ETERNUS DX S2 series and VMware VAAI deliver agile solution for virtualization

Transcription

1 White paper ETERNUS DX S2 series and VMware VAAI deliver agile solution for virtualization ETERNUS DX S2 series support VMware vstorage APIs for Array Integration that offloads tasks from servers to disk arrays to accelerate system operations in virtualization environment. Table of contents Introduction 2 Overview of VMware VAAI 3 Procedure of Enable/Disable VAAI 6 Verification contents and verification result 7 Conclusion 1 March, 213 ED-WP-33-1 Page 1 of 1

2 Introduction Purpose of this document To satisfy the demands of cloud computing, storage products must have greater expandability to enable flexible capacity expansion, higher reliability to avoid service interruptions or data loss and increased performance to provide quick access to data. In addition, storage products must have greater affinity for virtualization environment, which achieves cost reduction by consolidating multiple servers into one server. The ETERNUS DX8 S2/DX9 S2, DX4 S2 series and DX87 S2 disk array have been providing affinity for VMware vsphere. For example, they support major versions of ESX and the VMware disaster recovery solution "VMware vcenter Site Recovery Manager". By using the Reclamation with VMware vstorage APIs for Array Integration *2 supported from vsphere 4.1, ETERNUS DX8 S2/DX9 S2, DX4 S2 series and DX87 S2 disk array achieve greater affinity and efficient use of storage capacities, speeding up of ESX server operations and reducing work load on ESX servers. 2; vstorage APIs for Array Integration will be referred to as the VAAI in this document. We verified that the time needed for creating virtual disks, cloning virtual machine and booting multiple virtual machines is reduced. This result shows that system performance is improved by offloading workload from the ESX server to the ETERNUS DX8 S2/DX9 S2, DX4 S2 series or DX87 S2. This document explains the verification contents and advantages of features of VMware VAAI. About the ETERNUS DX series The ETERNUS disk array provides various functions to handle mission critical operations. The small-sized ETERNUS DX8 S2/DX9 S2 provides high-end class features. Scalable models provide optimal storage environments for customer scales and usage scenes. The ETERNUS DX4 S2 series is the midrange disk array supporting UNIX/Industry standard servers. The extensive lineup and optimized expandability provide an appropriate solution for information systems requiring data integrity or compliance. ETERNUS DX87 S2 is the enterprise disk array where know-how is accumulated through our experiences. This series provides stable operation by offering flexibility for various operation needs and superior reliability for data protection. * The ETERNUS DX8 S2/DX9 S2, DX4 S2 series and DX87 S2 will be referred to as the ETERNUS DX in this document. ETERNUS DX4 S2 series ETERNUS DX87 S2 ETERNUS DX8 S2/DX9 S2 Page 2 of 1

3 Overview of VMware VAAI (1) What is VMware VAAI? Recently, requests for high-performance virtual machines are increasing as well as requests for cloud computing and cost reduction. To satisfy this requirement, VMware vsphere 4.1 supported VMware VAAI. VMware VAAI speeds up system operation and reduces work load on server by offloading workload from ESX server to the ETERNUS DX. VAAI supports three functions: Full Copy, Block Zeroing and Hardware Assisted Locking. 1. Issues only copy execution command. 2. Data is copied within the storage. Full Copy Without VMware VAAI, data copy is processed through the server. This function enables data copy within the disk array without using the server to transfer data. The server only issues a data copy command to the disk array. Copy processing is executed using Extended Copy function of the ETERNUS DX. As the data is copied within the high performance ETERNUS DX, copy processing is faster and server work load and I/O load between server and storage are reduced. ETERNUS provides high-speed copy, supporting the Extended Copy command. Figure 1-2 with VAAI The server sends a command for copy execution. Data is copied within the ETERNUS DX using Extended Copy function. This minimizes data transmission and speeds up copy processing. 1. Server reads data from the storage. 2. Server writes data to another storage volume. Scenes which function works When cloning a virtual machine When deploying virtual machines from a template When conducting Storage vmotion within the same array Figure 1-1 without VAAI Server reads data from the ETERNUS DX and writes it to another volume. A large amount of data is transmitted between server and ETERNUS DX using server resources. Page 3 of 1

4 Overview of VMware VAAI (2) Block Zeroing To allocate storage capacity for creating new virtual machine with Eager Zeroed Thick format, all areas must be initialized to zero. Conventionally, the server wrote zero data to the disk array. This function enables the disk array to write zero data instead of the server, reducing the server load, the I/O load between the server and storage, and accelerates capacity allocation. Scenes which function works When creating new virtual machine with Eager Zeroed Thick format When writing data to unused area in virtual machine in Zeroed Thick format or Thin format * For details on Eager Zeroed Thick format, Zeroed Thick format and Thin format, please refer to VMware s official manual. ( whelp.htm#href=server_config/c_supported_disk_formats. html#1_18_8_8_9_6_1) 1. Server executes initialization. Figure 2-1 without VAAI Server writes zero data to all areas. 1. Only issues initialization command. 2. Initialization is executed in storage. Figure 2-2 with VAAI The process of filling zero data is executed in ETERNUS DX. The server only issues one command (Server sends 1 block data and ETERNUS DX writes the same data for specified number of blocks). Page 4 of 1

