ESX
Dynamic Storage Provisioning
Considerations and best practices for using virtual disk thin provisioning.
What Is New in VMware vSphere™ 4: Storage
Technical overview of new storage related features in the vSphere 4.0 release that enable more efficiency, greater control and more choice for storage virtualization. Features such as virtual disk thin provisioning, VMFS Volume Grow, New iSCSI Software Initiator, and new views and alert in vCenter.
VMware VMFS: Tech Overview and Best Practices
Technical overview of VMFS and best practices.
Layers of Virtual Storage in VMware VMware Infrastructure 3: Configuration without Confusion
This paper describes the storage stack in terms of how virtualization introduces a layer of abstraction and how this can be better understood.
HCL: Storage / SAN Compatibility Guide For ESX 3.5 and ESX 3i
The hardware compatibility guide provides an updated list of which storage offerings are fully supported with ESX 3.5.
What Is New for Storage in Virtual Infrastructure 3 Release 3.5
An overview of which new storage features were introduced in release 3.5 with links to more details.
HCL: Storage Compatibility Guide for ESX 3.0.x
The hardware compatibility guide provides an updated list of which storage offerings are fully supported with ESX 3.0.x.
HCL: SAN Compatibility Guide for ESX 2.x
The hardware compatibility guide provides an updated list of which storage offerings are fully supported with ESX 2.0.x.
Round-Robin Load Balancing
Technical note on use of mulitpath round robin available in release 3.5
Configuring and Troubleshooting N-Port ID Virtualization
Technical note to help configure and troubleshoot setting up ESX 3.5 RDMswitch NPIV access.
Performance
Performance Characterization of VMFS and RDM using a SAN
Results of a study comparing performance of Raw Disk Maps to dedicated VMFS volumes.
Storage Subsystem Performance in VMware ESX: BusLogic Versus LSI Logic
This paper compares the performance of virtual BusLogic and LSI logic SCSI drivers in ESX.
Scalable Storage Performance
This paper discusses queue depth and use of scis reservations with recommendations.
Performance Characteristics of VMFS and RDM
Another paper that compares performance consideration of Raw Disk Maps and VMFS.
Comparison of Storage Protocol Performance
Compares performance of ESX on four network storage options and shows all are viable options.
Performance Counters (useful for performance troubleshooting)
This paper explains what storage performance metrics can be used with ESXTOP utility.
FC SAN
Best Practices Guide: Emulex Virtual HBA® Solutions and VMware® ESX 3.5
This paper discussed NPIV benefits and best practices when used with ESX release 3.5.
SAN System Design and Deployment Guide
Configuration considerations and deployment best practices for storage area networks.
SAN Conceptual Design Basics
Provides an overview of SAN terminology and concepts.
VMware ESX Using EMC Symmetrix Storage Systems Version 2.0
This paper discusses best practices for running VMware Infrastructure 3 on EMC Symmetrix storage.
Using VMware ESX with 3PAR Utility Storage to Optimize Virtual Computing Deployments
This paper discusses use of Thin-Provisioning and best practices for running VMware Infrastructure 3 on 3PAR storage.
Recommendations for Aligning VMFS Partitions
This paper describes the considerations and steps for aligning VMFS volumes on arrays LUNs.
Virtualizing SAN Connectivity with VMware Infrastructure 3 and Brocade Data Center Fabric Services
This paper discusses use of NPIV with Brocade technology.
Best Practices Guide: Emulex Virtual HBA® Solutions and VMware® ESX 3.5
This paper discusses use cases and benefits for using NPIV with Emulex and Cisco technology.
Using VMware ESX With Hitachi Data Systems NSC or USP Storage
This paper discusses use of Hitachi Data Systems storage with VMware technology.
IP Storage
VIRTUALIZED iSCSI SANS: Flexible, Scalable Enterprise Storage for Virtual Infrastructures
This paper outlines benefits of using the DELL equalogic iSCSI offerings with VMware technology.
H2756 - Using EMC Celerra IP Storage with VMware Infrastructure 3 over iSCSI and NFS (EMC White Paper)
This paper discusses use of iSCSI and NFS on Celerra storage from EMC.
iSCSI Design Considerations and Deployment Guide
This paper outlines considerations and best practices for deployment of iSCSI storage with VMware Infrastructure 3.
Using a Network Appliance SAN with VMware Infrastructure 3 to Facilitate Server and Storage Consolidation
Joint paper that discusses use of NetApp storage with VMware technology.
VMware ESX Ethernet-based Storage Configuration
This paper discusses use of iSCSI storage and offers some best practices.
Backup
Consolidated Backup in VMware Infrastructure 3
This paper provides a brief introduction and overview of VMware Consolidated Backup.
VMware Consolidated Backup: Improvements in Version 3.5
Provides an overview of what is new for VCB in release 3.5 for VCB.
VMware Consolidated Backup Best Practices Guidelines and Considerations
This paper provides sizing guidelines, recommendations and troubleshooting tips for VCB.
Optimized Backup and Recovery for VMware Infrastructure with EMC Avamar
Architecture overview and technical details of Avamar backup options for VMware Infrastructure 3.
VMware Consolidated Backup - Partner Integration Guide
Functionality for partners who want to integrate backup solutions with VMware backup API.
Take the Next Step
Explore your storage connectivity options when using Fibre Channel, iSCSI and NAS equipment or learn more about VMware storage-related products such as VMware Storage VMotion and VMware vStorage VMFS.
