This document summarizes the support status, roadmap and offerings of SAP HANA on VMware vSphere.
New! SAP Support for SAP HANA Scale-Out Configurations.
For details please see SAP Notes 1788665 - "SAP HANA Support for virtualized / partitioned (multi-tenant) environments".
VCE and VMware recently performed a virtualized SAP HANA BW-EML benchmark with a 3,000,000,000 records SAP HANA Scale-Out database, Number: 2015016. The benchmark demonstrates that SAP HANA can achieve robust application performance in virtualized environments, as well as provide customers with additional options to help lower datacenter TCO.
Compared to a similar natively running benchmark with a result of 128,650 DS/hr., the virtual result with 124,570 DS/hr. was only 3.2% less than native!
The benchmark was performed on Intel Westmere based server systems to allow a direct comparison between natively running systems with virtualized SAP HANA systems. At the time this benchmark got performed, the only public available 3 billion record Scale-Out SAP HANA BW-EML benchmark with 4 SAP HANA Scale-Out hosts was benchmark number 2013037, which got selected for this comparison. Focus of this benchmark was to gain SAP support for SAP HANA Scale-Out configurations on vSphere by proofing that a virtualized SAP HANA Scale-Out system meets the requirements SAP has defined for virtual SAP HANA systems.
Source:
Native benchmark: http://global.sap.com/solutions/benchmark/pdf/Cert13037.pdf
Virtual benchmark: http://global.sap.com/solutions/benchmark/pdf/Cert15016.pdf
SAP HANA Storage Connector API Validated Vendors:
Protecting a VMware virtualized SAP HANA system with VMware HA provides already very high system availability. Customers that want to use the Host Auto-Failover solution to failover to a Standby VM can do this with selected storage vendors that have validated their SAP HANA Storage Connector implementation in a vSphere virtualized environment.
Virtualizing SAP HANA with VMware vSphere does not limit the customers freedom of choice how they want to protect their SAP HANA environment and works currently with some storage HW vendors to validate their SAP HANA Standby VM solution in vSphere environments.
Validated vendors that have tested their SAP HANA Standby VM solution in vSphere environments will get listed in this table:
| Vendor | FC based Storage | NFS based Storage |
|---|---|---|
| EMC | Avilable for CA customers. Please get in contact with the EMC SAP CC for details and availability. Solution available for all SAP HANA certified EMC Arrays (VMAX2/3, VNX2, XtremIO, VPLEX, ScaleIO). LUNs can get provisioned to HANA VMs as RDMs or VMDKs. | working on validation |
| NetApp | - | working on validation |
SAP HANA Support Summary as of May 2015
- General supportfor SAP HANA on VMware vSphere 5.1 in non-production
- General supportfor single SAP HANA VMs on VMware vSphere 5.5 in production and non-production
- Controlled Availabilityfor multi-VM and BW on HANA scale-out scenarios on VMware vSphere 5.5 in production
On Roadmap:
- Support of larger VMs (4 TB) and 8-socket hardware with VMware vSphere 6
- Support for Multi-VM and Scale-Outin GA
Remark: This table is a summary of SAP note 1788665. Please check out this note for the latest, official support status, the table below may be outdated.
| Capability | Supported in Production | Supported in Test/Dev |
|---|---|---|
| HANA Scale-Up and Out 1TB of Memory | Yes | Yes |
| vCloud Suite / vSphere version | 5.5 | 5.1 and 5.5 |
| SAP HANA version | SP 07 and above | SP 05 and above |
| vSphere vMotion | Yes | Yes |
| VMware HA | Yes | Yes |
| VMware DRS | Yes | Yes |
| Server Hardware | Server Hardware of Certified Appliances (BOM) | Server Hardware of Certified Appliances (BOM) |
| Storage | Internal storage of Certified Appliances or TDI certifed shared storage | Internal storage of Certified Appliances or TDI certifed shared storage |
Multiple-VM single host | Yes (CA) | Yes |
| Scale Out Configuration | Yes (CA) | Yes |
| Multiple VM on Scale Out | Yes (CA) | Yes |
| CPU Sockets per server | up to 4 | up to 8 |
| RAM installed in server | up to 4 TB | up to 4 TB |
SAP HANA Relevant vSphere Maximums*
| VMware vSphere ESX | 4.1 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual CPUs Per VM | 8 | 32 | 64 | |
| RAM Per VM | 256 GB | 1 TB | ||
| Logical Cores Per ESX Host | 320 | |||
| RAM Per ESX Host | 1 TB | 2 TB | 4 TB | |
| Virtual Disk Size (VMDK) | 2 TB | 62 TB | ||
| Virtual Disks Per VM | 60 | |||
*vSphere 6 yet not supported
SAP HANA on vSphere Best Practices Overview
SAP HANA on vSphere – It just Runs!
For the most part SAP HANA follows general published vSphere Best Practices for databases:
- Set Memory Reservations for SAP HANA Virtual Machines
- Configuring Paravirtual SCSI Controllers and Network Adapters
- Right sizing of HANA VMs to ensure local NUMA node memory access and high 2nd level cache hit ratios
- No NUMA node sharing for production SAP HANA VMs
- Enable Hyper Threading on the ESXi host
- Use dedicated networks for vMotion, management and client network
- Use vMotion and VMware snapshots during non peak times
SAP HANA on vSphere Best Practices Guide and more:
- www.vmware/go/sap-hana
- http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/SAP_HANA_on_vmware_vSphere_best_practices_guide.pdf
- Best Practices and Recommendations for Scale-Out Deployments of SAP HANA on VMware vSphere, document not on VMW web page yet, but available on request.
Summary: SAP HANA Scale-Up SoH Workloads physical HANA” vs. virtual HANA as of May 2015
| Capability | Physical SAP HANA | Virtual SAP HANA |
|---|---|---|
| HANA Scale Up SoH Memory* | max. <= 12 TB RAM (16 Socket) | max. ≤ 1 TB RAM (vSphere 6.0** ≤ 4 TB) |
| Appliance Model | Yes | Not required*** |
| Server Hardware | Server Hardware of Certified Appliances (BOM) | Server Hardware of Certified Appliances (BOM) as part of the TDI program |
| Storage | Certified Appliances or TDI | Internal storage of Certified Appliances or TDI certifed shared storage |
| CPU Sockets per server | Up to 16 | Up to 4 (8 on roadmap) |
| Flexible HANA sizing's | No, T-Shirt sizing's | Yes |
| HANA DB Live Migration | No, not possible | Yes |
| HA / DT | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
| Multi-Tenant | Yes, with SPS09 | Yes |
| Multi-VM | No | Yes, in CA |
*Maximal addressable memory of a physciclal server system or VM for HANA. ** vSphere 6 support on roadmap ***Some SAP HANA HW vendors offer VMware vSphere as part of their SAP HANA appliance system. This is not required and optional. The customer can choose between a pre-installed appliance or the certified server configuration and may perform the installation of vSphere on its own.
Summary: SAP HANA BWoH workloads physical HANA” vs. virtual HANA as of May 2015
| Capability | Physical SAP HANA | Virtual SAP HANA |
|---|---|---|
| HANA Scale Up BWoH Memory* per system | 256 GB - 3 TB RAM | max. ≤ 1 TB RAM (vSphere 6.0** ≤ 4 TB) |
| HANA Scale Out BWoH Memory* per system | 256 GB - 3 TB RAM | max. ≤ 1 TB RAM (vSphere 6.0* ≤ 4 TB) |
| Appliance Model | Yes | Not required*** |
| Server Hardware | Certified Appliances | Server Hardware of Certified Appliances (BOM) |
| Storage | Certified Appliances or TDI | Internal storage of Certified Appliances or TDI certifed shared storage |
| CPU Sockets per server | 2 to 8 CPU sockets | 2 to 4 sockets (8 on roadmap) |
| Flexible HANA sizing's | No, T-Shirt sizing's | Yes |
| HANA DB Live Migration | No, not possible | Yes |
| HA / DT | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
| Multi-Tenant | Yes, with SPS09 | Yes |
| Multi-VM | No | Yes, in CA |
*Maximal addressable memory of a physciclal server system or VM for HANA. ** vSphere 6 support on roadmap ***Some SAP HANA HW vendors offer VMware vSphere as part of their SAP HANA appliance system. This is not required and optional. The customer can choose between a pre-installed appliance or the certified server configuration and may perform the installation of vSphere on its own.
SAP HANA on VMware: Controlled Availability for Multi HANA VM and Scale-Out Configurations
Straight Forward Application Process
Customers interested in running multiple SAP HANA VMs and Scale-Out on VMware vSphere 5.5 in production can apply for Controlled Availability of SAP HANA production support by sending an email to: sap_hana_tailored_data_center_integration@sap.com
This email should contain:
- High-level scenario description and timeline (e.g. planned Go-live date)
- Expected database size (compressed HANA DB size, number of users)
- Hardware spec (HW vendor, server t-shirt size)
- Planned HA/DR setup (if applicable)
- Contact details for further communication
All information given will be kept confidential and is only being used during the selection process. Once accepted, customer will get access to restricted SAP Note, officially stating SAP HANA support for the presented scenario.
VMware supports this PoC with onsite and online services. Please check with your local VMware representative and or SAP contact to discuss SAP HANA on vSphere PoC support.
VMware SAP HANA PoC System Health Check
VMware offers for accepted EMEA based PoC candidates, which want to start a SAP HANA PoC, a free SAP HANA PoC System Health Check.
This offering is limited to SAP HANA on vSphere configurations that are currently not in GA status, like Multiple SAP HANA VMs on a single ESX Host or the up-coming SAP HANA on Scale-Out Controlled Availability program and includes following services.
- Pre-Call to discuss the PoC, goals, timeline and success factors (SAP, HW Partner, Customer and VMware)
- Architecture review and introduction to the SAP HANA on vSphere Configuration Guidelines and Requirements
- Introduction to SAP HANA Hardware Check Configuration Utility and its KPIs
- 90 Min online review session to check following (after customer has prepared the environment) components:
- Host including storage and network configuration
- VM configuration
- Linux OS configuration
- After successful review the customer can proceed with the HANA installation
- PoC calls and meetings as needed to discuss status
- Final review of PoC and planning of next steps
For details and availability of this service in your region please get in contact with your local VMware contact.
Beside this, SAP and VMware are offering joint services to help you design, deploy, and implement your virtual SAP HANA platform.
For more information on SAP Consulting and VMware Professional Services, visit vmware.com/consulting