Unlike VMware’s VMFS, we can extend a Cluster Shared Volume (CSV) without doing trickery that compromises performance. And has has been documented by Hans Vredevoort (clustering MVP) it is very scalable.
How do you resize or expand a CSV? It’s a pretty simple process:
- Use your storage management solution (I’m using HP EVA Command View for the EVA SAN) to expand the size of the LUN or disk.
- Use the Failover Clustering MMC to identify who is the CSV coordinator, i.e. the owner of the disk.
- Log into the CSV coordinator.
- Use either Computer Management->Storage Management or DISKPART.
- Remember to rescan the disks.
- Extend the volume to use all available space.
The steps for using DISKPART are:
- rescan
- list volume get the ID number for the CSV from here
- select volume <ID Number> using the ID number from the previous step>
- extend
- list volume to see the results
It’s a painless operation and has no impact on running VM’s.
Just for your info, extending VMFS in ESX4 is just as simple as in Windows. Even simpler since there is no coordinator to worry about.
Thanks for the info Geert. That’s a good improvement by VMware. It was not nice in 3.X
Hi
We have extended the volume on the san. We also can see the new size in disk mgmt. We cannot see the new size in the FOCM. If we use the winodws extend tool will that cuase any issues while the vm is running. Also if we us diskpart do we need to stop the cluster volume.Thanks
Hi Steven,
ID the CSV coordinator/owner in FOCM. Log into it and run Disk Management. Extend the volume there and voila … job done.
Hi Aidan
Thanks for answering my previous question. What is the difference of using disk mamanement and using diskpart. We are using server 2008 R2.
I read that exten the csv should be done with diskpart
Please advise
Thanks
Makes no difference that I know of.
Thanks Aidan
Hi Aidan,
I was wondering if i can extend the CSV while VM are running.
Thanks
You can.