Deploying and Configuring the HPE 3PAR StoreServ Simulator

In this post, we will walk through the process of deploying and configuring the HPE 3PAR StoreServ simulator for testing purposes. The simulator provides a fully functional version of the 3PAR StoreServ storage array for virtualized environments, allowing for comprehensive testing of features and management functions.

Downloading the Simulator

The first step is to download the HPE 3PAR StoreServ Simulator from the HPE website. The simulator is available as a VMware OVA file, which can be imported into vSphere or other virtualization platforms.

Configuring the Networking

Once the simulator is imported into your virtualization platform, we need to configure the networking settings. We will assign an IPv4 address to the cluster and set up DNS servers for communication with the outside world.

Out of the Box (OOTB) Procedure

The OOTB procedure is only executed once from the cluster node configured with the “Node ID” of 0. To start the process, we log in to cluster node 0 using the username console and password crH72mkr. From the resulting menu, we select option 2) Out of the Box Procedure to start the procedure.

During the OOTB process, we will be asked to specify a location to set the proper time zone rules. We choose option 2) Americas, option 49) United States, and then option 1) Eastern (most areas), which results in a timezone value of TZ=‘America/New_York’. We then choose 1) Yes to confirm that the information is OK.

Configuring the Cluster

After completing the OOTB procedure, we will need to configure the cluster. This includes specifying a system name, configuring the network settings, and providing licensing information.

Verifying the InForm OS Version

The next step is to verify that the InForm OS version is correct. The simulator will display a list of the disk types and counts found, and we will enter C to continue the process.

Upgrading the Firmware

While the OOTB process tells us that some drives “will require firmware updates,” I confirmed that choosing to upgrade the firmware during the previous step does not change the outcome. We will enter C to continue.

Creating a New Admin Volume and SSL Certificates

The next step is to create a new admin volume and SSL certificates. The process will prompt us with the Subject and Fingerprint of the certificate, which we will confirm by entering C.

Providing the Cluster with a Management Cluster IP Address

We will provide an IPv4 address for the cluster, selecting option 1) IPv4 Address and entering a new IP address, subnet mask, and gateway for the cluster. When prompted, we enter auto for the interface speed and duplex.

Disabling Non-Encrypted Ports

Since we aren’t planning to use the Remote Copy feature, we will hit Enter to indicate “none” then Y when asked to confirm.

Sparing Chunklet Allocation

We will select D for the default setting regarding spare chunklet allocation.

Confirming the Licensed Features

The list of licensed features will be empty, so we will press Enter to continue.

CIM Management

For the next question regarding CIM Management, we enter Y. When prompted to confirm the license agreement, we will again enter Y. That’s the final step. The HPE 3PAR StoreServ Simulator is completely configured and ready for use.