Live Conversion RDM in VMDK

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• Shared RDM or VMDK of NLB Cluster?

  We have a cluster of load-balanced NETWORK R2 2012 hosting a web application.  We would like to have a shared storage location that can be referenced by each server in real time.  I created a LUN and added a RDM and VMDK, but the other server sees no change, unless I re - mount the drive.  I added the channel multi-writer in advanced options for the two virtual machines thinking that can solve the problem, but nevertheless - I suspect that this could lead to an easy way to corrupt the files.

  That said, what is the best approach for this?  We currently have a network share that is referenced by each server, but for me that adds variables to a network problem, causing problems, or the account used to authenticate the part does not.

  What other options do we have?

  Thanks to this, we recently a million times.

  NTFS (without CSV) is not compatible with the cluster file system and as such cannot handle simultaneous write access from multiple hosts to a block storage device. Your configuration will not work in a world purely physical as well.

  Please see these threads on the same subject:

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• SVMotion rdm for vmdk

  When I try to svmotion a virtual machine with physical rdm attached to it, I want to convert VMDK but I do not see the option. I fact svmotioned the vmx and vmdk Os file. Also moved the map of rdm file. How convert vmdk?

  Remove it, he as a virutal rdm readd and then you can to a vmdk svmotion

  VMware converter should work too

  Here's how to convert your phsical one rdm rdm virutal if you need:

  http://sparrowangelstechnology.blogspot.com/2012/09/convert-your-physical-RDM-RDMP-to.html

  Here's how to convert your virutal rdm a vmdk using sotrage vmotion:

  http://sparrowangelstechnology.blogspot.com/2012/09/SVMotion-RDM-to-VMDK-virtual-disk.html

• Convert a RDM a VMDK (virtual disk)

  We are currently running vSphere/ESX 4 and EMC SAN.  Our SAN is replaced by an updated model.  Dell/EMC will perform the data migration and recently told us that if we want to keep our RDM they would be able to copy their bit to bit.  Which means that we cannot change our size of the LUN.

  They told us to move our existing data to LUN more (or less) that we need to convert our RDMs VMDK.

  We currently have three separate virtual computer that will connect to a RDM on SAN (Exchange, SQL, and a file server).

  Is it possible to convert the RDM in VMDK?  If so, how?

  I searched the forums and has been unable to find an answer.

  Keep your support ticket opened until the problem is solved - you did update the VMware Support?

• physical conversion RDM virtual RDM

  Hello

  is this possible without actual destroying RDM and constituting in RDM virtual physical? We have more than 2 TB of data on it and online extension is problem because virtual RDM must be restarted to recognize the new drive size...

  Damir

  Hello

  It can happen only when the virtual machine is turned off.

  Best regards

  Edward L. Haletky

  VMware communities user moderator

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  Blue gears and SearchVMware Pro Articles: http://www.astroarch.com/wiki/index.php/Blog_Roll

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• Problem of cluster Failover MS after physical RDM conversion to VMDK

  Hello

  Last week I had to migrate 7 x 2-nodes virtual MS Failover clusters to a new data center. All clusters have been configured with the configuration of the cabin and all shared disks were in physical RDM mode.

  The target data center does not RDM disks so I had to convert all RDM disks VMDK files and use config before the migration of the IPC.

  I used vmkfstools to convert VMDK eagdrzeroedthick RDM files.

  5 clusters have been migrated successfully, but two cluster got strange question even if the procedure for all groups was the same.

  So in two groups, I have a problem where the second node in the cluster can not put online some of the shared disks. The first nodes in the clusters have no problem with the disks/SSP.

  But when I try to failover of all services, the second node may not bring online disc 1 or 2 shared, even if she can put the other shared disks online.

  VMKernel.log is not errors or warnings. I checked the configuration of virtual machines and everything seems OK.

  Any ideas what I could check?

  Just in case anyone else is facing the same problem.

  I could not find the root cause of the problem, even if it's without a doubt the conversion that triggered the problem. However, we found quite a simple solution - added new shared VMDK files, copied the files over and replaced the defective discs.

• RDM vs. big files vmdk

  I saw this topic many times during the research on this topic and I did some tests in my environment to see how things are run.  I've seen conflicting information, and some of them may relate to different versions of vSphere, so I thought I would ask again using the observations I have.

  I try to implement the virtual file servers and would like to have them with 1 TB of space on their.  I am using vSphere 4 and my back-end storage is a collection of Equallogic iSCSI networks.

  Comments:

  1. the RDM or maximum VMFS datastore that I create is 2047 GB (No 2048 or 2 TB).  I have seen this documented in other threads and it seems to be true.

  2. the block size to put in shape, of the data store VMFS creates high vmdk and RDM file size limit.  1 MB / 2MB, 256GB / 512 GB, 4 MB/1 TB and 8 MB/2 TB.  I've read a few threads that says THAT RDM were not confined to vmdk file size constraints. I found an article that explained that the RDM, even if a pointer or link, is still limited to the top file limit based on the size of block formatting.

  3. If your data warehouses are formatted differently with regard to the size of the blocks, it should / could have some problems when you try to migrate their (hot or cold).  This makes sense because the target data store must be formatted with a block size that accommodates the RDM or vmdk.

  My questions:

  1. What is the impact of using different block sizes?  This is the performance, or is it purely allowing large files?  With a larger block size, I guess he could have lost there more space, but are they practical interest for VMFS or RDM?  Any guestimates about the actual % waste?  Any suggestions on the most convenient to use?  I suppose also that a VMFS partition cannot be changed after formatting the block size?

  2. If the RDM and vmdk are limited to the same maximum size based on the VMFS data store, what is the real difference between them.  I am particularly interested in virtual mode, because I want to use Veeam to save things and I need support for snapshots.

  3. assuming that I can accomplish in objective 1 TB using vmdk or RDM, why should I choose one over the other?  It seems that based on reading, the RDM method can seem like the cleaner solution with regard to the Organization of my SAN, but other messages say you must use vmdk when possible.

  Sorry for the long post.  All your comments and discussion would be really useful.

  Thank you.

  Chuck.

  To clarify your comments:

  > 1.  The RDM or maximum VMFS datastore that I create is 2047 GB (2048 no or 2 TB).  I have seen this documented in other threads and it seems to be true.

  The maximum size of any SCSI logic unit number ESX4 unique can handle is 2 TB-512 byte (even presented via iSCSI, FC, local no matter).

  As a ROW corresponds to a single LUN, he is inherently limited to 2 TB-512 bytes as well. However, a VMFS volume can span multiple LUNS with up to 32 degrees, so you can build a 64 to VMFS volume too. A single file on a VMFS will always be limited to 2 TB maximum depending on the size of block VMFS.

  It is also important to mention that NFS data warehouses do not have this limit of 2 TB.

  > 2.  The block size for setting in the form, of the data store VMFS creates high vmdk and RDM file size limit.  1 MB / 2MB, 256GB / 512 GB, 4 MB/1 TB and 8 MB/2 TB.  I've read a few threads that says THAT RDM were not confined to vmdk file size constraints. I found an article that explained that the RDM, even if a pointer or link, is still limited to the top file limit based on the size of block formatting.

  RDM in virtual compatibility mode are subject to the limitaitons of blocksize VMFS are the same way VMDK files. RDM physical mode are only limited by the limit of unit number logic SCSI explained above, since there is no VMFS on a physical LUN mode. See also http://virtualkenneth.com/2009/11/10/vmfs-and-block-size-is-important-for-virtual-rdms/

  > 3.  If your data warehouses are formatted differently with regard to the size of the blocks, it should / could have some problems when you try to migrate their (hot or cold).  This makes sense because the target data store must be formatted with a block size that accommodates the RDM or vmdk.

  There is no problem with VM migration hot or cold between VMFS volumes formatted with different blocksizes, but generally, it takes more time and has a greater impact on performance, VAAI does not work in either block sizes. I advise to use a common block of 8MB on all your VMFS volumes. There is no problem using 8 MB even though your VMS would install all in 1 MB.

  To answer your questions:

  > 1. What is the impact of using different block sizes? This is the performance, or is it purely allowing large files?

  There is no this is really purely to allow large files. Small files use small subblocks anyway and you usually don't have a lot of files on a VMFS too, so the unused space is of no interest. You cannot change the block size later. You must delete and re-create the data store. Again, I would just go for 8 MB everywhere.

