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VMware vStorage APIs for Array Integration (VAAI) offloads certain storage tasks from the ESXi host to the storage array.

When VAAI is disabled, operations like quick formatting can take significantly longer because the tasks are handled by the host instead of being offloaded to the array.

Quick formatting involves writing zeroes to the entire LUN, and without VAAI, this process is much slower.

Enabling VAAI allows the XtremIO array to handle these operations more efficiently, reducing the time required for tasks like formatting.

References:

Dell XtremIO VMware Integration Guide

VMware VAAI Best Practices with XtremIO