Adding disk without formatting datastore vmware

[batuhandemirdal]

Hello,

after I unmount the ABC datastore from the x vcenter, after adding the ABC datastore to the y vcenter after the storage is defined, I want to delete the data in my vcenter because y vcenter adds formatting to the ABC datastore.

what can i do in this regard.

[Finikiez]

Hello!

If I understand you correctly you want to attach datastore to ESXi hosts in another vcenter without formatting it. Right?

VMFS datastore should be recognized by another hosts without reformatting. You should only attach LUN with VMFS datastore to new ESXi hosts and make rescan. THat's all.

[batuhandemirdal]

Thank you ,

How is this done? Is there a link about it? Or any article?

[Finikiez]

Which steps do you want to see in documentation so I could provide correct links.

Also what storage do you use and how it's connected? is FC or iSCSI storage? or maybe NAS?

[batuhandemirdal]

We use FC.

[Finikiez]

Ok

1. You need to power off all VMs running on the datastore you want to detach.

2. Unmount the datastore from hosts VMware Knowledge Base  in vcenter X

3. Map the LUN with VMFS datastore to new hosts on your storage. How to do it depedns on the storage model you use. Also probably you will need to modify zoning configuration on your SAN switches to zone your new hosts with storage array ports.

4. Do rescan on your new ESXi hosts VMware Knowledge Base

[batuhandemirdal · Accepted solution]

I'll let you know after I try.

thank you so much