Best practices for VMware ESX or ESXi when scheduling SAN downtime
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Best practices for VMware ESX or ESXi when scheduling SAN downtime

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Article ID: 344420

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Updated On:

Products

VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides best practice procedures for VMware ESX or ESXi when scheduling downtime for connected SAN storage.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 6.5
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0.x 

Resolution

When physically moving an array with running virtual machines, follow this best practice procedure:

  1. Shut down all virtual machines utilizing the targeted SAN storage, or migrate the virtual machines to standby/alternate storage.
  2. Un-present the targeted LUNs from the ESX/ESXi hosts, following the step in How to detach a LUN device from ESXi hosts (2004605) 


    Note: Virtual machines display as Inaccessible if their datastores are not accessible or mounted. Through the detailed procedure in this article, this behavior is expected. They will return to a normal state after the original storage devices are re-presented to the VMware ESX/ESXi hosts.

     
  3. Complete your scheduled downtime on the SAN. Proceed to the remaining steps only after the SAN components are confirmed available or online.
  4. Re-present the LUNs to the ESX/ESXi hosts, in accordance to your SAN's documentation and best-practices.
  5. Rescan the HBA of the ESX/ESXi hosts.
  6. Confirm that the virtual machines return to a normal state, as opposed to Inaccessible.
  7. Power on the virtual machines.

Alternate method

  1. Shut down the virtual machines.
  2. Shut down the ESX/ESXi hosts for the duration of the downtime.
  3. Start the ESX/ESXi hosts and confirm that the LUNs are discovered and accessible.
  4. Start the virtual machines.