Category: Data Center

VMware vSphere APIs for I/O Filtering (VAIO) 1

Reviews / Server Virtualization

[Review]: VMware vSphere APIs for I/O Filtering (VAIO)

This is not a new features on last vSphere version but I went to write a post about that. We had to deploy different replication scenarios for our customers and some customers needs Point-In-Time Recovery (PiT) and The PiT solutions using VAIO actually so learning about the API is necessary for administrators.

The vSphere APIs for I/O Filtering (VAIO) were introduced in vSphere 6.0 Update 1. The VAIO framework and program were developed to provide VMware and partners the ability to insert filters for I/O into the data path of virtual machines. These “I/O Filters” enable VMware, and partners, to intercept and manipulate the I/O. This manipulation can provide open-ended data services, but thus far is limited to four use cases, two of which are currently exclusive to VMware and two which are open for partners. These use cases are: Replication, Caching, Quality of service (VMware only), Encryption (VMware only).

vSAN ReadyNode Configurator - vSAN OEM 0

Reviews / Server Virtualization

[Review]: What’s vSAN ReadyNode?

vSAN ReadyNode are x86 servers, available from all the leading server vendors, that have been pre-configured, tested and certified for VMware Hyper-Converged Infrastructure Software. Each ReadyNodes is optimally configured for vSAN with the required amount of CPU, memory, network, I/O controllers and storage (SSDs, HDDs or flash devices).

vSAN Hybrid TCO and Sizing Calculator - Sizing Results 0

Free Tools / Desktop Virtualization / Reviews / Server Virtualization

[Review]: VMware Virtual SAN (vSAN) TCO and Sizing Calculator

VMware vSAN Hybrid TCO and Sizing Calculator Virtual SAN or vSAN is a software-defined storage (Hyper Converged) for VMware vSphere environments. Main goal of sing vSAN in VMware vSphere environments, is reducing implementing cost. So calculating TCO and device sizing will help to achieve better results. As vSAN technology owner, VMware has provided an online tool for calculating TCO and sizing for vSAN. The online tool is very useful for IT administrator to find cost of vSAN implementation with different scenarios. The online tool has four different sections: Sizing Inputs: You should fill the sizing inputs form with some information about your environment. Sizing Results: The online tool will calculate results according to the sizing inputs and show the result on this section. TCO Input: You should enter required information for Total Cost of Ownership. TCO Results: According to the information, the tool will calculate and shows the result for TCO calculation. Sizing Inputs This section is using for enter virtualization environment specifications. You must specify the some important information for the online tool to calculating vSAN TCO and sizing. The online tool can calculate requirements according to virtualization platform, there is two platforms for calculations: Server Virtualization Desktop Virtualization The online...

EMC Unity 0

Data Storage

[Update]: EMC Unity Storage Systems – Drive and OE Compatibility Matrix (Feb 2018)

EMC Unity Drive and OE Compatibility Matrix EMC Unity storage systems supporting the below disk drives: Unity SAS Flash 2 Drives – For use in FAST Cache, FAST VP or all-Flash-pools Unity SAS Flash 3 Drives – For use in all-Flash-pools only Unity SAS Flash 4 Drives – For use in all-Flash-pools only Unity Spinning Drives To function properly drives installed in an EMC Unity storage system require that the array be running the minimum required revision of the Operating Environment (OE). EMC provides a document  which lists the drive part numbers supported for Unity storage systems and the minimum software revisions required for each drive model. Notes: The drive part number (PN) appears on a label on the front of the drive carrier. Note that although the OE GUI may display an alpha suffix at the end of the PN (like EFD) these characters are not part of the actual orderable PN. All drives listed in this document are RoHS compliant. Unity drive models use the following prefixes: D3 = AC storage D3FC = AC FAST cache D3AF = AC storage when used in All-Flash-Array (AFA) D3N = DC NEBS storage D3NFC = DC NEBS FAST Cache The following...

