The terminology when discussing vVols Replication should be covered before discussing the workflows and methods of replicating vVols.
vVols Replication Terminology
These terms are fundamental to how the APIs and integration with vVols replication will work.
| Name/Concept | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Replication Provider |
A VASA provider that supports VASA version 3 and array based replication-type features. This will inform VMware of replication features, configure VMs with replication, and inform VMware of compliance. |
| Storage Capabilities |
The array based replication features offered up by a replication provider. What these are is very vendor specific. This can be replication interval, consistency groups, concurrency, retention, etc. |
| Storage Policy | A collection of VASA capabilities; assembled together by a user and assigned values. |
| Fault Domain |
This is an available target in the replication group. In other words, each fault domain is an array that you can fail VMs in that replication group over to. Fault domain = Array. |
| Source Replication Group |
A unit of failover for replicated vVol VMs. Individual VM failover is not possible (unless it is the only VM in the replication group). Replicated vVols are put into a source group. Every source group has a respective target group on each replication target (fault domain). The source replication group will be associated to a FlashArray protection group on the source FlashArray. e.g. |
| Target Replication Group |
For every fault domain specified in a source replication group, there is a target replication group. Test failovers, failovers, and reprotects are executed against a target replication group. If there is a DR event, it is possible that only the target group is left. It is designed to withstand the failure of the source. The target replication group will be associated to a target protection group on the target FlashArray. e.g. |
With these terms covered, here is a visual representation of what these terms correlate to. In the illustration below there are three FlashArrays, with FlashArray-A replicating to FlashArray-B and FlashArray-C.
VMware's vSphere user guide covers vVols replication groups and fault domains in some additional detail. Please refer to that user guide if additional context is desired.