Quantum tape library and Esxi 4.1

[ilyo]

Configuration:

- Vsphere Esxi 4.1

- HP Proliant DL180 G6

- HP SC11Xe SCSI Adapter card

- Quantum Superloader 3 with a single LTO3 drive

When the quantum tape library is connected to the serevr...the esxi see's the single drive but not the robotic library. So in Windows I can only have a single drive to do backups and must manually load a tape daily.

So I contacted vmware support, and was told that robotic libraries are not able to be connected and used on a vm server but they would open a feature request and hopefully be compatible in future...are they kidding me?? Is anyone able to get a robotic taoe library working on a virtual server? Any tips to make the esxi see the changer as well as the drive?

Thanks

[ilyo]

Sorry...to clarify...Autoloader has a DLT drive not LTo.

Thanks

[J1mbo]

are you passing through the SCSI card using vmdirectpath?

http://blog.peacon.co.uk

Please award points to any useful answer.

Unofficial List of USB Passthrough Working Devices

[ilyo]

I have not done any additional settings changes...am fairly new to virtual server administration...all other tape backups I configured were single drives and were literally plug and play..I simply assigned the SCSI to the applicable VM. In this case...under storage adapters it shows a "53c1030 PCI-X Fusion Dual Ultra320 SCSI" as the adapter although that is not the model but assumed it was a standard driver of some sort...and under that adapter it lists one "Local Quantum Tape".

Where would I need to make any additional setting changes that you mentioned? Are you aware of anyone using robotoic tape libraries with esxi? I only ask because vmware support told me flat out NO!

Thanks!

[J1mbo · Accepted solution]

In vSphere client, at the host level (i.e. host selected), go to Configuration, Advanced. If you host supports passthrough, you should then be able to provide the SCSI card itself (as opposed to the device) to a single VM so it can then access it, and any attached devices, in the usual way. Not that I've ever tried it

http://blog.peacon.co.uk

Please award points to any useful answer.

Unofficial List of USB Passthrough Working Devices

[ilyo]

haha

Ok so to confirm:

- Click COnfiguration tab

- Click Advanced settings link

- Currently no devices are configured for passthrough, so I hit configure passthrough settings link

- new box pops up asking me to select the scsi card I want to set to pass through...warning then pops up advising that host will no longer be able to utilize the card

If I hit yes...then the card becomes completely confgurable by VM? How do I tell it which VM? Will the host require a reboot?

Just curious of the next steps thanks again! Fingers crossed here!

[J1mbo]

Yes, the idea is that the guest (VM) sees the device as it would do if it were a physical machine.

This might help: http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/techpaper/vsp_4_vmdirectpath_host.pdf

http://blog.peacon.co.uk

Please award points to any useful answer.

Unofficial List of USB Passthrough Working Devices

[ilyo]

Worked like a charm!!! i cannot thank you enough...amazing that vmware support did not mention it as a workaround! I have marked your response as the correct answer!

[J1mbo]

Super, glad to help..., actually I'm very interested in this one as I happen to have one of these too

http://blog.peacon.co.uk

Please award points to any useful answer.

Unofficial List of USB Passthrough Working Devices

[ilyo]

Well works perfect on Windows 2003...However not in 2008. According to Quantum FAQ it's a Windows 2008 issue.

With Windows 2008 the Ultra320 SCSI HBAs i.e. Adaptec 39320A utilized Microsoft STORport driver. The STORport driver issues a REPORT_LUNS and assumes the target device supports HISUP or a hierarchal reporting format (defined in SAM SCSI specification). However, the VS160 tape drive does not claim support for HISUP and uses a non-hierarchal reporting format, therefore the Operating System ignores the LUN attached library. The Adaptec Ultra160 HBA, on the other hand, utilizes the SCSIport driver which checks standard inquiry data from each attached target for HISUP support and will scan all LUNS if the target does NOT advertise support for HISUP. Since the STORport driver does not employ the same logic as the SCSIport driver, it fails to recognize the library as a valid target.

So am in a catch 22...need to be on Windows 2008 to backup Exchange 2010 using Backup Exec...however need to be on Windows 2003 to be able to use Library! hahahaha

[seaninbeijing]

Hi, thanks for your posts. These are very helpful.

But I wonder if tape library can work with VMware Player by usingDirectPath. Actually, it is a question of difference between VMware Player and ESX. Can you please help?