  Also see this article:

  http://www.VMware.com/files/PDF/vmfs_rdm_perf.PDF

  > 2.  If the RDM and vmdk are limited to the same maximum size based on the VMFS data store, what is the real difference between them.  I am particularly interested in virtual mode, because I want to use Veeam to save things and I need support for snapshots.

  It should be more clear with my previous explanations. The differences are also explained more in-depth in the PDF document linked above and can be found in the regular documentation as well.

  > 3.  Assuming that I can accomplish in objective 1 TB using vmdk or RDM, why should I choose one over the other?

  You can easily make a 1 TB drive for a virtual machine with the two methods. I'd still go for a VMDK in your case, because it is easier to handle and not really disadvantages on a ROW. Personally, I see no real reason to use a RDM in virtual compatibility mode. Physical compatibility mode can make sense for stuff like inside a guest SAN management software or if you want to share the file system of the LUN between other hosts (physical).

  BTW. Another option with iSCSI storage is to use only an iSCSI initiator inside the host on the network virtual, totally independent of the hypervisor, which raises the limit of 2 TB too.

  Also I have recommended reading:

  http://DeinosCloud.WordPress.com/2010/07/26/understanding-VMFS-block-size-and-file-size/

• Performance RDM vs sober Fibra SAN discos VMDK

  Hola,

  Tengo una duda me gustaria that alguien con mas experiencia me pudiese resolver.

  El a SAN entorno con fibra discos, the duda are TR alojar el disco a virtual that contain una DB como o como VMDK RDM server.

  Es muy diferente el performance that will get?

  Gracias.

  Hola Jquilez, you recommend the reading of the following back VMware benchmarks, Aduaneiras one you question:

  http://www.VMware.com/files/PDF/vmfs_rdm_perf.PDF

  http://www.VMware.com/files/PDF/performance_char_vmfs_rdm.PDF

  Debes recordar el acceso has the LUNS as Raw Device Mapping adhere directly material al y formateas unidad directly in the telephone box of discos. In con cambio VMFS tienes esa capa intermedia. Personally, if encuentro mayor speed in el acceso a los RDM vs VMDK, pero solo para casos concretos. Debes tener in cuenta con Québec en modo fisico podras hacer VMotion RDM y HA y con RDM virtual, podras clonar.

• Physical RDM virtual RDMs taken in charge in vSphere 6.0

  Anyone know if this process in KB 1006599 works in vSphere 6.0 +?

  VMware KB: Switching between physical and virtual compatibility modes in ESX/ESXi, a mapping of raw data

  We are about to move a bunch of RDM to VMDK, but we need to convert physical to virtual RDMs first (you can live storage migration [to VMDK] with virtual RDM but not medical examinations). The other part of the story is that we are running vSphere 5.5 and are about to upgrade to vSphere 6.0

  KB wrote on October 17, 2014 and I wonder if this is still the method support in vSphere 6.0 and that it has not been updated; or if it is no longer supported, in which case I have to do the migration before the upgrade?

  Thank you

  I see no reason why this will not work in vSphere 6, given that the procedure is simply to remove the physical RDM disks and add them again as RDM virtual disks... In my view, that the KB is just outdated.

• RDM pyhsical passthrough problem hard drive with partition type 0xfd (raid autodetect matrices)

  I tried to passthrough my records of nas synology with 0xfd partition type.

  vmkfstools - z vmfs, devices, disks, t10. ATA___ST2000DL0032D9VT166___XXXXXXXX /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/RDM/NAS2TB_1_XXXXXXXX.vmdk - a free

  results in: unable to create the virtual disk: the specified device is not a valid physical disk (20) device.

  The reason seems to be the type of partition 0xfd (raid autodetect matrices). This problem is presented with the disk itself.

  No idea how to fix?

  P.S.:

  I tried also to my sata on board my Point of Lynx DH87RL passthrough intel AHCI, but it failed when the connection to the virtual machine:

  Re: DirectPath I/O for Haswell Lynx Point SATA AHCI controller

  I found the failure. It's a little embarrassing.

  It was just the missing ' / ' in front of vmfs.

  Now, my drives are running in physical RDM mode.

