Data vVols

Each data vVol on an array corresponds to a virtual disk. When a VMware administrator creates a virtual disk in a vVol datastore, VMware directs the array to create a volume and creates a VMDK file pointing to it in the VM’s config vVol. Similarly, to resize or delete a virtual disk, VMware directs the array to resize or destroy the corresponding volume.

1. For a VM’s first vVol on a given array, directs the array to create a volume group and a config vVol for it.
2. Directs the array to create a volume in the VM’s volume group.
3. Creates a VMDK pointer file in the VM’s config vVol to link the virtual disk to the data vVol on the array.
4. Adds the new pointer file to the VM’s VMX file to enable the VM to use the data vVol.

   The FlashArray GUI Storage view Volumes tab lists data vVols in the Volumes pane of the volume group display.

   FlashArray UI View - Volume Group Volume Objects View

   Resizing a Data vVol

   A VMware administrator can use any of several management tools expand a data vVol to a maximum size of 62 terabytes while it is online. Although FlashArrays can shrink volumes as well, vSphere does not support that function.

   vCenter UI View - vSphere Disallows Volume Shrinking

   Note:

   VMware enforces the 62 terabyte maximum to enable vVols to be moved to VMFS or NFS, both of whose maximum virtual disk size is 62 terabytes.

   At this time VMware does not support expanding a Volume that is configured with a SCSI controller that is enabled with sharing.

   To expand a data vVol using the Web Client, right-click the VM in the inventory pane, select Edit Settings from the dropdown menu, and select the virtual disk to be expanded from the dropdown. The virtual disk’s current capacity is displayed. Enter the desired capacity and click OK, and use guest operating system tools to expose the additional capacity to the VM.

   vCenter UI View - Entering Expanded Data vVol Capacity

   FlashArray UI View - Updated Capacity Size of the Data vVol

   Deleting a Data vVol

   Deleting a data vVol is identical to deleting any other type of virtual disk. When a VMware administrator deletes a vVol-based virtual disk from a VM, ESXi deletes the reference VMDK file and directs the array to destroy the underlying volume.

   To delete a vVol-based virtual disk, right-click the target VM in the Web Client inventory pane, select Edit Settings from the dropdown menu to launch the Edit Settings wizard. Select the virtual disk to be deleted, hover over the right side of its row and click the symbol when it appears.

   vCenter UI View - Selecting Data vVol for Deletion

   To remove the vVol from the VM, click the OK button. To remove it from the VM and destroy it on the array, check the Delete files from datastore checkbox and click OK.

   vCenter UI View - Destroying the Volume on the Array

   Note:

   Delete files from datastore is not a default—if it is not selected, the vVol is detached from the VM, but remains on the array. A VMware administrator can reattach it with the Add existing virtual disk Web Client command.

   The ESXi host deletes the data vVol’s VMDK pointer file and directs the array to destroy the volume (move it to its Destroyed Volumes folder for 24 hours.

   FlashArray UI View - Deleted Data vVol in Destroyed Volumes Objects

   An array administrator can recover a deleted vVol-based virtual disk at any time during the 24 hours following deletion. After 24 hours, the array permanently eradicates the volume and it can no longer be recovered.