Unified Host Utilities Kit 5.0 for ESX Server is Released

Last week we released a Unified version, 5.0, of the Host Utilities Kit for ESX server. There are some changes, as well as some new additions to the Kit.

First of all, a new script has been added called config_nfs which sets the appropriate NFS Heartbeat parameters.

The filer_info script has been renamed to controller_info and it now supports SSL. In fact, SSL is also supported for the config_hba and config_mpath scripts.

UPDATE 01/19/2009: Unfortunately, we have temporarily pulled the ESX 5.0 Host Utilities Kit due to a bug found that causes the config_mpath utility to go into an infinite Loop. This issue does not affect all systems nonetheless we have seen 2 field occurrences with this behavior. A patch has been issued and is currently under QA. As soon as the QA process is complete the 5.0 HUK will be available for download again, most likely as 5.0.1. In the mean time time, continue to deploy the ESX 3.1 Host Utilities Kit. I will post a notice here as soon as the 5.0.1 kit is available

Update 03/02/2009: The ESX Host Utilities Kit v. 5.0R2 is available for download from the NOW site.

There's a new utility that has been added, called mbrscan. The purpose of mbrscan is to identify wheather or not a VM has properly aligned partitions. The script will run successfully under two conditions: a) The VM is powered off b) the VM has VMsnaps. The script will error out if none of the above two conditions are satisfied simply because the VMDK(s) are locked.

There are new utilities added that will you help set GuestOS timeouts. That includes Windows, RHEL, SUSE and Solaris.

Here's a list of the all the scripts included as part of the Unified Host Utilities Kit v5.0:

install - Install script for the EHU

brocade_info - Collects configuration information about Brocade FC switches

cisco_info - Collects configuration information about Cisco FC switches

config_hba - Utility used to set HBA parameters for communicating with NetApp storage devices. This script will get run as part of the installation and can be executed subsequently at any time.  Support was added for 8GB FC HBAs and well as FCoE CNAs.

config_mpath - Utility used to determine which of the available paths are primary paths and to set primary paths

config_nfs - Utility used to set the NetApp recommended NFS Heartbeat settings.

controller_info - Collects configuration information about NetApp storage devices.

mbrscan - Utilty used to check vmdk files for proper alignment from the ESX console (for VMFS and NFS datastores), and from unix/linux (NFS datatstores).

mcdata_info - Collects configuration information about McData FC switches

qlogic_info - Collects configuration information about QLogic FC switches

san_version - Prints the EHU version

sanlun - collects information about the LUNs currently mapped to your host

uninstall - Uninstall script for the EHU

That said, I'd like to wish Happy Holidays to everyone.

Technorati Tags: NetAppp Host Utilities Kit 5.0,ESX,VMware

Comments

[Nikolai]

Where download it??? In support zone i not found it.

[Nick Triantos]

Nikolai,

The Host Utilties are available from the download section of the NOW site (now.netapp.com). Log in and find FCP host Utilties for ESX or iSCSI Host utlities (same package)

[TimC]

Just curious, what kind of testing has gone into this? In my lab, and at two customers now, when running the installer, or just manually trying to run config_mpath, the system hangs indefinitely until it runs out of memory.

Fell back to 3.x for the time being. I must say, I'm also a bit disappointed that they removed the link to 3.x from the download page.

Seems to be some bug going on with config_mpath and 5.x. I know, I know, open a ticket with support. But it's Christmas vacation and I'm trying to appear to the significant other that I'm really on vacation and not working :D

[TimC]

Just curious, what kind of testing has gone into this? In my lab, and at two customers now, when running the installer, or just manually trying to run config_mpath, the system hangs indefinitely until it runs out of memory.

Fell back to 3.x for the time being. I must say, I'm also a bit disappointed that they removed the link to 3.x from the download page.

Seems to be some bug going on with config_mpath and 5.x. I know, I know, open a ticket with support. But it's Christmas vacation and I'm trying to appear to the significant other that I'm really on vacation and not working :D

[Nick Triantos]

Tim,

I have not installed the SW yet. I was planning in doing it tomorrow. I know every piece of SW goes thru QA but it could be possible you;ve hit a bug. I'll let you know tomorrow. I'm running 3.5U2 in my lab

[Nick Triantos]

Tim,

I've installed it today and get the same behavior during the optmizing path step. I've sent an email to engineering. My system didn't hang. I was able to login and do work on it which the install process was going on.

I'll post an update as soon as I find out what's going on.

[Lost]

HELP!!! I can't find this to download... anyone have a direct link?

[Nick Triantos]

Unfortunately, we have temporarily pulled the ESX 5.0 Host Utilities Kit due to a bug found that causes the config_mpath utility to go into an infinite Loop. This issue does not affect all systems nonetheless we have seen 2 field occurrences with this behavior. A patch has been issued and is currently under QA. As soon as the QA process is complete the 5.0 HUK will be available for download again, most likely as 5.0.1. In the mean time time, continue to deploy the ESX 3.1 Host Utilities Kit. I will post a notice here as soon as the 5.0.1 kit is available

[Chad Sakac]

Nick - are the ESX host utilities back up? I was doing a multipathing and storage HA design breakout at VMworld, and asked how many of them were NetApp customers and if they were using the ESX host utilities - I was surprised that it was only a small percentage (seems like it should be higher). I pointed them to NOW

[Nick Triantos]

Hi Chad,

Yes, 5.0R2 is up. It depends. I found that direct NetApp customers typically use them at large rates. However, what I'm seeing is that NetApp customers thru partners tend to deploy them at smaller rates. Every NetApp customer should be using them given they are a free download and automate several manual tasks saving time and effort.

Cheers