Overview of the supported Linux environments

The Host Utilities support several Linux environments. These environments consist of different versions of the Linux operating system using protocols such as Fibre Channel (FC), FCoE, or iSCSI. Some environments also use Veritas Storage Foundation.

For details about the environments, including the supported operating system versions and Veritas Storage Foundation versions, see the Interoperability Matrix. The Linux Host Utilities documentation is available on the NetApp Support Site.

The following table summarizes key aspects of the main environments:

Linux Environment	Notes
Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Oracle Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server KVM and Xen, Citrix XenServer, Red Hat Enterprise Linux KVM, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, and Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Hypervisor	This environment works with features provided by the Linux operating system. Multipathing: DM-Multipath Volume management: Native Linux volume managers Protocols: FC, FCoE, and iSCSI ALUA (Asymmetric Logical Unit Access): For systems using clustered Data ONTAP, ALUA is supported with FC, FCoE, and iSCSI. For systems using Data ONTAP operating in 7-Mode, ALUA is supported with FC and FCoE only. Setup issues: If you are using HBAs, set them up before you install the Host Utilities. If you are using multipathing, set up DM-Multipath. (Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 update 2 or later) If you want to use space reclamation, you must use this version of the operating system. Configuration issues: If you are using a Hypervisor Virtual hard Disk (HVD), make sure the LUNs are properly aligned for best performance. Oracle Linux: This guide provides instructions and examples using Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. In most cases, Oracle Linux uses the same setup procedures as Red Hat Enterprise Linux. To simplify this guide, it uses "Red Hat" to refer to both systems using Red Hat Enterprise Linux and systems using Oracle Linux. If Oracle Linux requires a different procedure, that procedure is included. Note: Ensure that the kernel and dm-multipath versions are as per Interoperability Matrix Tool. If not, install the versions from Oracle ULN (Oracle Unbreakable Linux Network). Note: The examples in this documentation apply to current Linux distributions. If you have an earlier version of Linux, you must check the documentation for previous versions of the Linux Host Utilities. For example, if you use SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9, see the Linux Host Utilities Installation and Setup Guide for those instructions and examples.
Veritas Storage Foundation	This environment works with features provided by Veritas Storage Foundation Multipathing: Veritas Dynamic Multipathing (VxDMP) Linux operating systems: Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Oracle Linux, or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server Volume management: Veritas Volume Manager (VxVM) Protocols: Fibre Channel (FC) and, with certain versions of Veritas Storage Foundation, iSCSI ALUA: Supported with Veritas 5.1 and FC Setup issues: Set up the HBAs before you install the Host Utilities. If you have Veritas Storage Foundation 5.0 or earlier, you must install the NetApp Array Support Library (ASL) and the Array Policy Module (APM).

Linux Environment

Notes

Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Oracle Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server KVM and Xen, Citrix XenServer, Red Hat Enterprise Linux KVM, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, and Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Hypervisor

This environment works with features provided by the Linux operating system.
Multipathing: DM-Multipath
Volume management: Native Linux volume managers
Protocols: FC, FCoE, and iSCSI
ALUA (Asymmetric Logical Unit Access): For systems using clustered Data ONTAP, ALUA is supported with FC, FCoE, and iSCSI. For systems using Data ONTAP operating in 7-Mode, ALUA is supported with FC and FCoE only.
Setup issues:
- If you are using HBAs, set them up before you install the Host Utilities.
- If you are using multipathing, set up DM-Multipath.
- (Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 update 2 or later) If you want to use space reclamation, you must use this version of the operating system.
Configuration issues:
- If you are using a Hypervisor Virtual hard Disk (HVD), make sure the LUNs are properly aligned for best performance.

Oracle Linux:

This guide provides instructions and examples using Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. In most cases, Oracle Linux uses the same setup procedures as Red Hat Enterprise Linux. To simplify this guide, it uses "Red Hat" to refer to both systems using Red Hat Enterprise Linux and systems using Oracle Linux. If Oracle Linux requires a different procedure, that procedure is included.

Note: Ensure that the kernel and dm-multipath versions are as per Interoperability Matrix Tool. If not, install the versions from Oracle ULN (Oracle Unbreakable Linux Network).

Note: The examples in this documentation apply to current Linux distributions. If you have an earlier version of Linux, you must check the documentation for previous versions of the Linux Host Utilities. For example, if you use SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9, see the Linux Host Utilities Installation and Setup Guide for those instructions and examples.

Veritas Storage Foundation

This environment works with features provided by Veritas Storage Foundation
Multipathing: Veritas Dynamic Multipathing (VxDMP)
Linux operating systems: Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Oracle Linux, or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
Volume management: Veritas Volume Manager (VxVM)
Protocols: Fibre Channel (FC) and, with certain versions of Veritas Storage Foundation, iSCSI
ALUA: Supported with Veritas 5.1 and FC
Setup issues:
- Set up the HBAs before you install the Host Utilities.
- If you have Veritas Storage Foundation 5.0 or earlier, you must install the NetApp Array Support Library (ASL) and the Array Policy Module (APM).