EMC VSI for VMware vsphere AppSync Management

Transcription

1 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere AppSync Management Version 5.4 Product Guide P/N REV 01

2 Copyright 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Published in the USA. Published September, 2012 EMC believes the information in this publication is accurate as of its publication date. The information is subject to change without notice. The information in this publication is provided as is. EMC Corporation makes no representations or warranties of any kind with respect to the information in this publication, and specifically disclaims implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Use, copying, and distribution of any EMC software described in this publication requires an applicable software license. EMC 2, EMC, and the EMC logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of EMC Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners. For the most up-to-date regulatory document for your product line, go to the technical documentation and advisories section on the EMC online support website. 2 AppSync Management

3 CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 Overview Executive summary... 6 Product overview... 6 Audience... 6 Scope... 6 Key terms... 7 Related documents... 8 Prerequisites and System Requirements Downloading EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management Setting up the environment Environment and system requirements Loading EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management Remove quotes from the system path EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 Installation Installing EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management Common installation mistakes Chapter 4 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management Configuration Procedures Using AppSync Management feature Add, update, or remove AppSync Server credentials Add/Register AppSync Server Using the AppSync feature to subscribe, unsubscribe, create, or modify service plans Subscribe to a service plan Create a service plan Mount Restore Using the Tab-View to View AppSync Plans and Copies Using tab view to subscribe to a plan Using tab view to modify a plan Using tab view to unsubscribe plan Using tab view for immediate copy Using tab view to restore a copy Using tab view to mount a copy Using tab view to eliminate a copy Using tab view to show event history Chapter 5 Uninstalling EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management Uninstall Uninstall EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management plugin AppSync Management 3

4 Contents Chapter 6 Troubleshooting EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management Problems and limitations Logs Technical notes EMC Sales and Customer Service contacts AppSync Management

5 CHAPTER 1 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 Overview This chapter presents these topics: Executive summary... 6 Product overview... 6 Key terms... 7 Related documents... 8 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 Overview 5

6 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 Overview Executive summary EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 is a feature of EMC VSI for VMware vsphere. The AppSync Management plugin is accessed and run from within VSI. VSI AppSync Management (VSI AM) is a VMware vsphere client plugin that provides VMware vsphere datastore protection services to: Configure service plans Mount/restore a datastore copy Product overview Audience Scope VSI AM is not intended to replace the AppSync console (user interface). Consequently, there are scenarios for which the AppSync console must be used for configuration or troubleshooting operations that cannot be executed using the VSI AppSync plug-in. For example, registering RecoverPoint (RP) systems or VNX systems in the AppSync server requires the AppSync console. EMC VSI for VMware vsphere AppSync Management 5.4 is a feature of EMC Virtual Storage Integrator (VSI) for VMware vsphere. It is designed to create service plans for the EMC VNX and RecoverPoint platforms. The feature enables VMware administrators to administer service plans and copy of a datastore directly from the vsphere Client. The EMC VSI for VMware vsphere : AppSync Management feature provides VMware vsphere datastore protection management with service plan configuration, datastore copy mount/restore/expire for EMC AppSync server. This product guide covers EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 revision 0.1. This solution was designed for VMware administrators who will create protection plans through the vsphere Client. After the storage administrator has planned and implemented the storage environment and configured AppSync server data, the VMware administrator sets up the VMware virtual environment and loads EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4. Using this feature, users of this feature can implement protection plans without the direct involvement of the storage administrator. User who are familiar with the concepts of the AppSync application can use this feature. This document is intended for the VMware administrator, storage administrator, or operators who will be involved in creating protection plans for their data. This Product guide is intended to provide an overview of the EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 plugin and its use in their environment. Topics include: Overview of the EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 VMware vsphere, EMC VNX prerequisites and system requirements Using EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 6 AppSync Management Feature

