VAAI Plugins Missing?

[skadann]

I'm pretty confused on configuring VAAI Hardware Acceleration.

I go to list my plugins, and there are not any VAAI plugins or filters available on the ESXi host (5.0 Update 3)

vi-admin@localhost:~[vcap-esxi2.vcaplab.local]> esxcli storage core plugin list --plugin-class=VAAI

vi-admin@localhost:~[vcap-esxi2.vcaplab.local]> esxcli storage core plugin list --plugin-class=Filter

vi-admin@localhost:~[vcap-esxi2.vcaplab.local]> esxcli storage core plugin list --plugin-class=all

Plugin name  Plugin class

-----------  ------------

NMP          MP

I list the VAAI claim rules, and it shows different VAAI plugins in use.

Rule Class   Rule  Class    Type    Plugin            Matches

----------  -----  -------  ------  ----------------  ----------------------------

VAAI        65429  runtime  vendor  VMW_VAAIP_MASK    vendor=MSFT model=Virtual HD

VAAI        65429  file     vendor  VMW_VAAIP_MASK    vendor=MSFT model=Virtual HD

VAAI        65430  runtime  vendor  VMW_VAAIP_SYMM    vendor=EMC model=SYMMETRIX

VAAI        65430  file     vendor  VMW_VAAIP_SYMM    vendor=EMC model=SYMMETRIX

VAAI        65431  runtime  vendor  VMW_VAAIP_CX      vendor=DGC model=*

VAAI        65431  file     vendor  VMW_VAAIP_CX      vendor=DGC model=*

VAAI        65432  runtime  vendor  VMW_VAAIP_EQL     vendor=EQLOGIC model=*

VAAI        65432  file     vendor  VMW_VAAIP_EQL     vendor=EQLOGIC model=*

VAAI        65433  runtime  vendor  VMW_VAAIP_NETAPP  vendor=NETAPP model=*

VAAI        65433  file     vendor  VMW_VAAIP_NETAPP  vendor=NETAPP model=*

VAAI        65434  runtime  vendor  VMW_VAAIP_HDS     vendor=HITACHI model=*

VAAI        65434  file     vendor  VMW_VAAIP_HDS     vendor=HITACHI model=*

VAAI        65435  runtime  vendor  VMW_VAAIP_LHN     vendor=LEFTHAND model=*

VAAI        65435  file     vendor  VMW_VAAIP_LHN     vendor=LEFTHAND model=*

I've looked at this on a vanilla ESXi host, and an HP OEM ESXi build - same results. The storage shows as VAAI supported, but notice no plugin is listed.

vi-admin@localhost:~[vcap-esxi2.vcaplab.local]> esxcli storage core device vaai status get

naa.600144f06cf7ce0000005329f2820001

   VAAI Plugin Name:

   ATS Status: supported

   Clone Status: supported

   Zero Status: supported

   Delete Status: supported

naa.600144f06cf7ce0000005329f2820002

   VAAI Plugin Name:

   ATS Status: supported

   Clone Status: supported

   Zero Status: supported

   Delete Status: supported

naa.600144f06cf7ce0000005329f2820003

   VAAI Plugin Name:

   ATS Status: supported

   Clone Status: supported

   Zero Status: supported

   Delete Status: supported

Is the host missing something or am I? From the Storage Admin guide, "In the vSphere 5.0 release, these extensions are implemented as the T10 SCSI based commands. As a result, with the devices that support the T10 SCSI standard, your ESXi host can communicate directly and does not require the VAAI plug-ins." Does this mean, because VAAI is showing as supported that VAAI plugins are not even needed, and adding claim rules are not necessary?

Thanks for your consideration.

[arvinnd]

If you have a storage array that supports Hardware acceleration vaai plugins are loaded automatically. In your setup you don't need to do anything. All vaai offload command  are  supported and they will work.

Iyou can find the plugins loaded by using commands here

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-51/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.vmware.vsphere.storage.doc%2FGUID-B4ABDAC1-...

Though this is for 5.1 if it does not work let me know.

Read more information about VAAI in http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=102197...

Thanks

Arvind

[skadann]

Right, the output of the commands (referenced in your first link) is blank - see the first two commands in my post. I did expect them to load automatically, as VAAI is supported for ATS, Clone, Zero, and Delete.

Thanks