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How can I create a partition greater than 2TB on VMWare

Hi,

I need to create a file share that is at least 3TB in size. the server that will host this is a win 2k8 VM. We run ESX3.5 and I seem to hit the 2TB max partition problem. The only method I have seen so far is to create several vDisks, present them to Windows and then allow Windows to stripe these into one big volume. I'm not so happy about windows striping. Anybody got any other ideas?

Thanks

Ciaran

Paul Solovyovsky

You could always create a 3TB LUN (if using SAN) and connect to it via iSCSI (if that protocol is available).

I believe that you can also do this using vmware extents

ciaran_k

ASKER

I have a FC SAN connected. I looked at doing extents but regardless of how big the extent I can still only create 2TB vDisks.

Is it possible to connect the SAN directly to the Windows VM?

Thanks

Irwin W.

I will have to dbl check but last I looked, 2TB was the mac VMFS volume size under ESX 3.5

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Paul Solovyovsky

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Irwin W.

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ciaran_k

ASKER

My SAN supports LUNs larger than 2TB but it does not support iSCSI.

i was hoping to avoid using Windows to create the extended partitions, is there any reason I shouldn't do this?

Paul Solovyovsky

Just make sure you have good backups and baseline performance before you proceed.

Irwin W.

Great that your SAN supports LUNs >2TB. Fibre connected is good. Backups are your life line in the event of failure.

Using Windows to manage larger volumes should not be a problem.

ciaran_k

ASKER

apologies for the delay in coming back to this thread.

Based on the above. Its possible to create a large datastore using extents. Is it then possible to attach the datastore directly to windows to allow it to create a large partition or am I still stuck with vmfs files that windows has to stripe?

Thanks,

Ciaran

Irwin W.

If you are using ESX 3.5 it is not possible.

ciaran_k

ASKER

Will an upgrade to V-sphere allow it?

Irwin W.

Please reference this VMWare vSphere PDF www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_config_max.pdf The largest LUN supported looks to be 2TB plus, RDM still limited to 2TB.

ciaran_k

ASKER

Thanks for your help guys. I suppose I'm stuck with Windows disk management for the minute.

jjoz

so is there any performance or reliability issue if i create multiple extents in the datastore ?