7 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 Overview Common installation mistakes Troubleshooting procedures Key terms AppSync Server: An AppSync server is a web-based individual application that provides data protection for Microsoft Exchange and VMware vsphere using RecoverPoint and VNX Snapshot replication. Copy: Generating replica of data of one datastore per subscribed service plan. Copy is also applicable to exchange databases. Datastore Protection: An approach that ensures that historical data in datastore is restorable and mountable by periodically utilizing data replication or some other type of copy operations on the data. ESX/ESXi: VMware ESX and ESXi are the virtualization platforms that abstract processor, memory, storage, and networking resources into multiple virtual machines. Event History: A log of activity on the AppSync server. Events are logged to a copy for the activities during mounts, unmounts and restores. Expire: Making a copy of datastore unusable in AppSync server. Mount: Mounting a copy onto one ESX/ESXi host. RecoverPoint: EMC RecoverPoint is an enterprise-scale solution designed to protect application data on heterogeneous SAN-attached servers and storage arrays. Restore: Restoring a datastore using one copy. Service plan: EMC AppSync function that defines the terms of protection phases and schedules. Subscribe: A datastore adds itself into a dataset list of one service plan. The result is that the datastore is protected by this service plan. Unsubscribe: A datastore removes itself from a dataset list for one service plan. The result is that the datastore is not protected by the service plan any more. Virtual machine: A virtual machine is a software computer that like a physical computer runs an operating system and applications. An operating system installed on a virtual machine is called a guest operating system running side-by-side on the same physical server. VNX: A series of mid-range to high-end storage platforms that provide both file storage capabilities (VNX for file), block storage capabilities (VNX for block), or both. Key terms 7

8 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 Overview Related documents The following related documents are available from the EMC Online Support website: EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4- Release Notes Using EMC VNX Storage with VMware vsphere - TechBook EMC AppSync Release Notes ( ) EMC AppSync console help EMC RecoverPoint Administrator's Guide White Paper: VNX Snapshots 8 AppSync Management Feature

9 CHAPTER 2 Prerequisites and System Requirements This chapter presents these topics: Downloading EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management Setting up the environment Environment and system requirements Loading EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management Prerequisites and System Requirements 9

10 Prerequisites and System Requirements Downloading EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 Setting up the environment EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 is distributed as a.zip file that contains single-file installer (.exe file) that is available for download from EMC Powerlink website. This software is available with VNX at no additional cost. Install EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 on a workstation that has the vsphere Client. Refer to Installing EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 on page 16 for specific instructions. After you install the feature, make sure there is network connectivity between the: One or more block storage processors and the ESX servers One or more block storage processors and the vsphere client The vcenter server and the vsphere client RecoverPoint and the ESX servers One or more block storage processors and the RecoverPoint Figure 1 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 reference architecture diagram 10 AppSync Management Feature

11 Prerequisites and System Requirements Environment and system requirements Minimum system requirements for the vsphere Client with the feature are the same as the standalone vsphere Client, which are specified in the ESX and vcenter Server Installation Guide. Uninstall any previous installations of the EMC Celerra plug-in for VMware or EMC AppSync Plug-in for VMware before installing EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4. The VNX must meet the following system requirements before installing the AppSync Management feature: VNX for file: VSI AppSync doesn't support VNX file. VNX for block: RecoverPoint: The minimum VNX for block Operating Environment software version or later must be installed. To obtain the required software, contact EMC Customer Support. RecoverPoint 3.4 SP1 or later. VNX Snapshot: The minimum VNX for block Operating Environment software version or later must be installed. To obtain the required software, contact EMC Customer Support. For VNX (Block OE 5.32 or later), you must have installed the VNX Snapshot Enabler (also called the VNX Snapshots). Note: If VNX Snapshot enabler is not installed on the VNX, download VNX Snapshot Enabler from the EMC online support website (support.emc.com). General requirements: Network connectivity must exist between one or more storage processors and the ESX servers. Network connectivity must exist between one or more storage processors and the vsphere client on port 443 (required for provisioning VMFS datastores and RDM volumes, and setting tiering policies). Network connectivity must exist between the vcenter server and vsphere client. Each ESX host or ESX cluster that will access block storage must be connected to a Storage Group on the array. The RecoverPoint must meet the following system requirements before use by the feature: Network connectivity must exist with the ESX server. Network connectivity must exist with the VNX array. Environment and system requirements 11

