OpenManage for VMWare ESXi does not have virtual disk Tasks option

Question

OMSA v 7.1 and 7.2 for Windows (and earlier versions) allow the user to perform many tasks on virtual disks, including reconfigure--expanding a RAID array with a new disk. This is not true for Open Manage for VMWare ESXi--  although you can monitor the status of the RAID and disks with the OMSA browser type of interface, you can't perform any tasks-- can't even make a drive light blink. This is a huge problem, because the PERC controllers (H700 and H800, for example) don't let you expand virtual disks using non-Dell hard drives when you attempt this during boot-up in bios.  (These controllers will only let you create new virtual disks using non-Dell drives). This testing was performed using the latest firmware (12.10.4-0001 A10) and drivers for the H700 and H800, and several r610 servers running ESXi 5.1. Have other people with VMWare been affected by this?  The only solution is to have two drive arrays attached to the computer, create a simple Windows Server with OMSA, boot into Windows, and expand the array using OMSA for Windows. I'd be interested in comments from others, including Dell people.  We've spent hours with Dell on the phone; this seems to be the only solution.  (Yes, Dell released a firmware version last year that stopped blocking non-Dell drives, but it only works for creating a new virtual disk, not expanding an existing one).

hudson8 · Accepted Answer

Yes. It came through a discussion in the Dell | Servers| RAID community discussion.

en.community.dell.com/.../20263442.aspx

There is a bootable linux CD called OMSA Live that you download from PowerEdge (linux OS) systems management.

This OMSA does control the PERC H700 and H800 and lets you do everything. Once you reconfigure the RAID and the PERC card starts rebuilding, though it seems risky, you can reboot into VMware and the rebuilding of the RAID continues on. And you can monitor it with OMSA for VMware.

brian.mccarthy · Answer

Did you ever find a *real* solution to this?

Systems Management General

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