 HP StorageWorks MPX200 Architecture ............................................................................................... 2 Server Virtualization and SAN based Storage ....................................................................................... 3 VMware Architecture .
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Executive Summary Server virtualization helps to improve the Return on Investment (ROI) by increasing server utilization. However, increased server utilization means a greater demand for I/O bandwidth and more connectivity. To meet the virtualization requirements, Storage Area Networks (SAN) must be capable of providing a higher level of scalable performance than is required by traditional server environments.
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 More iSCSI GbE ports- 4 ports in a single blade, and 8 ports in a Chassis.  10GbE iSCSI connectivity enables customers to run more virtual machines/applications on a single physical server. 10GbE provides customers a more compelling reason to adopt iSCSI.  Scalability up to 600 iSCSI initiators on the iSCSI side with architectural support up to 1024 iSCSI initiators.  Up to 4 EVAs can be connected to the same router to provide iSCSI connectivity.
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Applications running on VMs and data LUNs for these applications may be configured into one of the following options:  The iSCSI SAN LUNs (EVA Vdisks D1, D2, D3, D4) can be pooled into the VMFS file system volume and presented to VMs (VM1, VM2, VM3) by carving out this volume, using VMFS, as needed individually by the applications running on these VMs. The native file system of the guest operating system can be installed on the VMFS carved-out volume, and the application and data can be stored here.
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HP StorageWorks MPX200 Solution – improved implementation methods for VMware This section describes the current technology compared to the improved methods with the EVA and MPX200. Previous methods dictated that the storage initiator, either hardware or software, reside at the hypervisor level. This is because most mid- to high-end storage arrays allowed 128 to 512 host connections. Each initiator on the server side consumed one host connection on the array side.
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enjoys the benefits of being in virtualized environment. This also is very useful for customers moving from a standalone, physical server environment to a virtual server environment. Figure 2 shows the improved way of configuring iSCSI in a hypervisor and on virtual machines. Figure 2: Implementation Option 1 The physical EVA Vdisks volumes are pooled into a single volume extent and the VMFS file system is created. The number of Vdisks in the pool can be one Vdisk or many Vdisks.
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shared by ESX servers, there will be some improved performances that some applications can take advantage of. However, the management of VMFS and Vdisks are highly involved. In figure 2, Vdisks D1, D2, D3, and D4 are pooled together and a VMFS file system volume is created. In the VMFS volume, Virtual Machine Disks (vmdk) are carved out for every VM. As the figure shows, vmdk A, B, and C are carved out for VMs. VM1 is installed in vmdk A, VM2 in vmdk B, and VM3 in vmdk C.
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Figure 3: Implementation Option 2 The physical EVA Vdisks volume is configured as the RDM volume. In this option, only one Vdisk is used to create the RDM volume. Thus, RDM A is created on Vdisk D1, RDM B is created on Vdisk D2, and RDM C is created on Vdisk D3. VM1 is installed in RDM A, VM2 in RDM B, and VM3 in RDM C. Microsoft Windows guest OS is installed in every VM. Microsoft’s software iSCSI initiator is configured in every VM.
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HP StorageWorks MPX200 Benefits In a virtual server environment, this means that each guest OS can have its own initiator without relying on the hypervisor to secure and manage data LUNs. Storage can be allocated and expanded based on the requirement of each guest OS or application instance. This frees the IT Manager from the constraints of the 256 LUN limit from the following perspectives: 1. The hypervisor is no longer a bottleneck for management, growth, and data security. 2.