[JDSS] NFS VAAI plugin for VMware

NFS VAAI plugin for VMware 

VMware vSphere Storage APIs – Array Integration (VAAI) is a set of APIs that offload specific storage-related operations from the ESXi host to the storage array, thereby enhancing performance and efficiency. By letting the storage array handle intensive tasks (like cloning or snapshot creation), you reduce resource usage on the ESXi host and improve overall storage operations.

The plugin is available for version up32 onward.
 

1.1. Download the plugin

Download the plugin attached in the article.

1.2. Install the plugin for VAAI

Acceptance Level and No Signature Check

If you don't need VMware certification when you install your VIB on an ESXi host, you can set the host's acceptance level to Community Supported. To check the acceptance level, run the command below:
 

esxcli software acceptance get
PartnerSupported

In this case it is supported by a partner. To lower the ESXi host's acceptance level to Community Supported, run the command below:

esxcli software acceptance set --level=CommunitySupported
CommunitySupported

Changing the ESXi host’s acceptance level to Community Supported should be done only for testing.
Never do so in a production environment, because it reduces security and supportability of your software by VMware and partner support organizations
 

Now you can install the vib plugin without a valid signature using option --no-sig-check. 

esxcli software vib install -v /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/dss-ESX-JovianDSS_NFS_Plugin.vib --no-sig-check

Installation Result
   Message: Operation finished successfully.
   VIBs Installed: Open-E_bootbank_JovianDSS_NFS_Plugin_2.0-1
   VIBs Removed: 
   VIBs Skipped: 
   Reboot Required: false
   DPU Results: 

1.3. Checking if the plugin is installed

esxcli software vib list
Name                           Version                               Vendor  Acceptance Level  Install Date  Platforms
-----------------------------  ------------------------------------  ------  ----------------  ------------  ---------
JovianDSS_NFS_Plugin     2.0-1                            Open-E  VMwareAccepted    2024-02-02    host

1.4. To remove the plugin

Set ESXi to Maintenance Mode and stop vaai-nasd daemon:

/etc/init.d/vaai-nasd stop

Remove plugin using the command below:

esxcli software vib remove --vibname=JovianDSS_NFS_Plugin

After removing the VAAI plugin, reboot the ESXi host. Once the  host has been rebooted, exit Maintenance Mode in ESXi. Check if the VAAI plugin has been properly removed:

esxcli software vib list

1.5. Update plugin for VAAI

Set ESXi to Maintenance Mode, stop vaai-nasd daemon and remove the plugin.

After removing VAAI plugin, reboot the ESXI server then check if the VAAI plugin has been properly removed:

esxcli software vib list

To install a new version of the plugin:

Exit Maintenance Mode in ESXi and install the plugin. Once the plugin has been installed, set ESXi to Maintenance Mode and reboot. After the reboot, exit Maintenance Mode in ESXi.
 

1.6. To check if NFS datastore supports VAAI hardware acceleration

esxcli storage nfs list

1.7. To enable/disable NFS VAAI

Select Storage Settings in the left hand menu and in the NFS section check the 'Enable NFS VAAI support' option and click Apply: