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March 5th, 2012 11:00
Expanding Virtual disk in AX45i
Hello All,
i have one AX4-5i storage array..two esx cluster servers attached to that array i have created 7 virtual disks.Today i got one request that is extending the existing LUN...After extended the LUN our VMWare people could not able to see the extended drive...I could able to see the change of size in my AX4-5i..can anyone suggest me the correct route.Thanks in Advance!!!
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christopher_ime
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March 5th, 2012 22:00
What version of ESX/ESXi is involved?
How are the virtual disks (Navisphere Express) being utilized by ESX/ESXi? Are they
a) RDM's
b) VMFS datastores
I'll assume that the VMware admins have rescanned and the updated size is not reflected in the Storage Adapters view?
Some thoughts (which are dependent upon the questions above):
1) If VMFS (not ESX/ESXi) v3.x or less, an extent/storage device cannot be larger than 2TB - 512 bytes.
Did you increase larger than this?
2) If ESX/ESXi 3.x, extending datastores can only be accomplished by adding additional extents/storage devices (up to 32).
3) Are these storage devices/virtual disks (Navisphere Express) being utilitized as RDM's?
Sathish Dodda
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March 5th, 2012 23:00
Hi Christopher Thanks for you reply.
I am not sure about Version of ESX/ESXi....I think it is V4......
How are the virtual disks (Navisphere Express) being utilized by ESX/ESXi? Are they
a) RDM's
b) VMFS datastores
Ans: VMFS Datastores.
1) If VMFS (not ESX/ESXi) v3.x or less, an extent/storage device cannot be larger than 2TB - 512 bytes.
Did you increase larger than this?
Ans:Tha actual Datastore Size is 446GB. I have extended 60GB only as i dont have enough of space now.
I'll assume that the VMware admins have rescanned and the updated size is not reflected in the Storage Adapters view?
Ans: Yes they could not able to find the extended size of LUN in Storage Adapters View.And also they have tried by do the RIGHT CLICK on SELECT the PROPERTIES of existing DATASTORE.They can able to see the LUN with 506GB.But when they tried to do by select on INCRESE option they could not find the new extended size.And finally they told when we use VMFS datastore,even if you are able to EXTEND the lun in Navishepre express we cant expand in VMWare side...Is it Correct??....Can i reclaim the extened 60GB lun..I believe it is not possible....Please advice
christopher_ime
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March 5th, 2012 23:00
Unless you happen to be running ESX/ESXi v3.x, then in version 4, they did introduce the capability to increase a VMFS datastore by extending the underlying LUN/storage device dynamically/online (while still an option in v4, in v3.x you could only increase by adding separate extents).
>> And finally they told when we use VMFS datastore,even
>> if you are able to EXTEND the lun in Navishepre express
>> we cant expand in VMWare side...Is it Correct??....
Was this an assessment by VMware or EMC support? I don't deal with Navisphere Express often, but curiously you mention they are seeing the additional capacity (but not in the storage adapters view?). This leads into the following thought...
>> They can able to see the LUN with 506GB
Since you mentioned that in vSphere Client they are seeing the additional capacity (506GB), I'm curious where exactly are they seeing the increased capacity? Instead, could you have them provide a screenshot of the properties page of the datastore (the same view that the "Increase" button resides). I am interested in the following which are part of the properties page:
1) Format:
- Filesystem: VMFS version (possibly datastores carried over from an older version of ESX)
2) Device:
- Lists the raw space which should show 506GB
3) Primary Partitions
- Lists the current VMFS size which will likely show ~446GB (minus the VMFS overhead)
>> But when they tried to do by select on INCRESE
>> option they could not find the new extended size
Correct, that would be the procedure to extend the datastore. When you click "Increase", on the next page what you should see (and what you would select) is the current LUN listing the following:
1) Updated capacity: 506GB
2) Most importantly, under the column: "Expandable", is this showing as "Yes"?
If it is showing as "No", then (for a reason I am not familiar with but hoping someone else can identify) VMware or EMC support assessment is correct.
Have a look at the following VMware KB article that might assist:
1) Unable to grow or expand a VMFS volume or datastore
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1017662
2) Extending a VMFS volume to use new LUN space after expansion
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1752
>> Can i reclaim the extened 60GB lun..I believe it is not possible....
>> Please advice
Correct, unfortunately once extended, you cannot reclaim that space.