Category: Pure Storage

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VMFS Snapshots and the FlashArray Part IV: How to correlate a VMFS to a FlashArray volume

This is part 4 of this 7 part series.

The series being:

  1. Mounting an unresolved VMFS
  2. Why not force mount?
  3. Why might a VMFS resignature operation fail?
  4. How to correlate a VMFS and a FlashArray volume
  5. How to snapshot a VMFS on the FlashArray
  6. How to mount a VMFS FlashArray snapshot
  7. Restoring a single VM from a FlashArray snapshot

Continue reading “VMFS Snapshots and the FlashArray Part IV: How to correlate a VMFS to a FlashArray volume”

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VMFS Snapshots and the FlashArray Part III: Why might a resignature fail?

This is part 3 of this 7 part series. The series being:

  1. Mounting an unresolved VMFS
  2. Why not force mount?
  3. Why might a VMFS resignature operation fail?
  4. How to correlate a VMFS and a FlashArray volume
  5. How to snapshot a VMFS on the FlashArray
  6. How to mount a VMFS FlashArray snapshot
  7. Restoring a single VM from a FlashArray snapshot

Continue reading “VMFS Snapshots and the FlashArray Part III: Why might a resignature fail?”

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VMFS Snapshots and the FlashArray Part II: Why not Force Mount?

This is part 2 of this 7 part series. The series being:

  1. Mounting an unresolved VMFS
  2. Why not force mount?
  3. Why might a VMFS resignature operation fail?
  4. How to correlate a VMFS and a FlashArray volume
  5. How to snapshot a VMFS on the FlashArray
  6. How to mount a VMFS FlashArray snapshot
  7. Restoring a single VM from a FlashArray snapshot

This is a topic that I have looked into years ago, mainly in ESX 4.0 when they changed how it handled unresolved VMFS volumes by allowing it to be done selectively. I have had some customers working with array-based snapshots recently and have run into issues that prevent them from mounting them, or mounting them in the way they want. The problem is that I forgot most of the caveats from that testing because it was way before I started this blog. And as that quote popularized by Mythbusters’ Adam Savage says:

83986-83931-05-mythbusters-expressions

So let’s write it down to so I can’t forget it all again. That show is on its last season right now. I will certainly miss it! But anyways, I digress. Force mounting. Don’t do it and here is why.

Continue reading “VMFS Snapshots and the FlashArray Part II: Why not Force Mount?”

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VMFS Snapshots and the FlashArray Part I: Mounting an unresolved VMFS

This is part 1 of this 7 part series. Questions around managing VMFS snapshots have been cropping up a lot lately and I realized I didn’t have a lot of specific Pure Storage and VMware resignaturing information out there. Especially around scripting all of this and the various options to do this. So I put a long series out here about how to do all of this. Let’s start with what an unresolved VMFS is and how to mount it.

The series being:

  1. Mounting an unresolved VMFS
  2. Why not force mount?
  3. Why might a VMFS resignature operation fail?
  4. How to correlate a VMFS and a FlashArray volume
  5. How to snapshot a VMFS on the FlashArray
  6. How to mount a VMFS FlashArray snapshot
  7. Restoring a single VM from a FlashArray snapshot

Continue reading “VMFS Snapshots and the FlashArray Part I: Mounting an unresolved VMFS”

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Get a Pure//Accelerate $200 Discount Code

NOTICE: This has expired and is no longer valid. Was only for Accelerate 2016. Thanks for coming!

Want to go to Pure//Accelerate 2016 and want to save a bunch of money off of the registration fee? I have an easy way! Save $200 off of the $595 dollar registration by simply Tweeting out a reason you want to go to Pure//Accelerate or why you are interested in or like the Pure Storage FlashArray! Make sure to include the following:

  • Use the hashtag #acceleratesavings
  • Include the @purestorage handle and/or the term Pure//Accelerate

I will monitor the hashtag and provide a code, if I don’t get back to you in an hour or so, please ping me!

Example:

https://twitter.com/codyhosterman/status/689897711772905473

See a post overview here:

https://www.codyhosterman.com/2016/01/pureaccelerate-2016-conference/

If you do not have a Twitter handle and don’t want to open an account post a comment on this blog!

If you have questions comment or hit me up on Twitter at @codyhosterman

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FlashArray UNMAP Script with the Pure Storage PowerShell SDK and PowerActions

I have officially decided to “retire” my UNMAP script that uses direct REST calls to find before and after capacity changes for given volumes. I am only updating the one that uses the Pure Storage PowerShell SDK from this point on–using this is much more robust, not tied to direct API versions and greatly simplifies managing the data in the script.clip_image006

I have also created a second version for use in the VMware Fling called PowerActions. This allows the script to be executed from the vSphere Web Client.

Continue reading “FlashArray UNMAP Script with the Pure Storage PowerShell SDK and PowerActions”

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Updated FlashArray Management Pack for VMware vRealize Operations

Quick post here. An updated version of the Pure Storage FlashArray Management Pack for VMware vRealize Operations (vROPs) has been posted to the VMware Solutions Exchange. No new features, but a variety of internal improvements and bug fixes. Please download the latest version here:

https://solutionexchange.vmware.com/store/products/pure-storage-management-pack-for-vmware-vrealize-operations

I recommend updating your pak to this version.

Notable issues fixed in build 1.0.126 (v1.0.1):

  • Use correct metric for top 25 volumes by read bandwidth widget.
  • Fix caching to allow relationships to be refreshed when “filter by vsphere” option is disabled.
  • Get datastores that are part of a datastore cluster in vCenter.
  • Minor UI string changes.

For a functional review, please check out this post here:

https://www.codyhosterman.com/2015/06/the-pure-storage-flasharray-vrops-adapter-v1/

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Understanding the FlashArray Replication Connection Key

A question came up in a today at work that I answered and I thought it might be a good topic for a quick blog post:

How do you change your connection key for FlashArray replication?

The question misunderstands what the connection key actually is, so let me explain.

When you connect one FlashArray to another, you need three pieces of information:

  1. The FQDN or IP for the management address of the remote array
  2. The FQDN or IP for the replication address of the remote array
  3. A connection key

Continue reading “Understanding the FlashArray Replication Connection Key”

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Commvault IntelliSnap technology with VMware and the FlashArray

This is a post that is somewhat a long time coming as I did the work for this jeez basically in August 2015, but never got around to actually writing a blog post. Shame on me. Anyways, here it is!

Let us start with the requirements:

  • FlashArray 400 series or FlashArray//m
  • Purity v4.1.1 (or higher)
  • REST API: v1.4 (found in Purity v4.x and higher)
  • Fibre Channel or iSCSI Protocol
  • Commvault software version 10 service pack 12 or later with Commvault IntelliSnap software license

Some documentation links:

Pure Storage Community Commvault Page

FlashArray VMware & Commvault White Paper

Commvault VMware Setup

YouTube Demo Playlist

Continue reading “Commvault IntelliSnap technology with VMware and the FlashArray”