Upgrading Datastore from VMFS5 to VMFS6

Mindwatering Incorporated

Author: Tripp W Black

Created: 01/25/2020 at 04:46 PM

 

Category:
VMWare
Host Configuration

Issue:
You have all VMs evacuated from "depracated" datastores running VMFS5 and you want to upgrade it to VMFS6. There is no option.

Solution:
There is no in-place upgrade.
You have to remove and re-add the datastore and format it to VMFS6 when adding it back to the vSphere environment.

Steps:
1. Migrate (evacuate) all VMs to another datastore. If you don't have vMotion, you'll have to shut them down first.
<datastore name> --> VMs tab --> right-click VM --> Migrate --> Change Storage Only --> <select new datastore> --> Confirm

2. Put the datastore in maintenance mode.
Right-click <datastore name> --> Maintenance Mode --> Enter Maintenance Mode

3. Verify the datastore is empty by using the Files tab.
<datastore name> --> Files tab

Important:
If there is a .locker folder with files, then this datastore is being used for scratch (swap) space for ESXi, and therefore, needs to be moved.
On an other datastore already upgraded, create a .locker folder.
On the other datastore's summary properties page, copy and paste the /vmfs/volumes/<code> to the clipboard.
On the system Configuration tab, under the System section, click the Advanced settings, option. In the search field enter the word "scratch" to filter the advanced options.
Highlight the first of two results, ScratchConfig.ConfiguredScratchLocation, click Edit option, and change the path to use the new Location hexadecimal <code>. Make sure you leave the /.locker after that path, and click Save.
Highlight the first of two results, ScratchConfig.CurrentScratchLocation, click Edit option, and change the path to use the new Location hexadecimal <code>. Make sure you leave the /.locker after that path, and click Save.
Reboot the host.

4. One datastore is confirmed empty, remove it.
- Note the size and UNID of the datastore name. We'll need it to re-add it.
e,g.
ds:///vmfs/volumes/52aba333-a2b56d4a-af01-a41f1363a21a/ and 991.69.GB
Right-click <datastore name> --> Delete Datastore

5. Use the New Datastore wizard, to add the datastore back. We will reformat it as it is added.
Right-click the datacenter or host, select Storage --> New Datastore to start the wizard.

Locate the removed datastore and re-add it. In this example, we are using local host datastore using the UNID and size above.
Give the datastore the same name. Change the block-size from 1MB if desired.
Type (tab) --> VMFS --> Next (button) -->
Name and device selection (tab) --> Datastore name: <datastore name> --> Select type, UNID, and confirm space matches one previously deleted in step #4 --> Next (button).






previous page