EqualLogic MultiPathing Extension Module – Alternative Install

UPDATE: If you’re looking for step-by-step instructions to install the EqualLogic Multipathing Extension Module click HERE to go to my most recent post on the topic.  

UPDATE: Note that the ESXCLI command below  —depot has a double dash.

I recently ran into an issue where vSphere 5.1 Update Manager scans and detects the latest Dell EqualLogic Multipathing Extension Module 1.1.1 as Not Applicable for ESXi 5.1 and will not select the patch during a Remediate.  Below I show how to install this extension via the ESXCLI.

If you’re running a DELL EqualLogic SAN with ESX you should be running DELL’s Multipathing Extension Module (MEM).  MEM is a Path Selection Plugin (PSP) driver for ESX.  In fact no matter what SAN you have you should investigate if they have a PSP driver for ESX.

ESX have three built-in pathing options, (Most Recently Used, Round Robin, and Fixed).  By installing EqualLogic’s MEM you get a fourth option called DELL_PSP_EQL_ROUTED.  EqualLogic PS Series SANs can run Active / Active pathing.  By installing the MEM, ESX can be made aware of this and can load balance appropriately.  This can all lead to increase in bandwidth utilisation and lower network latency.

Since ESX4 I’ve been installing the EqualLogic MEM using VMware Update Manager through the vCenter C# client.  I’ve never had any issues right up until and including ESXi 5 Update1.  The process is quite simple.

1. Import the MEM as a patch.
2. Create a new Baseline with a Host Extension and add the MEM extension that was imported. (EqualLogic have different versions for each ESX version so be mindful).
3. Attach the baseline to the Host
4. Perform a Scan and Remediate the ESX host.
5. Reboot.

As mentioned in the beginning, Update Manager 5.1 saw the patch at Not Applicable.  I took this as an opportunity to try and install the patch through the ESXCLI.  To do this I used VMA.  If you’re not running or haven’t tried the VMware Management Assistant (VMA) it’s worth looking into.  It’s a nice convenient way to get CLI access to all your ESX hosts.

To install a PSP driver the host needs to be in Maintenance Mode.  So do this first or you’ll get a similar error to below.

Next transfer the EqualLogic Multipathing files to a location on the ESX host you want to install to.  In my case below I installed them to a folder on datastore1.

Back on the VMA use the ESXCLI and enter the following command, substituting the file location for your own, to install.

Esxcli —server=my_esx_host.domain software vib install —depot /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/EqualLogic-ESX-Multipathing-Module/dell-eql-mem-esx5-1.1.1.270268.zip

This is a kernel driver and a reboot is required for the PSP driver to successfully apply.  Once a reboot is performed the new PSP becomes the default selection.

Now selecting a datastore and selecting pathing you can see a new pathing option and it’s selected by default.  You will also see that all paths to the LUN are Active.

Appendix

Most recent step-by-step MEM installation article EqualLogic Multipathing Extension Module – Installing