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belanp
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Disk more than 2 TB

Hi all,

I have a san disk 4 TB for the user storage data.

I would like to connect a 4 TB disk storage on one of my virtual machine. Is it possible to connect a drive on a virtual server without create a datastore (datastore is limited to 2 TB)?

Thanks.

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AntonVZhbankov
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If have iSCSI SAN you can connect LUN with software initiator from inside the guest OS. If you have FC SAN and NPIV-capable HBA, you can connect LUN directly to VM.

Otherwise you have to split 4TB to 2 LUNs 2TB minus 512B each.


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gary1012
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You could split the LUNs and create extents. Here are some links the might be of interest:

http://pubs.vmware.com/vi3/serverconfig/wwhelp/wwhimpl/common/html/wwhelp.htm?context=serverconfig&f...

http://virtualgeek.typepad.com/virtual_geek/2009/03/vmfs-best-practices-and-counter-fud.html

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AntonVZhbankov
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If have iSCSI SAN you can connect LUN with software initiator from inside the guest OS. If you have FC SAN and NPIV-capable HBA, you can connect LUN directly to VM.

Otherwise you have to split 4TB to 2 LUNs 2TB minus 512B each.


---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

EMCCAe, HPE ASE, MCITP: SA+VA, VCP 3/4/5, VMware vExpert XO (14 stars)
VMUG Russia Leader
http://t.me/beerpanda
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TomHowarth
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As Anton states the only method to get a LUN larger that 2TB is to utilise either the iSCSI initiator in the OS or via a NPIV HBA, otherwise split the disk into two LUNs

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Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert

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Blog: www.planetvm.net

Contributing author for the upcoming book "[VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment|http://my.safaribooksonline.com/9780136083214]”. Currently available on roughcuts

Tom Howarth VCP / VCAP / vExpert
VMware Communities User Moderator
Blog: http://www.planetvm.net
Contributing author on VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment
Contributing author on VCP VMware Certified Professional on VSphere 4 Study Guide: Exam VCP-410