Symmetrix LUN Number Problems-RDMs and VMFS

[Jujo]

We have a large ESX environment with a mix of RDM and VMFS on EMC Symettrix VMAX storage. The problem is that every time we add new RDMs or VMFS or new ESX hosts- we have to manually change the LUN numbers to match the LUN numbers already in use in the ESX farm. This VERY time consuming and really slowing us down. Everytime we zone in a new host with the Symettrix it lists the devices in alphabetical order and then assigns LUN number based on that. So we have to change all the LUN numbers to match what is already in place on the farm.

Do you guys have any suggestions about how to get around this without a LOOOOOONG manual process? Is there some way to have the Symettrix pickup and use the existing LUN number instead of assigning new ones?

Thanks!

[Jujo]

BTW- If anyone is checking we think we've found a solution. The SAN guys created a new iniator group with all the VMFS luns attached. Each ESX host gets it's own initiator group which is then nested inside the "parent" initiator group. That way we don't have to present all the LUNs to each ESX host.