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whynotq
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Upgrading a VM that uses RDM in Physical mode

I can't beleive i haven't been through this before, and i'm sure i've seen the answer somewhere but I'll ask you all and dish out the points later.

I am about to perform an upgrade from 2.5.4 to 3.01, simple enough, but, i have one VM that uses 5 RDM devices in Physical mode. Now i seem to recall somewhere seeing a note.thread explaining the best way to acheive this upgrade but i can't find it and am up against it, time wise, to have this completed by Sunday morning.

so, does anyone have any thoughts or links to a process that will get me there painlessly?

my theory was detatch-upgrade-re-atactch (can't spell today! Smiley Happy)

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Texiwill
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Hello,

THat is what I would do.

Backup,Detach, convert to RDM on new datastore, migrate VM to new datastore, upgrade VM, reattach RDM.

I always work with RAW/RDMs outside of the VM if I can help it. Just in case.

Best regards,

Edward

Use the correct/helpful buttons to award points if the answer helps.

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Edward L. Haletky
vExpert XIV: 2009-2023,
VMTN Community Moderator
vSphere Upgrade Saga: https://www.astroarch.com/blogs
GitHub Repo: https://github.com/Texiwill

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wcrahen
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I think I remember seeing specific threads as well, but your "detatch-upgrade-re-atactch" is the way I have done this many times. It's simple and seems safer than any other way.

whynotq
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ah, just when i thought i had covered it all with this site i get thrown a curve ball! turns out customer has used RAW devices on 2.5.4 not RDM. as far as I can find it is a case of going "commando" and using vmkfstools to convert the disk to an RDM (-i and -r).

any idea for the correct full syntax?

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Texiwill
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Hello,

Raw devices are still supported inside ESX v3. The way I upgrade RAW/passthru/RDMs is:

Backup VM

Power off the VM

Detach Raw/PassThru/RDM devices

Move VM to new storage (VMFS3)

Upgrade VM

Reattach Raw/PassThru/RDM devices

Boot VM

Works every time and is the safest method I know.

Best regards,

Edward

--
Edward L. Haletky
vExpert XIV: 2009-2023,
VMTN Community Moderator
vSphere Upgrade Saga: https://www.astroarch.com/blogs
GitHub Repo: https://github.com/Texiwill
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whynotq
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I need to have it running squeaky clean with VMotion/DRS so customer wants RDM (probably physical mode), i think i go:

power off VM

detatch RAW disks

console time : vmkfstools -r <vmhba::0>

back to VM-hardware-add disk-existing VMDK-select mapping file.

Migrate this VM to ESX3

upgrade virtual hardware

this is my plan, but yours sounds simpler.

so, I detatch the RAW disks, Move the VM and re-attatch as RDM?

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Texiwill
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Hello,

THat is what I would do.

Backup,Detach, convert to RDM on new datastore, migrate VM to new datastore, upgrade VM, reattach RDM.

I always work with RAW/RDMs outside of the VM if I can help it. Just in case.

Best regards,

Edward

Use the correct/helpful buttons to award points if the answer helps.

--
Edward L. Haletky
vExpert XIV: 2009-2023,
VMTN Community Moderator
vSphere Upgrade Saga: https://www.astroarch.com/blogs
GitHub Repo: https://github.com/Texiwill
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whynotq
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where would you put the RDM pointer? would you wait until you have done the upgrade and migrated the VM then store it with the vmx? trying to nail this down for the upgrade i have to do tomorrow morning. Smiley Happy looks like being a fun weekend.

points will be awarded Saturday night, thanks for the suggestions so far.

wish me luck, i'm going in...

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whynotq
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and i came out the otherside all smiling and happy... Smiley Happy

thanks for the assistance guys

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