The vSphere Plugin allows users that have Permissions to create vCenter Storage Policies the ability to import a FlashArray Protection Groups Schedule as Policy Rules.
With 5.2.0 and higher, this workflow is called the storage policy wizard; this was called import protection group before. This is largely due to the fact that the workflow is no longer just importing a protection groups schedule as policy capabilities and rules are more granular than they have been before.
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For plugin versions 5.5.0 and later, select the (1) Storage Policies section and then click (2) CREATE. For plugin versions before 5.5.0, from the main plugin page, select the Create Storage Policies button to open up the wizard workflow. New policies can be created for one or more vCenter servers that are in linked mode.
Versions 5.5.0 and later
Versions before 5.5.0
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Select vCenter Server(s) to create the policy for.
Select vCenter(s)
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Some of the below features have specific Purity versions that are required in order to use them. Once the features are selected, a list of compatible arrays will be returned that can support these features.
Select Features
Array Compatibility List
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There is an option to specify which array(s) the policy can be restricted to. One array is selected in this example; this will restrict the policy to using datastores from only this array.
Array selection - optional ruleset
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With QoS support, the per disk bandwidth and IOPS limits can be set. Remember that these are enforced at an individual virtual disk level, not a VM level.
QoS Feature Support
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The volume tagging feature allows policies to have a key value pair that is tagged on the volumes with the policy applied to them.
Volume Tagging Feature
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The local snapshot protection feature uses the capabilities and rulesets for the policy to automatically create and manage a protection group on the array based off these capabilities. Long term retention can also be configured for this feature.
Snapshot Protection Feature
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With the replication feature there are two options: use a pre-existing protection group on a given array as the base/template for the replication schedule used in the policy or manually configure/specify the replication rules that are used.
Replication Policy Feature - Using an existing protection group as a template
Replication Policy Feature - manually configuring the protection settings
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When manually setting the replication protection, all the same rules/capabilities that are normally available are now organized in a clearer method. In the example only the replication interval and retention is configured.
Replication Feature - Customized Protection
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Once all the features are selected and configured, it's time to name the storage policy.
Naming the new Storage Policy
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At the end of the wizard a query is issued to see if any datastores match the rules outlined for each of the features. Once completed, a new storage policy is created with the rules specified in the wizard.
Storage Policy Wizard - Ready to Complete Summary View
Here is a video demo and walkthrough of the new storage policy wizard: