How Many Storages Per Disk?

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I have a test ESX35 server running on an DL380 G3. The server has VMware installed on a RAID 1 (2 x 36GB drives) and a RAID 5 (4 x 36GB drives) is for VMFS. In VI Client, I created the first storage using the left-over space on RAID 1. I then created a second storage on RAID 5. It asked me me if I wanted to use all avalable space, I selected only 30GB for this storage. I tried to create a third storage using the 71GB left-over on RAID 5 but it was not shown up in the wizard.

What happens to the unused 71GB? Is that because I can created only 1 VMFS partition per disk?

Thx.

[AndreTheGiant]

From the VIC I'm not sure that you can create more than one datastore for each LUN.

You can use the CLI and the vmkfstools to add the new datastore or extent the existing one with the free space.

Andre

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I used fdisk at the console to create a second vmfs partiton using the rest of the disk; VIC still doesn't see that second partiton. Is vmkfstools the only way to create the second datastore? Initially with VIC I created a datastore using the whole disk. However an online posts said that having few VMs in separate vmfs partitions will increase I/O performance, is this info correct?

Thx.

[AndreTheGiant · Accepted solution]

Is vmkfstools the only way to create the second datastore?

Yes if you want more VMFS on the same disk, as I written before

However an online posts said that having few VMs in separate vmfs partitions will increase I/O performance, is this info correct?

True. But ONLY if you have different physical disks.

See also:

Andre

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Thanks. The ESX in production will be hosting 5 or 6 VMs for development and QA purpose only so I think my will just put them all into 1 vmfs partiton.

[AndreTheGiant]

I suggest 2 VMFS partitions (unless you have only a small space on your storage).

Most storage has two different controller that can work on different LUN, so you can use more path and more "power" from your storare.

Andre