How to manage HP Smart Array Raid Controllers From VMWare ESXI

Prerequisites:

First you need the HPE SSACLI tool that is install as a VIB (vSphere Installable Bundle).

Downloadlink:

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/swd/detail?swItemId=MTX-ecd489e042ff4821b90abdd305#tab3

Installation:

Power off any virtual machines that are running on the host and place the host into maintenance mode.

Connect to the host via SSH (if you need help for this, see this post -> Link ).

# Activating Maintenance Mode
vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter

2. Transfer the component onto the ESXi host local path (if you need help for this, see this post again -> Link ).

3. Install the component on the ESXi host.

# Change directory
cd /vmfs/volumes
ls
# Enter the right datastore
cd /<datastore>/
ls

# Install HP SSACLI
 esxcli software component apply -d /vmfs/volumes/<datastore>/hpessacli-component_4.18.1.0-7.0.0-signed_component-15803178.zip

4. After the component is installed, reboot the ESXi host for the updates to take effect.

Raid Configuration

In this scenario, I will now configure a Raid 5 with a HotSpare hard disk.

The full user guide can be found here :

HPE Smart Storage Administrator User Guide

This are the most common used command:

# Show configuration
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl all show config

# Controller status
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl all show status

# Show detailed controller information for all controllers
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl all show detail

# Show detailed controller information for controller in slot 0
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 show detail

# Rescan for New Devices
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli rescan

# Physical disk status
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 pd all show status

# Show detailed physical disk information
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 pd all show detail

# Logical disk status
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 ld all show status

# View Detailed Logical Drive Status
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 ld 2 show

# Create New RAID 0 Logical Drive
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 create type=ld drives=1I:1:2 raid=0

# Create New RAID 1 Logical Drive
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 create type=ld drives=1I:1:1,1I:1:2 raid=1

# Create New RAID 5 Logical Drive
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 create type=ld drives=1I:1:1,1I:1:2,2I:1:6,2I:1:7,2I:1:8 raid=5

# Delete Logical Drive
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 ld 2 delete

# Add New Physical Drive to Logical Volume
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 ld 2 add drives=2I:1:6,2I:1:7

# Add Spare Disks
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 array all add spares=2I:1:6,2I:1:7

# Enable Drive Write Cache
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 modify dwc=enable

# Disable Drive Write Cache
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 modify dwc=disable

# Erase Physical Drive
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 pd 2I:1:6 modify erase

# Turn on Blink Physical Disk LED
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 ld 2 modify led=on

# Turn off Blink Physical Disk LED
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 ld 2 modify led=off

# Modify smart array cache read and write ratio (cacheratio=readratio/writeratio)
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 modify cacheratio=100/0

# Enable smart array write cache when no battery is present (No-Battery Write Cache option)
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 modify nbwc=enable

# Disable smart array cache for certain Logical Volume
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 logicaldrive 1 modify arrayaccelerator=disable

# Enable smart array cache for certain Logical Volume
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 logicaldrive 1 modify arrayaccelerator=enable

# Enable SSD Smart Path
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 array a modify ssdsmartpath=enable

# Disable SSD Smart Path
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 array a modify ssdsmartpath=disable

Here is the above anounced example:

# Create New RAID 5 Logical Drive
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 create type=ld drives=1I:1:1,1I:1:2,2I:1:6 raid=5

# Add Spare Disks
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl slot=0 array A add spares=2I:1:7

# Show configuration
/opt/smartstorageadmin/ssacli/bin/ssacli ctrl all show config