Configuring an ESX host fails with the error: DestroyVmfsDatastore: can't delete partition 1 on lun naa.5000cca216d1588

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Unable to configure the ESX host
• You see the error:
  
  Error during the configuration of the host:DestroyVmfsDatastore: can't delete partition 1 on lun naa.5000cca216d1588
  
  
• A direct session to the ESX host does not resolve this issue

Environment

VMware ESXi 4.0.x Installable
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Embedded
VMware ESX 4.0.x
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Installable
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Embedded

Cause

This issue occurs if you are unable to delete the datastore of the ESX host.

Resolution

To work around this issue, delete the partition from the command line.

To delete the partition:

1. Connect to the ESX host using an SSH session or ILO/DRAC.
   
   Note: To access the command line on an ESXi host, you must enable Tech Support Mode. For more information, see Tech Support Mode for Emergency Support (1003677).
   
   

   Warning: Tech Support Mode should only be used at the request of VMware technical support.

   
   
2. Run the command:
   
   fdisk /vmfs/devices/disks/naa.<number>
   
   Note: In this command, <number> is the NAA number displayed in the error message.
   
3. Press d.
4. Select partition 1.
5. Press w. You see the message:
   
   The partition table has been altered!
   
   
6. Refresh the vmfs by running this command in the SSH or ILO session:
   
   vmkfstools –V
   
   
7. Refresh the VMware Infrastructure Client GUI.
   
   Note: For more information on troubleshooting the error last_lba(): I don't know how to handle files with mode 8180, see An error message appears after you enter the fdisk command with the absolute path of the disk (1010009).

Additional Information

An error message appears after you enter the fdisk command with the absolute path of the disk