What is VMFS datastore in VMware?

VMFS is used to store disc images and the files that make up a virtual machine or template. VMFS deposits files in a storage container called a datastore, a separate filesystem that runs on top of a volume. Datastores reside on a block-based device such as iSCSI.

What is a VMware LUN?

A LUN is a logical section of storage. A LUN can be backed by a single disk or multiple disks. It can also be allocated from a disk pool/volume/aggregate depending on the storage vendor’s terminology. A datastore is a description VMware uses for an area of storage that virtual machines can reside on.

What is VMFS volume?

The VMware Virtual Machine File System (VMFS) is a powerful automated file system that simplifies storage management for virtual machines. As a volume manager, VMFS serves as the interface for virtualization of several storage options that a storage area network provides.

What is VMFS in ESXi?

VMFS (Virtual Machine File System) VMFS is a high-performance clustered file system for virtualization and can be shared between multiple ESXi hosts or VMs and can simultaneously write and read data to and from a single storage location.

What do you need to know about Luns in VMware?

Each LUN must have the correct RAID level and storage characteristic for the applications running in virtual machines that use the LUN. Each LUN must contain only one VMFS datastore. If multiple virtual machines access the same VMFS, use disk shares to prioritize virtual machines. You might want fewer, larger LUNs for the following reasons:

Can a LUN copy of a VMFS be resignatured?

When you perform datastore resignaturing, consider the following points: Datastore resignaturing is irreversible. The LUN copy that contains the VMFS datastore that you resignature is no longer treated as a LUN copy. A spanned datastore can be resignatured only if all its extents are online. The resignaturing process is crash and fault tolerant.

When to make a LUN decision for ESXi?

You must plan how to set up storage for your ESXi systems before you format LUNs with VMFS datastores. When you make your LUN decision, the following considerations apply: Each LUN must have the correct RAID level and storage characteristic for the applications running in virtual machines that use the LUN.

Can a vSphere client extend the VMFS datastore?

Use the vSphere Client to set up the VMFS datastore in advance on the block-based storage device that your ESXi host discovers. The VMFS datastore can be extended to span over several physical storage devices that include SAN LUNs and local storage.