EMC VNX 1

News / Data Storage

[Update]: EMC VNX2 Storage Systems – Drive and OE Compatibility Matrix (Feb 2018)

EMC VNX2 Drive and OE Compatibility Matrix The document will help you to know that the minimum compatibility between VNX storage system OE and disk drives. The supported part numbers and minimum version of software are listed. Before installing a new disk in a storage system, use the EMC Unisphere Manager to determine the VNX OE revision running on the storage system. In Unisphere Manager, the VNX OE revision appears on the Software tab of the Storage System Properties dialog box for the storage system. Note 1: Changes and additions in the tables since the last revision of this document are noted in red type. Note 2: The disk part number (PN) appears on a label on the front of the disk carrier. Note that although the OE GUI may display an alpha suffix at the end of the PN (like PWR or SSD) these characters are not part of the actual orderable PN. Note 3: PNs in tables with a ‘YES’ entry in the Spin-Down Support column may report a suffix of PWR through the OE GUI (EX: 005049278PWR). This PWR suffix is used by the OE and is not part of the actual orderable PN. Supported Disk Drives...

HPE iLO 0

How To / Server Hardware

[How To]: Configure HPE iLO via ESXi

There is a standard way to configure iLO for HPE ProLiant servers, HPE iLO can be configured after boot-up via SETUP utility on all type of servers and generations. If you press [F8] during boot-up, iLO configuration utility will be appeared and then you can configure all iLO configuration such as network connection.

Veeam Availability Console 0

Backup & Replication / Reviews

[Review]: Veeam Availability Console

What’s Veeam Availability Console? Veeam Availability Console is new product that provided by Veeam for Service Providers. Veeam Availability Console is a FREE cloud-enabled, multi-tenant platform that delivers everything a service provider needs to deploy, manage and monitor their customers’ Veeam environments virtual, physical or cloud-based no matter where they reside. There’s no doubt that Veeam Availability Console is a powerful solution for service providers, but equally powerful for the large, distributed enterprise. Veeam Managed Backup Portal will be replaced with Veeam Availability Console. Requirements Veeam Availability Console can be work with existing Veeam Cloud Connect. Here is the requirements: 64-bit – Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 / Windows 7 SP1 or later Veeam Backup & Replication 9.5 Update 2 or later Key Features Veeam Availability Console offers the below features: Remote monitoring and management: Start and stop Veeam jobs including backup, replication, backup copy and backup to tape. Remote access to Veeam shell. Email notification. More than 30 predefined alarms Automation Multitenancy Free Download The Veeam Availability Console is available to download at the below link: Veeam Availability Console   Read More on Teimouri.Net: Veeam Backup & Replication Best Practices Veeam Endpoint Backup [Review]: Veeam BR – Storage-level Corruption Guard

FlexibleLOM - Rack Mount Servers 6

Server Hardware

FLR vs FLB: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Option for You

There are some types of adapters which installed on HPE servers such as FlexibleLOM, FLR and FLB. We are going to find out that meaning of each type. What’s FlexibleLOM? FlexibleLOM is a standard for HPE network interface cards that using on ProLiant Blade servers and ProLiant Rack Mount servers. LAN-On-Motherboard is an architecture for HPE network interface cards. There is some benefits when FlexibleLOM is installed on HPE servers. The previous server generations (G7 and earlier) shipped with an integrated LOM and if customers needs to another type of NIC, they had to purchase another PCI NIC for the server. This was consuming mezzanine or PCI slots which reduced the flexibility to add other mezzanine cards or PCI cards. What’s FLR? FlexibleLOM for Rack Mount servers that be installed on G8 and newer generations. FlexibleLOM technology uses a custom implementation of the PCIe 3.0 x8 interface. FlexibleLOM technology does not require additional CPU resources over standard LOM architecture and does not occupy a regular PCI slot. What’s FLB? FLB or FlexibleLOM for Blade servers that be installed on G8 and newer generations. It uses PCI Express v2.0 (Gen 2) x8 interface. The FlexibleLOM Blade adapter installs as a daughter...

Packet Loss 1

Reviews / Operating System

[Review]: Packet Drop vs Packet Loss – Linux

Actually, Packet Loss occurs when one or more packet can’t reach their destination because of some issue such as link congestion, TCP can detect packet loss and send the packet again (During packet recovery process) but packet loss has impact on users, who are using streaming media application and actually all application that using unreliable protocols such as UDP.

Packet Drop is typically discarding packets on different layers after processing packets and packet drop is one of reasons of data loss in some conditions.