Creating a virtual file server on ESXi. Will 2TB limit be a problem?

[4Ransom]

Hello,

I am planning to virtualize a couple of my servers, but have some

questions regarding the 2TB size limit for volumes on ESXi. I guess let

me tell you what I want to do and would appreciate it if you can tell me

if it's possible or not, and if so, what's the best way to implement.

I'm new to VM's so bear with me if I am not using the terminology

properly.

I would like to virtualize my file server. Right now it's a physical

server that connects to an iSCSI SAN (Dell PowerVault MD3000i), and the

LUN assigned to it is about 5TBs. To be more specific, the server has an

F: drive, which is a 5TB volume on the SAN. This drive has a share on

it which acts as our main file server.

I'm wondering if I create a VM on an ESXi server, can I attach this same

5TB volume to this VM in the same way I as it's connected to physical

box (so the VM will have the same F: drive, which is actually the 5TB

LUN on the SAN)? This new VM would be replacing the old physical box, so

they would not both be connected at the same time, in case that

matters. I know there is that 2TB limit, but is that just for

datastores? Meaning, I don't need any of the actual virtual files on

this volume, they will be on local storage, I just want the VM itself to

have this volume mounted as a drive inside the OS, so it acts like a

file server (hopefully I am explaining this right). Is this possible, or

do I still run into the 2TB limit in this case?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Josh

[sbeaver]

Yes you are on the right track and I would recommend that you just present the LUN as is to the VM and have it presented the same way as the physical

Steve Beaver

VMware Communities User Moderator

VMware vExpert 2009

====

Co-Author of "VMware ESX Essentials in the Virtual Data Center"

(ISBN:1420070274) from Auerbach

Come check out my blog: www.beaverdam.net/blog

Come follow me on twitter http://www.twitter.com/sbeaver

*Virtualization is a journey, not a project.*

[4Ransom]

Yes you are on the right track and I would recommend that you just present the LUN as is to the VM and have it presented the same way as the physical

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Right, this is what I want to do, but I just want to make sure that it's possible. I guess what I'm really asking is will the 2TB volume limit make this impossible, or does that limit only apply to datastores that ESXi is writing to directly?

[sbeaver · Accepted solution]

The 2TB limit is referencing the VMFS partitions itself. What you want to do is possible and the way to go

[4Ransom]

thank you.