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Identifying ESXi/ESX boot LUNs for Boot From SAN configurations (2030957)

Purpose

This article provides steps to identify boot LUNs for ESXi/ESX Boot From SAN configurations.

Resolution

To identify boot LUNs for ESXi/ESX Boot From SAN configurations:

Log into the ESXi/ESX host:
- For ESX, use an SSH client. For more information, see Connecting to an ESX host using a SSH client (1019852).
- For ESXi, use Tech Support Mode. For more information, see Tech Support Mode for Emergency Support (1003677) or Using Tech Support Mode in ESXi 4.1 and ESXi 5.x (1017910).
To obtain the bootbank and altbootbank UUIDs, run the command:

# ls -l /

Example output:

lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 49 Oct 27 17:55 altbootbank -> /vmfs/volumes/bebbef72-6cbc41fa-b169-68d3824c6d51 drwxr-xr-x 1 root root 512 Sep 17 01:11 bin lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 49 Oct 27 17:55 bootbank -> /vmfs/volumes/94671c74-55d3efd8-6f90-332c181fc3cf
To obtain the disk ID, run the command:

# vmkfstools -P path

For example:

# vmkfstools -P /vmfs/volumes/bebbef72-6cbc41fa-b169-68d3824c6d51 vfat-0.04 file system spanning 1 partitions. File system label (if any): Mode: private Capacity 261853184 (63929 file blocks * 4096), 114647040 (27990 blocks) avail UUID: bebbef72-6cbc41fa-b169-68d3824c6d51 Partitions spanned (on "disks"): naa.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:6
To check the device properties:
- On ESXi 4.x:
  
  # esxcli nmp device list -d naaID # esxcli corestorage device list -d naaID
  
  For example:
  
  # esxcli nmp device list -d naa.60060e80047e360000007e3600000261 naa.60060e80047e360000007e3600000261 Device Display Name: HITACHI Fibre Channel Disk (naa.60060e80047e360000007e3600000261) Storage Array Type: VMW_SATP_DEFAULT_AA Storage Array Type Device Config: SATP VMW_SATP_DEFAULT_AA does not support device configuration. Path Selection Policy: VMW_PSP_RR Path Selection Policy Device Config: {policy=rr,iops=1000,bytes=10485760,useANO=0;lastPathIndex=0: NumIOsPending=0,numBytesPending=0} Working Paths: vmhba0:C0:T3:L1, vmhba1:C0:T3:L1
  
  # esxcli corestorage device list -d naa.60060e80047e360000007e3600000261 naa.60060e80047e360000007e3600000261 Display Name: HITACHI Fibre Channel Disk (naa.60060e80047e360000007e3600000261) Size: 6144 Device Type: Direct-Access Multipath Plugin: NMP Devfs Path: /vmfs/devices/disks/naa.60060e80047e360000007e3600000261 Vendor: HITACHI Model: OPEN-V Revision: 5009 SCSI Level: 2 Is Pseudo: false Status: on Is RDM Capable: true Is Local: false Is Removable: false Attached Filters: VAAI Status: unknown Other UIDs: vml.020001000060060e80047e360000007e36000002614f50454e2d56
- On ESXi 5.x:
  
  # esxcli storage nmp device list -d naaID # esxcli storage core device list -d naaID
  
  For example:
  
  # esxcli storage nmp device list -d naa.60060e80047e360000007e3600000261 naa.60060e80047e360000007e3600000261 Device Display Name: NETAPP Fibre Channel Disk (naa.60060e80047e360000007e3600000261) Storage Array Type: VMW_SATP_DEFAULT_AA Storage Array Type Device Config: SATP VMW_SATP_DEFAULT_AA does not support device configuration. Path Selection Policy: VMW_PSP_FIXED Path Selection Policy Device Config: {preferred=vmhba0:C0:T6:L0;current=vmhba0:C0:T6:L0} Path Selection Policy Device Custom Config: Working Paths: vmhba0:C0:T6:L0
  
  # esxcli storage core device list -d naa.60060e80047e360000007e3600000261 naa.60060e80047e360000007e3600000261 Display Name: NETAPP Fibre Channel Disk (naa.60060e80047e360000007e3600000261) Has Settable Display Name: true Size: 30720 Device Type: Direct-Access Multipath Plugin: NMP Devfs Path: /vmfs/devices/disks/naa.60060e80047e360000007e3600000261 Vendor: NETAPP Model: LUN Revision: 0.2 SCSI Level: 4 Is Pseudo: false Status: on Is RDM Capable: true Is Local: false Is Removable: false Is SSD: false Is Offline: false Is Perennially Reserved: false Thin Provisioning Status: unknown Attached Filters: VAAI Status: unknown Other UIDs: vml.020001000060060e80047e360000007e36000002614f50454e2d56

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