I just got my VMWare setup a couple weeks ago by Dell. At the time I did not have a LUN ready to present to it but I was told I could go ahead and create a couple servers and just use the HD on my 2 ESX boxes until I present the LUN and then I could migrate it all to the LUN. Well I just got my LUN presented the other day. I go through my console and do the add storage and I get to this one spot in the wizzard that has me concerned. It says "Warning: The current disk layout will be destroyed. All file systems and data will be lost permanently." Now if I did not have these 2 servers created already I would not be concerned if it scrubbed anything but since I do and I have critical data on them I am concerned. I don't want it to destroy the ESX boxes and whipe out those 2 servers. If it scrubs my LUN I don't care. Can any one tell me if it is just talking about scrubbing my LUN or will it blow away the 2 virtual servers I have already created?
As long as you are selecting the LUN to format, not the local storage, it will not wipe out the local storage items.
I am assuming that I will be given that option once I get down to the formatting portion in the wizzard? Right now I am only at the Current Disk layout in the wizzard.
go to "Storage configuration-add storage-select your newly attached LUN-confirm the volume-give it a name" job done. it will only show you the un-formatted LUNs, you'll only delete your VMs if you select your internal disk and re-label.
Once you have labelled your LUN power down the VMs on the local storage-right click-Migrate and select move VM config files to new datastore.