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jesse202
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SAN LUN Mapping

Hi All

Just a quick question, in are environment we are using ESX 4.0 update 2. We are using a SAN that is connected by way of fiber channel. What I wanted to know is, is it possible map to SAN LUNs directly to a virtual machine?

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a2alpha
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You can do this with NPIV, where your virtual machines get there own virtual fibre HBAs and WWNs and you then use your SAN to map LUNs to those WWNs. Your esx host must be able to see the SAN for this to work and there are a few more prerequisites.

Scott Lowe has a good article here: http://blog.scottlowe.org/2009/11/27/understanding-npiv-and-npv/

and also the SAN configuration guide from VMware.

Hope this helps,

Dan

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mittim12
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Have you looked to see if NPIV is a viable option?

http://www.brocade.com/downloads/documents/white_papers/white_papers_partners/NPIV_ESX4_0_GA-TB-145-...






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a2alpha
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You can do this with NPIV, where your virtual machines get there own virtual fibre HBAs and WWNs and you then use your SAN to map LUNs to those WWNs. Your esx host must be able to see the SAN for this to work and there are a few more prerequisites.

Scott Lowe has a good article here: http://blog.scottlowe.org/2009/11/27/understanding-npiv-and-npv/

and also the SAN configuration guide from VMware.

Hope this helps,

Dan

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jesse202
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Thank you both for your reply I will look into this, but it seems like what I am looking for

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binoche
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this is limitation of ESX npiv, I do not suggest to use npiv in ESX;

the answer is there is no worthy way for VM to access FC san lun directly

binoche, VMware VCP, Cisco CCNA

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mudha
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do you mean to say we can not map SAN LUN to VM? waht is the limitation exactly for NPIV??

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binoche
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the limitation of npiv is "Your esx host must be able to see the FC luns also"

binoche, VMware VCP, Cisco CCNA

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sabya1232003
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This can be achieved by the RDM technology from VMware.If you are using the ESX 4.0 you will be having an option to map a raw device ..like raw disk or SAN LUN to any VM.I hope its a very simple method just like adding a new Disk to a VM

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