Storage alarms trigger when the full datastore size is assigned to a virtual machine

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides steps to set up storage alarms, ensuring datastores are excluded from alarm triggers and alerts. This prevents false positive information displaying in vCenter Server.

Symptoms:

• Storage alarms trigger when the full datastore size is assigned to a virtual machine.
• A yellow or red exclamation mark displays on the vCenter Server next to the server or datastore.

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 4.1.x
VMware vCenter Server 4.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 5.0.x

Cause

This issue occurs when the full size of the datastore (for example, Raw Manager disks and dedicated volumes) is assigned to a single virtual machine or set of virtual machines, and all the storage space is not filled with data.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, disable alarm actions or create custom alarms.

To disable alarm actions for alerts sent via SMS or email:

1. In vSphere Client, create a folder in the Datastores and Clusters Tab.
2. Move a datastore into the new folder.
3. Right-click the folder and click Disable Alarm Actions.
   
   Note: You are notified by SMS or email that there is an issue.

To create custom alarms, disable the Datastore usage on disk alarm at the top root level above the data center:

1. Go into the Inventory, then click the Datastores and Datastore Clusters tab.
2. Create folders for all of the datastores and move them into appropriate folders. For example, one folder for Alarms/Actions, one folder for No Alarms/Actions.
3. In the folder created for Alarms/Actions, recreate the Datastore usage on Disk alarm disabled earlier.
4. Right-click the No Alarms/Actions folder and click Disable Alarm Actions.