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Has written in the previous post, Dell EqualLogic Host Integration Tools for Linux 1.1 officially support only a few Linux OS, but it can work fine also on others. Actually the distributions is RPM based, so there is a bigger effor to port it to other distro, like Debian and Ubuntu.

I’ve tried with a updated release of CentOS 6.2 and it works fine, but you will need some packages that may be not installed (and also dkms that is not included in the installation source):

yum install iscsi-initiator-utils libpcap gcc make
rpm -Uhv http://packages.sw.be/rpmforge-release/rpmforge-release-0.5.2-2.el6.rf.i686.rpm
rpm --import http://apt.sw.be/RPM-GPG-KEY.dag.txt
yum install dkms

At this point you can import the GPG key of EqualLogic packages or simple exclude this check during the installation. To install and configure the MPIO it you can mount the ISO media and follow the User Guide (page 8):

[root@centos62 media]# ./install --nogpgcheck 
======================================================================
Beginning install of HIT/LE
======================================================================
...
======================================================================
Running eqlconfig to perform initial configuration
======================================================================
Configuring MPIO Parameters
======================================================================
Would you like ehcmd to actively manage MPIO and iSCSI sessions (Yes/No) [Yes]? 
Choose addressing protocol (IPv4/IPv6) [IPv4]: 
Found the following subnets for MPIO:
        1.) ...
        2.) ...
        3.) Choose individual NICs
Enter a comma-separated list of subnets that you want to include for MPIO, e.g., 1, 2 or select individual NICs [1, 2]: 2
To change additional parameters for MPIO, use 'rswcli --mpio-parameters'
======================================================================
Configuring ASM Parameters
======================================================================
Failed to enumerate iSCSI discovery portals:  
======================================================================
Running 'eqltune' to check system settings
======================================================================
Checking your Linux system for optimal iSCSI performance
...
Run in verbose mode (eqltune -v) for more details and instructions on how
to adjust your settings.
Run in fix mode (eqltune fix) to automatically repair all Critical issues.
...
======================================================================
Starting MPIO Services
======================================================================
Starting service: ehcmd
Starting service: scsi_reserve_eql
======================================================================
Configuration complete
======================================================================
To run the configuration utility again, use 'eqlconfig'
======================================================================
Installation complete
======================================================================
Bash completion help is now available for most EqualLogic tools.
To take advantage of these, either close and reopen your shell or
run the following command in the current shell:
  . /etc/bash_completion.d/equallogic

Note that the multipathd multipath daemon is not required. Do not run this daemon before configuring multipath devices.

Now you can find your target and login:

iscsiadm -m discoverydb
iscsiadm -m discoverydb -o new -D -t st -p GROUP_IP
ehcmcli login --target TARGET_IQN --portal GROUP_IP:3260
ehcmcli status
Device to mount: /dev/eql/linuxp1

To use the ASM (AutoSnapshot Manager) you must first create a set of credential to access to your group:

[root@centos62 media]# asmcli create group-access --name GROUP_NAME --ip-address GROUP_IP --user-name EQL_USER
Password for user EQL_USER on GROUP_NAME: *********
Successfully created credentials record in file /etc/equallogic/asm-group-access.

In the beta release I’ve got some issue using the grpadmin user. I’ve not yet verified is the issue has been solved in the final release.

At this point you can simple create a smart copy (aka an EqualLogic snapshot) of your mounted filesystem:

[root@centos62 media]# asmcli create smart-copy --source /MOUNT_POINT 
The mount point has been frozen.
Created snapshot linux-2012-03-03-08:22:55.1072.1 on GROUP_NAME
The mount point has been thawed.
Successfully created a Smart Copy from 1 target.

Then the smart copy can be handled as usual.

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After a beta period, the Dell EqualLogic Host Integration Tools for Linux V1.1 has achieved (some days ago) Early Production Access status and is available for download via the standard Dell EqualLogic download site. Note that Early Production Access software is fully supported for production use.

As a reminder, HIT/Linux includes tools that provide tight integration of EqualLogic PS Series arrays with Linux environments for enhanced protection, performance and simplified configuration and administration of EqualLogic PS Series storage arrays.

HIT/Linux 1.1  feature enhancements over the previous release of HIT/Linux 1.0 include the following:

  • Auto-Snapshot Manager/Linux Edition (ASM/LE) for Linux filesystem
  • Expanded Linux distribution support including Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), CentOS and SUSE Enterprise Linux Server (SLES)
  • Enhanced Host Performance and Configuration Tuning Suite (EQLTUNE)
  • Enhanced installation procedure

Officially the supported OS are: 32- and 64-bit versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5.7, 6.1 and 6.2, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 11 SP1, and CentOS 5.7 (but works also on other Linux distro).

To download the software and the related documentation go to the EqualLogic support page.

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In the previous days there were several updates of VMware software, not only for vSphere 5.0 (U1) and View 5.0.1 but an n update of all of the components of the Cloud Infrastructure Suite has been published:

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As written in a previous post, I was not able to participate at the beta exam for VCP5-DT (due to no available seats in my Country). So I waited for the official exam also also when I’ve got at least a free day to study for the exam. Yesterday finally I’ve taken the exam and I’ve passed it, so my VCP-DT certifications is updated to v5.