12 Prerequisites and System Requirements The AppSync server must meet the following system requirements before use by the feature: AppSync server version 1.0. Target OS must be Windows 2008 R2 SP1 on virtual hosts. Disabled the firewall on hosts, or the opened AppSync TCP/UDP ports. Then the RPC ports need to be opened if you are using Add Hosts feature from AppSync console to do "push install." See the section AppSync port requirements in the AppSync Installation and Administration Guide, for the specific details. Adobe Flash and active clients must be installed. Java runtime client must be installed. Must have Two vprocessors (virtual CPUs) and 6 GB of memory (8GB is recommended). Network connectivity must exist. The VMware environment must meet the following requirements prior to use by the feature: ESX Server/ESXi 5.0 and 5.1 All ESX servers must belong to a DNS domain. vcenter Server 5.0 and 5.1 vsphere Client between 5.0 and 5.1 The language locale of the Windows client that runs the vsphere Client must be set to en_us. No previous installs of the EMC Celerra Plug-in for VMware or the EMC AppSync Plug-in for VMware earlier than For versions to 4.1, the installer will perform an upgrade. Versions prior to must be uninstalled before installing AppSync Management 5.4. EMC recommends uninstalling the EMC CLARiiON Plug-in for VMware if it is installed. 12 AppSync Management Feature

13 Prerequisites and System Requirements Loading EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 After you install EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 on the workstation with the vsphere Client, you must complete the following procedures on the workstation to load the feature to make it operational: Remove quotes from the system path. Configure consistence group in RecoverPoint. Install VNX snapshot enabler on the VNX array. vcenter credential, need the appropriate privileges/permissions. For EMC VSI, user accounts must have certain permissions within vcenter (depending on what tasks the user wants to do). The permissions that are listed are the minimum amount of control you can assign to a vcenter user s account that will allow them have the appropriate level of permissions. An administrator must create a custom role and assign it to the user on the vcenter object that has these permissions: Extension: Register extension, Unregister extension, and Update extension Tasks: Create Tasks, and Update Tasks The user also needs the "Read Only" role associated with their account on the Cluster and ESXi host objects. AppSync server credential that provide the user with privilege/permissions to: create/modify/unsubscribe service plan expire/mount/restore copies. Add RecoverPoint and VNX array credential to AppSync server in advance (refer to EMC AppSync console help). Recommend that the vsphere client host, RecoverPoint, VNX and AppSync server are set to the same date and time. Configure RP Consistency Group in RecoverPoint in advance if want to use RecoverPoint related functionality. If mounting a VNX snapshot copy to all host clusters, ensure all hosts in this cluster are one storage group. Loading EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management

14 Prerequisites and System Requirements Remove quotes from the system path 1. Right-click My Computer. 2. Select Properties. 3. Click the Advanced tab. 4. Click Environment Variables. 5. Edit the Path variable. Change any entries that contain quotes to short notation (use the command dir /x to find the short notation of a folder). Example: C:\Program Files\Common Files\emc Changes to: C:\progra~1\common~1\emc 14 AppSync Management Feature

15 CHAPTER 3 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 Installation This chapter presents these topics: Installing EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management Common installation mistakes EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 Installation 15

16 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 Installation Installing EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 This section shows the EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 InstallShield Wizard screens and provides general instructions for installing the feature. During installation, EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 checks to see if the EMC Virtual Storage Integrator (VSI) is installed. If VSI is not detected, it is automatically installed as part of the AppSync Management plugin installation. 1. Unzip the.zip file. 2. Double-click the emc-vsi-am vmware-vshpere-windows-x86.exe file. 3. Select I accept the terms in the License Agreement. Figure 2 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 EULA 4. Click Install. 16 AppSync Management

