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Add an FC-based VMFS datastore as supplemental storage for a management domain using ONTAP tools for VMware vSphere

Contributors netapp-jsnyder netapp-lhalbert sureshthoppay kevin-hoke
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In this use case we outline how to configure a VMFS datastore over Fibre Channel (FC) as supplemental storage for the VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) management domain. This procedure summarizes the steps to deploy ONTAP tools on the management domain, add a storage backend, and provision the datastore.

Before you begin

Make sure the following components and configurations are in place.

  • An ONTAP storage system with FC ports connected to FC switches.

  • SVM created with FC LIFs.

  • vSphere with FC HBAs connected to FC switches.

  • Single initiator-target zoning is configured on FC switches.

    Note

    • Use SVM FC logical interface in zone configuration rather than physical FC ports on ONTAP systems.

    • Use multipath for FC LUNs.
Steps

  1. Deploy ONTAP tools on the management domain by following the instructions in the ONTAP tools for VMware vSphere documentation: Deploy ONTAP tools on management domain.

    The ONTAP tools for VMware vSphere appliance is deployed as a small-sized single node with core services to support NFS and VMFS datastores.

  2. Add a storage backend using the vSphere client interface by following the instructions in the ONTAP tools for VMware vSphere documentation: Define Storage backend using vSphere client interface.

    Adding a storage backend enables you to onboard an ONTAP cluster.

  3. Provision VMFS on FC by following the instructions in the ONTAP tools for VMware vSphere documentation: Provision VMFS on FC.

Additional information