I have a HP Proliant DL 580 with ESX 3.5 on it. I just added 2 disks to the HW RAID 5 volume that the vmfs is on. Now I can't find how to get ESX server to see that extra space. I know that I need to add the space as an Extent (Configuration -> Storage -> Volume Properties -> Add Extent) but right now when I do that, the new space doesn't show up. How do I get it to see the new space on the volume?
Thanks
I do not think you can create multiple VMFS volumes on the same LUN, due to the way ESX handles locks. It locks an entire LUN and not a partition.
/Rubeck
You cant expand an existing VMFS volume
You have to create a new LUN using the 2 disks, and then you should be able to do an "extend". (not recommeded, IMO)
/Rubeck
I don't think that's what I'm trying to do. I want to create a new partition on the RAID5 volume and then extend the vmfs volume using that partition. Is that possible?
I do not think you can create multiple VMFS volumes on the same LUN, due to the way ESX handles locks. It locks an entire LUN and not a partition.
/Rubeck
rubek indicate this is not possible - but you could create a new raid set and place a new vmfs datastore there-
So there's no way for me to create a second vmfs partition on the expanded LUN?
This sounds like local storage correct? The above is correct you will have to place these new disks in a RAID 1 and format it VMFS for it to be usable by the ESX host for VMs. Other wise you will have to DESTROY your current RAID set and create a new one that includes the new drives.
This will WIPE OUT everything on that RAID set.
ugg. I already expanded the array so, looks like I have to destroy it anyway.
suck
Is it local storage? How did you expand the array?
Yes, it's local storage. I expanded it through the array configuration utility that HP servers come with.
Have you created a new logical drive using the ACU? This space should then be availble to ESX.
No I expanded the existing logical drive
I have never done that so not sure if you can now extend the VMFS partition.
Good luck.
If you run
df -lh
From the SC do you see the new disks? It wont show up in VC untill it is formated but if the hosts sees it it should show up here..
I have the situation with a HP DL380 G5 with direct attached storage. I want to add 2 hard drives into 2 empty slots. Couldn't I bring everything down and boot into the HP array config utility and add the 2 extra drives there?
For that matter could I add an extra hard drive as a online spare?
Hi, that would be the logical way. But there seems to be a way without reboot the ESX Host into the HP Array Config Util.
I have used the HP Array Config CLI (installed in ESX) - and created an array with 5x 146GB disks. My problem is that I can't get ESX to see this new storage.
I have tried rescanning, etc... Anyone able to offer some insight? Thanks!
