VMware vSphere

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  • 1.  SAS LTO5 Tape Drive?

    Posted May 14, 2012 07:13 PM

    I have read a handful of posts saying it is and it isn't supported, but here is my scenario:

    Dell PE R710 server

    Dell 6GB SAS Hba card

    Dell LTO5 external tape drive

    ESXi v5

    Windows 2008R2 virtualized

    The vSphere client shows the drive under Storage Adapters for the ESXi host and I can add it to the Windows virtual server. The windows virtual servers shows the drive as a functional device in Device Manager. But...  I have tried both CA ArcServe and Acronis Backup & Recovery Virtual Edition and both error out when trying to write or erase the tape drive.

    I have called Dell and they are saying it isn't supported and that VMWare won't support it.

    Any help or suggestions would be VERY much appreciated!!

    Thanks in advance,
    Bill



  • 2.  RE: SAS LTO5 Tape Drive?

    Posted May 15, 2012 01:05 AM

    It is not supported due to a VMware policy. Anyway, there is a good KB explaining how to "try" the config: http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1016407

    Put attention on the step 7 and 12 of the resolution. Usually, placing the nodes in the correct order resolves SCSI communication problems between the VM OS and the Tape Device.



  • 3.  RE: SAS LTO5 Tape Drive?

    Posted May 15, 2012 01:55 PM

    Thank you for the reply.

    I had tried that document, but still encountered problems.  Here is what the storage adapter reports:

    vmhba2:C0:T0:L0

    According the documentation, it would be Target 0, but there is not enough information to determine the bus.  0:0 is already in use, so I tried 1:0 and the VM couldn't even initialize the drive.  It seems to at least "see" the drive when I chose something like 0:3.  As a result, I am once again stuck.

    Thanks,
    Bill