Safely delete a datastore

[JustyC]

I need to delete for good 2 datastores.  I first right-clicked each vm guest using these datastores and selected delete.  The datastores now show as empty when browsed.  Can I just right click\delete each of the empty datastores ?  I would delete the corresponding LUNS on the SAN (VNX) as the final step.  Can anyone verify this is correct.  I seem to recall having an issue with this some time ago.  vCenter is version 5 - ESX is 4.0 U2.  Thanks.

[vmroyale]

Check out http://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2011/11/best-practice-how-to-correctly-remove-a-lun-from-an-esx-host... for some great info.

[JustyC]

We run ESX 4.0.  The link article starts with version 4.1 and mentions fixes for delete problems.  I was hoping all could be accomplished via vCenter, but get the feeling some steps might need to take place on the host. 

[vmroyale · Accepted solution]

The procedure will be the same for 4.x, so yes there will be some host commands involved. It looks really involved, but it really isn't that bad. Way better than the potential badness that could come from not removing them the right way.

[JustyC]

Thank you.  Like mentioned, last time the delete from vCenter didn't work and it took some time to fix.  I'll play it safe and follow the KB article.