Disabling PMem via ESXi when there is no server BIOS option

Products

• VMware vSAN
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This KB provides the steps required to disable PMem via ESXi when there is no option via the server BIOS, such as Dell PowerFlex Appliance

Environment

VMware vSAN (All Versions)

VMware vSphere (All Versions)

Resolution

The below steps should only be performed if there are no VMs configured to use PMem and the PMem datastores contain no data 

1. Log into the Host UI
2. Place the host into Maintenance Mode
3. Select Storage > Persistent Memory > Namespaces > Namespace > Delete
   
   Note: If the host is not in maintenance mode you will get a warning "The host needs to be in Maintenance Mode. Are you OK to put the host into Maintenance Mode." Say Yes
   
   
4. Once you hit Delete on the namespace you will get the below warning, say Yes
   
   
   
5. SSH into the host and run command esxcli system settings kernel set -s autoSetupLocalPMem -v 0 to disable PMem
6. Reboot the host
7. Log back into the Host UI and you should no longer see the PMem datastores