VM Startup/Shutdown after VMotion/DRS.

[Shingi]

Hi,

I am configuring VM Startup/Shutdown as "Automatic Startup". When VM migrates (VMotion or DRS) to another host it  Startup/Shutdown config changes to "Any Order". And it was situation when at one time all hosts ESXi in cluster were powered off. When the hosts ESXi were on, VM that has Startup/Shutdown config after migration (VMotion or DRS) "Any Order" had not started automatically.

Why did this happend?

Thanks.

[GaneshNetworks]

May be you are running out-dated ESXi. If it is, try to patch them and bring it with latest build. Then will see what happen.

Thanks,

Ganesh

[Troy_Clavell]

also remember.  If your Hosts are part of an HA cluster, the Startup/Shutdown Options are disabled.  Yes, you can configure them initially, but they do not work.  You need to use restart priorities.

[GaneshNetworks]

Troy,

You said that the option "startup/shutdown" is disabled when an ESX/ESXi is part of HA cluster. Then why the option is available for HA configured ESXi servers?

My understanding is, there is some formula to prioritize the things.

Thanks,

Ganesh

[Troy_Clavell]

it's not disabled, it just won't work when part of an HA Cluster.  You are defeating the purpose of having an HA cluster if you configure your startup/shutdown options, which is a standalone host feature.  If a host goes down in an HA network, all guests will failover to other hosts in the cluster and be restarted.  This is why you need to look at restart priorities.

[depping]

Startup order doesn't work in a cluster, although the option is available on a per host level it won't migrate to another server.

Duncan (VCDX)

Available now on Amazon: vSphere 4.1 HA and DRS technical deepdive

[ferdis]

Hi,

ok but what if you got DRS only without HA for example? How to assure that you got automatic start set for machine even it is vmotioned?