Proper procedure to change block size of VMFS Volume ?

[TonyJK]

We are using a VMFS volume with 1 MB block size. As the size of Virtual HD has to be greater than 256GB, we have to change the block size to 2MB.

We would like to confirm the following procedure is correct:

1) Migrate all VM from that VMFS volume

2) Remove that VMFS from ESX Cluster

3) Add that Storage again

4) Format it with Block Size 2MB

Is there anything missing out ?

Thanks

[malaysiavm]

The block size you mentioned here are referring to the datastore size not the virtual harddisk, of course when your datastore are greater than 256GB, you should at least choose 2MB as the option recommend by the system. Are you trying to extend the datastore? or you plan to destroy the whole LUN and recreate a new 1?

Craig

vExpert 2009

Malaysia VMware Communities -

[AWo]

We would like to confirm the following procedure is correct:

1) Migrate all VM from that VMFS volume

2) Remove that VMFS from ESX Cluster

3) Add that Storage again

4) Format it with Block Size 2MB

Is there anything missing out ?

No, but read this regarding block size selection: http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2009/05/14/block-sizes-and-growing-your-vmfs/

AWo

VCP 3 & 4

Author @ vmwire.net

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[jkumhar75]

You are good to go with the above steps.

To avoid any issues or disaster, you can connect the individual host from VIC and remove that datastore.

Jay

VCP 310,VCP 410,MCSE

[AntonVZhbankov · Accepted solution]

There is no any other possible procedure

But as already stated think about block size selection.

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http://blog.vadmin.ru

[depping]

unfortunately the only option you have is move everything off and then reformat.

Duncan

VMware Communities User Moderator | VCP | VCDX

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[TonyJK]

Dear all,

Many thanks for your advice.

After removing the RDM from the VM, I find that the RDM disk is still in the VMFS. Can I remove that VMDK file as I think that it is only a link to the RDM ?

Thanks

[TonyJK]

Since we are not able to create snapshot anymore after migrating to vSphere, I have to make a VMFS with block size 2MB (Though it is not dersiable) .

Is there any better way to handle it ?

Would it be a good idea to create a large VMFS with block size 2MB and migrate all large Virtual HD to that datastore ?

Thanks