Using VAAI to boost storage performance

Various storage functions, such as cloning and snapshots, are performed more efficiently by the storage array (target) than by a host (initiator). In a virtualized environment, since virtual disks are files on VMFS and disk arrays cannot interpret the VMFS on-disk data layout; you cannot leverage hardware functions on a per-VM or per-virtual disk (file) basis.

The vStorage APIs for Array Integration (VAAI) are a set of new protocol interfaces between ESXi and storage arrays, and new application programming interfaces in the VMkernel. Using a small set of primitives (fundamental operations) that can be issued to the array using these interfaces, ESXi is able to improve its offering of storage services.

The ...

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