Before a host can detect the virtual volumes presented by VPLEX, it is necessary for the host to initiate a bus-scan of the Host Bus Adapters (HBAs). This process allows the host to recognize new storage devices that have been presented to it, such as the virtual volumes from VPLEX.
Here’s a detailed explanation:
Host Bus Adapters (HBAs): HBAs are the hardware interfaces that connect a host system to a network or storage device. In the context of VPLEX, they connect the host to the VPLEX storage system.
Bus-Scan: A bus-scan is a command that can be issued from the host to scan the storage network for any changes, such as newly added storage volumes. This is typically done using operating system-specific commands or utilities.
Virtual Volumes Detection: Once the bus-scan is complete, the host’s operating system can detect the virtual volumes presented by VPLEX and make them available for use by applications and services running on the host.
No RAID Requirement: The detection of virtual volumes does not require RAID configuration to be enabled for the volumes themselves, as this is managed within the VPLEX system.
No Reboot Necessary: It is not necessary to reboot the host to detect virtual volumes. A bus-scan can be performed while the system is running without requiring a restart.
No Wizard Required: The EZ Provisioning wizard is a tool used within the VPLEX system for provisioning storage, but it is not required to be run on the host for virtual volume detection.
By initiating a bus-scan of the HBAs, the host can detect and utilize the virtual volumes presented by VPLEX, allowing for flexible and dynamic storage management.
