Managing Storage in VMware Cloud
Foundation
To
create and manage a workload domain,
VMware Cloud Foundation
requires at least one shared storage type for all ESXi hosts within
a cluster. This initial shared storage type, known as principal storage, is selected during
the creation of a workload domain or cluster in SDDC Manager. Additional shared storage, known
as supplemental storage, can be added using the vSphere Client after a cluster has been
created.To
create and manage a workload domain,
VMware Cloud Foundation
requires at least one shared storage type for all ESXi hosts within
a cluster. This initial shared storage type, known as principal storage, is configured during
VxRail first run. Additional shared storage, known as supplemental storage, can be added using
the vSphere Client after a cluster has been created.Principal Storage
When you create a VI
workload domain or add a cluster to a workload domain in
SDDC Manager
, you must select the initial shared storage type. This initial
shared storage type is known as principal storage. Once created, the principal storage type
for a cluster cannot be changed. However, a VI workload domain can include multiple clusters
with unique principal storage types. During the VxRail
first run, you configure the initial shared storage type. This initial shared storage type
is known as principal storage. Once created, the principal storage type for a cluster cannot
be changed. However, a VI workload domain can include multiple clusters with unique
principal storage types.
VMware Cloud Foundation
supports the following types of principal storage:- vSAN
- vSAN Original Storage Architecture (vSAN OSA)
- vSAN Express Storage Architecture (vSAN ESA)
- vSAN Max (requires vSAN ESA HCL compatible hosts)
You cannot convert vSAN OSA to vSAN ESA or vice versa. - Network File System (NFS)
- VMFS on FC (Fibre Channel)
- VMware vSphere Virtual Volumes (vVols)vVols supports FC, NFS, and iSCSI storage protocol types.
- vSAN
- vSAN Original Storage Architecture (vSAN OSA)
- vSAN Express Storage Architecture (vSAN ESA)
You cannot convert vSAN OSA to vSAN ESA or vice versa. - VMFS on FC (Fibre Channel)
Supplemental Storage
Additional shared storage, known as
supplemental storage, can be manually added or removed using the
vSphere Client
after a cluster has been
created. All supplemental storage must be listed in the VMware Compatibility Guide. Multiple
supplemental storage types can be presented to a cluster in the management domain or any VI
workload domain. VMware Cloud Foundation
supports using the vSphere Client
to add the following datastore types to a cluster: - vSphere VMFS
- NFS
- VMware vSphere Virtual Volumes (vVols)vVols supports FC, NFS, and iSCSI storage protocol types.
- vSphere VMFS