6.5.1

Table Of Contents
Enable and Disable Storage DRS
Storage DRS allows you to manage the aggregated resources of a datastore cluster. When Storage DRS is
enabled, it provides recommendations for virtual machine disk placement and migration to balance space
and I/O resources across the datastores in the datastore cluster.
When you enable Storage DRS, you enable the following functions.
n
Space load balancing among datastores within a datastore cluster.
n
I/O load balancing among datastores within a datastore cluster.
n
Initial placement for virtual disks based on space and I/O workload.
The Enable Storage DRS check box in the Datastore Cluster Seings dialog box enables or disables all of
these components at once. If necessary, you can disable I/O-related functions of Storage DRS independently
of space balancing functions.
When you disable Storage DRS on a datastore cluster, Storage DRS seings are preserved. When you enable
Storage DRS, the seings for the datastore cluster are restored to the point where Storage DRS was disabled.
Procedure
1 Browse to the datastore cluster in the vSphere Web Client navigator.
2 Click the  tab and click Services.
3 Select Storage DRS and click Edit.
4 Select Turn ON vSphere DRS and click OK.
5 (Optional) To disable only I/O-related functions of Storage DRS, leaving space-related controls enabled,
perform the following steps.
a Under Storage DRS select Edit.
b Deselect the Enable I/O metric for Storage DRS check box and click OK.
Set the Automation Level for Datastore Clusters
The automation level for a datastore cluster species whether or not placement and migration
recommendations from Storage DRS are applied automatically.
Procedure
1 Browse to the datastore cluster in the vSphere Web Client navigator.
2 Click the  tab and click Services.
3 Select DRS and click Edit.
4 Expand DRS Automation and select an automation level.
Manual is the default automation level.
Option Description
No Automation (Manual Mode)
Placement and migration recommendations are displayed, but do not run
until you manually apply the recommendation.
Partially Automated
Placement recommendations run automatically and migration
recommendations are displayed, but do not run until you manually apply
the recommendation.
Fully Automated
Placement and migration recommendations run automatically.
Chapter 12 Creating a Datastore Cluster
VMware, Inc. 93