Choosing a scsi adapter for your virtual machine

[vpert]

Hi there,

did anyone found a similar description as the one about the vmnic's in the KB 1001805 for the scsi adapters?

There are new SCSI adapters available with ESX 4 and I really would like to have some more detailed information about them.

Any tip, hint is appreciated

Tom

[AndreTheGiant]

There are 2 adapters for compatibility issue.

Old Windows version has Buslogic built-in in CD installation, new Windows version has LSI.

Use always the controller created by the new VM wizard that is the best for your VM OS.

Seems that LSI is a little better, and in the only supported for MSCS into VMs.

Andre

[Texiwill]

Hello,

THere is also the PVSCSI Paravirtualized SCSI adapter that can only be used for non-boot volumes of your VMs. It is best to go with the recommended (by the vSphere client) driver however you should also refer to the GUest OS installation guide for what is recommended for the OS in question.

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/GuestOS_guide.pdf

Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009, Virtualization Practice Analyst[/url]
Now Available: 'VMware vSphere(TM) and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing the Virtual Environment'[/url]
Also available 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise'[/url]
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[vpert]

ok, let me make things a bit more clear; There are four SCSI Drivers available in vSphere:

- BusLogic Parallel

- LSI Logic Parallel

- LSI Logic SAS

- VMware Paravirtual

The first two are the ones which have already been available in ESX 3.x. The question is - when should the LSI SAS and when the Paravirtual Controller be used?

Any "best practices and recommendations"?

Tom

[AndreTheGiant]

You can find some infos in this document:

http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vsphere_performance_wp.pdf

There was also a good thread about the controller's type, but now I can find it again.

Andre

[Texiwill · Accepted solution]

Hello,

PVSCSI may give better performance depending on the back end storage in use. If you want to increase storage performance then this could be used for NON-Boot Volumes.

LSI SAS is a new addition of a more 'modern' driver that exists within some guest OS's and not others. Once more it depends on the guest OS in use.

Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009, Virtualization Practice Analyst[/url]
Now Available: 'VMware vSphere(TM) and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing the Virtual Environment'[/url]
Also available 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise'[/url]
[url=http://www.astroarch.com/wiki/index.php/Blog_Roll]SearchVMware Pro[/url]|Blue Gears[/url]|Top Virtualization Security Links[/url]|Virtualization Security Round Table Podcast[/url]

[AndreTheGiant]

Some other infos on:

http://virtualgeek.typepad.com/virtual_geek/2009/05/update-on-the-io-vsphere-performance-test.html

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsp40/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm#href=admin/t_select_a_scsi_adapter.ht...

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsp40/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm#href=admin/c_about_paravirt_scsi.html

Andre

[vpert]

Thanks everybody - this fair enough.

Tom