VMworld is VMware’s main yearly event and the time when it brings out whatever is new with the products. Naturally, VMware has a few updates in store for this one too and we as bloggers were fortunate enough to get a glimpse of it before coming here.

The updates fall broadly into three categories:

  • Storage
  • Compute and Cloud, and
  • Cloud Management

In this post, I’ll update you on what is that VMware plans to release in relation to vSAN.

Multi-Cloud

It’s no secret that all cloud products need to be multi-cloud enabled if they want to attract and retain customers as no company would like to limit their cloud provider choices.

It’s clear that VMware’s strategy is also to provide complete connectivity in this multi-cloud enabled world. Hopefully, we’ll more about it in the coming updates.

What’s New

VMware is working hard on improving vSAN to provide what customers ask for. This release is mainly an update release but provides many improvements in operations, infrastructure, and support.

vSAN - What's New

Simplified Operations

Great interface and simple efficient operations go a long way in appeasing those who are using it. This update contains a few enhancements in that regard.

Everyone loves VMware Update Manager and we’ve used it for years. VMware has brought more support for that integration and all updates to do with vSAN e.g. ESXi but also drivers and firmware etc. are now also integrated into the update coverage.

Guided “Quickstart” cluster creation is also available now, not just for vSAN but also for non-vSAN clusters. You can add new or existing hosts in bulk and there are built-in prechecks that prevent the operation to go through if what you are trying to do, isn’t quite right.

There are improvements in “Enter Maintenance Mode” operations too and they include more safeguards when putting hosts into that mode.

There is full interoperability with vRealize Operations 7.0 and the intelligence that comes with it. Dashboards are now capable of showing vSAN stretched clusters too. What you also get, however, is improved insight into vSAN cluster capacity; for historical capacity information as well as future requirements and estimates.

Lastly, PowerCLI is becoming more and more vSAN capable as time goes by. There are new cmdlets that replace 18 RVC commands and some are exclusive to PowerCLI 10.2. There’s a lot more functionality for configuration info, statuses, and checks etc.

Efficient Infrastructure

This update brings more storage efficiency in the shape of guest OS initiated TRIM/UNMAP commands which will result in space reclamation on the vSAN datastore.

In addition, now there is support for different MTU for ISL data traffic and jumbo frames can be used between data sites.

Rapid Support Resolution

As part of vSAN ReadyCare, now there is improved guidance of health checks and recommendations. There are other allowances as well e.g. multiple approved firmware levels for storage controllers.

There is also a new unicast network performance test and controls in the UI to silence health checks and purge inaccessible swap objects.

VMware recommends letting support diagnostics go to VMware which in turn, enables GSS to resolve customer cases quickly. Alos, reduces the need for support bundles, which we all know, are a pain to generate and transfer.

I hope this update gives you a quick taste of what’s new to vSAN 6.7 Update 1.

For more information on the releases, have a look at the following links: