In this video, we show you how to attach a VMware ESXi host to a PowerVault ME5 system using the Fibre Channel network protocol.
Before you begin, complete the installation of your ME5 system hardware. Review the Dell PowerVault ME5 Series Storage System Deployment Guide for host cabling and set-up instructions.
Review the ME5 Series Storage System Administrator’s Guide for information on configuring hosts and volumes in PowerVault Manager. Prepare a network planning worksheet based on the examples in the Deployment Guide.
First connect the ME5 system to your ESXi host according to instructions in the ME5 Series Deployment Guide. Your configuration may vary, but it will look similar to this diagram.
On the ME5 system, controller A is on the left and controller B is on the right. Ports are identified as port 0 through port 3 going right to left.
On your network planning worksheet, record each controller FC port and the switch port or host server port it is connected to. Later we will identify the WWNN. Launch vSphere.
Select the host and the click the Configure tab. Select Storage and then choose Storage Adapters. Select each FC adapter to see the WWNN under Properties for the HBA. Record the WWNN for each HBA.
This information will make it easier to configure the hosts in PowerVault Manager and attach them to volumes later on. If the hosts are connected to the storage system using FC switches, implement zoning to isolate traffic for each HBA: Use the FC switch management interface to create a zone for each server HBA.
Each zone must contain only one HBA WWNN and all the storage port WWNNs. Repeat for each FC switch. Next, configure the hosts on the PowerVault ME5 system. Log in to PowerVault Manager.
From the main dashboard, go to Provisioning and select Hosts. Select Create Host to launch the wizard. Enter the Host Name. Select the correct initiator for the host, using your worksheet as a guide to map the WWNN and Initiator ID. You can give this host initiator a nickname.
It is recommended to use something that clearly identifies the initiator for that particular host. Then, select Add Initiators To Host, and click Continue.
Optionally, attach the host or host group to a volume. You can choose to create a new volume during this step or attach the host to an existing volume.
For this video, we will create a new volume to attach to the host. Select Attach host or host groups to volumes and select Create new volumes to attach to host or Host Group. Click Continue.
Select the pool on which you want to deploy the volume. Name the volume. Again, it is recommended that you include something descriptive of the volume use in the name, such as the host name. Click Add Volume, then click Continue.
Review the information for the host and associated volume and click Continue to complete the Create Host wizard. When hosts are created, you will see a Success message pop up. Next, complete the configuration of the volume in vSphere. Launch the vSphere client.
Select the host, click the Configure tab, select Storage and then click Rescan Storage. The associated volume for the host should appear as a new storage device.
Next, create a new datastore. Click Datastores. Select Actions >Storage>New Datastore. Select VMFS as the datastore type and click Next.
Name the datastore, then select the ME5 volume from the list of devices. Click Next. Select the version VMFS 6 and click Next. Leave the partition settings at their default values and click Next.
Review the information, then click Finish. For more detailed steps on configuring the datastore in vSphere, review the VMware vSphere documentation.
Lastly, set up multipathing. Select the newly created datastore and click the Configure tab. Select Connectivity and Multipathing. Make sure the Path selection Policy is set to Round Robin (VMware). If not, edit the multipathing policy. Your ME5 system storage is now ready to be used by the hosts.
For detailed steps and custom commands for MPIO, see the Dell PowerVault ME5 Series: VMware vSphere Best Practices guide To access this guide and for more information or support about managing PowerVault ME5 hosts, visit Dell.com/Support.
