To configure the hardware acceleration for a new array, add two claim rules, one for the VAAI filter and another for the VAAI plug-in. For the new claim rules to be active, you first define the rules and then load them into your system.

This procedure is for those block storage devices that do not support T10 SCSI commands and instead use the VAAI plug-ins.

In the procedure, --server=server_name specifies the target server. The specified target server prompts you for a user name and password. Other connection options, such as a configuration file or session file, are supported. For a list of connection options, see Getting Started with vSphere Command-Line Interfaces.

Prerequisites

Install vCLI or deploy the vSphere Management Assistant (vMA) virtual machine. See Getting Started with vSphere Command-Line Interfaces. For troubleshooting, run esxcli commands in the ESXi Shell.

Procedure

  1. Define a new claim rule for the VAAI filter by running the esxcli --server=server_name storage core claimrule add --claimrule-class=Filter --plugin=VAAI_FILTER command.
  2. Define a new claim rule for the VAAI plug-in by running the esxcli --server=server_name storage core claimrule add --claimrule-class=VAAI command.
  3. Load both claim rules by running the following commands:
    esxcli --server=server_name storage core claimrule load --claimrule-class=Filter

    esxcli --server=server_name storage core claimrule load --claimrule-class=VAAI

  4. Run the VAAI filter claim rule by using the esxcli --server=server_name storage core claimrule run --claimrule-class=Filter command.
    Note: Only the filter-class rules must be run. When the VAAI filter claims a device, it automatically finds the proper VAAI plug-in to attach.

Example: Defining Hardware Acceleration Claim Rules

This example shows how to configure the hardware acceleration for IBM arrays using the VMW_VAAIP_T10 plug-in. Use the following sequence of commands. For information about the options that the command takes, see Add Multipathing Claim Rules.

# esxcli --server=server_name storage core claimrule add --claimrule-class=Filter --plugin=VAAI_FILTER --type=vendor --vendor=IBM --autoassign

# esxcli --server=server_name storage core claimrule add --claimrule-class=VAAI --plugin=VMW_VAAIP_T10 --type=vendor --vendor=IBM --autoassign

# esxcli --server=server_name storage core claimrule load --claimrule-class=Filter

# esxcli --server=server_name storage core claimrule load --claimrule-class=VAAI

# esxcli --server=server_name storage core claimrule run --claimrule-class=Filter