How to use the RDM disk to create the VM and install the OS

[zhangfred_vm]

HI experts,

How to use the RDM disk to create the VM and install the OS?

thanks.

[atbnet]

Create your LUN on your SAN as per your usual process. Then...

The VM that the RDM is going to be added to needs to be shut down.

Once the VM is shutdown right click the VM and choose "Edit settings".

On the hardware tab, click "Add" and choose "Hard Disk".

For the disk type choose "Raw Device Mapping" (RDM).

Choose the LUN.

Store with virtual machine.

Physical compatability.

Virtual Device Node choose a new SCSI bus to the currecnt virtual disks (e.g. SCSI 1:0).

Confirm settings and choose finish. A new SCSI controller can hard disk is added. Now boot your VM.

Andy, VCP,

[atbnet]

PS. You will need to rescan your HBA adaptors after creating the LUN.

Andy, VCP,

[Karunakar]

Hi

For this please follow the general way to create the VM on ESX.

While creating the VM, try to select the custom mode, then follow the instructions.

Then while selecting the Disk, try to select the option RDM.

Then continue the with the wizard. You can install the os, as usuall while you do on other VM's.

RDM is a unformatted lun assgined or presented to ESX, this should not be formatted and seen in storage area of ESX.

-Karunakar

[max2479]

Karunakar,

I think you are correct. The LUN have to be unformatted and they are. I have not presented the LUN to any ESX server So I have done this on the first VM:

1. shutdown the VM1.

2. Added RDM, (i can see the LUN OK)

3. Store with Virtual Machine

4. Virtual

5. SCSI (1:2)

VM2

1. shutdown vm

2. add disk. I do not see the same mapping that I have added to the first VM

[AdamFleischmann]

have you deleted the virtual-hdd wich contained the rdm hdd?

if not, the rdm is not presented again.

to add the rdm-hdd to another vm, add a virtual hdd an then select "existing hdd"

point to the virtual-rdm container

add this

and now you have the rdm-hdd connected to the 2nd vm

[max2479]

Adam,

I am not familiar with this process. would you provide more details?

If I select use existing disk it only allows to select the disks that are within the LUNs that were presented to the ESX. RDM is not.

A little lost here.

Thanks in advance

[srinathhs]

Hi how do i create a vm with RDM in vmware cli? is there any script which can do this?

[bobross]

Hmmm. We don't have to perform any of that, actually, to get an RDM up and running. We just select the VM we want, click on 'Create VM volume', choose a size, click 'RDM' and click 'Finish'. We can choose a different SCSI bus, that's an option too. The RDM is ready in less than 15 seconds, from the SAN layer all the way to the VM. The rescan is automatic.

[srinathhs]

Hi i have a specific requirement that the automation has to be done via cli or some api calls , since we do not have vmare lab manager or vsphere. We are planning to have our own custom automation and deployment applicaiton. Any help is greatly appreciated. also i need to clone at the NAS layer rather than in vmware layer.

[taou]

i have the similar problem, y have to create or presente 2 virtual disk or LUN in yr storage, the second steps is two add 2 virtual disks in yr VM (setting, add disk, raw device choose the right LUN... note y have to scan the storage adapter but not to add a storage= storage tab add -raw ... it is wrong),