  P.S.: Just pull-out taking the SATA controller does not work. See the link to the last thread.

• RAW Device mapping (RDM)

  OLA,

  Tenho o seguinte caso, 2 LUNS of 1.5 t apresentado para 3 guests. vMotion, HA, DRS, São os recursos than serao band data recovery.

  Disponibilizar uma LUN only preciso para uma VM, para ser minha application data base.

  Awesoe than este caso e conhecido como Raw Device Mappings (RDMS).

  Docks os problemas posso ter tendo em vista meus recursos citados para terms.

  Shivers?

  Very docks series os pros and contras?

  Obrigado

  Te svetila a sober tudo ler na documentacao oficial:

  MAS básicamente, os benefits e voce tem uma superior performance using RDM ao VMDK investment, isso e bom para fileserver large por exemplo. Contact a benefits, vai dpender to voce vai use em or virtual physical compatibility mode.

  Boa sort

  Sober Raw Device

  http://pubs.VMware.com/vSphere-4-ESXi-installable-vCenter/index.jsp?topic=/com.VMware.vSphere.esxi_server_config.doc_41/esx_server_config/raw_device_mapping/c_limitations_of_raw_device_mapping.html

  Benefits

  http://pubs.VMware.com/vSphere-4-ESXi-installable-vCenter/index.jsp?topic=/com.VMware.vSphere.esxi_server_config.doc_41/esx_server_config/raw_device_mapping/c_limitations_of_raw_device_mapping.html

  Limitacoes

  http://pubs.VMware.com/vSphere-4-ESXi-installable-vCenter/index.jsp?topic=/com.VMware.vSphere.esxi_server_config.doc_41/esx_server_config/raw_device_mapping/c_limitations_of_raw_device_mapping.html

• What happens to changes made to the file during a p2v/v2v conversion?

  We are eager to do a V2V conversion on a file server that has a data partition on thick disk of provisioned to get slim with HDD resize.  I started an online conversion (vm under tension) and things are going very well, but what happens to files that are modified on the server while this process takes place?  Virtual machine changes source is written to the destination virtual machine towards the end of the conversion process?  Similar to when you migrate to another host/store data?

  I looked through the converter and the importer a few user guides, but I've seen no mention of this.  They were older documents, I found for esx 3.x.

  Someone at - it a document or advice on this?

  Thank you.

  5 converter has the ability to intercept any change during the P2V conversion of post synchronization. There are two types - a regular synchronization and let the live conversion or a final synchronization that complements the P2V.

• great svMotion RDM

  Looking for world real experiences on someone who has svMotion'ed a big RDM or vmdk...

  I am planning on doing a RDM 1.4TB (in virt compat mode)

  Just curious as to how long it took, and if he had problems in such a large Chuck of data moving. I am worried about how long it may take, and how the snapshot will face being here for so long.

  He'll go to a unit number logic on the same SAN with the same level of raid etc. The SAN is an eva8400. No Nottm.

  It is a file server, and access ramps up between 07:00 - 18:00, so outside of the times would really go

  What is the long/plus largest svMotion you did?

  See you soon

  I just did a 1.5 to non - RDM vmdk, a week or two ago.  It was between 2 datacenters with 10g connectivity.  It took less than a day (I guess that 10 to 12 hours, but I don't remember for sure).  It was on ESXi 4.1U1.  I did it during the day, but it was a test system with a database MySQL on this subject.

  I did a 600 + GB non - RDM vmdk between these same data centers while we were still in ESX 4.0 and it took several days.  Moral of the story is to make sure that your ESX installation is current...

• Use of instant space for disc RDM

  Dear all,

  ESX Server can support data store VMDK, physical RDM & RDM compatibility.

  Is the comparability of disk speed, physical RDM > RDM compatibility > VMDK Data Store?

  RDM compatibility seems can take advantage of instant virtualization.

  How the use of snap RDM compatibility spaces?

  Thanks for any input.

  Dennis Dai

  Take a look on: http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vmfs_rdm_perf.pdf

  Physical RDM are a little faster, but you can not the snapshot on this subject.

  Virtual RDM can create snap by creating a delta file in the folder of the virtual machine, if you need space in this point to have the instant copy growing up.

  André