Windows Managed to VMFS

[ChrisJ615]

The Situation: When deploying my Exchange Server I created separate LUNs for my MailStore and TLogs. I mapped these as RAW LUNS and allowed Windows to manage them. I think this might have been the wrong choice for backup reasons. VMFS is starting to look like a much better choice due to the fact when I backup the Exchange Server with Backup Exec and the VMWare Agent it will let me backup not only the VM but the additional LUNS as well.

Question: Would it be possible to upgrade/migrate these Windows Managed LUNs to VMFS so I can capture them in my DR Backups that are to be shipped off site. This solution would not only apply just to the Exchange server but a few other in-production servers as well.

[jpdicicco]

Formatting a LUN with VMFS is destructive (as in, your data will be gone). In this case, you would need to create new LUNs and migrate the datastores and TLog files to the new LUNs.

Exchange 2003 instructions on Technet

Exchange 2007 instructions on Technet

(For additional aritcles, including support for CCR, try searching Technet for "move exchange database 2007")

JP

Please give points where points are due. Thanks!

[ChrisJ615]

Just to make sure I understand you: There is no way to convert the LUNs. New LUNs must be created and the data must be moved. Is this right?

[AndreTheGiant]

Right.

But if you have SVMotion license (and vCenter Server) you can do a Storage VMotion (with the VM live) and it will convert the RDM disks in vmdk disks on exising VMFS datastore.

Also a cold migrate (again from vCenter Server) can convert RDM disks to vmdk disks.

Andre

[ChrisJ615]

I do have SVMotion , but I have never used it before:( . Do you have any documentation on the best way to use this approach?

[AndreTheGiant · Accepted solution]

You can see in http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_admin_guide.pdf (page 197).

But it is quite simple.

Try on a small VM first to see how works.

Then you can use on your Exchange VM. Be sure to have enoght space on the destination datastore!

Also a clone is able to convert your RDM disks to vmdk disks, but I suggest (if you want to use a clone) to do it with the VM powered-off.

Andre

[ChrisJ615]

Thanks, Andre! Your a real pwnstar.