Managing Virtual SANs in VMM

Updated: May 13, 2016

Applies To: System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine Manager

A virtual storage area network (vSAN) is a named group of physical Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter (HBA) ports on a host computer that a VM connects to in order to access Fibre Channel storage devices. One or more vSANs can be created for each host computer. Each vSAN can only contain HBAs that are from the same fabric.

Virtual Host Bus Adapters (vHBAs) represent the virtualization of Fibre Channel HBAs, and are used by VMs to connect with vSANs. Each vHBA has a World Wide Node Name (WWNN), which is different than the host HBA WWNN.

Using NPIV, a host computer HBA can have multiple vHBAs associated with it. HBA ports assigned to a vSAN can be added or removed as needed.

Use the following procedure to create a new vSAN for a host computer.

To create a virtual SAN

1. Open the Fabric workspace.

2. In the Fabric pane, right-click the applicable host, and then click Properties.

3. On the Properties page, click the Hardware tab, then click New Virtual SAN, and do the following:

   1. In the Name box, enter a name for the vSAN.

   2. In the Description box, enter a description for the vSAN.

   3. Under Fibre Channel adapters, select the check boxes next to the Fibre Channel adapters (HBAs) that you want to assign to the vSAN.

   4. When completed, click OK.

Use the following procedure to change the host computer HBA ports assigned to a vSAN.

To edit vSAN ports

1. Open the Fabric workspace.

2. In the Fabric pane, right-click the applicable host, and then click Properties.

3. On the Properties page, click the Hardware tab, and then scroll down to FC Virtual SAN.

4. Under Fibre Channel adapter details, select or unselect the applicable check boxes next to the HBA ports listed.

Use the following procedure to remove a vSAN from a host computer.

To remove a vSAN

1. Open the Fabric workspace.

2. In the Fabric pane, right-click the applicable host, and then click Properties.

3. On the Properties page, click the Hardware tab, and then scroll down to FC Virtual SAN.

4. Right-click the applicable vSAN, click Delete, and then click OK.

Use the following procedure to add a virtual Fibre Channel adapter (vHBA) and assign it to a vSAN.

To add a new vHBA

1. Open the Fabric workspace.

2. In the Fabric pane, right-click the applicable host, and then click Properties.

3. On the Properties page, click the Hardware Configuration tab, click New, click Fibre Channel Adapter, and then do the following:

   1. In the Virtual SAN name box, select a vSAN from the drop-down list to assign to the vHBA.

   2. If you want to dynamically assign the range of port settings for the vHBA, click Dynamically assign World Wide Names.

   3. If you want to statically assign port settings for the vHBA, click Statically assign World Wide Names, and then enter primary and secondary WWNN and WWPN port settings for the vHBA.

   4. When completed, click OK.

Use the following procedure to change the port settings that can be dynamically assigned to a virtual Fibre Channel adapter (vHBA).

To edit dynamic vHBA port settings

1. Open the Fabric workspace.

2. In the Fabric pane, right-click the applicable host, and then click Properties.

3. On the Properties page, click the Hardware tab, and then scroll down to Global FC settings.

4. Under Fibre Channel adapter details, do the following:

   1. In the Minimum box, enter the lowest WWPN port setting.

   2. In the Maximum box, enter the highest WWPN port setting.

   3. In the World Wide Node Name box, enter a name.

   4. When completed, click OK.

Managing Virtual Fibre Channel in VMM