VMware Setup Guide – Application Note

This article summarizes how to integrate VMware with QSAN storage: connecting iSCSI LUNs to ESXi 8, enabling VAAI offloads, deploying the VASA Provider, configuring Clustered VMDK for WSFC, and implementing a basic DR workflow.

Download: VMware Setup Guide

Click here to download the VMware Setup Guide – Application Note.

Key Sections:

  • Introduction: Consolidated VMware storage guidance (ESXi 8 iSCSI, VAAI, VASA, Clustered VMDK, DR).
  • Connect with VMware ESXi 8:
    • Example environment: XN8116D (QSM 4.1.0) and ESXi 8.0.
    • Steps: create pool & block volume → add to Host Group → in vCenter, add ESXi host → Storage Adapters > select iSCSI HBA > Static Discovery → add iSCSI server (data IP) and target IQN → rescan → create datastore → create VM.
  • Integration with VMware VAAI:
    • Features: Thin Provisioning (UNMAP & out-of-space handling), Full Copy, Block Zero, Hardware-Assisted Locking (ATS).
    • Test results:
      • Full Copy (Storage vMotion): 1,616 s → 365 s; Clone: 1,550 s → 359 s.
      • Block Zero (200 GB Eager Zero): 546 s → 240 s.
  • Integration with VMware VASA:
    • QSAN VASA Provider architecture; install on Windows (supports Windows Server 2016/2019, Windows 10/11).
    • Setup: run provider, set port (default 8080), keep app running, login, register devices → in vCenter add Storage Provider → add storage adapter/target → create vVol datastore.
  • Configure VMware Cluster VMDK (WSFC):
    • Prereqs: FC connectivity; array supports ATS and SCSI-3 PR (WEAR); datastore on VMFS 6; VMDKs must be Eager Zeroed Thick; CAB (across hosts), not CIB.
    • Limitations: no snapshots/cloning/Storage vMotion on clustered disks; plan capacity; vMotion only if all requirements match.
    • Tips: enable Clustered VMDK Supported on datastore; first VM uses new SCSI controller + Eager Zero; second VM attaches existing disk; set QuorumArbitrationTimeMax=60.
    • RDM vs Clustered VMDK results:
      • Random 4K IOPS: RDM 117K/26.7K (R/W); Clustered VMDK 125K/22.6K.
      • Seq 32K Throughput: RDM 838/749 MB/s (R/W); Clustered VMDK 1,557/1,307 MB/s.
  • DR Solution for VMware:
    • Configure remote replication (SAN-a→SAN-b or NAS-a→NAS-b), create VM snapshots in vCenter, replicate VMDKs, and use provided ESXi script to rotate snapshots (SnapshotAutoDelete.sh).
  • Apply To:
    • ESXi 8 connect flow: QSM 4.1.0+.
    • VAAI: XEVO 2.0.0+; QSM 3.3.0+.
    • VASA: QSM 3.4.0+.
    • Clustered VMDK: XEVO 2.1.3+.
  • References: QSM 4 Software Manual; VMware vSphere VAAI/VMDK docs; QSAN Download Center.

Critical Notes:

  • CAUTION: For Clustered VMDK, use FC arrays with ATS and SCSI-3 PR (WEAR); VMDK must be Eager Zeroed Thick; VMFS 6 only; no snapshots/cloning/Storage vMotion on clustered disks.
  • INFORMATION: VAAI offloads (Full Copy, Block Zero, Thin Provisioning, ATS) reduce ESXi CPU and I/O load and can significantly cut operation time.
  • TIP: Keep the VASA Provider service/app running; set port (default 8080) before registering in vCenter.

JetStor Support

For assistance with VMware integration on JetStor deployments:
๐Ÿ“ง [email protected]
๐ŸŽซ Submit Support Ticket