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caddo
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Using a fiber channel tape library in a virtual machine

Hi everyone,

i've been asked if it's possible to use a fiber channel tape library as a device of a virtual machine running on an esx 3.5 host that has SAN connectivity; i know that you can map a phisycal fiber channel adapter to a virtual machine but this means that it can be used by the virtual machine only, if i am correct.

This is a new subject to me so i'm curious about all the options i have and all the limitations so that i can decide what is the best thing to do.

Thanks in advance.

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Texiwill
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Hello,

For ESX v3.x check out http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Virtualization/How-to-Attach-Local-Tape-Device-to-VMware-ESX-Host/

With ESX 4 you could use PCI Passthru option as well.


Best regards, Edward L. Haletky VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009
Now Available on Rough-Cuts: 'VMware vSphere(TM) and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and 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]

--
Edward L. Haletky
vExpert XIV: 2009-2023,
VMTN Community Moderator
vSphere Upgrade Saga: https://www.astroarch.com/blogs
GitHub Repo: https://github.com/Texiwill

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Texiwill
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Hello,

Actually it is not possible as you describe. You need to use SCSI Passthru to access the FC tape device. You can not use NPIV to present non-DISK LUNs to VMs.


Best regards, Edward L. Haletky VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009
Now Available on Rough-Cuts: 'VMware vSphere(TM) and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and 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]

--
Edward L. Haletky
vExpert XIV: 2009-2023,
VMTN Community Moderator
vSphere Upgrade Saga: https://www.astroarch.com/blogs
GitHub Repo: https://github.com/Texiwill
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caddo
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Thank you for pointing this out.

I am afraid i am not very familiar with SCSI Passthru, can you provide me some links to some documentation about this? All i've found are community threads about GSX while i only work with ESX.

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Texiwill
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Hello,

For ESX v3.x check out http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Virtualization/How-to-Attach-Local-Tape-Device-to-VMware-ESX-Host/

With ESX 4 you could use PCI Passthru option as well.


Best regards, Edward L. Haletky VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009
Now Available on Rough-Cuts: 'VMware vSphere(TM) and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and 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]

--
Edward L. Haletky
vExpert XIV: 2009-2023,
VMTN Community Moderator
vSphere Upgrade Saga: https://www.astroarch.com/blogs
GitHub Repo: https://github.com/Texiwill
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