Today I created some new NFS volumes at a NetApp FAS2040, after I configured the datastores in vSphere I couldn’t write files and folders, warning message:
Call "FileManager.MakeDirectory" for object "FileManager" on vCenter Server "server.domain.local" failed.
Solution:
I forgot (stupid me) to configure the correct access rights, in the NetApp OnCommand System Manager:
Storage > Exports > select Export Path > add the correct rights + IP addresses for the configured VMware VMkernels:

I added the IP-addresses from the VMkernel ports with Root Access and I was able to create new files to the datastores.
Sander Daems is founder and author of this blog and working as a Lead (Sr.) Consultant by UNICA ICT Solutions. Sander has over 15 years experience in IT, primary focus: virtualization and modern worksplace.
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The settings that NetApp recommends (across all ESX hosts) are:
– NFS.HeartbeatFrequency(NFS.HeartbeatDelta in vSphere) = 12
– NFS.HeartbeatTimeout = 5 (default)
– NFS.HeartbeatMaxFailures = 10
When the number of NFS datastores are increased, we also recommend increasing the heap values:
– Net.TcpipHeapSize =>’30’ to Net.TcpipHeapMax => ‘120’
To automate this configuration I’ve wrote a PowerCLI script:
#====================================================================#
# SCRIPT: Configure_Advanced_NFS_parameters.ps1 #
# FUNCTION: Configure NFS / NetApp best practice #
# OWNER: Sander Daems #
# VENDOR: NetApp / FAS2040 #
# VSPHERE: 5.0 Update 1 build 623860 #
# CREATED: 07/01/2013 #
# MODIFIED: 20/03/2013 #
# VERSION: v.1.1 #
#====================================================================#
# CHANGELOG: #
# #
# v.1.0 #
# - Created script; #
# #
#====================================================================#
# HOST - Specify host and connect #
#====================================================================#
$ESXiHost = Read-Host "Enter ESXi Host name or IP"
Connect-VIServer $ESXiHost
#====================================================================#
# ADVANCED - Update TCP Settings #
#====================================================================#
Set-VMHostAdvancedConfiguration -VMHost $ESXiHost -Name Net.TcpipHeapSize -Value 32
Set-VMHostAdvancedConfiguration -VMHost $ESXiHost -Name Net.TcpipHeapMax -Value 128
#====================================================================#
# ADVANCED - Update NFS Settings #
#====================================================================#
Set-VMHostAdvancedConfiguration -VMHost $ESXiHost -Name NFS.MaxVolumes -Value 256
Set-VMHostAdvancedConfiguration -VMHost $ESXiHost -Name NFS.HeartbeatMaxFailures -Value 10
Set-VMHostAdvancedConfiguration -VMHost $ESXiHost -Name NFS.HeartbeatFrequency -Value 12
Set-VMHostAdvancedConfiguration -VMHost $ESXiHost -Name NFS.HeartbeatTimeout -Value 5
#====================================================================#
# SCRIPT FINISHED #
#====================================================================#
Write-Host "Script finished..." -foregroundcolor yellow
#====================================================================#
More information / source: NetApp Whitepaper
More information / source: VMware KB , VMware KB, VMware KB
Sander Daems is founder and author of this blog and working as a Lead (Sr.) Consultant by UNICA ICT Solutions. Sander has over 15 years experience in IT, primary focus: virtualization and modern worksplace.
More Posts - Website
Follow Me:


Categories: VMware Tags: Advanced Parameters, Datastore, FAS2040, HeapSize, Heartbeat, NetApp, NFS, PowerCLI, TCP, VMware, vSphere 5
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