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Supported configurations for PowerPath/VE with VMware vSphere 4.x
Purpose
This article describes supported configurations for EMC PowerPath/VE 5.4 in vSphere 4x.
The PowerPath/VE 5.4 can be used to manage paths from vSphere server to storage devices over a SAN.
Resolution
These scenarios represent the use case scenarios for the PowerPath/VE PSA plugin in vSphere environment:
Simple Configuration
PowerPath/VE is installed on an ESX/ESXi 4.x host attached to Storage Array(s) and is managing all LUNs attached to the ESX host including the Boot from SAN LUN.
Co-existence Configuration
PowerPath/VE is installed on an ESX/ESXi 4.x host attached to Storage Array(s) and is managing some LUNs. Other LUNs are managed by vSphere 4 Native Multipathing Plugin (NMP).
Co-existence for Boot-from-SAN Configuration
PowerPath/VE is installed on an ESX/ESXi 4.x host attached to Storage Array(s) where the Boot LUN is managed by NMP. All other LUNs are managed by PowerPath/VE.
Shared Configuration with ESX/ESXi 4.x or ESX/ESXi 3.x hosts
Storage devices are shared and simultaneously managed by vSphere 4.x hosts running PowerPath/VE and vSphere 4.x or ESX/ESXi 3.x hosts running NMP.
Note: This configuration is only supported as a transition configuration while upgrading your vSphere/ESX environment to vSphere 4.x running PowerPath/VE.
Non-disruptive Install of PowerPath/VE on vSphere using Shared Storage and vMotion
Note: The preceding link was correct as of December 30, 2011. If you find the link is broken, provide feedback and a VMware employee will update the link.
