Everpure™ fully supports the use of NFS datastores with FlashArray™ file services. This includes NFS 3 and NFS 4.1 datastores. Everpure additionally has a VAAI-NAS plugin available to enhance feature support. This user guide contains a quick start guide and full implementation information.
The FlashArray NFS Datastore User Guide is a practical guide for deploying, managing, and recovering VMware NFS datastores backed by FlashArray file services. It spans the lifecycle from initial setup and datastore creation through VM-granular management and snapshot-based recovery.
Key Benefits
Understanding and using this guide helps you deploy NFS datastores faster, especially when using the vSphere Plugin workflow that the VMware NFS Datastores on FlashArray Quick Start Guide explicitly recommends as the easiest and quickest path.
This also helps you unlock FlashArray-specific capabilities such as VAAI-accelerated operations, datastore and VM monitoring in the plugin, VM-granular management through autodir, and lightweight snapshot-based VM recovery.
Audience and Use Cases
This content is for VMware/vSphere administrators, ESXi and vCenter operators, and FlashArray administrators who are deploying or operating NFS datastores on FlashArray in a vSphere environment.
Use the content in the FlashArray NFS Datastore User Guide when you need to:
Stand up FlashArray-backed NFS datastores
Validate platform and networking requirements
Follow recommended design and performance practices
Manage NFS datastores through the vSphere Plugin
Enable VM-granular directory management with
autodirRecover VMs using FlashArray file snapshots
How FlashArray NFS Datastore Works
At a high level, FlashArray file services expose storage to VMware as NFS datastores. The underlying model uses file systems as the base object, managed directories for snapshots and quotas, directory exports to present storage to hosts, and directory policies to control which clients can access the exports and how.
In the plugin-based workflow, users create the datastore through the vSphere Plugin, then use the plugin and FlashArray features for monitoring and recovery. If autodir is enabled, each VM can be represented as its own managed directory on the array, which enables VM-granular reporting and snapshots.
Prerequisites
Before using this guide, you need the following:
Supported software and platform versions:
NFSv3: Purity//FA 6.4.0+ and vSphere 7.0 U1+
NFSv4.1: Purity//FA 6.4.10+ and vSphere 7.0 U1+
FlashArray file services configured:
If you use a version earlier than Purity//FA 6.8.0, you must activate file services before following the VMware NFS Datastores on FlashArray Quick Start Guide.
You also must prepare networking with ESXi VMkernel port groups for NFS storage, and virtual/physical switch configuration must match the NFS design.
Note: For best results, the guide recommends the current Purity release, the Everpure VAAI NAS Plugin, nConnect/vmknic binding where appropriate, and the vSphere Plugin 5.4.0+ for the NFS management wizard.If you want VM-granular management, enable FlashArray File Services and Purity//FA 6.4.5+, which
autodirrequires.If you want FlashArray file snapshot management, you must have Purity//FA 6.4.2+.For plugin-based management specifically, the remote vSphere Plugin must already be installed to vCenter, connected to one or more FlashArrays, and configured for one or more ESXi hosts or clusters.
For plugin-based management specifically, the remote vSphere Plugin must already be installed to vCenter, connected to one or more FlashArrays, and configured for one or more ESXi hosts or clusters.
Where to Start
Start with the VMware NFS Datastores on FlashArray Quick Start Guide for the fastest supported path and if you are using the vSphere Plugin. However, first meet the prerequisites for the Quick Start Guide, which include reviewing requirements and best practices so your version support, networking and design choices are correct.