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.

Important: These configuration settings are provided to assist with setting up the VMware environment for efficient full virtual machine instant restore and instant access operations. However, since these settings apply to VMware configuration tasks and VMware user interfaces, you must refer to your appropriate VMware documentation for detailed, step-by-step instructions.

About this task

This procedure requires an iSCSI adapter on each ESXi host that is used for instant restore operations. Use the appropriate VMware documentation to set up the adapter. At the time of publication, the following procedures are available at VMware ESXi and vCenter Server 5 Documentation.

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

After the iSCSI software is set up on the ESXi host, install and configure applications on the data mover system.

2. Installing and configuring applications on the data mover

Before you begin

If the Recovery Agent V8.1.0 and IBM Spectrum Protect data mover V8.1.0 are installed and configured on the data mover system, begin at Step 3.

Procedure

This task sets up the data mover system with the applications and settings for instant restore operations.

Install the Recovery Agent V8.1.0 and the IBM Spectrum Protect data mover V8.1.0 on the data mover system.
In Step 4 of the Installing Data Protection for VMware procedure, select the Install a complete data mover for in-guest application protection installation type.
Configure the data mover.
Follow the instructions in Configuring the data mover.
Set the iSCSI server IP address:
1. Go to the C:\Program Files\Tivoli\TSM\baclient\dsm.opt file and specify the following parameter:
```
VMISCSIServeraddress=<IP address of the network card on the data mover
system that exposes the iSCSI targets.>
```
If your data mover system has more than one network card, make sure that you specify the correct network card for the iSCSI network.

What to do next

After the data mover system is set up, establish a connection between the Recovery Agent CLI and the Recovery Agent GUI.

3. Setting the Recovery Agent connection

Before you begin

The Recovery Agent command-line interface (CLI) V7.1.x can be viewed as a command-line API to the Recovery Agent GUI. You can use the Recovery Agent CLI to communicate with the Recovery Agent GUI.

Procedure

This task establishes a connection between the Recovery Agent CLI and the Recovery Agent GUI.

Start the Recovery Agent CLI on the data mover system.
From the Windows Start menu, click Programs > IBM Spectrum Protect > IBM Spectrum Protect for Virtual Environments > IBM Spectrum Protect Recovery Agent.
In the command prompt window, enter the following command:
```
RecoveryAgentShell.exe -c set_connection mount_computer <IP address 
of the network card on the data mover system that exposes the iSCSI targets.>
```
This command establishes a connection between the Recovery Agent CLI and the Recovery Agent GUI.

What to do next

After you establish a connection, configure a dedicated iSCSI network.

4. Configuring a dedicated iSCSI network for the ESXi host and data mover

Before you begin

Review these guidelines before you proceed with this task:

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.

Log in to the ESXi host to be used for instant restore operations.
Set up the virtual switch for the iSCSI network.
These steps use vSwitch1 for the virtual switch.
1. Select VMkernel Network Adapter for the Connection Type.
  The iSCSI network requires this connection type.
2. Select Create a vSphere standard switch for the VMkernel Network Access.
3. Select Network Label for the VMkernel Connection Settings.
  Specify a label that indicates that vSwitch1 and this network are for your iSCSI traffic.
  For example: VMkernel iSCSI.
4. Specify an IP address and subnet mask for vSwitch1 in VMkernel IP Connection Settings.
  Do not change the Subnet Mask or VMkernel Default Gateway values.
5. Specify the kernel port for the iSCSI network to operate.
Set up the virtual switch for the virtual machine network.
These steps use vSwitch0 for the virtual switch.
1. Select Virtual Machine for the Connection Type.
2. Select Create a vSphere standard switch for the VMkernel Network Access.
3. Go to the Port Group Properties tab and select Network Label.
  Specify the same label that you specified for vSwitch1 virtual machine network.
  For example: VMkernel iSCSI.
Bind the newly created iSCSI adapter with the VMkernel Network Adapter.
Follow the instructions in the VMware “Bind iSCSI Adapters with VMkernel Adapters” procedure. At the time of publication, this procedure was available at VMware ESXi and vCenter Server 5 Documentation.

Tip: If a timeout occurs when iSCSI devices are scanned, reduce the number of iSCSI devices that are connected to the ESXi host. Then, scan the iSCSI devices again.

Verify that the iSCSI adapter binding properties are correct.

Go to the Hardware > Storage Adapters in the VMware vSphere Client.

Right-click the iSCSI adapter and select iSCSI Initiator Properties. Make sure that the following binding properties exist:

Table 1. iSCSI network settings
Virtual Machine Network	iSCSI Network
Standard Switch: `vSwitch0`	Standard Switch: `vSwitch1`
Virtual Machine Port Group: `VM Network`	VMkernel Port: `VMkernel iSCSI` Tip: `VMkernel iSCSI` is bound to VMkernel Adapter: `vmk1`, which is on Physical Network Adapter: `vmnic1`.
Physical Adapter: `vmnic0`	VMkernel Network Adapter: `vmk1`
	Physical Network Adapter: `vmnic1`
	Virtual Network Adapter IP address: 192.168.42.x (subnet for the iSCSI network)

Results

A dedicated iSCSI network is ready for full VM instant restore and instant access operations.