17 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 Installation 5. Click Next. Figure 3 Installation Complete 6. Click Finish to exit the EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 installer. Installing EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management

18 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 Installation Figure 4 Exit Installation 7. Launch the vsphere Client and connect to the vcenter server. Figure 5 vsphere client Home screen 18 AppSync Management

19 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 Installation Common installation mistakes Symptom: The feature does not load in vsphere Client. Remove quotes from the Windows Environment path, as shown in the section Remove quotes from the system path on page 14. Restart the VMware vsphere Client. Select Plug-ins > Manage Plug-ins and verify that EMC Virtual Storage Integrator (VSI) for vsphere is enabled. Common installation mistakes 19

20 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 Installation 20 AppSync Management

21 CHAPTER 4 EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management Configuration Procedures This chapter presents these topics: Using AppSync Management feature Add, update, or remove AppSync Server credentials Using the AppSync feature to subscribe, unsubscribe, create, or modify service plans.. 28 Using the Tab-View to View AppSync Plans and Copies EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management Configuration Procedures 21

22 Using AppSync Management feature The first time that you initiate the AppSync Management plugin, you must add an AppSync server and register a vcenter account. Only one AppSync server is allowed to exist with one vcenter. Add, update, or remove AppSync Server credentials You need to have the valid AppSync server credentials (address and account with adequate privileges). Utilizing the AppSync server, you can use VSI to: Configure a service plan for a VMware datastore View configured service plan details Restore a datastore Mount a datastore Perform an immediate copy Expire and view event history on copy 22 AppSync Management

23 Add/Register AppSync Server You can add, update, or remove AppSync server credentials. Do the following: 1. Click Register to add the AppSync server or Edit to modify the credentials. If you want to delete the existing credentials, click Remove. Figure 6 Register an AppSync Server Add, update, or remove AppSync Server credentials 23

24 2. In the Host: field, type the name or IP address of the AppSync Server. 3. In the User Name field, type the username (user account name that has sufficient privilege/authority), which was configured on the AppSync Server. 4. In the Password field, type the password. You cannot proceed until you get a successful connection and valid authorization from the CAS (Central Authentication Service) component of AppSync server. 5. After you provide the credentials, the Test button is enabled. Click the Test button to test the connection to the AppSync server. 6. If the test is successful, click Next >; otherwise, determine the cause of the failure. (See Table 1, Problems and limitations, on page 56.) 24 AppSync Management

25 7. In the Security warning dialog box, click the checkbox if you agree and click Ignore button to continue. Add, update, or remove AppSync Server credentials 25

26 8. If the vcenter of the current user: Is not registered, enter the password of the current vcenter user that you used to access the AppSync Server. Is registered, you can update the vcenter credentials or continue. 9. Click Next >. 26 AppSync Management

27 10. Verify the information and click Finish. Add, update, or remove AppSync Server credentials 27

28 Using the AppSync feature to subscribe, unsubscribe, create, or modify service plans Subscribe to a service plan VSI AppSync validates the datastore to ensure that it is compatible for a Service Plan. Only VNX block based datastores are AppSync-protection-supported datastores. You can mount or restore a datastore copy. Service plans can be subscribed/unsubscribed/created/modified. You can subscribe to an existing service plan from an AppSync Server for a datastore. A new service plan is not created in the AppSync Server. To subscribe: 1. Select a datastore from the context menu by right-clicking the object (datastore). 2. Select EMC > AppSync > Configure Protection AppSync Management

29 3. Select Subscribe and click Next >. Figure 7 Plan Configuration Type 4. Select a service plan and click Next >. Using the AppSync feature to subscribe, unsubscribe, create, or modify service plans 29

