Learn how you can review and manage protocol endpoints that the ESXi host uses to access Virtual Volumes on storage arrays. How the protocol endpoints are represented in the vSphere Client depends on whether the host uses the SCSI and NFS protocols or the NVMe protocol to access Virtual Volumes.

Review and Manage Static Protocol Endpoints

With the SCSI or NFS protocols, the protocol endpoints represent a proxy LUN or an NFS mount point. These protocol points are called static. After you map a storage container to a Virtual Volumes datastore, these protocol endpoints become visible in the vSphere Client. The list of available static protocol endpoints looks similar to the host storage devices list. You can review properties of the protocol endpoints and modify specific settings.

For information about static protocol endpoints that use SCSI or NFS transports, see Static Protocol Endpoints.

Procedure

  1. In the vSphere Client, navigate to the ESXi host.
  2. Click the Configure tab.
  3. Under Storage, click Protocol Endpoints.
  4. Click the Protocol Endpoints tab.
  5. To view details for a specific item, select this item from the list.
    The screenshot shows Properties, Paths, and Datastores tabs for the selected item.
  6. Use tabs to access additional information and modify properties for the selected protocol endpoint.
    Tab Description
    Properties View the item properties and characteristics. For SCSI (block) items, view and edit multipathing policies.
    Paths (SCSI protocol endpoints only) Display paths available for the protocol endpoint. Deactivate or activate a selected path. Change the Path Selection Policy.
    Datastores Display a corresponding Virtual Volumes datastore. Perform datastore management operations.

Change the Path Selection Policy for a SCSI Protocol Endpoint

If your ESXi host uses SCSI-based transport to communicate with protocol endpoints representing a storage array, you can modify default multipathing policies assigned to protocol endpoints. Use the Edit Multipathing Policies dialog box to change a path selection policy.

Procedure

  1. In the vSphere Client, navigate to the ESXi host.
  2. Click the Configure tab.
  3. Under Storage, click Protocol Endpoints.
  4. Select the protocol endpoint whose paths you want to change and click the Properties tab.
  5. Under Multipathing Policies, select Edit Multipathing from the Actions menu.
    The screenshot shows the Edit Multipathing option in the Actions menu.
  6. Select a path policy and configure its settings.
    For information about path policies for SCSI devices, see VMware Path Selection Plug-Ins and Policies.
  7. To save your settings and exit the dialog box, click OK.

Review NVMe Protocol Endpoints

Unlike the static protocol endpoint, the NVMe protocol endpoint is virtual. This protocol endpoint is a logical representation of the ANA group where the virtual volumes reside. Until a VM is powered on, the NVMe protocol point doesn’t exist. Once the VM is powered on, the NVMe protocol point is created, so that the host can access the virtual volumes in the ANA group. Use the vSphere Client to review NVMe virtual protocol endpoints.

For conceptual information that applies to Virtual Volumes with NVMe storage, see NVMe and Virtual Volumes in vSphere.

Procedure

  1. In the vSphere Client, navigate to the ESXi host.
  2. Click the Configure tab.
  3. Under Storage, click Protocol Endpoints.
  4. Click the NVMe Protocol Endpoints tab and review the list of available NVMe protocol endpoints and their information.
    You can see such details as target NVMe subsystems that are tracked for the NVMe Virtual Volumes datastore.
    The screenshot details for the selected NVMe protocol endpoint.
  5. To display additional details, select a protocol endpoint from the list.
    You can display a Virtual Volumes datastore that corresponds to the specific protocol endpoint.