FC configuration workflow

When you make storage available to a host using FC, you provision a volume and LUN on the storage virtual machine (SVM), and then connect to the LUN from the host.

This illustration is a flowchart of the FC workflow. The steps in the workflow match the topics in this guide.

Verifying that the FC configuration is supported
For reliable operation, you must verify that the entire FC configuration is supported.
Completing the FC configuration worksheet
You require FC initiator and target WWPNs and storage configuration information to perform FC configuration tasks.
Installing Virtual Storage Console
Virtual Storage Console for VMware vSphere automates many of the configuration and provisioning tasks required to use NetApp FC storage with an ESXi host. Virtual Storage Console is a plug-in to vCenter Server.
Adding the storage cluster or SVM to VSC for VMware vSphere
Before you can provision the first datastore to an ESXi host in your Datacenter, you must add the cluster or a specific storage virtual machine (SVM) to Virtual Storage Console for VMware vSphere. Adding the cluster enables you to provision storage on any SVM in the cluster.
Updating the HBA driver, firmware, and BIOS
If the FC host bus adapters (HBAs) in the ESX host are not running supported driver, firmware, and BIOS versions, you must update them.
Configuring the ESXi host best practice settings
You must ensure that the host multipathing and best practice settings are correct so that the ESXi host can correctly manage the loss of an FC path or a storage failover event.
Creating an aggregate
If you do not want to use an existing aggregate, you can create a new aggregate to provide physical storage to the volume which you are provisioning.
Deciding where to provision the volume
Before you provision a volume to contain your LUNs, you need to decide whether to add the volume to an existing storage virtual machine (SVM) or to create a new SVM for the volume. You might also need to configure FC on an existing SVM.
Zoning the FC switches by the host and LIF WWPNs
Zoning the FC switches enables the hosts to connect to the storage and limits the number of paths. You zone the switches using the management interface of the switches.
Provisioning a datastore and creating its containing LUN and volume
A datastore contains virtual machines and their VMDKs on the ESXi host. The datastore on the ESXi host is provisioned on a LUN on the storage cluster.
Verifying that the host can write to and read from the LUN
Before using the LUN, you should verify that the host can write data to the LUN and read it back.