Unable to create vSAN disk group because some disks show as ineligible

Products

• VMware vSAN

Issue/Introduction

In vSAN Disk Management view, when Create Disk Group is selected, a disk intended for the new diskgroup is not selectable.

- This may happen with either cache or capacity disk selection.

 

The disk is visible in the vSAN Disk Management view, but listed as Ineligible under claimable state.

Environment

vSAN (all versions).

Cause

The disk already has active partitions on it.

Either it was previously used as part of a vSAN diskgroup, or was used for something else, e.g. a boot disk.

 

Resolution

After confirming that the data on this disk is not required for any other reason, erase the partitions on this disk so vSAN will treat it as a new blank disk.

 

Select the disk in the vSAN Disk Management view, right-click, and choose "Erase partitions".

The disk will now show as unclaimed in the Claimable state column.

 

Create the vSAN diskgroup, including this disk.

Additional Information

The Erase Partitions operation is irreversible. Only perform this step when certain that whatever was previously on the disk is no longer required.