5 Overview of VMware VAAI (3) Hardware Assisted Locking Exclusive control of shared storage for multiple servers was performed at the storage array LUN (logical volume) level. This function enables exclusive control at block level. This eliminates delays waiting for access to unrelated storage areas that share a LUN, improving operational efficiency of the virtual machines. 1. Locks whole volume that contains blocks to be used. 22. ボリューム全 Volume is 体にロックが掛 entirely locked. かっており 他 Other servers のサーバからは cannot access the volume. クきな Figure 3-1 without VAAI 1. Locks only a block to be used. 22. ボリューム全 Volume is 体にロックが掛 not locked. かっており 他 Other servers can access to のサーバから the volume. はアクセスできない Figure 3-2 with VAAI Scenes which function works When booting a virtual machine When shutting down a virtual machine When conducting vmotion Page 5 of 1

6 Procedure of Enable/Disable VAAI Procedure of enable/disable VAAI Enable/Disable of VAAI can be changed from vsphere Client. Full Copy When value of [Configuration] (in case of the vsphere Web Client, [Manage]) - [Advanced Settings] [HardwareAcceleratedMove] is 1, it will be enabled. When the value is, it will be disabled. And default value is 1. Hardware Assisted Locking When value of [Configuration] (in case of the vsphere Web Client, [Manage])- [Advanced Settings] [HardwareAcceleratedLocking] is 1, it will be enabled. When the value is, it will be disabled. And default value is 1. Block Zeroing When value of [Configuration] (in case of the vsphere Web Client, [Manage]) - [Advanced Settings] [HardwareAcceleratedInit] is 1, it will be enabled. When the value is, it will be disabled. And default value is 1. Installation of ETERNUS VAAI Plug-in ETERNUS VAAI Plug-in is required to use VAAI in any of the following environment: - When using vsphere When using ETERNUS DX4 series or ETERNUS DX8 series. (including the case that ETERNUS DX S2 series is used with these models) - When using ETERNUS DX S2 series with firmware versions lower than V1L2. For example, ETERNUS VAAI Plug-in is NOT required for VAAI support if only ETERNUS DX S2 series with firmware version V1L2 or later is used in vsphere 5 environment. For detail of download and installation of ETERNUS VAAI Plug-in, please see following site. us/tools/vaai.html Page 6 of 1

7 Verification contents and verification result (1) Connection Image for verification Verifications were conducted in the following system environment. Server and switch were connected by dual paths. And also switch and storage were connected by dual paths. The verification of Full Copy and Block Zeroing was conducted with single ESX server (red dotted line). The verification of Hardware Assisted Locking was conducted with 4 ESX servers (blue dotted line). Time without VAAI (Blue) :1 minutes 9 seconds with VAAI (Red) :1 minutes 8 seconds Approx. 89% time reduction sec. 7 Required Time (Full Copy) % time reduction Graph 1-1 Required time (Full Copy) Figure 4-1 Connection Image for verification Full Copy Verification environment All verifications of Full Copy were conducted under the following environment. Storage: ETERNUS DX41 S2(V1L2) * Interface: 2 x iscsi (1Gbit/s) Server: 1 x PRIMERGY BX62 S4 * CPU: 2 x Intel (R) Xeon(R) Processor E545 Cache: 16GB, Interface: 2 x iscsi (1Gbit/s) Hypervisor: vsphere 5 Capacity of virtual machine: 1GB (Eager Zeroed Thick format) x 4 virtual machines Disk Type: 6GB (1rpm) RAID Type: RAID1+(8+8) (Both copy source and destination) CPU load of ESX Host without VAAI (Blue): average 11.78% with VAAI (Red): average 1.91% Approx. 84% reduction (These values were recorded / observed using vcenter.) % CPU load of ESX Host (Full Copy) 84% reduction Verification contents Clones virtual machine into a different RAID group. Measures time for completing cloning of virtual machine. Time is measured until status on GUI of vcenter becomes Complete. Time is measured with VAAI and without VAAI Graph 1-2 Load on CPU (Full Copy) Page 7 of 1

