IBM SVC support/certification for ESX 3.x?

[boydd]

Does anyone know when/if IBM will certify the SAN Volume Controller for ESX 3.x. Being that this is not on the HCL for ESX 3.x - my upgrade plans may have to wait a while

Any insight would be greatly apprecited.

DB

[davidbarclay]

Hi,

We discussed this recently over at

http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?threadID=65870&start=0&tstart=0

I have no update from IBM.

Dave

[davidbarclay]

Here's my post on the topic:

~~~~~~~~_snip~~~_\~~

We have a client going down the DS8100 / SVC path and currently run ESX 2.5. We are getting VERY different stories from IBM and VMware.

VMware support SVC only on 2.5.0 and 2.5.1

IBM say 2.5.0, 2.5.1, 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 are supported.

Neither say 3.0x is supported.

Off the record, a VMware SE told me there is not likely to be any change in this anytime soon.

IBM say "any day now" (yeah right!). I'm not holding my breath.

I think we will still go down the SVC path, just not for VMware (yet).

Fingers crossed I am wrong as it's a real shame it's not supported.

David

~~~~~~~~_snip~~~_\~~

[chengdj]

I take it that DS6800/SVC doesn't work well with ESX 3.01 ..??

thanks

[davidbarclay · Accepted solution]

take it that DS6800/SVC doesn't work well with ESX 3.01

Not necessarily...but it's unsupported. Various people in these forums have it working. I haven't bothered as it's unsupported and I don't want to get my clients hopes up

Dave

[Anders]

People, no change since last october:

http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?messageID=505498��

\- Anders

[boydd]

Well - maybe that's what we get for starting to use SVC when it's still really just in Beta I figured IBM would have moved this along a little faster than they have.

IBM white papers list ESX 2.5.3 (no sp's as being supported). We'll test VI3 on it and go from there.

Thanks for the input so far.

DB

[Anders]

Umm, URL got mangled cut'n'pasting...

http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?messageID=505498

\- Anders

[davidbarclay]

IBM white papers list ESX 2.5.3 (no sp's as being supported).

I think I said this in another thread, but IBM will stand behind 2.5.3 - just get it in writing

We'll test VI3 on it and go from there.

Love to hear how you go with this. Please update this thread (or create a new SVC thread) when you have some comments. Would love to hear about it.

Dave

[davidbarclay]

IBM,

If you are reading this, we would love to see you give us an official statement on this. Do it here:

http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/resources/communitysupport/

David

[jguzmanr]

I don't see why vmware created that forum. I would NOT use that forum at all to see what equipment I can use. Vmware itself says (writes) the following "VMware does not edit or endorse this list and is not liable for claims made by third parties about hardware or software that is not in the VMware compatibility guides".

So if vmware does not endorse it, why should I?

Just do what vmware officially says....stick with the compability guides.

[boydd]

I agree with sticking to the HCL - but in a perfect world....... Looks like IBM may certify the SVC internally - VMware may informally endorse this product. Just wish IBM would "get off the pot" and just go through the VMware cert process. I'll try to keep this post updated.

DB

[acr]

here here Doug..!! Comon IBM..!!

[davidbarclay]

I see it has value when we have a stale-mate.

At the moment, Vmware say no, IBM say "sometimes". I would just like to see IBM put pen to paper on this issue. Even if it is a "community forum", a vendor endorsment "should" carry weight.

Anyway...Im probably just getting desparate. One thing we do all agree on is IBM doing something!

Dave

[weirdmole]

Hi Peeps

Just to let you know I have tested VI3 with VC doing DRS/HA etc using an SVC with DS4xxx storage on the backend. It works a treat and infact is now being used for a number of production VMs

If only IBM would get the solution certified!!!

[clclclcl]

http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=591&uid=ssg1S1002865#_VMWare

3.0.1 + SVC 4 == Guest OS W2K3 R2 32bit only.

Am I the only one shaking my head going.... bluh bluh bluh, "WTF?"

[Anders]

Hi folks.

VMware and IBM is fully commited to seek to provide full support for the use of the IBM SVC in a Virtual Infrastructure environment.

But - IBM has jumped the gun here with this support statement on their web page,

and the storage group is trying to get IBM to remove it.

What has happened is that we have provided IBM with a recent Qlogic driver,

for them to support a single[/b] costumer in a special configuration.

There is no special build of ESX server, VMware support will deny you this if you request it.

Please disregard the message from IBM.

We are looking at providing early support in a similar manner as described,

but our ultimate goal is full support of the SVC.

It will however take some time...

\- Anders

[wearmg]

Anders, Thanks for the info. Is there any ETA on when the SVC will be supported? We currently have 12 ESX Servers licensed for 3.x that we are very anxious to get upgraded and take advantage of the new features. If an early adopter program is available for SVC support is there a method to request participation? Open up a support call? I just received hardware for our 13th ESX server and was hoping to bring it online as 3.0.1 for testing when I saw IBM's support statement...

Is there any way to find out what the extent of the problem with the older qlogic driver was so that we can judge for ourselves if it is worth testing 3.x now. Is it just a performance issue or something more serious that could lead to data corruption or affect other systems using the SVC or the SVC itself?

Thanks,

-Matt

[boydd]

I have an update for this thread - We got an RPQ from IBM for supporting ESX 3.0.1 on the SVC 4.1. The supported ESX 3.0.1 build that will be supported (via RPQ) is Build 36662. Official GA support won't be until ESX 3.0.2 is released (Summer sometime?).

Work with your IBM reps to get an RPQ.

DB

[davidbarclay]

This might be helpful. Procedure from IBM on VI3 support on SVC:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_\~~

Process to Obtain Support for SVC with VMware ESX 3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_\~~

We are announcing that, pending full GA-level support in VMware ESX 3, IBM and VMware have agreed to an RPQ process to support SVC with VMware ESX 3 configurations.

Support for our joint customers will be granted on a per customer per configuration basis through the IBM SVC RPQ process. No "general" or "blanket" approvals will be granted. VMware will participate with the SVC team in the RPQ process for the approval of each customer request and will have the RPQ approval number and customer name for their records.

At this time, RPQ approvals will be given only for SVC configurations with VMware ESX 3, Windows 2003 guest hosts, and QLogic HBAs. Other guest OS versions and HBAs will be added to the supported configurations as testing is completed: we will issue further flashes to keep you informed.

Configuration restrictions will be listed in the RPQ approval notice, which will also direct customers to the appropriate place to pick up the VMware ESX 3 patches to use until GA-level support is available.

Until GA-level support is available from VMware, all customer service for SVC configurations with VMware ESX 3 should be requested via the IBM Support Center, using the customer's approved RPQ number even if the customer believes the problem is with VMware ESX and not with SVC.

Customers will be expected to migrate to the final VMware product version that contains all fixes for use with SVC within 90 days of its GA. The GA of this support will terminate the interim RPQ support described above. VMware tell us that they expect GA-level support to be available in early 3Q2007. VMware has made this migration a requirement for continued customer support following their GA release.

Account teams should use the SVC RPQ process to request support for exact configurations of SVC with VMware ESX 3 including specifically the guest OS version and HBA. Existing RPQs for SVC/VMware support do not need to be resubmitted: they will be processed and account teams will be contacted if more information is needed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_\~~

Dave