Unable to create a Protection Group - no array pair visible when using NFS replication with EMC VNX 5300 and SRM 5.5

[biggingerbear]

I am unable to create protection groups in my test environment. When I search for "devices for enabled array pairs" i locate all the replicated NFS shares, and the correct direction of replication between the two sites. However none of the datastores are shown in this view. This then prevents me from being able to create a protection group.

I had successfully created a protection group previously where the NFS export on the recovery side was in read and write mode. I did not create this NFS export and am not sure how the replication was setup because as far as i am aware you cannot have NF replication where the destination is in read and write.

I have also found it incredibly difficult to find any good sources that define exactly what is needed to make this process work between SRM5 and EMC VNX 5300. I have found a very well made pdf which shows detailed configuration for VNXe with SRM5 and NFS replication, But that is a very different system unfortunately. If anyone coulf recommend any good sources I would be incredibly grateful.

Here is my setup so far:

Protected Site:

• EMC VNX 5300
  • NFS Replication -
    • two NFS exports called SRM_test and pri_test in read and write mode
    • Both use the same data mover - 192.168.100.3
    • The replication destination interface is 192.168.100.4 and the file systems have the same name
    • Replication statuses are okay for both.
• vCenter 5.5 Virtual Appliance
  • EMC VSI plugin installed
  • Datastores mounted -
    • 192.168.100.3/pri_test
    • 192.168.100.3/SRM_test
• SRM Server - What is installed:
  • Navisphere CLI
  • EMC VNX SRA for VMWare vCenter SRM5
  • EMC Mirrorview Enabler for VNX SRA
  • EMC VNX Replicator Enabler for VNX SRA
  • VMWare vCenter SRM 5.5

Recovery Site:

• EMC VNX 5300
  • NFS Replication -
    • two NFS exports called SRM_test and pri_test in read only mode
    • The replication settings are the same as stated on the protected site

• vCenter 5.5 Virtual Appliance
  • EMC VSI plugin installed
  • Datastores mounted -
    • 192.168.100.4/pri_test
    • 192.168.100.4/SRM_test
• SRM Server - What is installed:
  • Navisphere CLI
  • EMC VNX SRA for VMWare vCenter SRM5
  • EMC Mirrorview Enabler for VNX SRA
  • EMC VNX Replicator Enabler for VNX SRA
  • VMWare vCenter SRM 5.5

I have attached my latest log bundles from the SRM Servers at the protected site and recovery site, just in case anyone wanted to go through them if they didn't have anything better to do!!!

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Alan Hughes

[MahendraNathN]

Hello,

Did you convert the Mounted NFS shares to datastores? If not, SRM cannot see them as datastores and you can create Protection Groups.

Regards,

MahendraNath N

[biggingerbear]

Thanks for the reply MahendraNath, its much appreciated.

I'm sorry, i'm still learning my way around vSphere. I'm not sure how to convert a NFS share to a datastore.

Could you give me a quick description or link please?

Regards

Alan

[MahendraNathN]

Follow the below URL to convert the NFS share to datastore.

How to add NFS Datastore for ESXi Server VMware vSphere - YouTube

[biggingerbear]

Thanks for the link MahendraNath, but i think I misunderstood your first reply.

I have already mounted the NFS shares, from your reply I thought there was some advanced technique for converting them to a datastore, but obviously i was mistaken.

The mounted NFS share that I am trying to use in my recovery plan currently has test VMs running on it, but as the screenshots that I have attached show, The NFS shares do not show up as datastores under the array managers Devices tab.

I would really appreciate any ideas to help try and fix this.

Regards

Alan

[MahendraNathN]

Can you share the screenshot (Protected site) of Home -> Inventory ->Datastores and Datastore Clusters?

[biggingerbear]

Sorry the lateness of my reply, I was away on holiday.

Here is the screen shot of the inventory datastores from the protected site.

Regards

Alan

[Sni9er]

im having the same issue with NetApp

Any Help