30 5. Verify the summary and click Finish. Create a service plan Service plans can be RecoverPoint or VNX Snapshots. Use the available plans as a template to create a new plan. 1. Select Create and Subscribe as shown on Figure 7 on page Select the plan and click Next >. 30 AppSync Management

31 If the selected plan has parameters configured for Schedule, Number of copies, etc. the values will be displayed. You can modify the Plan name, Plan description and schedule (along with the number of copies for VNX Snapshot plans). You cannot modify the protection type (of RecoverPoint or Snapshot) which is inherited from the selected built-in plan. You must create a unique plan name for the protection plan (not a name of a plan that already exists). Figure 8 Snapshot service plan details Using the AppSync feature to subscribe, unsubscribe, create, or modify service plans 31

32 Figure 9 RecoverPoint service plan details 3. Define the settings for: Plan Name - Type a unique name that does not duplicate the name of existing plans. Description - Type an optional definition that depicts the aspects of the plan. Protection Type - This cannot be modified. It is either a Snapshot, or RecoveryPoint (CDP, CRR and CLR) protection type. Schedule:... used to show the description of the scheduled setting. Set Schedule - Click to define the RecoverPoint objectives (RPO) or the daily protection plan details. Run Protection Immediately - Click to initiate service plan to run immediately. This enables you to test whether a service plan is capable of protecting the selected datastore. A protection copy of the datastore is created immediately according to the service plan settings after you click the Finish button. After the Quick Protect operation runs, the status in the vsphere task bar entry indicates whether the operation completed successfully or failed. Failure of the quick protect operation warns you that the selected plan may not be compatible with the selected datastore. Failure of quick protect will not prevent the datastore from being subscribed to the plan. 4. Select Set Schedule and define the times at which you would like to initiate the service plan. 32 AppSync Management

33 5. Select from the options in the Rule list box and define the times as needed. Recovery point objective (RPO): Set an RPO of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 hours default = 1 (hour) Minutes after the hour are set in 5 minute intervals Every day at... certain times: Select up to two different times during the day Minutes after the hour is in 5 minute intervals Default = 12:00 AM On selected days...of the week: One or more days of the week (up to all seven days) can be selected Default = 12:00 AM Sunday. selectable in 15 minute intervals On Specified days of the month: Select one or more days of the month (up to all days) Select one time of day. Available times are at 15 minute intervals. Default = 12:00 AM on first day of the month 6. Click OK after you define the time settings. Using the AppSync feature to subscribe, unsubscribe, create, or modify service plans 33

34 7. Review the details and click Finish. 34 AppSync Management

35 Mount A generated copy from a defined service plan can be applied to restore a datastore and mount to a host. 1. Select one datastore from the context menu in client. 2. Select EMC > AppSync > Mount... If there are available copies that you can mount they will be displayed; otherwise. you will get the warring message: Using the AppSync feature to subscribe, unsubscribe, create, or modify service plans 35

36 3. From the list, select a copy that is eligible to mount and click Next >. You can select only a single copy. Note: AppSync Management verifies multiple factors that make a copy eligible or ineligible. If a copy is NOT eligible to mount, the Mount button is disabled. You can mount an existing copy to one host. The selected copy must be visible to the target host before the mount operation will proceed. The copy types indicate backend copy storage types which can be CDP bookmark/clr bookmark/crr bookmark and VNXSnap. You can see the status of the copies, which might be Success, Fail, or other status. Figure 10 Select Copy for Mounting 36 AppSync Management

37 4. Clicking Add a desired point in time allows you to define the specific time for the copy. If you select the Point in Time (PIT) copy, set the time that you desire the copy to be made. 5. Click OK. The Point-in-time copy that is generated manually from VSI is added into copy list. To differentiate common copy and point-in-time copy, an * is appended to the copy name. The copy type is set to CDP Bookmark. The copy type must be RP related: CDP/CLR/CRR. Note: The PIT copy's image time is the only field that is used for reference. The other details (like type or status) are not taken into account. Using the AppSync feature to subscribe, unsubscribe, create, or modify service plans 37