As written in the certification official page, the only requirement is have the VCP5 certification, no classes or other certification are mandatory. One year ago was also required the VCA-DT certification but the certification path change for VCP4-DT has been changed. Actually there is no info about a v5 of the VCA-DT (as also still no info about the VCAP-DT!).

Unfortunately there isn’t a preferred or different path for who is already a VCP4-DT: the path is the same of new people and also the exam cost the same… Honestly I’ve expected at least a time limited discount for the exam (but probably the only bonus was to be invited at the beta of the exam).

Compared to the VCP4-DT exam (also in this exam I was not able to attend at the beta version) the price is now finally the same of a VCP exam and also the testing centers are the same (the usage of only “selected” center was a big and non simple to understand limit of the previous version and also for the beta).

As well described in VCP5-DT Exam Blueprint the exam consists of 85 questions and a short pre-exam survey consisting of 7 questions, the limit for the exam is 90 minutes, with an additional 15 minutes to complete the survey questions and agreements. Candidates who take the VCP510-DT exam in a country where English is not a primary language will have an additional 30 minutes added to the exam time.

You may think that are a lot of questions (note that in some cases there are also medium/long questions) in few time. You are right! You need to managed your time well and use in the best way the review function to do not spend too much time on a single question. I’ve finish in 90 minutes, but including a review of most of the questions.

The questions are all closed questions, but several are multi-choices (with two or three answers!). Also note that sometime there isnt’t the best answer, you may choose which fit better. You can also work in the reverse mode… you can simple exclude some answers and then focus on the remaining. Also in some cases the answer of one question could be in the text of another one. Or some questions may be quite similar (and just ask the same thing). So be sure to read carefully all the questions and the answers.

continue reading…

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With the release of the new VMware vSphere 5.0 U1 suite, also a new update of VMware View suite is available (but note that the official documentation of View 5.0 just give the compatibility to all vSphere 5.0 and later 5.0 version).

What’s New in View 5.0.1

This maintenance release includes the following components:

  • VMware View Connection Server 5.0.1, which also includes replica server, security server, and View Transfer Server
  • VMware View Agent 5.0.1
  • VMware View Client for Windows 5.0.1

VMware View 5.0.1 includes the following new features:

  • New bundled Mac OS X client – The new PCoIP-enabled View Client for Mac OS X is now bundled with this release. For more information, see the VMware View Client for Mac OS X Release Notes.
  • Client SSL requirement– View Client for Windows 5.0.1, View Client 1.4 for Mac OS X, and the other View 1.4 clients require SSL for connections to View Connection Server. Therefore, you must enter a fully qualified domain name for View Connection Server, rather than an IP address, in the View Server field of View Client.By default, View Client then checks the server certificate that View Connection Server presents. For more information, see the topics about configuring certificate checking in the VMware View Installation document and in the Using VMware View Client documents for the various platforms of View Client.

Note that still the Local Mode for VM with virtual hardware 8 is not supported (and in this case mean that “does not work”). Rumors say that will implemented in the new major release.

VMware View 5.0.1 is a maintenance release that resolves some known issues in the previous releases. For details, see the Resolved Issues section. For more info see the VMware View 5.0.1 Release Notes. To get the binaries go to the download page.

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VMware has released the vSphere 5.0 U1 binaries that include the ESXi 5.0 Update 1 e vCenter Center (with his modules) 5.0 Update 1 (build 639890).

Detailed information regarding resolved and known issues in the ESXi update can be found in the KB 2010823. For more infor about the update package, the compatibilty and the enhancements see the ESXi 5.0 Update 1 Release Notes.

For more info about the vCenter update see vCenter Server 5.0 Update 1 Release Notes.

The following information describes some of the enhancements available in this release of VMware ESXi:

  • Support for new processors – ESXi 5.0 Update 1 supports new AMD and Intel Processors. See the VMware Compatibility Guide for details.
  • Support for additional guest operating systems – ESXi 5.0 Update 1 adds support for Mac OS X Server Lion 10.7.2 and 10.7.3.
  • New or upgraded device drivers – ESXi 5.0 Update 1 adds support for Native Storage Drivers for Intel C600 series chipset and upgrades LSI MegaRAID SAS driver to version 5.34.

Alsto note that VAAI Thin Provisioning Block Reclaim/UNMAP is back in 5.0U1.

The VMware vCenter Server for Windows 5.0 Update 1 offers the following improvements:

  • Guest Operating System Customization Improvements: vCenter Server adds support for customization of the following guest operating systems:
    • Windows 8
    • Ubuntu 11.10
    • Ubuntu 11.04
    • Ubuntu 10.10
    • Ubuntu 10.04 LTS
    • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP2

VMware vSphere 5.0 Update 1 is available for download on the vSphere 5 download page. Note that the new version of the virtual appliance of vCenter Server is not yet available.

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After the acquisition of AppAssure, Dell today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire SonicWALL, Inc., a leader in advanced network security and data protection.

Now with the Force10 brand and the new (possible) Security brand, how will evolve the partship with Juniper (for the PowerConnect-J series)? Will finish as the one with EMC2?

See also the official announce: Dell Announces Intent to Acquire SonicWALL

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