Adding an existing datastore to an ESXi 5 host without formatting the entire disk/lun/volume

[rasingh01]

Hello,

I am trying to add existing datastores (iSCSI SAN) to an ESXi 5 host that i just updated. I am able to see the datastores under Storage adapters as being mounted in operational state. However when i go to storage, i don't see the datastores and when try to add them as a Disk/LUN, i get a warning saying "This configuration will delete the current disk layout. All File systems and data will be permanently lost". I'm afraid that if i proceed further, i may end up formatting the entire datastore, don't want to do this obviously as these datastores are being used by other hosts and have in use VM's on them.

Anyone facing this same issue or having a solution to his? any help is highly appreciated

I did find and article on vmware KB regarding this VMware KB: Recovering a lost partition table on a VMFS volume

However, i will not proceed with the suggested solution until i have backed up all the vm files on the datastore on another disk (which is a long procedure) and the solution according to the KB applies to ESX 4.x and below.

[admin]

Hi,

If your trying to add an existing data store and its not showing up means two situations.,

1. Its getting detected as a snapshot LUN, To resolve this

when you re-scan the storage adapters does the device show with correct size if so check this KB : VMware KB: vSphere handling of LUNs detected as snapshot LUNs

2, its not presented correctly to the host.

Thanks,
Avinash

[rasingh01]

I tried following the steps in the KB link you provided, it does not apply in my case as the LUN's presented to me do not have VMFS Label when i try to add storage and the resolution steps indicate that i should add only LUN's with a vmfs label

Should i not get an error of some kind if the storage is not presented correctly to the host, if i do get some error then i can probably try to follow the steps to resolve those errors

the other hosts see the storage exactly the same way as this host to which i'm adding the storage sees them. Just that when i try to add the LUN i get the error about the disk getting formatted

if nothing works, then i will have to move all the vm's off to another datastore and reformat this datastore to add it. Long and tedious procedure!

Thanks

[john23]

Any information from vmkernel logs, for this particular lun....

[admin]

I have seen situations where it have lost partition information only specific Hosts.

Alright then, could you run this command and see if there an output.?

partedUtil getptbl "/vmfs/devices/disks/DeviceName

Thanks,

Avinash

[rasingh01]

yup this is the o/p i got

~ # partedUtil getptbl "/vmfs/devices/disks/naa.6d4ae5200075ccb50000061950221ef7"

gpt

254853 255 63 4094217420

1 2048 4094216191 AA31E02A400F11DB9590000C2911D1B8 vmfs 0

[rasingh01]

is there any specific log entry that i should be looking for, there are a ton of logs

i did do a search for the specific LUN identifier (naa.6d4ae5200075ccb50000061950221ef7) in question in the logs and found these entries

QErr is correctly set to 0x0 for device naa.6d4ae5200075ccb50000061950221ef7

Could not detect setting of sitpua for device naa.6d4ae5200075ccb50000061950221ef7. Error failure

Successfully registered device "naa.6d4ae5200075ccb50000061950221ef7" from plugin "NMP" of type 0

any suggestions ?

Thank you

[rasingh01]

issue resolved now

rebooted the host with the issue (although had rebooted it earlier with no resolution) and it seems to see the datastores now without me configuring anything. Very weird, learnt nothing about the issue. Very disappointed!!

[asimfareed17]

How's resolved your issue..?
i have same problem faced can you tell me the procedure please....@rasingh01rasingh01

[asimfareed17]

i got the solution.. 🙂

The volume we trying to attach is a NTFS partition.
Remove Hard drive from your server and attach externally your laptop and delete the volume that create in this hard, Now you can add feel free this hard on your ESXI storage.

Pleasure.... 🙂