Configure & Install VRA Dialog
The Configure and Install VRA dialog is displayed. The dialog displayed depends on the ESX/i version:
| |
ESXi versions from 5.5 | ESXi versions before version 5.5 |
Host – The host on which the VRA is installed. The drop-down menu displays the hosts managed by the hypervisor management center that do not have a VRA installed, with the selected host displayed by default.
From ESXi 5.5, by default, Zerto Virtual Manager uses a vSphere Installation Bundle, VIB, to connect to the host. When using VIB:
■ The user does not enter a password.
■ Once a day, Zerto Virtual Manager checks that the VRA and host can connect. If the connection fails, Zerto Virtual Manager re-initiates the connection automatically and logs it.
For ESX/i versions earlier than 5.5, when using a password, root access is required. Once a day, Zerto Virtual Manager checks that the password is valid. If the password was changed, an alert is issued, requesting the user enter the new password.
Use credentials to connect to host – When unchecked, the Zerto Virtual Manager uses VIB to connect to the host. This field is only relevant for ESXi 5.5 and later.
Host Root Password – When the VRA should connect to the host with a password, check Use credential to connect to host and enter the root user password used to access the host. When the box on the right side is checked, the password is displayed in plain text.This field is only relevant for ESXi 4.x and 5.x hosts. This field is disabled for ESX 4.x hosts.
Datastore – The datastore that the VRA will use for mirror virtual machines and for its journal. You can install more than one VRA on the same datastore.
Network – The network used to access the VRA.
VRA RAM – The amount of memory to allocate to the VRA. The amount determines the maximum buffer size for the VRA for buffering IOs written by the protected virtual machines, before the writes are sent over the network to the recovery VRA. The recovery VRA also buffers the incoming IOs until they are written to the journal
Amount of VRA RAM | VRA Buffer Pool Size |
1GB | 450MB |
2GB | 1450MB |
3GB | 2300MB |
3GB | 2300MB |
4GB | 3,300MB |
5GB | 4,300MB |
6GB | 5,300MB |
7GB | 6,300MB |
8GB | 7,300MB |
9GB | 8,300MB |
10GB | 9,300MB |
11GB | 10,300MB |
12GB | 11,300MB |
13GB | 12,300MB |
14GB | 13,300MB |
15GB | 14,300MB |
16GB | 15,300MB |
The protecting VRA can use 90% of the buffer for IOs to send over the network and the recovery VRA can use 75% of the buffer. That is, for example, a protecting VRA defined with 2GB of RAM can buffer approximately 1305MB before the buffer is full and a Bitmap Sync is required.
VRA Group – Choose the VRA Group from the dropdown list. If you want to create a new VRA group, type in the name of the new group and click CREATE. You can then choose the new group from the dropdown list.
Specify the following VRA Network Details:
Configuration – Either have the IP address allocated via a static IP address or a DHCP server. If you select the Static option, which is the recommended option, enter the following:
Address – The IP address for the VRA.
Subnet Mask – The subnet mask for the network. The default value is 255.255.255.0.
Default Gateway – The default gateway for the network.
