Expanding Datastores in VMware ESXi

In a dynamic virtual environment, datastores in VMware ESXi can quickly reach their storage capacity as virtual machines and their associated files grow in size. When a datastore approaches its limits, it is essential to expand it to ensure that your virtual infrastructure can continue to operate smoothly and accommodate future growth.

This guide provides a step-by-step process for expanding a datastore in VMware ESXi. By increasing the storage capacity of a datastore, you can efficiently manage your virtualized environment and meet the storage demands of your virtual machines. Whether you are using Fibre Channel, iSCSI, NFS, or local storage, this guide will walk you through the necessary steps to successfully expand your datastores.

Step 1: Verify Storage Connectivity and Compatibility

Before expanding a datastore, ensure that the storage device is correctly connected to the ESXi host and compatible with VMware ESXi. Follow these steps:

1. Verify that the storage device (SAN, NAS, or local storage) is correctly connected to the ESXi host via Fibre Channel, iSCSI, NFS, or other supported protocols.
2. Check the VMware Hardware Compatibility Guide to ensure that the storage device and its firmware are compatible with the version of VMware ESXi you are using.

Step 2: Rescan Storage Adapters

After connecting the storage device, rescan the storage adapters on the ESXi host to detect the expanded storage capacity:

1. Log in to the vSphere Client or vCenter Server.
2. Select the ESXi host that has the datastore you want to expand.
3. Click on the “Configure” tab and select “Storage Adapters.”
4. Right-click on each storage adapter (e.g., Fibre Channel HBA or iSCSI adapter) and choose “Rescan Storage Adapters.”

Step 3: Identify the Datastore to Expand

Identify the datastore that you want to expand:

1. In the vSphere Client, navigate to the “Hosts and Clusters” view.
2. Select the ESXi host that contains the datastore you wish to expand.
3. Click on the “Configure” tab and select “Storage.”
4. Review the list of datastores and identify the one you want to expand based on its name and current size.

Step 4: Expand the Datastore

Once you have identified the datastore to expand and ensured the storage device is properly connected, follow these steps:

1. Select the ESXi host that contains the datastore you wish to expand.
2. Click on the “Configure” tab and select “Storage.”
3. Locate the datastore you want to expand and click on it to select it.
4. Click on the “Increase Datastore Capacity” button (a green plus sign) to start the “Increase Datastore Capacity” wizard.
5. Choose the extent size to use for the expansion. You can either add a new extent or use available free space on existing extents (if applicable).
6. Specify the amount of space to add to the datastore and review the new total capacity.
7. Click “Next” to review the settings and click “Finish” to expand the datastore.

Step 5: Verify Datastore Expansion

After expanding the datastore, verify its new capacity:

1. In the vSphere Client, navigate to the “Hosts and Clusters” view.
2. Select the ESXi host that contains the expanded datastore.
3. Click on the “Configure” tab and select “Storage.”
4. Locate the expanded datastore and check its new capacity to confirm the successful expansion.

Conclusion:

Expanding a datastore in VMware ESXi is a crucial task to ensure the continuous operation of your virtual infrastructure. By following this comprehensive guide, you have successfully increased the storage capacity of a datastore, allowing your environment to accommodate more virtual machines and their associated files. By proactively expanding datastores as needed, you can effectively manage your virtualized environment and meet the storage requirements of your growing virtual machines.