VMware VVols: Integrating Dell EMC Unity with vSphere environment

This article provides the step by step procedure to configure a Virtual Volume (VVol) based vSphere environment using Dell EMC Unity SAN storage. You can go through my previous post to get an understanding of the differences between VMFS and VVol.

Step1: Register a new storage provider in vCenter

Note: Registering a storage provider exposes all the array capabilities to vCenter through VASA API.

Select: vCenter server -> Configure -> Storage providers -> Register a new storage provider (+)

Register new storage provides in vCenter

After successful registration of storage provider

Step2: Create a VVol datastore on the storage array (Unity)

Create VVol datastore (storage container)

Provide a name

Select capability profiles for the VVol datastore

Note: Each pool has its own characteristics and is associated with a specific capability profile. Adding capability profiles to a VVOL datastore basically adds the corresponding pools to that VVOL construct. In the above figure we have added 3 capability profiles, which means pool_01/02/03 are now part of VVOL_Datastore_01.

Configure access to ESXi hosts

Summary

VVol datastore (storage container) creation completed

The storage container (VVOL datastore) has been created on the array and the next step is to add it to ESXi hosts.

Step3: Add a new datastore in the vSphere environment through vCenter

Add new VVol datastore

Select the VVol datastore and provide a name

VVol datastore creation complete

VVol datastore

Step4: Create VM storage policies

Select VM Storage Policies

Create VM storage policy

Select vCenter and provide a name

Storage type and rule

Select service level

Select the compatible storage

Now the storage policy (Platinum) has been created. Similarly, I have created Silver and Bronze policies which are shown below.

Sample storage policies

Step5: Migrate virtual machines to VVol datastore

Migrate VM01 to VVol datastore

While migrating the VM, you can choose the disk format and the VM storage policy and it will display the compatible VVOL datastores.

Select compatible storage

If you would like to apply storage policies at disk level you can edit the VM storage policies setting of the VM and apply policy as per the requirement as shown below.

Select VM storage policy per VMDK

Hope this was helpful. Cheers!

References:

https://www.dellemc.com/resources/en-us/asset/white-papers/products/storage/h15091-dell-emc-unity-virtualization-integration.pdf