Update VMFS2 to VMFS3

[StoneEdge]

Hi

I have a Vmware server with version 2.x with one disk volume attached(is formated with VMFS2). And now i have installed a new VMware version 3.x, but i cant write on the disk volume that i have formated with VMFS2. Says read only.

In my disk volume i have about 5 VM installed, and i still have some free space i will like to used to create new VM on my VMware 3.x. Is this possible?

Or must i update in my VMware 3.x the disk volume to VMFS3? If so, will the update delete anything on it? will i loose all my VM installed on this disk volume? IF no, will the VMware 2.x still can read the disk volume updated to VMFS3?

Or must i upgrade my VMware 2.x to 3.x, to work ok with this?

And if i do not upgrade the VMware version how can i pass this problem?

Many thanks for the help.

Stone

[radhika1780]

U need to upgrade from VMFS2 to VMFS3.

And you will be able to run old vms on VMFS3.

VMFS2 Datastore VMFS3 Datastore

Vmware Server2 Read/write (runs VMs) No access

Vmware Server3 Read only (copies VMs) Read/write (runs VMs)

Converting a file system to VMFS3 takes approximately 15 minutes and requires downtime for all virtual machines remaining on the volume.

NOTE : VMFS3 file systems are restricted to a block size of no greater than 8MB. You cannot directly upgrade a VMFS2 file system with a block size of greater than 8MB to VMFS3.

To upgrade a VMFS2 file system with a block size greater than 8MB, use a migration upgrade strategy

Message was edited by:

radhika1780

Message was edited by:

radhika1780

[StoneEdge]

Hi radhika1780

Thank You for your reply.

So i need to upgrade all my VMFS2 to VMFS3?

But will all my information(all my Virtual Servers) that are in this VMFS3 will be ok?? No delete of any information will?

Because i need to have access to this VMFS2 from my VMware 3.x

Last question, will all my VM´s still work fine in my VMware 2.x?

Thanks

Stone

[radhika1780]

For better understanding refer this installation guide which will help you with upgrade and its procedures.

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_installation_guide.pdf

[GBromage · Accepted solution]

So i need to upgrade all my VMFS2 to VMFS3?

Yes

But will all my information(all my Virtual Servers)

that are in this VMFS3 will be ok?? No delete of any

information will?

Yes, it should all be OK. (But still take a backup before doing it!)

Because i need to have access to this VMFS2 from my VMware 3.x

Last question, will all my VM´s still work fine in my VMware 2.x?

Nope.

ESX 2 can't read VMFS3 volumes.

If you want to migrate your hosts one at a time, you'll need to create a new drive as VMFS3 and migrate the virtual servers that you want to run on VI3 onto it.

Basically:

ESX 2 can read and write to VMFS 2 volumes, but not VMFS3

VI3 can read-only VMFS2 volumes (to enable you to convert them), and can read and write to VMFS3.