Hi All
today we look deeper how in How to run SAP on VMWare , focus is the Storage .
VMWare support different options to connect shared Disk Arrays :
* VMFS (VMWare Cluster Filesystem)
* NFS (NAS as shared Filesystem )
* RDM (Raw Device Mapping )
then there is a mixed option :
* Use on of above for the Operating System and connect the Database Storage direct from the Virtual Machine with Software iSCSI or NFS to the Storage .
What is VMFS :
VMFS (Virtual Machine File System) is a clustered file system that allow to simultaneously share the Storage between multiple Nodes . This is the most common way to deploy Virtual Machine Images . In the SAP Space what I have seen, mostly used for OS part of the SAP Installation, the Database is mostly stored on RDM today, but this might change with the experience. So what is RDM ?
RDM (Raw Device Mapping) provide direct access from Virtual Machine to the Storage. Perfect for Microsoft Clustering or Physical and Virtual Server Clustering . RDM also provide High Performance Access to the Storage . One other Option is using NFS as Shared Storage . How does this look like with NFS :
NFS like VMFS allow the data stores concurrent accessed by all Nodes of a ESX Server Cluster . NFS is gaining popularity through the Simplicity and Datacenters move to a Ethernet Infrastructure . The Last Option Mixed Mode where you run the OS Image on one of the above options and you connect the Database Storage either of Software iSCSI or NFS from the Guest Operating System . The Reason for this switch Database between Physical and Virtual , or using Tools related to the Hardware .
What ever option you choose all of them are working , all have the pro's and cons .
I have seen all in SAP World running , for us as NetApp we provide to all solutions the value of : providing thin provisioning, production-use data deduplication, immediate zero cost datastore clones, and integrated tools such as Site Recovery Manager, SnapManager for Virtual Infrastructure, the Rapid Cloning Utility, and VMInsight.
If want to read more Details on the Topic please read : NetApp and VMWare Virtual Infrastructure Best Practice .
All about Customer Value .
Manfred
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