Moving a Datastore Out of a Datastore Cluster (Storage DRS)

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• An administrator needs to remove a datastore from a Datastore Cluster (SDRS) but keep the datastore active and the VMs running.
• Uncertainty regarding whether moving the datastore out of the cluster impacts VM connectivity or power state.

Environment

VMware vCenter Server (all versions)

ESXi (all versions)

Resolution

Moving a datastore out of a Datastore Cluster is a metadata operation within vCenter Server. It does not involve unmounting the LUN from the ESXi hosts or moving any virtual machine data.

Impact:

• VM Availability: There is no impact on the availability or performance of hosted VMs. They remain powered on and connected to the storage.
• Storage DRS: Once moved, the datastore will no longer participate in Storage DRS (SDRS) load balancing, automation, or initial placement recommendations.

Procedure: To move a datastore out of a Datastore Cluster:

1. Navigate to the Storage view in the vSphere Client.
2. Expand the Datastore Cluster to view the individual datastores.
3. Right-click the target datastore and select Move To....
4. Select a destination folder or the parent Datacenter object.
   • Alternative: You can click and drag the datastore from the cluster and drop it onto the Datacenter or a storage folder in the Navigator pane.
5. The datastore will now appear as a standalone datastore in the inventory.

Verification:

• The datastore no longer appears under the Datastore Cluster object.
• VMs residing on the datastore remain in the inventory and continue to run without interruption.
• Check the Summary tab of the datastore to confirm it no longer lists a "Datastore Cluster."