Managing Datastore Clusters
Objective: Create a datastore cluster and work with
vSphere Storage DRS
In this lab, you will perform the following tasks:
1. Create a Datastore Cluster That Is Enabled by vSphere Storage DRS
2. Evacuate a Datastore Using Datastore Maintenance Mode
3. Run vSphere Storage DRS and Apply Migration Recommendations
4. Clean Up for the Next Lab
Task 1: Create a Datastore Cluster That Is Enabled by vSphere
Storage DRS
You create a datastore cluster that is enabled by VMware vSphere® Storage DRS™. The Gold and Silver datastores are reused as members of the cluster.
Students should do this task individually.
1. In the vSphere Web Client, point to the Home icon and select Storage.
2. In the Storage inventory tree, right-click the Training data center.
3. From the Actions drop-down menu, select Storage > New Datastore Cluster.
4. In the New Datastore Cluster dialog box, create a cluster that is enabled by vSphere Storage DRS.
c. Leave No Automation (Manual Mode) clicked and click Next.
d. Click Next.
e. In the Filter panel, click Standalone Hosts, select the ESXi host check box, and click Next.
f. In the datastore list, select the Gold and Silver check boxes and click Next.
g. Review the configuration summary and click Finish.
In a production environment, the best practice is to select datastores that are connected to all hosts in the cluster, and group them by storage capabilities.
5. In the Storage inventory tree, expand Cluster-DRS and verify that both the Gold and Silver datastores appear.
6. Select the Gold datastore.
7. In the middle pane, click the Summary tab.
8. In the Details panel, verify that only one virtual machine is using the datastore.
9. Select the Silver datastore.
10. In the Details panel, verify that only one virtual machine is using the datastore.
11. In the Storage inventory tree, select Cluster-DRS.
12. In the middle pane, click the Manage tab and the Settings tab.
13. Under Services, click the Storage DRS link.
14. In the vSphere Storage DRS panel, expand each item and verify the settings. • Automation Level is set to No Automation (Manual Mode).
• Space Threshold is 80 percent.
• I/O metrics for vSphere Storage DRS recommendations are enabled. • Imbalances are checked every 8 hours.
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Task 2: Evacuate a Datastore Using Datastore Maintenance Mode
You migrate the virtual machine stored on the Silver datastore to the Gold datastore to demonstrate the capabilities of vSphere Storage DRS. This migration creates a cluster imbalance.
1. In the Storage inventory tree, right-click the Silver datastore.
2. From the Actions drop-down menu, select Maintenance Mode > Enter Maintenance Mode.
3. In the SDRS Maintenance Mode Migration Recommendations dialog box, read the provided recommendation description.
4. Click Apply Recommendations.
5. If prompted to apply recommendations despite warnings, click Yes. The Win02 virtual machine is migrated to the Gold datastore.
6. In the Recent Tasks pane, monitor the migration task to completion.
7. In the Storage inventory tree, verify that the Silver Tier datastore is in maintenance mode.
8. Click the Refresh icon, located on the left of the logged in user name, at the top of the vSphere Web Client interface.
9. In the Details panel, verify that zero virtual machines are stored on the Silver datastore.
10. Right-click the Silver datastore.
11. From the Actions drop-down menu, select Maintenance Mode> Exit Maintenance Mode.
12. In the Storage inventory tree, verify that the Silver datastore icon no longer indicates maintenance mode.
Task 3: Run vSphere Storage DRS and Apply Migration
Recommendations
You configure vSphere Storage DRS to maintain a balance in usage across all datastores in a cluster. The cluster imbalance is mitigated using vSphere Storage DRS recommendations.
Students should do this task individually.
1. In the Storage inventory tree, select Cluster-DRS.
2. In the middle pane, click the Manage tab and click the Settings tab.
3. Under Services, click the Storage DRS link.
4. Configure vSphere Storage DRS so that recommendations are reported.
a. In the vSphere Storage DRS panel, click Edit.
b. In the Edit Storage DRS Settings dialog box, expand the Storage DRS Automation section.
c. Drag the Utilized Space slider to the far left to set the threshold to 50 percent.
The imbalance between the Gold and Silver datastore utilization is detected at a 50 percent space threshold trigger.
d. Click OK.
5. Run vSphere Storage DRS and review recommendations.
a. In the middle pane, click the Monitor tab and click the Storage DRS tab.
b. Click the Recommendations link and click Run Storage DRS Now.
When the task completes, a vSphere Storage DRS recommendation appears in the recommendation list.
c. Review the recommendation and reason.
vSphere Storage DRS recommends that the Win02 Hard disk 1 be moved from the Gold datastore to the Silver datastore to balance datastore usage in the cluster.
6. Examine the vSphere Storage DRS recommendation alarm.
a. In the middle panel, click the Summary tab and find the yellow vSphere Storage DRS recommendation alarm.
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7. Apply the vSphere Storage DRS recommendation.a. In the middle pane, click the Monitor tab.
b. In the bottom-right corner of the Storage DRS Recommendations panel, click Apply
Recommendations.
c. In the Recent Tasks pane, monitor the migration task to completion.
8. In the middle panel, click the Summary tab and verify that the yellow vSphere Storage DRS recommendation alarm no longer appears.
9. Review vSphere Storage DRS history.
a. In the middle pane, click the Monitor tab.
b. Below the Recommendations link, click the History link.
c. Verify in the vSphere Storage DRS history that Hard disk 1 for Win02 was migrated from Gold to Silver.
d. Verify in the vSphere Storage DRS history that Hard disk 1 was migrated from Silver to Gold.
The migration occurs when the Silver datastore is evacuated.
Task 4: Clean Up for the Next Lab
You remove the vSphere Storage DRS cluster to prepare for the next lab. Students should do this task independently.
1. In the Storage inventory tree, select Cluster-DRS.
2. From the Actions drop-down menu, select Delete.
3. When prompted, click Yes to remove the datastore cluster.
4. After the cluster is removed, verify that the Gold and Silver datastores appear in the Storage inventory tree, under the Training data center.