Enable virtual volumes functionality on the NetApp Element cluster

Register the VASA provider with vCenter

Create a storage container and associated VVol datastore

In your vSphere Web Client, open the Clusters tab:

Select a cluster from the list that you want to enable.

Select Actions.

In the resulting menu, select Enable VVols.

After VVols functionality is enabled, it cannot be disabled. Enabling vSphere Virtual Volumes functionality permanently changes NetApp Element software configuration. You should only enable VVols functionality if your cluster is connected to a VMware ESXi VVols-compatible environment. You can only disable the VVols feature and restore the default settings by returning the cluster to the factory image.

Select Yes to confirm the Virtual Volumes configuration change.

When VVols functionality is enabled, the Element cluster starts the VASA Provider, opens port 8444 for VASA traffic, and creates protocol endpoints that can be discovered by vCenter and all ESXi hosts.

Select Actions for the selected cluster.

In the resulting menu, select Details.

Copy the VASA Provider URL from the VASA Provider URL field. You will use this URL to register the VASA Provider in vCenter.

See Register the VASA provider with vCenter for the next steps.

From vSphere Client Home, select Hosts and Clusters.

Select a vCenter instance on which to register the NetApp Element VASA Provider.

Select Configure > Storage Providers.

From Storage Providers, select the add icon.

Enter the following information in the New Storage Provider dialog box:

Select OK to add the VASA Provider.

Approve the thumbprint of the SSL cert when prompted.
The NetApp Element VASA Provider should now be registered with a status of Connected.

Refresh the storage provider, if necessary, to show the current status of the provider after registering the provider for the first time. You can also verify that the provider is enabled in NetApp Element Configuration > Clusters or NetApp Element Remote Plugin > Configuration > Clusters. Select Actions for the cluster you are enabling and select Details.

See Create a storage container and associated VVol datastore for the next steps.

In your vSphere Web Client, open the VVols tab:

If two or more clusters are added, ensure that the cluster you intend to use for the task is selected in the navigation bar.

Select the Storage Containers sub-tab.

Select Create Storage Container.

Enter storage container information in the Create a New Storage Container dialog box:

Verify that the new storage container appears in the list in the Storage Containers sub-tab. Because a NetApp Element account ID is created automatically and assigned to the storage container, it is not necessary to manually create an account.

Verify that the associated datastore has also been created on the selected host in vCenter.

From the Navigator view in vCenter, right-click a storage cluster and select Storage > Datastores > New Datastore.

In the New Datastore dialog box, select VVol as the type of datastore to create.

Provide a name for the datastore in the Datastore name field.

Select the NetApp Element storage container from the Backing Storage Container list.

You do not need to manually create protocol endpoint (PE) LUNs. They are automatically mapped to the ESXi hosts when the datastore is created.

Select the hosts that require access to the datastore.

Select Next.

Review the configurations and select Finish to create the VVol datastore.

In your vSphere Web Client, open the VVols tab:

If two or more clusters are added, ensure that the cluster you intend to use for the task is selected in the navigation bar.

Select the Storage Containers tab.

Select the check box for the storage container you want to delete.

Select Actions.

In the resulting menu, select Delete.

Confirm the action.

Refresh the list of storage containers in the Storage Containers sub-tab to confirm that the storage container has been removed.