6.3 Using External Storage Solutions with PlateSpin Forge

The following sections contain information to help you with the setup and configuration of external storage for PlateSpin Forge.

6.3.1 Using Forge with SAN Storage

PlateSpin Forge supports your external storage solutions, such as Storage Area Network (SAN) implementations. Both Fibre Channel (FC) and iSCSI solutions are supported as external storage for the Forge Appliance.

SAN support for Fibre Channel and iSCSI HBAs allows a Forge appliance to be connected to a SAN array. You can then use SAN-array LUNs (Logical Units) to store workload data. Using Forge with a SAN improves flexibility, efficiency, and reliability.

Each SAN product has its own nuances and differences that do not apply from one hardware manufacturer to the next. This is especially true when considering how these products connect and interact with the Forge VM. As such, specific configuration steps for each possible environment and context are beyond the scope of this guide.

The best place to find this type of information is from your hardware vendor or your SAN product sales representative. Many hardware vendors have support guides available describing these tasks in detail. You can also find information at the following VMware documentation websites:

See the documentation for VMware ESXi 6.5 U1 on the VMware Documentation website:

VMware Documentation

Description

vSphere Storage

Discusses the use of ESX Server with storage area networks using Fibre Channel, iSCSI, and Fibre Channel over Ethernet.

VMware Compatibility Guide for IO Devices

Lists the currently supported HBAs, HBA drivers, and driver versions for VMware 6.5 U1.

VMware Compatibility Guide for Storage/SAN

Lists the currently approved storage arrays for VMware 6.5 U1.

VMware ESXi 6.5 U1 Release Notes

Provides information about known issues and workarounds.

VMware ESXi 6.5 Knowledge Base

Provides information on common issues and workarounds.

You can learn more about iSCSI SANs by visiting the Storage Networking Industry Association website.

6.3.2 Adding a SAN LUN to Forge

PlateSpin Forge supports the use of Storage Area Network (SAN) storage, but before Forge can access an existing SAN, a SAN Logical Unit (LUN) needs to be added to its VMware host.

  1. Set up and configure your SAN system.

  2. Access the appliance host.

  3. In the vSphere Web Client, click the root (top-level) node in the Inventory panel, then click the Configuration tab.

  4. Click the Add Storage hyperlink in the upper right.

  5. In the Add Storage Wizard, click Next until you are prompted to specify datastore information.

  6. Specify a datastore name and click Next in the subsequent wizard pages. When the wizard finishes, click Finish.

  7. Click Storage under Hardware to see the Forge datastores. The newly added SAN LUN should appear in the window.

  8. Quit the VMware client program.

In the PlateSpin Forge Web Interface, the new datastore does not appear until the next replication runs and the Application Host is refreshed. You can force a refresh by selecting Settings > Containers and clicking near the appliance host name.