ESXi host can't see FC storage devices
Goal: Get Host B to see the same storage devices as Host A
To make things simple, I'll only describe the necessary parts of the infrastructure...
Open-E SAN devices
Dell PowerEdge R430 ESXi hosts
QLogic SANBox 5802 switches
62.5/125 micron cables connecting everything
Host A can see all of the storage devices
Host B (with identical configs as Host A) cannot see two of the three storage devices highlighted above
Host A and B both have the proper FC assignments in the storage devices
They both have the proper zoning set in the QLogic switches (the switches are licensed for all ports)
I have restarted Host B with no change
NOTE: Host B used to see all the storage devices. I'm not sure why it can't anymore
What else I should be looking for?
To make things simple, I'll only describe the necessary parts of the infrastructure...
Open-E SAN devices
Dell PowerEdge R430 ESXi hosts
QLogic SANBox 5802 switches
62.5/125 micron cables connecting everything
Host A can see all of the storage devices
Host B (with identical configs as Host A) cannot see two of the three storage devices highlighted above
Host A and B both have the proper FC assignments in the storage devices
They both have the proper zoning set in the QLogic switches (the switches are licensed for all ports)
I have restarted Host B with no change
NOTE: Host B used to see all the storage devices. I'm not sure why it can't anymore
What else I should be looking for?
Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
Can you check if the LUNs are present and shown on the ESXi host ?
ASKER
Are you talking about looking in Configuration > Storage Adapters and then clicking on the HBAs?
The LUNs are not there.
Also, if I go to Configuration > Storage and attempt to Add Storage, the missing LUNs are not there.
The LUNs are not there.
Also, if I go to Configuration > Storage and attempt to Add Storage, the missing LUNs are not there.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
...also, I spoke to VMware and they said that the problem is not on their end. I might be with the switch or storage vendor. I'm not certain of that and am not sure how to locate the source of the issue in a FC environment.
ASKER
Yes, datastores are there. Everything was working before.
I don't see it being a cabling issue.
Host B can see the other LUNs so we know the host cable s are fine.
The missing datastores can be seen by every other host so we know the SAN cables are fine.
Will check WWNN and plogi/flogi now and get back to you
I don't see it being a cabling issue.
Host B can see the other LUNs so we know the host cable s are fine.
The missing datastores can be seen by every other host so we know the SAN cables are fine.
Will check WWNN and plogi/flogi now and get back to you
You should be able to easily identify a connect from the WWNN HBA in the ESXi server to FC Switches, and FC SAN, and vice versa.
when LUNs are present at the ESXi host, but datastores are not present, that's another issue VMware OS related, but if LUNs are not present suggests something external.
I would also check firmware and drivers of HBA are compatible with ESXi Host e.g. on the HCL, and also the SAN is on the HCL.
when LUNs are present at the ESXi host, but datastores are not present, that's another issue VMware OS related, but if LUNs are not present suggests something external.
I would also check firmware and drivers of HBA are compatible with ESXi Host e.g. on the HCL, and also the SAN is on the HCL.
Hi,
did you check on your San configuration that the miissing LUN are still presented to Host B ?
What is your San again ? I don't know about open-e san.
did you check on your San configuration that the miissing LUN are still presented to Host B ?
What is your San again ? I don't know about open-e san.
ASKER
OK guys, looks like something totally different.
I talked to VMware and they said that nothing is coming in from the desired SAN devices so they can't do anything.
I talked to Open-E and they said that they don't see the desired host so they can't do anything.
I talked to QLogic and they didn't see a problem but suggested that I reset the portson the SANBoxes. I first reset the ports to the host and everything started working again.
Looks like the ports to the fabric were caught up somehow. I'm not sure why only some of the SAN devices were invisible while the others were fine, but the port reset did the trick.
I talked to VMware and they said that nothing is coming in from the desired SAN devices so they can't do anything.
I talked to Open-E and they said that they don't see the desired host so they can't do anything.
I talked to QLogic and they didn't see a problem but suggested that I reset the portson the SANBoxes. I first reset the ports to the host and everything started working again.
Looks like the ports to the fabric were caught up somehow. I'm not sure why only some of the SAN devices were invisible while the others were fine, but the port reset did the trick.
ASKER
I've requested that this question be closed as follows:
Accepted answer: 0 points for pterodactylptimeptravel's comment #a41548942
for the following reason:
The offered help by others did not solve the problem. I talked to QLogic Support and they gave me the solution.
Accepted answer: 0 points for pterodactylptimeptravel's comment #a41548942
for the following reason:
The offered help by others did not solve the problem. I talked to QLogic Support and they gave me the solution.
So no flogi and plogi!
ASKER
Good point! I forgot you mentioned that. Thanks for the help.