Dell PowerVault MD3060e Installation And Configuration Manual

Also see for PowerVault MD3060e Series: Manual Hardware and software guide Installation guide Getting started guide Information update

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Dell PowerVault MD3060e Installation And Configuration Manual Manual pdf 42 page image

Dell MD Storage Array vCenter Plug-in | 42Figure 32. Create Disk Group DialogFormatting Virtual DisksBefore you format virtual disks with VMFS datastores, you must plan how to set up storage for the ESX/ESXisystems, including deciding on the number and size of virtual disks to use.NOTE: For more information about making virtual disk decisions, including predictive schemes, adaptiveschemes and disk shares, refer to the iSCSI SAN Configuration Guide: Using ESX/ESXi with an iSCSIStorage 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 inthe 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.