38 6. Press Next >, then select a single host for the mount operation. 38 AppSync Management

39 7. Setting the mounting options for SNAP or RP: For SNAP copy: Mount path, Resignature checkbox: Checked = mount path is set different with mount source path by resignature. Unchecked = mount path will be the same with mount source path (forced-mount.) Cluster mount, Mount to hosts in the same cluster checkbox: Checked = mount operation will be done on other hosts in same cluster. Unchecked = mount operation will only be done on selected host. Using the AppSync feature to subscribe, unsubscribe, create, or modify service plans 39

40 For RP copy: Mount path, Resignature checkbox: Checked = mount path is set different with mount source path by resignature. Unchecked = mount path will be the same with mount source path (forced-mount.) Cluster mount, Mount to hosts in the same cluster checkbox: Checked = mount operation will be done on other hosts in same cluster. Unchecked = mount operation will only be done on selected host. Image Access mode. Used for RP copy. Virtual: Fast access and low image I/O performance. Physical: Slow access time and high image I/O performance. Virtual_Roll: Fast access time and high image performance after roll. 40 AppSync Management

41 8. Verify the details and click Finish. A task starts showing the progress of mount operation. The status indicates that the mount operation has been submitted to AppSync server. The status is updated every 5 seconds. If an error occurs, it will be shown in the custom task bar. Note: There is a time limit for the mount operation monitoring of 20 minutes. If this time limit is exceeded, an error is generated and status stops updating, even when the mount operation is still processing in the AppSync Server. For RP copy of datastore, you can mount only one RecoverPoint copy at a time. If one RecoverPoint copy is already mounted, you cannot mount another RecoverPoint copy. Using the AppSync feature to subscribe, unsubscribe, create, or modify service plans 41

42 Restore Use the Restore function to restore a datastore from an existing copy or a point in time copy. The selected copy must be visible to the host onto which the restored datastore is resident before a restore operation. 1. Select one datastore from context menu in client. Select EMC > AppSync > Restore AppSync Management

43 2. Select the copy/image that you want to restore and click Next > If needed, select Add a desired point in time to create an additional copy (that will be shown in the list with an *). 3. If the restore datastore is defined in a consistency group or the same service plan, a warning is displayed. The affected datastores are displayed. If there are other datastores in the same consistency group as the datastore that is selected for restore, they will also be displayed. Datastores that are protected alongside this replica (that are part of the same service plan) are also displayed. Using the AppSync feature to subscribe, unsubscribe, create, or modify service plans 43

44 4. Click the I understand checkbox and select Next > to continue restoring with my selections. 5. Verify the information and select Finish. 44 AppSync Management

45 The started task is displayed in the status bar indicating that the restore operation has been submitted to the AppSync server. The status is updated every 5 seconds during the restore process. If an error message is found in the restore process, it will be shown in the custom task bar. Note: The time limitation to complete the restore operation is 20 minutes. If this time limit is exceeded, VSI ends this task with an error, even if the restore operation is still in process on the AppSync server. If there is an error, check the log file for more detailed information regarding the error. See Logs on page 57. Using the AppSync feature to subscribe, unsubscribe, create, or modify service plans 45

46 Using the Tab-View to View AppSync Plans and Copies You can view a configured service plan detail, unsubscribe configured plans and modify plan properties such as retention and RPO. From the EMC VSI tab page, you can see all datastore names which are subscribed to the current plan. You can: Subscribe to service plan Modify plans Unsubscribe from a service plan Immediate copy Expire (eliminate) a copy Mount selected copy to one host Make an immediate copy of a datastore Restore datastore using a selected copy View event history To see the service plan information and copy information, select the datastore and select the EMC VSI tab from the tab view. There are two ways to view the latest copies: A refresh view of the copies is automatically triggered when the latest plans are loaded. You can click the Refresh button. You can select multiple plans at once to see the corresponding copies from the plans. 46 AppSync Management

