EMC VMAX and DMX Symmetrix Storage Array recommendations for optimal performance on VMware ESXi/ESX

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides recommendations and steps to achieve optimal performance with EMC VMAX and DMX Symmetrix Storage Arrays when you are not using EMC PowerPath VE.

Environment

VMware ESXi 4.1.x Embedded
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.1
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Embedded
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.0
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Installable
VMware ESX 4.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5
VMware ESX 4.1.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Installable

Resolution

EMC recommends using a multipathing setting of Round Robin for the VMAX and DMX Symmetrix Storage Array families.

EMC also recommends setting the MP RR policy set for the I/O operation limit to a value of 1 for optimal performance with Symmetrix Storage Arrays. Currently, the VMware default value for this setting is 1000.

Note: Round Robin PSP is not supported for LUNs mapped by Microsoft Clustered RDMs in vSphere 5.1 and earlier versions. You have to use a different PSP or upgrade to vSphere 5.5 or later. For more information about various pathing policies, see Multipathing policies in ESXi 5.x and ESXi/ESX 4.x (1011340).

To change the default policy setting from Fixed to Round Robin for EMC Symmetrix devices:

1. Open the vSphere CLI (recommended) or the service console.
2. Run this command:
   
   
   • ESXi 5.x/6.0
     
     # esxcli storage nmp satp set --default-psp=VMW_PSP_RR --satp=VMW_SATP_SYMM
     
     
   • ESXi/ESX 4.x
     
     # esxcli nmp satp setdefaultpsp --psp VMW_PSP_RR --satp VMW_SATP_SYMM

EMC recommends setting the path switching I/O operation limit to 1 for optimal performance with the EMC Symmetrix Family Storage Arrays (VMAX and DMX devices). Currently, the VMware default value for this setting is 1000.

To change the value if the I/O operation limit to 1:

1. Open the vSphere CLI (recommended) or the service console.
   
2. Run these commands:
   
   
   • ESXi 5.x/6.0
     
     Run this command to check the I/O operations limit:
     
     esxcli storage nmp psp roundrobin deviceconfig get --device=device_NAA
     
     Run this command to set the I/O operations limit:
     
     esxcli storage nmp psp roundrobin deviceconfig set --device=device_NAA --iops=1 --type iops
     
     
   • ESXi/ESX 4.x
     
     Run this command to check the I/O operations limit:
     
     esxcli nmp roundrobin getconfig --device=device_NAA
     
     Run this command to set the I/O operations limit:
     
     esxcli nmp roundrobin setconfig --device=device_NAA --iops 1 --type iops

Additional Information

For more information on EMC recommended settings, see:

• Tuning the VMware Native Multipathing Performance of VMware vSphere Hosts Connected to EMC Symmetrix Storage EMC white paper
  
  
• EMC Knowledge base article number 17440, How to properly tune an ESX server that is connected to a Symmetrix
  
  Note: This article is available on the EMC support site.

Note: The links in this article were correct as of February 2, 2016. If you find a link is broken, provide feedback and a VMware employee will update the link.

For related information, see Changing the default pathing policy for new/existing LUNs (1017760).

Multipathing policies in ESXi 5.x and ESXi/ESX 4.x
Changing the default pathing policy for new/existing LUNs
VMware ESXi/ESX 環境で最適なパフォーマンスを得るための EMC Symmetrix VMAX/DMX ストレージの推奨設定について