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Siew
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How the enlarge LUN size on ESX server

I was created a LUN at NetApp fas270, the size of the LUN is 60GB and i created a VM into the LUN. After that I enlarge the LUN to become 200GB size, but i try to rescan the storage on ESX server the LUN size shown on the ESX server still remain 60GB.

Can anyone guide me to enlarge the size of LUN on ESX server without damage the VM. Thanks

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esiebert7625
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No, to use extents you have to create a new LUN and then combine it to the existing LUN. Extents are not preferred but they do work OK. The preferred way is to create a new larger VMFS datastore and migrate your VM's to it. You would first need to migrate any current VM's to local storage or alternate SAN storage then delete the VMFS volume and re-create it with the new larger LUN.

Extending a VMFS3 data store - http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?threadID=65156&tstart=0

To use extents or not? - http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?threadID=81494&tstart=100

fyi...if you find this post helpful, please award points using the Helpful/Correct buttons...thanks

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davidbarclay
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You can't.

You can use extents (another LUN joined to the existing LUN to become a single VMFS), but I don't recommend it.

A better option is to create the new LUN, migrate the VM, then destroy the old LUN.

Dave

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Siew
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meaning that i enlarge the LUN size at NetApp, and then remove the LUN at ESX server and remap the LUN again?

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ilatimer
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Actually I think he is suggesting that you leave the current LUN and present a new larger LUN to the ESX server. They you perform a cold migration of the vm's with file relocation and select the new larger LUN as the destination of the file relocation.

esiebert7625
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No, to use extents you have to create a new LUN and then combine it to the existing LUN. Extents are not preferred but they do work OK. The preferred way is to create a new larger VMFS datastore and migrate your VM's to it. You would first need to migrate any current VM's to local storage or alternate SAN storage then delete the VMFS volume and re-create it with the new larger LUN.

Extending a VMFS3 data store - http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?threadID=65156&tstart=0

To use extents or not? - http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?threadID=81494&tstart=100

fyi...if you find this post helpful, please award points using the Helpful/Correct buttons...thanks

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davidbarclay
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That is what I was thinking. If capacity is an issue, you could backup and restore instead and use the existing (extended) LUN you arleady have.

Dave