Skip to main content
ONTAP tools for VMware vSphere 10.3

Install the NFS VAAI plug-in

Contributors netapp-jani

The NFS vStorage API for Array Integration (NFS VAAI) plug-in is a software component that integrates VMware vSphere and NFS storage arrays. Install the NFS VAAI plug-in using ONTAP tools for VMware vSphere to leverage the advanced capabilities of your NFS storage array to offload certain storage-related operations from the ESXi hosts to the storage array itself.

Before you begin

  • Download the NetApp NFS Plug-in for VMware VAAI installation package.

  • Make sure you have the ESXi host 7.0U3 latest patch or later versions and ONTAP 9.14.1 or later versions.

  • Mount an NFS datastore.

  • Set the values of the DataMover.HardwareAcceleratedMove, DataMover.HardwareAcceleratedInit, and VMFS3.HardwareAcceleratedLocking host settings to “1”. To set these values automatically, apply the recommended settings of the EXSi host. Refer to Configure ESXi server multipath and timeout settings.

  • Enable the vstorage option on the storage virtual machine (SVM) by using the vserver nfs modify -vserver vserver_name -vstorage enabled command.

  • Make sure you have the vSphere 7.0U3 latest patch releases.

  • vSphere 8.x is supported with the NetApp NFS VAAI plug-in 2.0.1(build 16).

Steps

  1. Log in to the vSphere client using https://<vcenterip>/<ui>

  2. Select Shortcuts > NetApp ONTAP tools under the plug-ins section.

  3. Select Settings > NFS VAAI Tools.

  4. When the VAAI plug-in is uploaded to vCenter Server, select Change in the Existing version section. If a VAAI plug-in is not uploaded to the vCenter Server, select Upload button.

  5. Browse and select the .vib file and select Upload to upload the file to ONTAP tools.

  6. Select Install on ESXI host, select the ESXi host on which you want to install the NFS VAAI plug-in, and then select Install.

    Only the ESXi hosts eligible for the plug-in installation are displayed. You can monitor the installation progress in the recent tasks section of the vSphere Web Client.

  7. You should manually restart the ESXi host after the installation finishes.

    When the VMware admin restarts the ESXi host, ONTAP tools for VMware vSphere automatically detects and enables the NFS VAAI plug-in.

What's next?

After you’ve installed the NFS VAAI plug-in and rebooted your ESXi host, you need to configure the correct NFS export policies for VAAI copy offload. When configuring VAAI in a NFS environment, configure the export policy rules with the following requirements in mind:

  • The relevant ONTAP volume needs to allow NFSv4 calls.

  • The root user should remain as root and NFSv4 should be allowed in all junction parent volumes.

  • The option for VAAI support needs to be set on the relevant NFS server.

For more information on the procedure, refer to Configure the correct NFS export policies for VAAI copy offload KB article.

Related information

Support for VMware vStorage over NFS

Enable or disable NFSv4.0

ONTAP support for NFSv4.2