Installation guide

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VMware ESX Server Administration Guide
Using vmkfstools
The vmkfstools command supports the creation of a VMware ESX Server file
system (VMFS) on a SCSI disk. Use vmkfstools to create, manipulate and manage
files stored in VMFS volumes. You can store multiple virtual disk images on a single
VMFS volume.
Note: You can also do most of the vmkfstools operations through the VMware
Management Interface.
vmkfstools Command Syntax
Note: You must be logged in as the root user to run the vmkfstools command.
vmkfstools Syntax When Specifying a SCSI Device
The format for the vmkfstools command, when specifying a SCSI device, is:
vmkfstools <options> <device_or_VMFS_volume>[:<file>]
where <device_or_VMFS_volume> specifies a SCSI device (a SCSI disk or a
partition on a SCSI disk) being manipulated or a VMFS volume, and <options>
specifies the operation to be performed.
If <device_or_VMFS_volume> is a SCSI device, then it is specified in a form such
as:
vmhba1:2:0:3
Here, vmhba1 specifies the second SCSI adapter activated by the command
vmkload_mod .../XXX.o vmhba. (See VMkernel Module Loader on page 284
for details on vmkload_mod.) The second number specifies the target on the
adapter, the third number specifies the LUN (logical unit number) and the fourth
number specifies the partition. Partition 0 (zero) implies the whole disk; otherwise, the
number specifies the indicated partition.
<device_or_VMFS_volume> may also be a VMFS volume label, as set in the
management interface or with the vmkfstools --setfsname command.
<file> is the name of a file stored in the file system on the specified device.
vmkfstools Syntax When Specifying a VMFS Volume or File
The format for the vmkfstools command, when specifying a VMFS volume or file,
is:
vmkfstools <options> <path>
where <path> is an absolute path that names a directory or a file under the /vmfs
directory.