Software Defined Storage (SDS) - Cisco | Dell | vmware | Nautanix

Cisco

Hyperflex Intro:

- Software Defined compute, network & storage
- This was created in partenrship with Springpath which creatd VSA (Virtual Storage Appliance)
- Connected in cluster
- HX Data Storage is shared between Host.
- Data Utilization: Inline File System

HyperFlex Deployment:

• For network & server management we use UCSM.
• For Host management we use vcenter.

-----------------------------------------------------------

1. Connect the HX nodes to the FI
2. Get Hyperflex data platform installer (.ova file)
3. Get cisco ESX custom image for HX
4. Install HX data platform installer on a host
5. Login to HX data platform
6. Download the ESX ISO image
7. Upload to the HX data platform installer
8. Login to HX installer & create cluster
9. Provide UCSM details, vcenter details, host input
10. Select HX node to be part of the cluster.
11. Provide UCSM details for the HX servers (like vlan, mac pool, IP pool etc.)
12. Provide HX node inputs (like HX node ips, cluster ip etc)
13. Provide vcenter details.
14. Run post install script on HX installer
15. Login in HX data platform in VC to view all info & create DS 

Dell

DellEMC ScaleIO Intro:

• Software Defined Storage on standard x86 servers
• Cluster ranging from 3 to 100
• Dell EMC Ready Nodes for Scale IO (ESXi pre installed with ScaleIO VM), R630 - 1U10 Drive, 2U24 Drive, All FlashEither compute only or storage
• All flash drive (Flash storage is any type of drive, repository or system that uses flash memory to keep data for an extended period of time.)
• Faster deployment 

DellEMC ScaleIO Deployment:

1. ScaleIO software is installed in vmware host as a VM
2. Place the Ready Nodes in Rack & cable it
3. Nodes are cabled to the NW (one for Mgmt, one for Data)
4. Install scale IO mgmt server
5. Use the Mgmt server to configure all nodes 

vmware

 VSAN Intro:

• Hypervisor converged Software Defined Storage
• VSAN is part of vsphere hypervisor (embeded in hypervisor)
• Policy based storage
• The storage can be scaled
• Create storage policy assign to VM & the vsan will take care
• Using Storage vMotion VM can be moved from one DS to another DS 

VSAN deployment:

1. VSAN is part of vsphere 5.5 update 1 (integrated in hypervisor)
2. Enable VSAN networking on the VMkernal
3. Move host to cluster
4. Enable vsan on cluster (remove the partition for the unutilized DS before moving to vsan cluster)
5. Select cluster & start using the VSAN 

Nautanix

Intro:

• Compute, Storage & Virtualization on one appliance
• 100% software driven
• Runs on Nutanix x86 servers
• Runs "ACROPOLIS" (like CIMC) software (Can also be integrated with AMF (App Mobility Fabric) which can be used for management, so we dont need virtualization management)
• For management uses "PRISM"
• Database: CASSANDRA
• Holds all cluster configuration: ZOOKEEPER