Physically moving storage from one Rack to Another

[MrVmware9423]

Dear team,

We are planning to move our storage from one Rack to another.

it's a small storage total usable capacity is 3TB (EMC CX4-120). created one LUN size of 3TB and mapped the same to 14 ESXi host.

That LUN is selected as heartbeat datastore.  we will follow below POA to perform said activity.

-> Select Home => datastore & datastore clusters => Select datastore => Virtual machine => take VMs export

=> gracefully shutdown all VMs which are hosted on this datastore (non production vms no need to migrate the same on other datastore)

=> select different datastore for datastore heart beat (Need ur help how to do that)

=> remove this datastore from datastore heartbeat (Need ur help how to do that)

=> Unregister all VMs  (Please confirm do i need to unregister VMs ???)

=> unmount and detach then unmap the datastore from Storage end (if i remap the same on all esxi host will i able to see the data onit, I don;t want to loose data)

=> gracefully shutdown the SAN storage

=> Disconnect cables from storage.

=> Move the storage from rack1 to rack2

=> Connect cables and poweron the storage

=> attach and mount the datastore on all esxi host

or   if i unmap the datastore before activity then map the same datastore on all 14 esxi host and rescan the HBA

=> mount the datastore on all esxi host and it will be visible on all esxi host

=> register all vms

=> Poweron & check all network connection.

=> Handover to application team.

point which are marked as bold need asisstance on the same , also add missing steps if any.

regards

Mr VMware

[MrVmware9423 · Accepted solution]

Please find the right steps

above POA is 100% okay and tested.

before activity take VM export which are stored on datastore

Home => datastore and datastore cluster => select the datastore => VMs => add all the columns => take VM export

take latest RVTool export.

shutdown all VMs => Unregister all VMs and Templates => RK on Cluster (edit setting  => datastore hearbeating => here we have to select another datastore and click on OK)

to confirm new datastore is visible as datastore heartbeat select Cluster=> Sumamry => Custer Status => Heartbeat Datastore )

if we are able to see new datastore then now remove old datastore from datastore heartbeat

RK on Cluster (edit setting  => datastore hearbeating => here we have to uncheck datastore and click on OK)

unmount => detach(need to perform this step on all esxi host) => san team will unmap => start storage movement activity (poweroff storage) => move the storage => poweron => san team will map the datastore =>attach((need to perform this step on all esxi host) => mount the datastore

Register all VMs

Poweron All VMs if get message (moved it or copied it ) select Moved it.

if above steps followed then it won't throw any error, will work seemlessly.

Yes we need to unregister all VMs and Templates before unmount a datastore.

regards

Mr VMware