Page 1 of 1
VMWare OVF and NVMe SSD
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 4:37 pm
by dfmco
I am using the OVF template to deploy Nagios on a server with an NVMe SSD drive. Does the OS (CentOS) 6.8 support NVMe out of the box? I can't find anything on it that is concrete on line. It appears 7.0 is good and 6.0 to 6.5 is not. Do you have any installs on NVMe? I wanted to make sure that my planned deployment is supported before I buy the hardware.
Re: VMWare OVF and NVMe SSD
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 4:51 pm
by Box293
The OVF template is a VM so CentOS has no understanding that it's running inisde of a VM.
The operating system running your virtualization platform would handle all of that.
Re: VMWare OVF and NVMe SSD
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 6:23 pm
by dfmco
Please pardon my ignorance but if I want the speed from the NVMe, would I need to change the guest OS to NVMe in the VMWare guest hardware list (from SCSI) to get that benefit?
Re: VMWare OVF and NVMe SSD
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 6:44 pm
by Box293
It's not that complicated.
If you're using Windows to run the VMware virtual machine, your SSD would have it's own drive letter. You would move the VM from your existing location to the SSD drive.
If you're using ESXi to run the VMware virtual machine, your SSD would have it's own datastore. You would move the VM from your existing location to the SSD datastore.
Does that make sense?
Re: VMWare OVF and NVMe SSD
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 7:05 pm
by dfmco
I do get that and I may be over thinking the issue. I attached a screenshot of exactly what I was thinking would have to change and why it would need to be supported. If I removed the SCSI controller and replaced that with an NVMe controller, would I not need a driver for the CentOS 6.8 to see that controller? If I am over thinking it, just let me know and I will order the server tonight. Thanks!
vmware.JPG
Re: VMWare OVF and NVMe SSD
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 7:11 pm
by Box293
Yes you are overthinking it.
The whole purpose of a Virtual Machine is that the "virtual hardware" components of the virtual machine are generic and have no direct relationship with the physical hardware that the server is running on.
It's the responsibility of your ESXi server to talk to the SSD. It's possible that additional drivers are available for ESXi for this SSD, check it here:
http://www.vmware.com/resources/compati ... tegory=san
Re: VMWare OVF and NVMe SSD
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 7:17 pm
by dfmco
LOL! Thanks for the link. I did verify that the NVMe was supported on 6.01 so I am good to go. Off to purchase a server!
Re: VMWare OVF and NVMe SSD
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 7:42 pm
by Box293
Excellent, let us know how it goes