Assigning vVol-based Storage Policies to Virtual Machines

For a VM to be protected by FlashArray periodic replication, it must first be assigned to a replication based policy such as ones created and described in the previous sections in this article.

1. Any VM assigned to it will be on the FlashArray named flasharray-m50-1.
2. The VM assigned to it will being replicated.
3. The VM assigned to it will be replicated to the FlashArray named flasharray-m50-2.

   To assign this policy, right-click on a virtual machine then choose VM Policies > Edit VM Storage Policy.

   

   Choose the VM storage policy drop-down and choose your policy:

   

   Note:

   Do not choose the Configure Per Disk option. While per-disk policy configuration is supported generically by Everpure vVols and vVol replication, SRM requires that the entire VM be assigned the same policy and replication group.

   Once you choose the policy, the vSphere Client will display a new option in the upper-right hand corner of the policy window asking for a replication group. Click on Configure.

   

   Under the Replication group drop-down, choose your replication group. These will map to FlashArray protection groups--the name will have a prefix of the array name followed by a colon, then the name of the FlashArray protection group. Choose a matching protection group or the Automatic option.

   If you choose the Automatic option, the FlashArray will create a new protection group with the specified capabilities in the storage policy. If a protection group setting is not listed in the policy, it will leave missing settings at FlashArray protection group defaults.

   In this case, the protection group srmvVolPG will be chosen.

   

   Click OK.

   

   Click OK again. This will configure all of the volumes belonging to that VM with the designated protection.

   

   Verify the configuration on the FlashArray by looking at the protection group:

   

   Also note if the VM is configured to place swap on vVols, the swap volume will not be placed in the protection group as there is no reason to protect it.