Disable VMware ATS-only Flag in D5000/R3000

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Last Post 31 October 2024

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Babatunde Akinkuolie posted this 31 October 2024

8.1 Check ATS-only command list

The problem arises when mounting the VMware datastore while the D5000/R3000 VAAI is enabled, as it results in the datastore being marked as ATS-only. Consequently, disabling the D5000/R3000 VAAI at this stage leads to the VMware datastore being flagged as abnormal.Follow the steps below to avoid this exception.

8.1.1 Check the volume or datastore ATS status:

vmkfstools -Ph -v1 /vmfs/volumes/VMFS-volume-name(Datastore name)

8.1.2. Change the ATS status:

vmkfstools --configATSOnly 0 device path(Volume name)

vmkfstools --configATSOnly 1 device path(Volume name

8.2. Example

The following steps demonstrate the change of VMware ATS-only flag for several cases.

A. Mount VMware datastore while D5K/R3K VAAI disabled.

ATS-only flag will not be enabled for the datastore in such condition.

B. Mount VMware datastore while D5K/R3K VAAI enabled.

ATS-only flag will be enabled for the datastore in such condition.

C. Disable D5K/R3K VAAI while VMware datastore is mounted.

Datastore with ATS-only flag enabled will become abnormal.

D. Disable ATS-only flag before disable VAAI support in D5K/R3K

Make sure the ATS-only flag is not enabled before disable VAAI support in D5K/R3K, so the datastore can be normal.

8.2.1 Mount VMware datastore while D5K/R3K VAAI disabled.

A. Mount 4*VMware datastores while D5K/R3K VAAI disabled.

Refer “8.2.1.a” as below.

4*VMware datastores not support VAAI, VMware field “Hardware Acceleration” is unknown.
The 4 datastores named “p1v1_vaai_d_std”,”p1v2_vaai_d_std”,”p2v1_vaai_d_adv” and “p2v2_vaai_d_adv”.

[Figure 8.2.1.a]

B. ATS-only flag will not be enabled for these 4 datastores.

Refer “8.2.1.b” as below.

In ESXi CLI excute “vmkfstools –Ph –v1 /vmfs/volumes/p1v1_vaai_d_std”
The field “Mode” value is “public”, it’s means no “ATS-only” enabled.

[Figure 8.2.1.b]

8.2.2 . Mount VMware datastore while D5K/R3K VAAI enabled.

A. Mount VMware datastore while D5K/R3K VAAI enabled. Refer “8.2.2.a” as below.

The old 4 VMware datastores support VAAI, VMware field “Hardware Acceleration” is supported.
The old 4 VMware datastores named “p1v1_vaai_d_std”,”p1v2_vaai_d_std”, ”p2v1_vaai_d_adv” and “p2v2_vaai_d_adv”.
The new 4 VMware datastores support VAAI, VMware field “Hardware Acceleration” is supported.
The new 4 VMware datastores named “p1v1_vaai_e_std”,”p1v2_vaai_e_std”,”p2v1_vaai_e_adv” and “p2v2_vaai_e_adv”.

[Figure 8.2.2.a]

b.Check ATS-only flag for the 4 old datastores, the datastores created before VAAI enable.Refer “8.2.2.b” as below.

In ESXi CLI excute “vmkfstools –Ph –v1 /vmfs/volumes/p1v1_vaai_d_std”
The field “Mode” value is “public”, it means no “ATS-only” enabled.

[Figure 8.2.2.b]

C. ATS-only flag will be enabled for the new 4 datastores created after VAAI enable. Refer to “8.2.2.C” as below.

In ESXi CLI excute “vmkfstools –Ph –v1 /vmfs/volumes/p1v1_vaai_e_std”
The field “Mode” value is “public ATS-only”, it means “ATS-only” enabled.

[Figure 8.2.2.C]

8.2.3. Disable D5K/R3K VAAI while VMware datastore is mounted

In 8.2.1 and 8.2.2, we created 8 datastore.

4 datastores are created before the VAAI enabled and the other 4 are after VAAI enabled.

We disable the VAAI function in D5K/R3K and get the following result. Refer to “8.2.3.a” as below.

A. Disable VAAI function on D5K/R5K.

B. 4 datastores created when VAAI disabled, is good

“p1v1_vaai_d_std”,”p1v2_vaai_d_std”,”p2v1_vaai_d_adv” and “p2v2_vaai_d_adv”.

C. 4 datastores created when VAAI enabled, might be fail, miss, or inaccessible.

“p1v1_vaai_e_std”,”p1v2_vaai_e_std”,”p2v1_vaai_e_adv” and “p2v2_vaai_e_adv”.

D. “ATS-only” flag of VMware datstore will be affected when storage’s VAAI enable/disable.

[Figure 8.2.3.a]

We can use VMware tools “vmfstool” to check datastore status and disable the ATS-only flag.

E. Use VMware “vmfstool” to check datastore ATS-only will fail. Refer “8.2.3.e” as below.

In ESXi CLI excute “vmkfstools –Ph –v1 /vmfs/volumes/p1v1_vaai_e_std”
The 4 failed datastore cannot be manipulated and “vmkfstools” show the error message.

[Figure 8.2.3.e]

F. Use VMware “vmfstool” to remove datastore ATS-only flag will fail. Refer “8.2.3.f” as below.

In ESXi CLI excute “vmkfstools –configATSOnly 0 eui.22980001552754a2
The 4 failed datastore cannot be manipulated and “vmkfstools” show the error message.

[Figure 8.2.3.f]