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CiscoKid
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Reinstall ESX 3.0.1 - Existing VMFS partition

When I try to do a reinstall of the ESX3.0.1 and try to setup the partitions manually, I am noticing that the VMFS partition that was used shows a partition type of VMFS and not VMFS v3.21. Does the version matter in this case? Will it show up with the correct VMFS version once ESX 3.01 has fully loaded?

I don't want to harm any VM guests in the VMFS nor do I have the ability to vMotion them around as I have a stand-alone server.

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BenConrad
Expert
Expert

You should be fine, as long as you leave the "VMFS" partitions alone. I don't believe the partition tool (don't remember name) knows about specific versions of partitions so it just says VMFS.

You should see your partitions when you are done installing.

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CiscoKid
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

So as long as I reinstall leaving the VMFS partition alone and then let it boot into ESX, I should be okay then? Is the only way to verify the VMFS version in the VIC in the configuration under storage? Any CLI to verify VMFS partition version? I just want to make sure that when I walk away from this project that everything is going to be fine. Thanks.

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BenConrad
Expert
Expert

If you install VI3 and you have a v2 VMFS you will have the opportunity to upgrade to VMFS3 in the client. There may be some compatibility issues with running a v2 datastore on v3 OS, check the forums. The upgrade from VMFS2->3 is non-destructive.

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JonT
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

If you have console access to your VMFS partition you can check its version using this command:

vmkfstools -P (datastore name)

the "p" is capital. The output should look something like this:

\----


\[root@waprdbrvmwh01 volumes]# vmkfstools -P VMotion2

VMFS-3.21 file system spanning 1 partitions.

File system label (if any): VMotion2

Mode: public

Capacity 599953244160 (572160 file blocks * 1048576), 123554758656 (117831 blocks) avail

UUID: 447757e6-fc010bc8-685b-0017a44c563d

Partitions spanned:

vmhba1:0:12:1

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