vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-55-storage-guide

Chapter 16 Working with DatastoresCreating a Diagnostic PartitionTo run successfully, your host must have a diagnostic partition or a dump partition to store core dumps fordebugging and technical support.Typically, a local diagnostic partition is created during ESXi installation. You can override this defaultbehavior if, for example, you use shared storage devices instead of local storage. To prevent automatic diskformatting, detach the local storage devices from the host before you install ESXi and power on the host forthe first time. You can later create a diagnostic partition on a local disk or on a private or shared SAN LUNusing the client.The following considerations apply:• A diagnostic partition cannot be located on an iSCSI LUN accessed through the software iSCSI ordependent hardware iSCSI adapter. For more information about diagnostic partitions with iSCSI, see“General Boot from iSCSI SAN Recommendations,” on page 107.• Unless you are using diskless servers, set up a diagnostic partition on a local storage.• Each host must have a diagnostic partition of 110MB. If multiple hosts share a diagnostic partition on aSAN LUN, the partition should be large enough to accommodate core dumps of all hosts.• If a host that uses a shared diagnostic partition fails, reboot the host and extract log files immediatelyafter the failure. Otherwise, the second host that fails before you collect the diagnostic data of the firsthost might not be able to save the core dump.To mange the host’s diagnostic partition, use the vCLI commands. See vSphere Command-Line InterfaceConcepts and Examples.Create a Diagnostic Partition in the vSphere Web ClientCreate a diagnostic partition for your host.Procedure1 Browse to the host in the vSphere Web Client navigator.2 Right-click the host, and select All Virtual Infrastructure Actions > Add Diagnostic Partition.If you do not see this option, the host already has a diagnostic partition.3 Specify the type of diagnostic partition.OptionPrivate LocalPrivate SAN StorageShared SAN StorageDescriptionCreates the diagnostic partition on a local disk. This partition stores faultinformation only for your host.Creates the diagnostic partition on a non-shared SAN LUN. This partitionstores fault information only for your host.Creates the diagnostic partition on a shared SAN LUN. This partition isaccessed by multiple hosts and can store fault information for more thanone host.4 Click Next.5 Select the device to use for the diagnostic partition and click Next.6 Review the partition configuration information and click Finish.VMware, Inc. 149