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How can migrate esxi from local disk to SD card

  • 1.  How can migrate esxi from local disk to SD card

    Posted Jun 15, 2021 02:37 PM

    I have installed my esxi on local disk. now want to know Is that possible due upgrade esxi to 7U2  and put it on SD card instead of local disk ?

    in the other hand is that possible migrate esxi from local disk to SD card or I have to do fresh install on SD card ?



  • 2.  RE: How can migrate esxi from local disk to SD card

    Posted Jun 15, 2021 03:00 PM

    I'm not aware of a supported way to do this. Also note that - at least in my opinion - as of ESXi 7.0 you should say good bye to SD cards.
    If you want to go with SD cards anyway, wait until VMware releases the fix for the current driver. See https://communities.vmware.com/t5/ESXi-Discussions/SD-Boot-issue-Solution-in-7-x/m-p/2852027 for more information.

    Also see https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/com.vmware.esxi.upgrade.doc/GUID-DEB8086A-306B-4239-BF76-E354679202FC.html

    ~snip~
    The recommended ESXi 7.0 install options are the following:

    • An 8 GB USB or SD and an additional 32 GB local disk. The ESXi boot partitions reside on the USB or SD and the ESX-OSData volume resides on the local disk.

    ~snip~

    André



  • 3.  RE: How can migrate esxi from local disk to SD card

    Posted Jun 15, 2021 03:53 PM

    Thanks . but this issue will be solve . now want to know is that possible migrate esxi from local disk to SD card or had to do fresh install ?



  • 4.  RE: How can migrate esxi from local disk to SD card

    Posted Jun 15, 2021 04:06 PM

    I'm not aware of a supported way to do this, so you'll need to reinstall ESXi.

    André



  • 5.  RE: How can migrate esxi from local disk to SD card

    Posted Jun 15, 2021 06:31 PM

    Is this problem exist just on Esxi 7U2 ? or exist for all version of vSphere7  ?



  • 6.  RE: How can migrate esxi from local disk to SD card

    Posted Jun 15, 2021 06:36 PM

    According to the community post (see link in my first reply) this issue has been introduced with vSphere 7.0 Update 1.
    However, the hardware recommendations have been available since GA.

    André



  • 7.  RE: How can migrate esxi from local disk to SD card

    Posted Aug 19, 2021 06:42 AM

    According to this KB   https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/83376?lang=en_US

    I think the problem not solved yet . my esxi is 7.0.2 and installed on local disk and I want migrate from local disk to SD-card (32G) now what is your recommendation ? Do you think that is better wait for the next vmware release or do migration from local disk to SD-card ?



  • 8.  RE: How can migrate esxi from local disk to SD card
    Best Answer

    Broadcom Employee
    Posted Aug 19, 2021 08:19 AM

    There's no migration option really, you need to do a fresh install.

     

    And also, as stated, currently there's still an issue with SD cards, as well as VMware is recommending to ensure that the "OS DATA" part of the installation does not reside on SD, so make sure you follow those best practices to be future proof.



  • 9.  RE: How can migrate esxi from local disk to SD card

    Posted Aug 21, 2021 02:49 AM

    I just want use you experience , Do you suggest wait for the next release of esxi to solve SD-card issue ?



  • 10.  RE: How can migrate esxi from local disk to SD card
    Best Answer

    Posted Aug 21, 2021 08:27 AM

    I'd wait for now. Once an update/patch becomes available, make sure that you read the release notes, and the recommendations before you decide to install ESXi on an SD card.

    André



  • 11.  RE: How can migrate esxi from local disk to SD card
    Best Answer

    Broadcom Employee
    Posted Aug 21, 2021 05:29 PM

    agreed, i would wait