The document provides information about the VCAP-DCA storage administration exam, including that it contains 40 live lab questions covering tasks related to storage configuration and management in vSphere. It also discusses configuring vCenter Server storage filters, the pluggable storage architecture in vSphere including multipathing plugins, changing multipathing policies from the CLI, and configuring software iSCSI port binding for multipathing.

1. VCAP-DCA Section 1 Implement and Manage Storage Sean Crookston http://Twitter.com/vfail http://www.vfail.net

2. Configure vCenter Server Storage Filters What is the Pluggable Storage Architecture Changing a multipath policy Software iSCSI Port Binding(Multipathing) Open Forum

3. The VCAP-DCA Exam 40 live lab questions Tasks for each lab can be a scoring opportunity Some have more weight then others Passing score tbd based on beta Approx 4 hours Should receive results within two weeks Will remain based on 4.0 until next major release, i.e. 4.5, 5.0

4. The VCAP-DCA Exam Lab Environment All PDF documentation for related products will be available on the desktop. Scoring is based on checking configurations and characteristics of items after you have completed them. Some items may be dependent on earlier items to work. Doesn’t matter how you get it done.

5. Resources http://kendrickcoleman.com/index.php?/Tech-Blog/vcap-datacenter-administration-exam-landing-page-vdca410.html http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/certedu/certification/vcap http://www.ntpro.nl/blog/archives/1585-Looking-for-VCAP-practice-questions-Here-they-are....html

6. Configure vCenter Server Storage Filters Done through the Gui AdministrationvCenter Server SettingsAdvanced Settings

7. Configure vCenter Server Storage Filters Config.vpxd.filter.vmfsFilter When set to false, allowed to add a VMFS volume to a VM even when in use by another VM. Config.vpxd.filter.rdmfilter When set to false, allowed to add a LUN as and RDM even when in use by another VM. Config.vpxd.filter.SameHostandTransportsFilter When set to false, incompatible luns are allowed to be added as extents. Config.vpxd.filter.hostRescanFilter When set to false, the auto rescan for all hosts is disabled after adding storage.

8. Configure vCenter Server Storage Filters Live DEMO

9. What is the Pluggable Storage Architecture http://geeksilver.wordpress.com/2010/08/17/vmware-vsphere-4-1-psa-pluggable-storage-architecture-understanding/ NMP Plugin is the default VMware Native Multipathing Plug-In. It is responsible for managing the sub-plugins which are included by VMware or provided by 3rd parties. The first type of which is the SATP, or Storage Array Type Plug-In. Responsible for Array specific functions Can be 3rd party or provided by VMware The second type is the PSP or Path Selection Plug-In. Chooses path for I/O Requests Default assigned based on SATP, which can be overridden. Additionally 3rd party MPPs or Multipathing Plug-Ins can be used, such as EMC PowerPath. This is used in leiu of the NMP. Mask_PATHPlugin is loaded to mask paths, effectively preventing a host from accessing storage devices/LUNs or from specific paths to such.

10. Changing a multipath policy Can be done by Gui or Command Line Fixed, Fixed_AP, MRU, RR From the command line Esxcli –server ip/host nmp device setpolicy –device naa.iiiiiiiiiiiii -psp VMW_PSP_MRU

11. Changing a multipath policy Fixed Uses designated preferred path if configured, otherwise uses for discovered working path at boot. When it can’t be used a random alternative path is used. Preferred path is automatically reverted to when it comes back.

12. Changing a multipath policy Fixed_AP Extends fixed functionality to active/passive and ALUA mode arrays. When not specified, path will be selected by Array path preference & Current Path State.

13. Changing a multipath policy MRU Uses first working path discovered at boot Switches to alternative path and will continue using this path even if original path comes back online.

14. Changing a multipath policy RR Automatic path selection that enables load balancing across paths. Only uses active paths and use case is on Active/Active arrays. Not supported in MSCS environments

15. Changing a multipath policy Live Demo Esxcli –server ip/host nmp device list Esxcli –server ip/host nmp device setpolicy –device naa.iiiiiiiiiiiii -psp VMW_PSP_MRU

16. Software iSCSI Port Binding(Multipathing) iSCSI initiator can use multiple iSCSI sessions Not possible with the dvswitch Create two VMKernel NICs, each with a different active NIC. Move other NIC’s down to unused adapters for each port respectively. To add the Vmkernels to your SW iSCSI Initiator esxcli swiscsi nic add -n vmk0 -d vmhba33 esxcli swiscsi nic add -n vmk1 -d vmhba33 esxcli swiscsi nic list -d vmhba33

17. Software iSCSI Port Binding(Multipathing) Verifying it worked? Check Storage paths to confirm multiple paths Check esxtop for traffic going down both