Configuring your environment for full virtual machine instant restore operations
Set up a dedicated iSCSI network for full virtual machine instant restore and instant access operations.
Before you begin
Use the appropriate VMware documentation (ESXi or vSphere) to determine the specific steps to follow for configuring the iSCSI virtual switch and virtual machine network. Although general guidelines are provided, specific documentation and explanations for how you add virtual networks and virtual switches are outside of the scope of the product documentation. At the time of publication, the VMware vSphere ESXi and vCenter 5.5 documentation is available at VMware ESXi and vCenter Server 5 Documentation. The “Networking” topics contain the information for adding and configuring virtual switches and virtual networks.
About this task
- To set up a software iSCSI adapter, follow the instructions in the VMware “Configure Software iSCSI Adapters” procedure.
- To set up a hardware iSCSI adapter, follow the instructions in the VMware “Setting Up Independent Hardware iSCSI Adapters” procedure.
1. Configuring the iSCSI software on the ESXi host
Procedure
This task sets up the iSCSI software for a basic configuration.
- Log in to the ESXi host to be used for instant restore operations.
-
Follow the instructions in this VMware Knowledge Base article until the iSCSI adapter is
enabled:
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1008083
IBM Spectrum Protect automatically discovers the iSCSI target server. - Verify that the IP address of the iSCSI adapter (on the ESXi host) is the same subnet address that is used by the data mover.
- Verify that the Storage vMotion license is enabled on the ESXi host.
What to do next
2. Installing and configuring applications on the data mover
Before you begin
Procedure
This task sets up the data mover system with the applications and settings for instant restore operations.
What to do next
3. Setting the Recovery Agent connection
Before you begin
Procedure
This task establishes a connection between the Recovery Agent CLI and the Recovery Agent GUI.
What to do next
4. Configuring a dedicated iSCSI network for the ESXi host and data mover
Before you begin
- Use a dedicated iSCSI network for instant restore operations.
- Each ESXi host that is used for instant restore operations must have a second physical network card available. This second network card is bound to the software iSCSI adapter of the respective ESXi host.
- The data mover system that runs in a virtual machine must have a second network card available. This second network card is bound to the software iSCSI adapter of the ESXi host.
- Each ESXi host that is used for instant restore operations must have a secondary VMware datastore available. This temporary datastore contains the configuration information and data of the virtual machine that is created during the operation.
Procedure
This task sets up a dedicated iSCSI network for the ESXi host and for the data mover that runs in a virtual machine.