47 Orphaned copies are generated by a service plan that is currently unsubscribed Note: To unselect a service plan, click a blank part of service plan data grid or click the tab. Note: In the copy view, the status of copy will be marked as In mount/restore/expire progress since <timestamp>' after triggering a corresponding operation from VSI. This status will not be persistent after the vsphere client is closed. The status is used only to show that some action is in process. Using the Tab-View to View AppSync Plans and Copies 47

48 Subscribe, unsubscribe, quick protect, and modify using the tabs view Using tab view to subscribe to a plan The actions (Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Quick Protect, and Modify) from the tab view use functionality identical to those described in: Add, update, or remove AppSync Server credentials on page 22 Subscribe to a service plan on page 28 Select the plan that you desire from the list and click the Subscribe button to configure or subscribe new plans. The VSI AppSync configure wizard appears (see Subscribe to a service plan on page 28 for additional details). 48 AppSync Management

49 Using tab view to modify a plan Select the plan that you desire from the list and click the Modify button to change the plan schedule. The VSI AppSync configure wizard appears (see Step 5 on page 33 for additional details). Change the parameters as desired. The following example shows the details that you can change such as the description and the schedule. The Configured Datastores list shows the datastores that are subscribed to the selected service plan. Using tab view to unsubscribe plan Using tab view for immediate copy Select the plan that you desire from the list and click the Unsubscribe button. When you click Yes to complete the unsubscribe operation, the selected datastore is unsubsribed from the plan. Click the Refresh button to show a new list of subscribed plans. Select the plan that you desire from the list and click the Quick Protect button. An immediate copy of the datastore will be generated. Using the Tab-View to View AppSync Plans and Copies 49

50 Using tab view to restore a copy Only copies that are eligible to restore can be selected. You can select only a single copy. Note: AppSync Management verifies multiple factors that make a copy eligible or ineligible. If a copy is NOT eligible to restore, the Restore button is disabled. Select a copy to restore and click the Restore button: The Restore function works the same as Restore on page AppSync Management

51 Using tab view to mount a copy Only copies that are eligible to mount can be selected. You can select only a single copy. Note: AppSync Management verifies multiple factors that make a copy eligible or ineligible. If a copy is NOT eligible to mount, the Mount button is disabled. Select a copy to mount and press the Mount button. The Mount function works the same as Mount on page 35. Using tab view to eliminate a copy Select a copy and click the Expire button to eliminate a backup copy. Using the Tab-View to View AppSync Plans and Copies 51

52 Using tab view to show event history Click Event History to view the event history of a copy. 52 AppSync Management

53 CHAPTER 5 Uninstalling EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management This chapter presents this topic: Uninstall Uninstalling EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 53

54 Uninstalling EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management Uninstall Uninstall EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management plugin To uninstall the EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management plugin from the VSI client complete the following steps: 1. From the vsphere client Home screen, click EMC. The VSI home window appears. 2. Right-click AppSync Management. 3. Click Uninstall. After you press the uninstall button, you need to close the vsphere client. Wait a few minutes and check the C:\Program Files (x86)\emc\virtual Storage Integrator\vSphere4\Features directory to ensure that the AppSync Management sub directory is removed. (That is the indication that all corresponding files have been deleted). Note: Uninstalling the AppSync Management plugin does not uninstall the VSI framework. Figure 11 Select Manage Plug-ins 54 AppSync Management

55 CHAPTER 6 Troubleshooting EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management This chapter presents these topics: Problems and limitations Logs Technical notes EMC Sales and Customer Service contacts Troubleshooting EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 55

