Monitor Raid Status in vSphere Client

[ipsys]

I want to monitor the raid status of my esxi 5.0 system within the vSphere client. Afaik the built in controller is an adaptec 5405 (http://www.adaptec.com/de-de/downloads/vmware/vmware_esx/productid=sas-5405&dn=adaptec+raid+5405.html). On the adaptec website are only drivers for vphere 4.1.

I searched on the vmware website and found a couple of driver packages here: https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/searchresults/?client=my_download&site=my_download&proxystylesheet=my_download_en&gsa_lang=en&c=All&q=adaptec+5405

Does anybody know if one of these drivers will allow me to monitor the raid status within the vSphere client?

[jfrappier]

So you want to monitor the status of each of the drives in the array to make sure their isn't a failure?

Thanks

[ipsys]

exactly.

[jfrappier]

I do not believe vCenter/vSphere client has the ability to alert automatically on hardware failures, you would need a 3rd party monitoring tool capable of monitoring your array. You should be able to look at the hardware status tab but certainly don't want that to be a monitoring solution.

[ipsys]

no, afaik it does not. but if you can see the status in the hardware tab it means that the esxi can read the status of your raid array. its a first step. the next step would be to access that information with a dedicated monitoring software that can actively alert you in case of an error.

[Rubeck]

Have you tried this...? http://www.adaptec.com/en-us/speed/raid/aac/linux/aacraid_vmware_drivers_1_1_7-28700_tgz.htm

It does say "This driver is VMware Certified for vSphere (ESXi) 5.0.", but I have no idea what so ever if it will work...

/Rubeck

[ipsys]

thanks for the link - dont know how you managed to find this. i will try it out later tonight and let you guys know how it worked out.

[ipsys]

i installed the linked driver but sadly it did not work :/

[Rubeck]

Sorry to hear that.... It was worth a shot..

Have you tried asking Adaptec about what you have to do/install to get the CIM providers to display the needed info.. ?

/Rubeck

[jdptechnc]

Here is a download for the Adaptec CIM provider.  It lists your card as compatible.

http://www.adaptec.com/en-us/speed/raid/storage_manager/cim_vmware_v7_30_18837_zip.htm

[jdptechnc]

Are you using vCenter Server, or standalone ESXi?

If you are using vCenter Server, you have the Hardware Status tab If your host can see your individual disks, and I think it will, then it will monitor them and alarm on failure.  There is a defined alarm for this in vCenter that you can configure to send an email.

If you are on standalone ESXi, you can view the same information on the Configuration tab - Health Status, but there isn't a built in way to alert.

[ipsys]

i have both. vcenter and standalone hosts. you are right. vcenter can alert you on problems but your esxi host needs to be able to read the status of your raid for that to work too. and thats my problem right now :smileyhappy:

some of my hosts cannot access that information. on some hosts with lsi raid controllers i was able to install a vib and its working now. so i believe it should be possible to get it to work with the adaptec controller as well. and thats the reason why i started that thread in the first place. to ask if anybody has any experience with that controller i posted in my initial post and can tell me which vib to install.