Adding disk space to hardware RAID5 array on esx 3.0.2

[divi2323]

Recently we've run out of disk space for our ESX server and we purchased 2 additional drives to expand our RAID 5 array.

Using the hpacucli utility , we were able to expand the RAID 5 array to 5 total disks and the array itself shows unused space of ~350GB.

We restarted the ESX host box and upon loading up VIC, i'm not able to see any of the free space in order to create a separate datastore.

Using the HPACUCLI utility, I can see that the RAID 5 volume is in tact and that it shows one logical drive of 273gb. The physical array shows ~350gb of unused space, with no errors.

I just want to create a separate data store using this newly acquired space but the esx-host1 with configuration tab only shows 273gb on vmhba0:0:0. Any suggestions?

for informational purposes, the disk is SAS attached storage, and the only logical disk houses both the /boot, /, and /var/log partitions as well as all of the VM files on the server.

[Texiwill]

Hello,

Expanding the RAID array will NOT expand the file system held on that array. Nor will expanding the partition the file system is held within expand the file system.

The best way to do this is to backup/move all your VMs from the VMFS. Destroy the VMFS, and recreate the VMFS at the new size. THere is no tool to expand the VMFS at this time. If this is local storage you could use extents but that is generally discouraged as well.

Best regards,
Edward L. Haletky
VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009
====
Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.
Blue Gears and SearchVMware Pro Blogs -- Top Virtualization Security Links -- Virtualization Security Round Table Podcast

[agcastle2000]

Hi,

I also came to know this recently that it's not possible to expand the Datastore in ESX.

In our setup, our Console is in RAID 1 and the Datastore is on RAID 5. If

we'll destroy the LUN (RAID 5) after backing up the VMs, do we have to

backup or do anything in the Console?

Thanks.

Archie

[Texiwill]

Hello,

In our setup, our Console is in RAID 1 and the Datastore is on RAID 5. If

we'll destroy the LUN (RAID 5) after backing up the VMs, do we have to

backup or do anything in the Console?

If all you are doing is adding to the RAID 5, then no... but I would just in case something goes wrong. If you are modifying the local storage LUN layout of your disks, a full backup is generally recommended as one mistake could be pretty catastrophic.

Best regards,
Edward L. Haletky
VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009
====
Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.
Blue Gears and SearchVMware Pro Blogs -- Top Virtualization Security Links -- Virtualization Security Round Table Podcast

[agcastle2000]

My plan is to destroy the existing LUN (it's RAID 6 actually) which is the datastore. I'm thinking that there might be something in the configuration that points to the existing Databastore.

At minimum, what files I should backup from the ESX if I don't want to go that road of doing a full backup? I mean those files that I need to restore after rebuilding (installing from scratch) the ESX server.

Thanks.

[Lightbulb]

Check out the following

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1000761

[agcastle2000]

I cant' believe how fast the members in this community respond to posts.

Thanks for the KB. I must say that there should be a kind of "diskpart" in Windows in ESX. I can't believe that even third-party tool is not available.

[Texiwill]

Hello,

Tools exist to change the size of a partition, however you need a tool to change the size of the filesystem and THAT does NOT exist yet.

Best regards,
Edward L. Haletky
VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009
====
Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.
Blue Gears and SearchVMware Pro Blogs -- Top Virtualization Security Links -- Virtualization Security Round Table Podcast