VMware Cookbook

Chapter 2. Storage

Storage will be one of the key components in your virtualized environment. In this chapter we will look at the different types of storage and ways to successfully configure and use them within the ESX environment.

2.1. Comparing ESX Storage Options

Problem

You want to know which network storage types ESX supports and what each type offers.

Solution

Review the comparison tables in this recipe.

Discussion

Table 2-1 lays out the types of storage ESX supports. Table 2-2 lists the features different storage types can utilize in ESX. It’s important to understand the technologies and their capabilities and limitations when setting up your ESX environment.

Table 2-1. Storage options for VMware ESX Servers

Technology	Protocols	Transfer	Interface
Fibre Channel	FC/SCSI	Block access/LUN	FC host bus adapter (HBA)
Local storage	SCSI/SAS	Block access	Local SCSI or SAS controller
iSCSI	IP/SCSI	Block access/LUN	iSCSI HBA for hardware iSCSI Ethernet card for software iSCSI
NAS	IP/NFS	File level	Ethernet card

Table 2-2. Storage features offered by types of storage on VMware ESX Servers

Type	Boot VM	VMotion	RDM	VMCluster	Datastore	HA and DRS
SCSI	Yes	No	No	No	VMFS	No
Fibre Channel	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	VMFS	Yes
iSCSI	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	VMFS	Yes
NAS/NFS	Yes	Yes	No	No	NFS	Yes

2.2. Storage Device Naming Scheme

Problem

You wish to understand how ESX names its devices when working with storage in ESX.

Solution

This recipe breaks down the naming scheme so you can understand how it works.

Discussion

The format of a storage device name in ESX consists of three or ...