Removing Datastores in ESX/ESXi

[ctresco]

I have a need to remove a datastore from a VMWare environment.  I have read documents describing the need to mask the lun to hide it, then unpresent,etc... I really need to know if all that is necessary.  Here is my scenario.

I have 2 vCenter clusters.  1 cluster has a number of hosts running ESX 4.0.0 332073, the other cluster is running ESXi 4.1.0 348481.  I have a lun/datastore that is presented to all hosts on both clusters.  I have moved everything off the lun/datastore and I simply want to delete it.  Can I just delete it or do I have to mask it, etc?

I can find no clear answer.

Thanks in advance.

[a_p_]

First delete the datastore in the vSphere Client, run a rescan and then delete the LUN. Otherwise you will end up with an orphaned datastore in the vCenter Server database.

André

[MauroBonder]

Hello,

If you can erase all datas of this datastore, just delete. Configuration > storage > selec lun and delete. After this you and kill in your storage this lun.

With this, this one will disappear of all hosts .

Please, don't forget the awarding points for "helpful" and/or "correct" answers. 

Mauro Bonder - Moderator

[f10]

If there is no active I/O then yes you can just delete the datastores, refer to "Delete datastore" section from https://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r41/vsp_41_esxi_server_config.pdf, once the datastore is deleted do a rescan datastore at the cluster level for the changes to take affect.

I dont think the steps mentioned in http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1015084 and http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1009449 are required in your case.

Regards,
Arun

If you found this or other information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Regards, Arun VCP3/4, HPCP, HP UX CSA http://kb.vmware.com/

[ctresco]

There is still a ".dvsData" folder in the datastore... does this matter?

[f10]

Hi,

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1018394 will answer this question

Regards,
Arun

If you found this or other information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Regards, Arun VCP3/4, HPCP, HP UX CSA http://kb.vmware.com/