Replace a Storage Controller in vSAN Cluster

Products

• VMware vSAN

Issue/Introduction

This article explains how to perform vSAN Disk Storage Controller (HBA) replacement activity.

Replacement of vSAN Storage Controller can be performed due to various reasons:

• Need to replace failed Storage Controller.
• Need Storage Controller with more slots to attach additional disks to host.

Environment

VMware vSAN 7.x

VMware vSAN 8.x

Resolution

Pre-requisite:

• Make a note of the vSAN Disk Group/Storage Pool configuration which is present on the old storage controller. 

• Ensure that the replacement vSAN storage controller is compatible for use with vSAN - vSAN I/O Controller.

• Make a note of the driver and firmware version for this storage controller which is compatible for the current ESXi version.

Steps for activity:

1. Place an ESXi host in the vSAN cluster into maintenance mode with either "Ensure accessibility" or "Full data migration".

2. Power OFF the ESXi host.

3. Replace the vSAN Storage Controller.

4. Power ON the ESXi host, and perform firmware/driver upgrade for the vSAN Storage Controller to ensure it is compatible.

5. With the ESXi host still in maintenance mode, validate if the vSAN Disk Group/Storage Pool is visible on the host from: vSphere Client > vSAN Cluster > Configure > Disk Management > Select the host > View Disk group:

   • Ideally, the disk group should be visible. If it is, proceed to the next step.

   • If the disk group is not visible:

     • Validate if the disks attached to the storage controller are visible on the ESXi host.

     • If they are not visible ensure the storage controller is configured in the right "disk config mode" - vSAN Storage controller not able to detect disks for use in vSAN.

     • If the disks are visible and the disk group is not, delete the existing partition on the disk and re-create the disk group.

6. Exit host out of maintenance mode and wait for resync to complete.

7. Repeat steps 1 to 6 if there are more hosts in the cluster whose storage controller needs to be changed/replaced.