8 Verification contents and verification result (2) Number of transferred packets from server to storage without VAAI (Blue): average with VAAI (Red): average 3428 Approx. 97% reduction (These values were recorded / observed using vcenter.) packets Number of transferred packets(full Copy) 97% reduction sec. Required time (Block Zeroing) 65% time reduction Graph 2-1 Required time (Block Zeroing) CPU load of ESX Host without VAAI (Blue): average 12.55% with VAAI (Red): average 2.5% Approx. 84% reduction (These values were recorded / observed using vcenter.) Graph 1-3 Number of transferred packets (Full Copy) Block Zeroing Verification environment All verifications of Block Zeroing were conducted under the following environment. Storage: ETERNUS DX44 S2(V1L1) * Interface: 2 x iscsi (1Gbit/s) Server: 1 x PRIMERGY BX62 S4 * CPU: 2 x Intel (R) Xeon(R) Processor E545 Cache: 16GB, Interface: 2 x iscsi (1Gbit/s) VAAI Plug-in: ETERNUS VAAI Plug-in 1..1 Hypervisor: vsphere 4.1 Update 1 Capacity of virtual machine: 1GB (Eager Zeroed Thick format) Disk Type: 146GB (1rpm) RAID Type: RAID1+(8+8) The following shows verification contents. Measures time required for initialization to create new virtual machine with Eager Zeroed Thick format.(os is not installed on virtual machine.) Measures time until the status of virtual machine creation becomes Complete on vsphere Client. Time is measured with VAAI and without VAAI Time without VAAI (Blue): 57 seconds with VAAI (Red): 2 seconds Approx. 65% time reduction % CPU load of ESX Host (Block Zeroing) 84% reduction Graph 2-2 Load on CPU (Block Zeroing) Number of transferred packets from server to storage without VAAI (Blue): average with VAAI (Red): average 953 Approx. 99% reduction (These values were recorded / observed using vcenter.) packets Number of transferred packets (Block Zeroing) 99% reduction Graph 2-3 Number of transferred packets (Block Zeroing) Page 8 of 1

9 Verification contents and verification result (3) Hardware Assisted Locking Verification environment Verification of Hardware Assisted Locking was conducted under the following environment. Storage: ETERNUS DX44 S2(V1L1) * Interface: 2 x iscsi (1Gbit/s) Server: 2 x PRIMERGY BX62 S4 * CPU: 2 x Intel (R) Xeon(R) Processor E545 Cache: 16GB, Interface: 2 x iscsi (1Gbit/s) 2 x PRIMERGY BX62 S4 * CPU: 2 x Intel(R) Xeon(R) Processor X546 Cache: 32GB, Interface: 2 x iscsi (1Gbit/s) Hypervisor: vsphere 4.1 Update1 VAAI Plug-in: ETERNUS VAAI Plug-in 1..1 Capacity of virtual machine: 1GB (Thin format) Disk Type: 146GB (1rpm) RAID Type: RAID1+ (8+8) OS of virtual machine: not installed The following shows verification contents. 3 virtual machines are evenly distributed across 4 ESX servers using single shared datastore. All virtual machines are powered on simultaneously. Measures time until Power On virtual machine status of virtual machines becomes Completed on vsphere Client. Time is measured with VAAI and without VAAI Time without VAAI (Blue): 1 minutes 19 seconds with VAAI (Red): 59 seconds Approx. 25% time reduction sec. 1 8 Required time (Hardware Assisted Locking) 25% time reduction Graph 3-1 Required time (Hardware Assisted Locking) Page 9 of 1

10 Conclusion Conclusion reached from verification result Verification result shows that the combination of ETERNUS DX and VMware VAAI achieves high speed processing and reduction of server load and the I/O load. In addition, the following advantages are verified. This result certifies that system performance is improved by offloading ESX server load onto ETERNUS DX. Full Copy It is verified that the time required for cloning a virtual machine, the CPU load on server and number of transferred packets from server to storage are reduced. Therefore, this verification result shows that system performance can be improved by reducing the time to clone a virtual machine, the work load on host server and I/O load between server and storage when cloning a virtual machine. We have verified that copy speed is faster than before supporting an Extended Copy command. From now The demand for virtualization for server consolidation and cloud computing is increasing. The market will require storage and servers to have higher performance, higher reliability, greater functionality, and increased cost effectiveness. Therefore, the ETERNUS DX, which pursues high performance, high reliability and greater functionality, and virtual machines such as VMware, which are suitable for reducing cost, will become increasing more important. In addition, the combination of ETERNUS DX and VMware VAAI, which contributes to high performance virtual machines, is a cost effective high performance virtualization solution. Fujitsu is committed to providing an outstanding virtualization environment with the combination of ETERNUS DX and VMware VAAI. Block Zeroing It is verified that the required time for creating a new virtual machine with Eager Zeroed Thick format, the CPU load on server and number of transferred packets from server to storage are reduced are reduced. Thus, this verification result shows that reductions of work load on host server and I/O load between server and storage improves system operation as well as Full Copy. In addition, this result also shows the time required for creating a new virtual disk can be greatly reduced. Hardware Assisted Locking It is verified that the required time to boot a large amount of virtual machines simultaneously is reduced. This result shows that the combination of ETERNUS DX and VAAI optimizes operation efficiency of virtual machines in a large-scale environment. In addition, the combination avoids I/O bottlenecks caused by LUN based locking. CONTACT FUJITSU Limited Website: Page 1 of 1 VMware is trademark or registered trademark of VMware, Inc. in United states or other countries. Windows is registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in United states or other countries. Not all System names or product names in this document are followed by (R) or (TM). Other company, product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. This white paper is devoted to provide technical information and an overview of the basic facilities of ETERNUS Disk Storage Systems. The contents of this document may be modified without any prior notice. Please contact FUJITSU Limited if you find any error in description. FUJITSU Limited is not responsible indemnity that might be caused by the contents in this documentation or any damage related to contents in this documentation. Copyright 213 FUJITSU LIMITED