VxRail: How to manually remove and re-create a vSAN disk group using esxcli commands

Summary: How to manually remove and re-create a vSAN disk group using esxcli.

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Instructions

Note: These steps can be data destructive if not followed carefully.

  1. Log in to the ESXi host that owns the disk group as the root user using SSH.

  2. Run one of these commands to put the host in Maintenance mode. There are three options:

    Note: VMware recommends using the ensureObjectAccessibility option. Failure to use this ensureObjectAccessibility mode or evacuateAllData mode may result in data loss.
    • Recommended:
      • Ensure accessibility of data: 
        esxcli system maintenanceMode set --enable true -m ensureObjectAccessibility
      • Evacuate data: 
        esxcli system maintenanceMode set --enable true -m evacuateAllData
    • Not recommended:
      • Do not evacuate data: 
        esxcli system maintenanceMode set --enable true -m noAction

  3. Record the cache and capacity disk IDs in the existing group by running this command:

    esxcli vsan storage list

    Example output of a capacity tier device:

    naa.123456XXXXXXXXXXX:
Device: naa.123456XXXXXXXXXXX
Display Name: naa.123456XXXXXXXXXXX
Is SSD: true
VSAN UUID: 52164f1b-668b-ec68-b293-919b04e78fa3
VSAN Disk Group UUID: 52ab175f-17c6-6f42-e10a-ca86fc1d008e
VSAN Disk Group Name: naa.50000XXXXX1245
Used by this host: true
In CMMDS: true
On-disk format version: 5
Deduplication: true
Compression: true
Checksum: 5356031598619392290
Checksum OK: true
Is Capacity Tier: true
Encryption: false
DiskKeyLoaded: false
    Note: For a cache disk:
    • The VSAN UUID and VSAN Disk Group UUID fields match
    • Output reports: Is Capacity Tier: false

  4. Then remove the disk group

    esxcli vsan storage remove -u <VSAN Disk Group UUID>
    Note: Always double check the disk group UUID with the command:
    esxcli vsan storage list

  5. If you have replaced hard drives, see the Additional Information section.

  6. Create the disk group, using this command:

    esxcli vsan storage add -s naa.xxxxxx -d naa.xxxxxxx -d naa.xxxxxxxxxx -d naa.xxxxxxxxxxxx

    Where naa.xxxxxx is the NAA ID of the disk device, and the disk devices are identified as per these options:

    • -s indicates an SSD.
    • -d indicates a capacity disk.

  7. Run the esxcli vsan storage list command to see the new disk group and verify that all disks are reporting True in the "in CMMDS:" field output.

 

Additional Information

Related VMware KB article:
https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article?legacyId=2150567This hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies.

See this video:

 

Affected Products

VxRail Software

Products

VxRail Appliance Family, VxRail Appliance Series, VxRail G Series Nodes, VxRail E Series Nodes, VxRail P Series Nodes, VxRail V Series Nodes
Article Properties
Article Number: 000021493
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 13 Jan 2025
Version:  5
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