Moving VM (using RDM) to other host

[Astro]

Hi all

Configuration:

- host: ESX1, ESX2 (ESX 3.5)

- no VC / HA

- FC storage HP EVA4100

- VM1 Windows 2003 running on ESX1 and using a VMFS volume for C: and a RDM disk on storage for 😧 (NTFS)

- the VMFS LUN is presented to ESX1 and ESX2 (same LUN ID)

- the RDM LUN is presented only to ESX1 (LUN ID 2)

How should I configure host and storage for running VM1 from ESX2 ?

Step:

- shutdown VM1 from ESX1

- present LUN to ESX2

- rescan disk ESX2

- create a new VM1b on ESX2

- add the RDM disk to VM

- startup VM1b

Right ?

Can I leave the RDM LUN presented to ESX2 if the VM1b is down ?

Many thanks to all !

Max

[weinstein5 · Accepted solution]

Is your VMFS LUN where the C: Drive is stored? Because if it is on the shared LUN than it is very easy - just unregister your VM - this can be can done with the VI Client by right clicking on the vm and remove from inventory and a word of warning DO NOT Delete from Disk - then from the other host browse the datastore where the VM is stored and register the VMX file -

If the VM is not stored on shared storage than the steps you do outline should work - but in either case the Raw LUN needs to be presented to both hosts and yes you can leave the Raw LUN presented to ESX2

[Astro]

Many thanks !

The C: drive and the VM1 files are on the LUN VMFS. Only the 😧 drive (second disk of the VM) is a RDM.

And...if in the future I will install VC and HA, how should configure the presentation and the hosts for correct failover of VM1 to ESX2 ?

Regards

Max

[weinstein5]

VC acts as a proxy so it will see what the hosts its management see - so for things like HA/DRS and VMotion both hosts need to see the same resources the VM uses - so both hosts will need to see the LUNs the vm uses including the VMFS datastores and the Raw LUNs (what you have been calling the RDM) -

The current issue at hand - as lon

[Astro]

Thanks

But your answer is partially truncated...

Max

[weinstein5]

Sorry - I thinkthis is what I neabt to say -

VC acts as a proxy so it will see what the hosts its management see - so for things like HA/DRS and VMotion both hosts need to see the same resources the VM uses - so both hosts will need to see the LUNs the vm uses including the VMFS datastores and the Raw LUNs (what you have been calling the RDM) -

The current issue at hand - as long as the VMs and their storage ar estored on shared LUNs seen by both hosts you will be bale to do HA/DRS/Vmotion -