SRDF SRA Upgrade

Our SRDF SRA version 10 has been out for some time now which means more customers are beginning to think about upgrading their 9.2 environment. Version 10 supports all the configurations that 9.2 does (you can compare release notes), along with more recent releases of both PowerMax and SRM. This is enabled by the backward...

PowerFlex 4.0.1 and VMware SRM

We've released PowerFlex version 4.0.1 which comprises a lot of improvements to the base 4.0 version. If you are currently running version 4.0, I strongly recommend you work with your Dell team to plan an upgrade. Both versions of PowerFlex 4.x still require Dell's assistance to install, so unfortunately you cannot download the software yourself....

vCLS and Virtual Volumes

vCLS vCLS or vSphere Cluster Services was introduced in vSphere 7.0 U1 as a way to manage vSphere DRS and vSphere HA with the intended goal, as far as I understand it, to allow these services to eventually run without the vCenter (not yet). vCLS is represented by eponymous VMs, with 1-3 per vSphere cluster....

PowerFlex with VMware SRM

Now that I've covered replication on the PowerFlex, we can move right into VMware SRM. Like all storage-based replication, PowerFlex has an SRA that integrates with SRM and executes those tasks specific to the PowerFlex. The current version of the SRA is 1.0.0.1 and supports through PowerFlex 3.x. Support for 4.x is currently undergoing certification....

SRM Windows upgrade to SRM Appliance with SRDF SRA

Now that VMware has a number of SRM releases that support the Appliance model (8.3-8.5), more and more customers are taking the leap to move off their Windows implementation. VMware provides a procedure to make the transition which applies to any SRM environment whether it is using an SRA or not. I've been reticent, therefore,...

The Dell EMC PowerMax and VMware vSphere Configuration Guide

For those customers running on PowerMax, I've published the new The Dell EMC PowerMax and VMware vSphere Configuration Guide which is the replacement for Using Dell EMC VMAX and PowerMax Storage in VMware vSphere Environments. The new TechBook only covers PowerMax integration/best practices with VMware. While the previous doc was over 400 pages, the new...

Partial VM Replication in SRM

I've been working with SRM a long time, but here's a situation I honestly have never been asked about: Can you replicate only some vmdks of a VM? Why yes you can, and it has nothing to do with changing parameters in the SRDF SRA (which I am sure is a relief). This is a...

PiTs with SRM and the SRDF SRA

I wanted to revisit this post on using point-in-time (PiTs) with SRM and the SRDF SRA having just demonstrated SRM with virtual and physical infrastructure. A dual purpose environment was the original impetus for adding the parameter IgnoreActivatedSnapshots so many years ago now, and as it has been four years since the post I thought...

SRDF SRA 9.2.0.1 Hot Fix

This post will cover a new hot fix (HF) build for the Dockers version of the SRDF SRA. The new release is tagged as version 9.2.0.1. Development has worked overtime to come up with solutions to the couple of issues I've outlined in this previous post: Requirement to re-run the enableAutoSSLCertGen.sh shell script after reboot...

vVols, SRDF, and VMware SRM on PowerMax

We have finally released our long awaited VASA 3 implementation for vVols 2.0 which includes support for SRDF Asynchronous (SRDF/A) replication. Lack of replication support has been a blocker for many customers to even look at vVols since a DR solution is such an essential component of a business (as it should be). And having...