mac how to install ucs platform emulator

There is still quite a bit of configuration to do to get the simulator up and running, it’s not a plug and use VSA.

There isn’t any official support by NetApp and it works more on a community support model using NetApp’s community support forums.

There are however some limitations to the simulator: So, although the current status is the simulator is not available to all, hopefully this will change soon and this has saved me and you from a far longer rant! I fiercely believe opening up access to learning and training tools allows so many more people to learn about your technology in their own time and if they know about your technology they are more likely to buy! I was about to start a serious rant about this limited availability when surprisingly whilst writing this post Vaughn Stewart sent out a tweet that NetApp are in fact looking at the possibility of opening up access to the simulator for version 8.1 which is fantastic news. Unfortunately the simulator is only available to existing NetApp Customers and Advantage Partners and requires a login to the NetApp Support Site,

Nowadays there is a pre-built VMware virtual machine so you don’t have to install RedHat or SuSE beforehand. Things progressed over the years and you could use more Linux distros. There have been various versions of the simulator over the years which initially could be installed on a simple RedHat or SuSE Linux box using emulated disks and have the same look and feel as a real NetApp Filer (without the rack space requirement or electricity bill!). NetApp has also produced a Data ONTAP Simulator which in their words is a “A tool that gives you the experience of administering and using a NetApp storage system with all the features of Data ONTAP at your disposal.” This is hugely significant as it means if you know how to administer and configure the smallest FAS2000 Series Filers you are pretty much up to speed to administer and configure Filers up to their biggest and beefiest FAS6200 Series Filers so you don’t have to learn another management interface when you upgrade. One of the strengths of NetApp’s storage offering is that its controller operating system called Data ONTAP is the same across every NetApp Filer storage product they sell. UPDATE 7 September 2012: NetApp has released its Virtual Storage Appliance, Data ONTAP Edge which is a licensed functional VSA.

Mac how to install ucs platform emulator