vRealize Opertion Manager 6之NetApp存储性能监控组件介绍

vRealize Operation Manager 6 (又叫vROps)是vCenter Operation Manager的全新版本,我从vCenter Operation Manager还是1.0时就开始使用了,很喜欢自我学习和动态阀值这两个功能。但是这款产品只能监控虚拟层面,如果可以监控存储层面就完美了。在比较大的vSphere环境中虚拟机是共享ESXi数据存储(datastore)的,如果少数虚拟机产生很高的IO,可能会影响到其他处于同一个存储上的虚拟机。想象一下,如果你有100个LUN跑在一个NetApp存储上,300个虚拟机在使用这100个LUN,某日用户说他们的虚拟机很慢,但是他们并没有跑什么应用,这时候就会比较难判断到底是哪儿出了问题,因为虚拟机可能共享同一个数据存储(datastore),数据存储存建于LUN上,LUN 可能来自某个聚合(Aggregate),并且多个LUN可能来自同一个物理磁盘。vCenter Operation Manager 在5.x时代有提供一款NetApp存储监控组件,但问题是很难把vSphere的数据存储(Datastore)和NetApp存储的设备关联起来。

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NetApp Management Package for vRealize Operation Manager 6

vRealize Operation Manager 6 (aka vROps) is new generation of vCenter Operation Manager. I started to use vCenter Operation Manager since version 1.0. I like the idea of self-learning and dynamic threshold. But the product only monitors virtualization layer. It would be perfect if it’s able to monitor under layer storage. In large vSphere environment, virtual machines share IO capacity of datastores. If few virtual machines running high disk IO it may lead to other virtual machines get performance degrading in same storage. Think about you have 100 datastores come from a NetApp filer, and 300 virtual machines running on its. One user says their virtual machine is slow but no workload from applications end. It hard to say where the latency comes from because multiple virtual machines may share same datastore, multiple LUNs share same aggregate, and maybe same physical disks. vCenter Operation Manager provided NetApp Adapter for 5.x few years ago. But the problem was it’s too hard to associate storage objects with vSphere datastore objects.

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How to change password of vCenter Server service account

Many company use service account for vCenter Server database and services. To compliance with security policy, you may need to change password of vCenter Server at regular period. This is a way I used to change password:

1. Change the password of service account of vCenter Server and database in AD.
2. Change the password of Log-On As account of vCenter Server/Management Webservices in Services.
3. Run vpxd.exe -p command as administrator to change database password. ( It usually located on C:Program FilesVMwareInfrastructureVirtualCenter Server )
4. RDP vCenter Server by service account.
5. Open DSN of vCenter Server and click next button to save password to DSN.
6. Reboot vCenter Server.

Notes: You maybe able to logon vCenter Server if you just restart VC services, but you will face low performance to retrieve information of host, VM…etc.

Most company may has vCenter Update Manager together with vCenter Server, the password change of vCenter Update Manager service account is similar like vCenter Server.
1. Change the password of service account of vCenter Server and database in AD.
2. Change the password of Log-On As account of vCenter Update Manager in Services.
3. Run VMwareUpdateManagerUtility.exe as administrator. ( It’s usually on C:Program Files (x86)VMwareInfrastructureUpdate Manager )
4. Input new database credential on Database Setting.
5. Re-register to vCenter Server by new credential.
6. Reboot vCenter Update Manager server.

You can also reference to http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1006482 and http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1034605.

ESXi 5.1 shows 0 value for CPU/memory in vcenter

It’s been a month, i was busy to make our environment more stable, a lot of troubleshooting, webex session and discussing. Few days ago I noticed random VMs kept vMotion constantly. Some VMs got strange situation, show orphan, invalid or unknown status, but still online.

I couldn’t find any evidence why the VMs went to these status. One more thing I noticed was CPU and memory utilization of ESXi 5.1 shows 0 on vCenter server 5.1.

Following statement is not mature conclusion, it’s my inference according to DRS, HA and that particular 0 value CPU/memory. I also discussed that with VMware BCS support.

VM changed to abnormal status due to vMotion interrupted by something, more like HA kicked off due to network/storage intermittent failed. That become high chance since  DRS kept try move heavy workload VM to 0 CPU/memory host.

You have to upgrade to ESXi 5.1 latest version or vCenter Server 5.1 update 1c to permanent fix this problem.

Workaround:

Choose one option from following options, that’s temporary solution, issue will present again.

1. Restart ESXi management agent.

2. Disconnect/reconnect ESXi on vSphere client.

Update: you have to upgrade ESXi host and vcenter server both to permanent fix the problem.

HP patching error after upgrade to Update Manager 5.1

If you installed “HP ESXi 5.0 Complete Bundle Update 1.6” via Update Manager 5.0, you would be able to see storage and power sub-system shows warning on HP server, that’s because some parameters show NULL in updated HP SIM provider.

Example:

HPVC_SAController.Name="vmwControllerHPSA1",CreationClassName="HPVC_SAController"
 CreationClassName = HPVC_SAController
 Name = vmwControllerHPSA1
 PowerManagementCapabilities = (NULL)
 ResetCapability = (NULL)
 OtherDedicatedDescriptions = (NULL)
 Dedicated = (NULL)
 NameFormat = (NULL)
 TransitioningToState = 12
 AvailableRequestedStates = (NULL)
 TimeOfLastStateChange = (NULL)
 EnabledDefault = 2
 RequestedState = 12

I think HP has called back the bundle, you may see similar error message below if you already download the patch and upgrade to Update Manager 5.1 then.

VMware vSphere Update Manager had an unknown error. Check the events and log files for details.

After upgrade to Update Manager 5.1
Cannot download software packages from patch source. Check the events and the Update Manager log for download details.

After remove "data" folder in Update Manager 5.1
No way to avoid the error message except filter your baseline to exclude HP patches.

Another blogger also described same situation here.