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ESXi 4.0 Deleting Data Store

I want to start by detailing that i am a newb to esxi and that my experience with linux is in the moderate range.

I am trying to delete the datastore created on my RAID1 array so that I can increase the block size. I have noticed other posts on the VMKFSTOOLS commands to do this. (also tried to delete in GUI to no avail). However, I cannot get it to work. I get an error with some denied message. The only thing I can think that may be causing this is that the array (adaptec 2610) is still in the build/verifying state. WIll this affect changing/deleting the data store? If someone can please provide me with direction, it would be great. I can post other details as requested. Thanks.

laneduncan

Hmm. I wouldn't think that the array controller state would affect your ability to modify partitions on it. If you're unable to use the GUI (right-click, delete), I think I'd go with removing/re-creating the logical drive using the array controller. There can't be any question as to whether it's gone when you've deleted it using the controller.

Is there something that will prevent you from being able to do this?

ryder0707

By right esxi can run without datastore and you should be able to delete all datastores if you have any
Have you tried with root account via vSphere client?

Paul Solovyovsky

Most likely you've installed the ESXi on the same volume as your datastore. In this case the datastore is 1MB and you can't delete and redo without blowing away the whole volume.

If this is the case you will need to backup your VMs, create two volumes on the raid controller. The first volume will be used for the ESXi OS (10GB or less will do just fine) and the rest for the datastore. Install ESXi and than create a datastore on the second volume with the new block size

BlakeGriffin

ASKER

ESXi was installed on a flash drive and it automatically created the datastore on the array.

I have tried deleting the datastore in the gui. Get the message "Error during the configuration of the host: Destroy VmfsDatastore: can't delete partion 3 on lun mpx.vmhba2:C0:T0:L0"

I have tried the command below to resize the datastore and get an error (see below):
~ # vmkfstools --createfs vmfs3 --blocksize 8M /vmfs/devices/disks/mpx.vmhba2:C0:T0:L0
Creating vmfs3 file system on "mpx.vmhba2:C0:T0:L0" with blockSize 8388608 and volume label "none".
/vmfs/devices/disks/mpx.vmhba2:C0:T0:L0: Permission denied. (Have you set the partition type to 0xfb?)
Error: Permission denied

ryder0707

Can you paste the output of fdisk -l

BlakeGriffin

ASKER

I will post the fdisk -l tonight. Am away from the system for the day and dont have remote access.

BlakeGriffin

ASKER

~ # fdisk -l

Disk /dev/disks/mpx.vmhba2:C0:T0:L0: 1000.1 GB, 1000170192896 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121597 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba2:C0:T0:L0p1 1 523 4193280 6 FAT16
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba2:C0:T0:L0p2 523 537 112640 fc VMKcore
Partition 2 does not end on cylinder boundary
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba2:C0:T0:L0p3 537 121598 972422752+ fb VMFS

Disk /dev/disks/mpx.vmhba32:C0:T0:L0: 2013 MB, 2013265920 bytes
64 heads, 32 sectors/track, 1920 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 2048 * 512 = 1048576 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba32:C0:T0:L0p1 5 900 917504 5 Extended
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba32:C0:T0:L0p4 * 1 4 4080 4 FAT16 <32M
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba32:C0:T0:L0p5 5 254 255984 6 FAT16
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba32:C0:T0:L0p6 255 504 255984 6 FAT16
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba32:C0:T0:L0p7 505 614 112624 fc VMKcore
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba32:C0:T0:L0p8 615 900 292848 6 FAT16

Partition table entries are not in disk order
~ #

ryder0707

You forgot to specify the partition id
Try the following command to format it with vmfs block size=8MB and label is mylocal

vmkfstools -C vmfs3 -b 8M -S mylocal /dev/disks/mpx.vmhba2\:C0\:T0\:L0\:3

BlakeGriffin

ASKER

It appears to have took the command, however in the client it still appear to have 1 MB block size.

~ # vmkfstools -C vmfs3 -b 8M -S mylocal /dev/disks/mpx.vmhba2\:C0\:T0\:L0\:3
Creating vmfs3 file system on "mpx.vmhba2:C0:T0:L0:3" with blockSize 8388608 and volume label "mylocal".
Successfully created new volume: 4b4d7801-a5bec9ab-581e-00270e04b7f6
~ # fdisk -l

Disk /dev/disks/mpx.vmhba2:C0:T0:L0: 1000.1 GB, 1000170192896 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121597 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id Sys tem
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba2:C0:T0:L0p1 1 523 4193280 6 FAT16
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba2:C0:T0:L0p2 523 537 112640 fc VMKcore
Partition 2 does not end on cylinder boundary
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba2:C0:T0:L0p3 537 121598 972422752+ fb VMFS

Disk /dev/disks/mpx.vmhba32:C0:T0:L0: 2013 MB, 2013265920 bytes
64 heads, 32 sectors/track, 1920 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 2048 * 512 = 1048576 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id Sy stem
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba32:C0:T0:L0p1 5 900 917504 5 Extend ed
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba32:C0:T0:L0p4 * 1 4 4080 4 FAT16 <32M
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba32:C0:T0:L0p5 5 254 255984 6 FAT16
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba32:C0:T0:L0p6 255 504 255984 6 FAT16
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba32:C0:T0:L0p7 505 614 112624 fc VMKcor e
/dev/disks/mpx.vmhba32:C0:T0:L0p8 615 900 292848 6 FAT16

Partition table entries are not in disk order
~ #

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ryder0707

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BlakeGriffin

ASKER

I didn't refresh the properties. I exited and reentered the GUI figuring that would refresh, but it never did. After doing the refresh, it appears to have worked. Thanks for your help on this issue.

BlakeGriffin

ASKER

Fast, knowledgeable, accurate support. Very responsive.