Issue with datastore creation

[rivagupta]

Hey All

I had installed ESXi 5.0 update 1. I have a default datastore created out of the local disk on which the ESXi is installed.

I tried to create a new datastore out of the remote iSCSI storage attached. But then I got the error:

An Error occured during host configuration.

Call "HostDataStoreSystem.CreateVmfsDatastore" for object "ha-datastoresystem" on ESXi "x.x.x.x" failed.

I have tried the following resolutions as I found that I came across on Google, but still the issue persists.

• partedutil delete /vmfs/devices/disks/<disk-id> 3

     the command was successful, but again datastore creation failed.

     Courtesy: http://www.vexperienced.co.uk/2012/01/02/error-adding-datastores-to-esxi-resolved-using-partedutil/

• Booted linux in recue mode and used the parted command to created msdos label because the label of my old datastore(local disk) is gpt.

     I was not able to boot ESXi then. So, I re-installed ESXi again, but still same issue.

     Courtesy: http://www.eversity.nl/blog/2010/08/call-fails-for-hostdatastoresystem-queryvmfsdatastore-createopti...

• Tried the command

     cat /dev/zero > /dev/disks/<disk-id>

     The command failed as - Cannot create /dev/disks/<disk-id> : Function not implemented.

• Also I downloaded ESXi 5 update 2 because the update 1 has the local datastore issue. But still the problem persists.

     Courtesy: http://www.virtuallyghetto.com/2012/04/removing-previous-local-datastore-label.html

According to the research I did on Google, ESXi does not support gpt partition, and it supports msdos partition. I tried changing the partition type(for the disk on which ESXi is installed of the disk) from gpt to msdos(using linux rescue). But no use. Am I going on the right path or Am I missing on something?

[kastlr]

Hi rivagupta,

welcome to the forum.

You should try the following VMware solution.

Troubleshooting the Add Storage Wizard error: Unable to read partition information from this disk

This solution should wipe the content from the disk which prevents creation of a datastore.

Hope this helps,

Ralf

[rivagupta]

Hey kastir

I have already tried the solution that you suggested. The iSCSI LUN contains partition of unknown type. So I need not to change the partition type. The partition type of local disk(on which ESXi is installed) is GPT, which is by default in ESXi 5.0

We need to change the partition type of the iSCSI LUN in case it is GPT, but it is not so in my case.

But still I am getting the datastore creation error.

[rivagupta]

The following screen shows that the disk that I am trying to add has no partition type.

[rivagupta]

I am facing the problem while creating datastore for iSCSI storage only. While I am easily able to create the datastore out of FC storage easily, following the same procedure.

[kastlr]

Hi,

maybe you're facing a similar issue which is described in the following knowledgebase article.

VMFS5 datastore creation might fail when you use an EMC Symmetrix VMAX/VMAXe storage array

You could try to follow this solution even if you don't using EMC Symmetrix arrays.

Regards,

Ralf

[rivagupta]

Hey kastir

Thannk you so much for your help.

I tried the knowledge base you suggested. But still no progress. Datastore creation results in the same error.

[rivagupta]

I have also tried creating datastore(for my iSCSI disks) using CLI using vmkfstools.

But before creating datastore, we need to create partition which I tried doing, but was not successful.

~ # partedUtil mklabel "/vmfs/devices/disks/<device>" gpt
Error: Connection timed out during write on /dev/disks/<device>
WriteNewPtable: Unable to commit to device /vmfs/devices/disks/<device>

However, this command runs successfully for FC disks assigned to ESXi host.

Any suggestions?

[rivagupta]

I have still not got any solution. Have any of you faced such a problem?

[Sreec]

Hi,

    1.Can you please post the screen shot of kernal logs when you are trying the same?

    2.If we are trying with a different lun (iscsi) from the same storage is it working fine?

[Gkeerthy]

can you create multiple LUNs with different sizes and try to mount..

also try to mount this LUN in question to a LINUX box and try to change the label using parted utility

[rivagupta]

Hey All

Sorry for the late reply. I kept this task on hold for sometime as I had to do something else.

When I switched back to the issue again, the datastore creation is being done successfully without any errors. The only change is the enviroment on my remote storage was cleaned and then created again. I tried to reproduce the problem, so that i could share the logs with you, but I was not able to.