Dell PowerVault MD3260 Dell PowerVault MD Storage Array VMware vCenter Plug-in - Page 42

Formatting Virtual Disks, Create Disk Group Dialog

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Figure 32. Create Disk Group Dialog Formatting Virtual Disks Before you format virtual disks with VMFS datastores, you must plan how to set up storage for the ESX/ESXi systems, including deciding on the number and size of virtual disks to use. NOTE: For more information about making virtual disk decisions, including predictive schemes, adaptive schemes and disk shares, refer to the iSCSI SAN Configuration Guide: Using ESX/ESXi with an iSCSI Storage Area Network: Making LUN Decisions in the VMware vSphere Online Library. When you are deciding how to format virtual disks, keep the following considerations in mind: − Ensure that each virtual disk has the correct RAID level and storage characteristics for applications in the virtual machines using that virtual disk. − Ensure that each virtual disk contains only one VMFS datastore. − When multiple virtual machines access the same VMFS datastore, use disk shares to prioritize virtual machines. Fewer, larger virtual disks are appropriate for the following reasons: − Provide more flexibility to create virtual machines without increasing space. − Provide more flexibility for resizing virtual disks and performing snapshots. − Result in fewer VMFS datastores to manage. More, smaller virtual disks are appropriate for the following reasons: − Less wasted storage space. − Different applications might require different RAID characteristics. − Provide more flexibility, since the multi-pathing policy and disk shares are set per virtual disk. − Microsoft Cluster Service requires that each cluster disk resource is in its own virtual disk. − Offer better performance because there is less contention for a single virtual disk. Dell MD Storage Array vCenter Plug-in | 42

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Dell MD Storage Array vCenter Plug-in
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42
Figure 32.
Create Disk Group Dialog
Formatting Virtual Disks
Before you format virtual disks with VMFS datastores, you must plan how to set up storage for the ESX/ESXi
systems, including deciding on the number and size of virtual disks to use.
NOTE:
For more information about making virtual disk decisions, including predictive schemes, adaptive
schemes and disk shares, refer to the
iSCSI SAN Configuration Guide: Using ESX/ESXi with an iSCSI
Storage Area Network: Making LUN Decisions
in the VMware vSphere Online Library.
When you are deciding how to format virtual disks, keep the following considerations in mind:
−
Ensure that each virtual disk has the correct RAID level and storage characteristics for applications in
the virtual machines using that virtual disk.
−
Ensure that each virtual disk contains only one VMFS datastore.
−
When multiple virtual machines access the same VMFS datastore, use disk shares to prioritize virtual machines.
Fewer, larger virtual disks are appropriate for the following reasons:
−
Provide more flexibility to create virtual machines without increasing space.
−
Provide more flexibility for resizing virtual disks and performing snapshots.
−
Result in fewer VMFS datastores to manage.
More, smaller virtual disks are appropriate for the following reasons:
−
Less wasted storage space.
−
Different applications might require different RAID characteristics.
−
Provide more flexibility, since the multi-pathing policy and disk shares are set per virtual disk.
−
Microsoft Cluster Service requires that each cluster disk resource is in its own virtual disk.
−
Offer better performance because there is less contention for a single virtual disk.