6.0.1

Working with Flash Devices 14
In addition to regular storage hard disk drives (HDDs), vSphere supports ash storage devices.
Unlike the regular HDDs that are electromechanical devices containing moving parts, ash devices use
semiconductors as their storage medium and have no moving parts. Typically, ash devices are very
resilient and provide faster access to data.
To detect ash devices, ESXi uses an inquiry mechanism based on T10 standards. The ESXi host can detect
ash devices on a number of storage arrays. Check with your vendor whether your storage array supports
the ESXi mechanism of ash device detection.
After the host detects the ash devices, you can use them for a variety of tasks and functionalities.
This chapter includes the following topics:
n
“Using Flash Devices with vSphere,” on page 134
n
“Marking Storage Devices,” on page 134
n
“Monitor Flash Devices,” on page 136
n
“Best Practices for Flash Devices,” on page 136
n
“About Virtual Flash Resource,” on page 137
n
“Conguring Host Swap Cache,” on page 139
VMware, Inc.
133