creating a new VMFS partition

[Shaha]

we are trying to use remote cli to create a new vmfs datastore on ESX 3.5i using vmkfstools. we are trying to use vmkfstools as following:

vmkfstools.pl --servername <name> --username <user> --password <password> -C vmfs3 -b 1m -S <volumename> vmhbaw:x:y:z

but we get the following error:

"Unable to create vmfs: A specified parameter was not correct."

Also, is there a remote command equivalent to vdf -h?

Thanks.

[kastlr]

Hi,

couldn't verify it in my lab (no blank LUN available), but you should retry the command without the :z[/b] at the end.

Hope this helps a bit.

Greetings from Germany. (CET)

[Shaha]

I tried that but get the following error:

Please supply partition in the form of 'vmhbaW:X:Y:Z'

[christianZ]

vmhbaw:x:y:z

Post your details about above.

[Shaha]

Sorry not sure what details you are referring to but i'm trying to create a new vmfs partition on an ESX3.5 i server using remote cli rather the vi client.

[christianZ]

You have certain parameters (numbers) after vmhba - just post it here (e.g. vmhba2:0:3:4)

[Shaha]

i'm trying to create a new vmfs partition on vmhba1:2:0. it will be the first and only partition on a new SCSI disk.

[kastlr]

Hi,

best would be to see the whole command, just in case the problem resides in a different section.

Hope this helps a bit.

Greetings from Germany. (CET)

[christianZ]

Basically steps should be:

- create a new partition with "fdisk" (not vmkfstools)

- change the type of partition to "fb"

- now use of "vmkfstools" to create a vmfs datastore - there you should use vmhba1:2:0:1 - the 1 as the partition number you configred above

[Shaha]

below is the exact command i'm using:

C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware VI Remote CLI\bin>vmkfstools.pl --server 10.1.1.102 --username root --password password -C vmfs3 -b 1m -S vstore2 /vmfs/devices/disks/vmhba1:2:0:1

and i get the following error:

Unable to create vmfs: A specified parameter was not correct.

[Shaha]

how do i use fdisk on esx 3.5i using remote cli?

[kastlr]

Hi,

try

C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware VI Remote CLI\bin>vmkfstools.pl --server 10.1.1.102 --username root --password password -C vmfs3 -b 1m -S vstore2 /vmfs/devices/disks/vmhba1:2:0:[b]0[/b]

Hope this helps a bit.

Greetings from Germany. (CET)

[Shaha]

I have tried that but it did not work either.

[cheeko]

Have you tried it with the /vmfs/devices/disks part and backslashs?

like this:

vmkfstools.pl --servername <name> --username <user>

--password <password> -C vmfs3 -b 1m -S <volumename>/vmfs/devices/disks/vmhbaw\:x\:y\:z

[cheeko]

I don't know why it made the stars there ... it should be /vmfs/devices/disks/vmhbaw\:x\:y\:z

[Shaha]

i'm afraid i get the message:

Please supply partition in the form of 'vmhbaW:X:Y:Z'

[cheeko]

Locally this works fine ...

1. vmkfstools -C vmfs3 -b 1m -S newVMFS /vmfs/devices/disks/vmhba0\:0\:0\:8

Creating vmfs3 file system on "vmhba0:0:0:8" with blockSize 1048576 and volume label "newVMFS".

Successfully created new volume: 49ccc725-d960f371-a33a-0017a43aeb30

[Shaha]

how did you run that command locally on an esx3.5i server? i thought you have to run everything remotely as there is no service console.

[cheeko]

This was done on a ESX (not i) ... you're right about the missing console. You could do it with VI Client though.

[Shaha]

Yes. i could do it through VI client but i'm trying to script the config as we are building many servers and as you know any errors (wrong case or a typo) could make life miserable.