article The future of VMware storage - vVol demo in Around the Storage Block Blog

The future of VMware storage - vVol demo

CalvinZ — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:55:29 GMT

Last year at VMworld, VMware did an NDA technology preview for partners about their vision for the future of storage - something they called vVols (virtual volumes). While VMware is allowing partners working with them to talk about it and demonstrate early functionality, I want to be clear - this is still a technology preview and neither VMware nor HP is making any commitments on delivering this. So with that disclosure, let me tell you a bit about what it is.

Intro to VMware vVol

For awhile now, HP Storage has been working with VMware as a design partner to define and develop a VM-granular storage architecture to potentially replace vSphere’s VMFS/datastore model. This new model is called VMware Virtual Volumes (vVols). Virtual Volumes introduces a 1:1 mapping of VMs (more specifically VMDKs or VM LUNs) to storage volumes—in other words, each VM will be associated with its own, unique storage volume. With vVols we could finally have the VMDK representation in vSphere match the representation on storage.

As a result, the storage system could now have the ability to operate at the same level of granularity as vSphere, which means that vSphere could better leverage, and take advantage of, the native strengths and capabilities of modern, intelligent storage arrays, like HP 3PAR.

UPDATE: I'm trying a new communication format - the ATSB eBook. My first one includes screen shots of the vVol demo that I have on video. Check it out and expect more of these in the future.

Re: The future of VMware storage - vVol demo

VirtualVaughan — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:03:44 GMT

Interesting stuff Calvin! How are the VMDK's mapped to the host?

Re: The future of VMware storage - vVol demo

nate — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:07:40 GMT

This is an awesome post! Thanks for the info.. I had been hearing bits and pieces on VVOL over the past year but when I run searches online there is really very little information that I could find. Now I have something I can link to! (wasn't sure if the info I knew about VVOLs was under NDA or not so I didn't write anything on it myself!)

VVOLs sound pretty neat in concept, though that is a lot of objects to manage! For both the storage system as well as vCenter itself. I think the architecture of 3PAR with the CPGs, fine grained allocation for the 3PAR VVs, and even Dynamic optimization itself lends themselves very well to the VMware VVOL concept.

I think it presents some sort of managment challenge from a storage UI perspective though, my arrays have always been fairly organized, volumes are easy to identify their purpose, with VVOLs there will be tons of extra stuff in there that can be distracting.

All round it sounds good, I'm pretty excited.

Re: The future of VMware storage - vVol demo

CalvinZ — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:24:10 GMT

VirtualVaughan - I don't know how that mapping happens but I'm pretty certain it happens when you create the VM; the VM and vVol get created at the same time. Another source for information here is Duncan Epping's Yellow-Bricks.com blog. He has a post he did recently talking more about vVols.

Re: The future of VMware storage - vVol demo

CalvinZ — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 21:06:05 GMT

Hey Nate - not sure how I missed your comment. I'll preface what I say with "I know nothing" ... of our future plans. But I do know our team is looking at what we can do and is needed to better manage HP Storage in a VMware environment. Obviously we already have the Insight Control for HP Storage plug-ins; they're thinking about the future beyond that based on where VMware is going. Exciting times!

Re: The future of VMware storage - vVol demo

Jephtah — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 09:52:16 GMT

Thanks Calvin,

What is the protocol that is used between the ESX host machine and the external storage array? Is it the T10 OSD? Also, how does it affects the performance comparing to the good old block level protocols?

Re: The future of VMware storage - vVol demo

jeffrey wolfanger — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 01:48:19 GMT

Sounds cool intially, im just thinking of more management for storage people though. I would think that storage drs answers the inefficency your mentioning....Interesting article thanks for sharing.