Download VMware GSX Server 3 Administration Specifications

Chapter 9 Storage and File Systems
Storage
SP1
SP2
FC Switch
FC Switch
HBA 1
HBA 2
HBA 3
Server 1
HBA 4
Server 2
Figure 9-1. HBA failover paths
In the diagram in Figure 9‐1, there are multiple, redundant paths from each server to the storage device. For example, if HBA1, or the link between HBA1 and the Fibre Channel (FC) switch breaks, HBA2 takes over and provides the connection between the server and the switch. This process is called HBA failover.
Similarly, if SP1, or the link between SP1 and the switch breaks, SP2 takes over and provides the connection between the switch and the storage device. This process is called SP failover. VMware ESX Server 2.5 provides both HBA and SP failover with its multipathing feature. (SP failover may not be supported by all disk arrays.) For information on supported SAN hardware, download the VMware ESX Server SAN Compatibility List from the VMware Web site at http://www.vmware.com/support/resources/esx_resources.html.
Choosing Path Management Tools
ESX Server allows you to configure and manage multipath access to storage devices through both the Management Interface and the Service Console. The following sections describe how to manage multipathing in the Service Console with the vmkmultipath command. For instructions on configuring multipathing with the Management Interface, see “Viewing Failover Paths Connections” on page 201.
VMware, Inc.
273