Any way to connect RAW LUN to vm ?

[emaredskin]

Hello.We have a physical server that runs Windows operating System. One of the logical volume is hosted on the SAN.

Is there any way or procedure (e.g. by modifying RDM link with special operations) to import the LUN directly to a virtual machine without converting it through the converter ?

Thanks in advance for your help

[vmroyale · Accepted solution]

Hello.

Yes - you can present this LUN to your ESX host and then add it to a virtual machine as a RDM.

Good Luck!

[emaredskin]

First of all: thanks. How to create the linkfile inside the VM Datastore to point to physical LUN ? Is the following sample operation enough: vmkfstools -r vmhba0:2:12 /vmfs/Vmfs1/Barney.vmdk  (where vmhba0:2:12 would refer to the raw LUN) ? ANy conflict with NTFS format of the data containes in the source "Windows" LUN ?

[vmroyale]

The easiest way to create the RDM is to use the client and connect and edit the VM Settings.  Add a hard disk and choose the "Raw Device Mappsings" option in the wizard.

[idle-jam]

here is a good read if you're keen to know more on RDMs .. http://www.virtuallifestyle.nl/2010/01/recommended-detailed-material-on-rdms/