56 Troubleshooting EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management Problems and limitations EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management 5.4 has the following known problems and limitations. Only one AppSync server is allowed registered in VSI. Only datastore level operation is allowed to be registered in VSI for AppSync server integration. Table 1 Problems and limitations Symptom AppSync credential test failed. Resolution Check and enter information again. There are two types of test failure. For: Connection failed, check host input validation related to the CAS working mechanism: 1. If the AppSync host is at the same DNS as the hosting VSI, this host should be accessible by this machine. 2. If the host is not at the same DNS with the hosting VSI, add the host address in the hosts configuration of windows (at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc) with entry whose format is: <IP Address> <host name> #<comments>: win-uvkhcvii01q #My appsync server machine_2 Authorization failed, check account input validation: this account should exist and at least have the connection privilege to AppSync server. VSI doesn't provide unmount feature. All environments are set correctly, but mount fails. With the AppSync Server running on the host, either of the following actions would make the AppSync server inaccessible: 1. Changing the host name 2. Adding the host to a domain After a copy is mounted as a datastore, the name of the datastore is named snap-xxxxxxx-<original datastore name> After the you delete a mounted VNXSnap replica, the VNXSnap copy will become invalid and can not be used. The copy is still visible in the source datastore's copy list. If you have ESX5 (or higher), use vsphere native unmount to unmount datastore. After unmounting the datastore with the vsphere client, wait for approximately 1 hour to refresh copy status from mounted to unmounted. You can mount another copy before the mounted copy's status changes. (This is handled by AppSync server.) Set ESXi host option /LVM/EnableResignature to 1 by executing the command: esxcli system settings advanced list -o=/lvm/enableresignature Reinstalled the AppSync server to make it accessible. You can manually record the mapping relationship between the mounted datastore and the original copy. If you choose the copy from the list and try to mount/restore it, the operation will fail. You must choose other copies to mount. 56 AppSync Management

57 Troubleshooting EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management Table 1 Problems and limitations Symptom Occasionally, uninstalling VSI AM in vsphere client won't delete all the installed files. Occasionally, EMC VSI and EMC right click menu remains after the VSI AM is disabled in vsphere client. Trying to mount a Point In Time creates a copy after it is unmounted and the copy is invalid. However, its status indicates 'Success'. Resolution Close the vsphere client. The files will be removed. Close and reopen the vsphere client. The right-click menu will be removed. Don't use this copy to do Mount and Restore. Expire the copy because it is a temporary copy and is invalid. Logs The log file for EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management can be viewed in the VSI log viewer. 1. Navigate to Home > Solutions and Applications > EMC. 2. Click Logging in the Settings pane. 3. Select EMC.VSI.VSphere4.Features.AppSync.txt, EMC.VSI.VSphere4.Features.AppSync.Restful.txt or EMC.Solutions.AppSyncUtils.txt from the Log Files list box. Technical notes The EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management plugin adheres to the limits defined by VMware as shown on the VMware website: Configuration Maximums VMware vsphere 5.0 and If you want to extend the size of your gold image virtual machine, you must extend the gold image datastore with the desired size and increase the hard disk size of the virtual machine in the virtual machine settings. For maximum performance, run vsphere Client on the same network as the vcenter Server and/or storage system. Logs 57

58 Troubleshooting EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management EMC Sales and Customer Service contacts For EMC VSI for VMware vsphere: AppSync Management support, review this Product Guide and the Release Notes. If the documentation does not address your question, and if you have a valid EMC service contract, contact EMC Customer Support at: United States: (SVC-4EMC) Canada: (543-4SVC) Worldwide: Include the following information in your support request: Type of hardware, including any network hardware, if applicable. Operating system. Exact wording or screenshots of any messages that appeared on the screen. Complete description of the issue, including action taken prior to the incident. Log file(s) from the following path (non-64 bit Windows operating systems): C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\EMC\Virtual Storage Integrator\vSphere4\Logs Log file(s) from the following path (64 bit Windows versions): C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\EMC\Virtual Storage Integrator\vSphere4\Logs Troubleshooting steps. EMC product and licensing information can be obtained as follows: Product information: For documentation, release notes, software updates, or for information about EMC products, licensing, and service, navigate to the EMC Powerlink website (registration required) at: or 58 AppSync Management