HP 3PAR VMware ESX Implementation Guide

1 Introduction
This implementation guide provides information for establishing communication between an HP 3PAR
StoreServ Storage and a VMware ESX host. General information is provided on the basic steps
required to allocate storage on the HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage that is accessed by the ESX host.
The information contained in this implementation guide is the outcome of careful testing of the
HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage with as many representative hardware and software configurations
as possible.
Required
For predictable performance and results with your HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage, you must use the
information in this guide in concert with the documentation set provided by HP 3PAR for the
HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage and the documentation provided by the vendor for their respective
products.
Supported Configurations
The following types of host connections are supported between the HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage
and hosts running a VMware ESX OS:
• Fibre Channel
• iSCSI
As Software iSCSI initiator◦
◦ As Hardware iSCSI initiator
• FCoE connections
◦ FCoE initiator connecting to a FC target or an FCoE target
Fibre Channel connections are supported between the HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage and the ESX
host in both a fabric-attached and direct-connect topology.
For information about supported hardware and software platforms, see the HP Single Point of
Connectivity Knowledge (HP SPOCK) website:
www.hp.com/storage/spock
For more information about HP 3PAR storage products, follow the links in “HP 3PAR Storage
Products” (page 6).
Table 1 HP 3PAR Storage Products
See...Product
HP Storage Information LibraryHP 3PAR StoreServ 7000 Storage
HP Support CenterHP 3PAR StoreServ 10000 Storage
HP Support CenterHP 3PAR Storage Systems
HP Support CenterHP 3PAR StoreServ Software — Device Management
HP Support CenterHP 3PAR StoreServ Software—Replication
Required
All installation steps should be performed in the order described in this implementation guide.
6 Introduction