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CJFBMF
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ESXi Install Why Auto Datastore Creation?

Brand new ESXi 7 first ever install on Mirrored 250GB SSD drive.  ESXi installed successfully and I can use web portal to login.  Connecting with my Microsoft DNS and Active Directory just fine.  How to install ESXi without the default datastore?  I tried using the Boot Option systemMediaSize=max during boot up by pressing Shift+O within 5 seconds to edit the boot options but this did not work?  I dont need the datastore the ESXi creates as default is there no way to install ESXi with NO datastore I want that partition's space for my OSData partition???  I have a 64TB storage device I am going to use for vCenter and all my VM's. 

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christianZ
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...and here even more:

https://core.vmware.com/resource/esxi-system-storage-changes#section1

It seems, if your boot disk is greater than 128G, then the vmfs datastore will be created atomatically.

 

Reg

Christian Z.

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CJFBMF
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Christian - Agreed.  Thanks for the excellent information.  Since my boot drive is 250GB the only way to install without the datastore is using the systemMediaSize=max boot command. If the boot drive is less than 128GB then yes, no default datastore.  As the documentation indicates any boot drive larger than 128GB is going to get a default datastore unless you use the systemMediaSize command set to the max variable.  Thanks everyone for the help! See the attachment for my hard drive using the above scenerio.

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christianZ
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Hi,

 

normally doing this be settings in  the raid controller, configuring 2 virtual drives, one 30-40GB and the second with the remaining capacity.

Then installing the esx on the first 30GB disk.

 

Reg

Christian Z.

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CJFBMF
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Christian - Thanks for the reply that makes sense however how then do I use the rest of the hard drive for anything else e.g. other VMware tools if I make my ESXi partition only 30GB or even like 150GB.  I would have my other virtual drive as you say but how would I be able to use it, you can't have two OS on the same drive?

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christianZ
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Hi again,

your Esx host will see an additional lun, so you can configure a new data store there.

I.e. your Esx host will show 2 luns, the one with Esx installed and the other totally empty w/o any partition.

And there you will configure your new data store, where you can then store your vms.

 

Reg

Christian Z.

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continuum
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For ESXI the  OSDATA partition with the unexpected VMFS in readonly mode is a brand new feature..
Lets give it some time to figure out how to rightsize that partition.

Read https://communities.vmware.com/t5/ESXi-Discussions/ESXi-and-SD-Cards/m-p/2867400#M278045

Ulli


________________________________________________
Do you need support with a VMFS recovery problem ? - send a message via skype "sanbarrow"
I do not support Workstation 16 at this time ...

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Khan141
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Thanks for nice Info.....

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CJFBMF
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Thanks everyone for taking the time to post.  I'm afraid I was not clear enough in my original post I apologize.  The basic fundamental question is this.

How to install ESXi 7 without the unwanted/unneeded datastore partition? Is it even possible to do? If so how?

I do not want to store any VM's on my ESXi server.  Mine is an enterprise environment where we will have approximately 15-25 VM's and will store them on a 64TB storage device although it's not yet hooked up to my ESXi server yet were experiencing, like everyone else, supply chain backorder for some of the needed pieces.

I understand the new disk drive partitioning scheme for ESXi 7 (no more /scratch partition etc.) what I dont understand is why VMWARE seemingly won't allow one to install ESXi without a datastore partition? Is it even possible to install ESXi without a datastore partition?

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christianZ
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Hi again,

 

shed some light in the darkness, enterprise here also  - 800 Vms, 500TB Storage, etc., (-;

Starting with 7,0 vmfsl with osdata none default vmfs data store.

Using the remaining 863 GB/the second virtual drive (raid1) only for testing, not for production.

Hope, now is that clear.

 

Reg

Christian Z.

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CJFBMF
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Christian - Thanks for the follow up.  I did further research and I have changed this reply from its original content.  I do see now that you appear to have a vSan which is your VMFSL partition and some type of internal LUN which is your VMFS-6 863.5GB partition which appears to be a datastore.  So, your ESXi 7 install did essentially the same thing mine did, saw some unused space (space not dedicated to OSData and the two BOOTBANK1 and BOOTBANK2 partitions) and made it a datastore during the ESXi 7 install.  Is this correct?  I am attaching my df -h command like you did to show you how my ESXi server partitions read.

Without connecting my 64TB storage device, how to install ESXi 7 without the unwanted/unneeded datastore partition? Is it even possible to do? If so how?

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christianZ
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Hi,

the vmfsl partition is not a vsan. It was created during the installation of 7.x.
I have there a raid1 (2Xssd ) array with 2 virtual drives (Dell Server), 30G for installation and 863G for a local data store,
this created later, after the installation.

In some cases one needs to locate a vm on local storage, not on san storage. There are some kinds of vms, e.g. for remote access to
the storage, or witness vms for the mirrored storage luns - they are often configured as ha (cluster) vapps. They should work by storage outage also, independently.
We have there a san storage (2 systems, placed on 2 locations), fibre channel, with mirrored luns.

The storage site is not shown on the host, you saw in my last posting.

Reg
Christian Z.

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christianZ
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...and

...check this here:

VMware ESXi 7.0 partitions layout - vInfrastructure Blog

 

As you can see, I am booting in UEFI mode, are you doing it the same way?

 

Reg

Christian Z.

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christianZ
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...and here even more:

https://core.vmware.com/resource/esxi-system-storage-changes#section1

It seems, if your boot disk is greater than 128G, then the vmfs datastore will be created atomatically.

 

Reg

Christian Z.

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CJFBMF
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Christian - Agreed.  Thanks for the excellent information.  Since my boot drive is 250GB the only way to install without the datastore is using the systemMediaSize=max boot command. If the boot drive is less than 128GB then yes, no default datastore.  As the documentation indicates any boot drive larger than 128GB is going to get a default datastore unless you use the systemMediaSize command set to the max variable.  Thanks everyone for the help! See the attachment for my hard drive using the above scenerio.

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christianZ
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Hello,

now you get it.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

Reg

Christian Z.

 

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