6.5.1

Table Of Contents
Problem
You can check metadata consistency when you experience problems with a VMFS datastore or a virtual
flash resource. For example, perform a metadata check if one of the following occurs:
n
You experience storage outages.
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After you rebuild RAID or perform a disk replacement.
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You see metadata errors in the vmkernel.log file similar to the following:
cpu11:268057)WARNING: HBX: 599: Volume 50fd60a3-3aae1ae2-3347-0017a4770402 ("<Datastore_name>")
may be damaged on disk. Corrupt heartbeat detected at offset 3305472: [HB state 0 offset
6052837899185946624 gen 15439450 stampUS 5 $
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You are unable to access files on a VMFS.
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You see corruption being reported for a datastore in events tabs of vCenter Server.
Solution
To check metadata consistency, run VOMA from the CLI of an ESXi host. VOMA can be used to check
and fix minor inconsistency issues for a VMFS datastore or a virtual flash resource. To resolve errors
reported by VOMA, consult VMware Support.
Follow these guidelines when you use the VOMA tool:
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Make sure that the VMFS datastore you analyze does not span multiple extents. You can run VOMA
only against a single-extent datastore.
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Power off any virtual machines that are running or migrate them to a different datastore.
The following example demonstrates how to use VOMA to check VMFS metadata consistency.
1 Obtain the name and partition number of the device that backs the VMFS datastore that you want to
check.
#esxcli storage vmfs extent list
The Device Name and Partition columns in the output identify the device. For example:
Volume Name XXXXXXXX Device Name Partition
1TB_VMFS5 XXXXXXXX naa.00000000000000000000000000000703 3
2 Check for VMFS errors.
Provide the absolute path to the device partition that backs the VMFS datastore, and provide a
partition number with the device name. For example:
# voma -m vmfs -f check -d /vmfs/devices/disks/naa.
00000000000000000000000000000703:3
vSphere Troubleshooting
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