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

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.

Related VMware KB article:
https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article?legacyId=2150567

See this video: