Mounting SQL VM to LUN outside VMFS

[Sealice]

Hello All,

We have a VM that is running SQL server 2k5. We are running an app that was trialware but we now want to take live for our environment. The DB associated with this software is located on another VM disk (drive E) that is constantly running out of space...(bad build out by unamed IT memeber). I want to use this VM and move the DB to LUN space outside of our VMFS (so we can use that space for other VMs) similar to a brick server implementation of sql or exchange perhaps. The way I see it is we are currently running SQL with a local install rather than a shared storage or cluster install. Should I just carve out another LUN the size we want to make the drive for SQL, format it with VMFS, then create/move the VM to that vmfs and let it ride there? Or should I just expand the disk and stop being a baby about it?

Any thoughts?

Seeeealiiiice

[virtualdud3]

If I understand your question properly, I would go ahead and move the VM to shared storage. You did not mention whether or not you are running VMotion, etc. but given that (as a general rule) SQL servers can be rather disk-intensive it certainly couldn't hurt to have the VM on shared storage, on a dedicated LUN.

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[Sealice]

Yes we are running vmotion within our setup.

We have everything already on shared storage...our entire VMFS is on an 800 GB lun but I was thinking about carving another LUN that would only house that VM that houses the DB of subject.

Thanks

[BenConrad · Accepted solution]

Some options are:

- Create new VMFS for SQL data and add a new virtual disk to the VM. Wait about 60 seconds and then rescan the disk from computer management. You should be able to format and use this new disk. Detach SQL DB, robocopy dbfiles /SEC from source to dest volume. One more option is to move all data on your original SQL drive to the new drive and then on the new drive give the original drive letter. SQL won't ever know the difference.

- Take the VM down and expand the vDisk with vmfstools -X, If you SQL data drive is the last partition on the vDisk you will be able to extend the partition in windows with 'diskpart'

Ben