Broadcom Server NIC and Celerra problem

Question

OK, so we are building a new VMware environment using NFS off of a NS80g for storage. When we attempt to create guest systems and the OS install is being performed it fails because it can not grow the vmdk file fast enough on the Celerra. Vmware support says they have seen this before with broadcom NIC and a Celerra and that the resolution was to replace the broadcoms with Intel. Does anyone have any ideas why this would be?

Peter_EMC · Answer

Just googleing for Broadcom nic and vmware will give you some hints.

f.e. http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&externalId=2242 or
http://www.tuxyturvy.com/blog/index.php?/archives/37-Troubleshooting-VMware-ESX-network-performance.html

bthessel · Answer

OK apparently it has been determined by VMware that it is not a Broadcom NIC problem but a problem when you disable caching on the FS as recommended in the EMC Celerra with VMware whitepaper that EMC put out. According to VMware support EMC is aware of the problem and is working on a fix but the solution till then is not to disable caching. Is there a way to re-enable caching after it has already been disabled. I ran the command: server_mount server_2 -option rw,uncached vmware01 /vmware01

gbarretoxx1 · Answer

Yes, there is.server_mount server_2 -ignore -option rw vmware01 /vmware01The -ignore tells the DM to overwrite the mount options. If you do not use it, it would append the mount options.Gustavo Barreto.

Rainer_EMC · Answer

interestingdo you have a service request or bug number for that ?

bthessel · Answer

30760542 is the SR I opened today on it. My presales engineers have confirmed this today along with a VAR that does EMC and VMware.

Rainer_EMC · Answer

FYI,looks like a fix is available in 5.6.46:Impact Level Severity 1Symptom Desc. From version 5.6.439 to 5.6.46.4, installing a VMWare virtual machine on Celerra using the NFSprotocol when the underlying file system was mounted with 'uncached' option resulted in a corruptedvirtual machine.Fix Code has been fixed to handle 'uncached' option properly, eliminating data corruption.Service Request No. 29798394Fixed in version 5.6.46.3

Celerra

Broadcom Server NIC and Celerra problem

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