In today's tech landscape, virtualization is essential, and VMware ESXi 8.0 offers a robust platform for managing virtualized data centers. Prior to vSphere 7, the ESXi system storage lay-out had several limitations. The partition sizes were fixed and the partition numbers were static, limiting partition management. This effectively restricts the support for large modules, debugging functionality and possible third-party components. That is why VMware has changed the ESXi system storage partition layout. They have increased the boot bank sizes, and consolidated the system partitions and made them expandable.
This blog post will explore the recent changes in the system storage layout of ESXi 8.0.
Partition Lay-out in vSphere 6.x
The partition sizes in vSphere 6.x are fixed, with an exception for the scratch partition and the optional VMFS datastore. These are created depending on the used boot media and its capacity.
Consolidated Partition Lay-out in vSphere 7
To overcome the challenges presented by using this configuration, the boot partitions in vSphere 7 are consolidated.
The ESXi 7 System Storage lay-out only consists of four partitions.
System boot
- The system boot partition is the initial step in the ESXi boot process.
- Stores boot loader and EFI modules.
- Type: FAT16
Boot-banks (0)
- The Boot-bank 0 partition holds a complete and independent copy of the ESXi hypervisor image.
- System space to store ESXi boot modules
- Type: FAT16
- In case of a failure in Boot-bank 1, the system automatically switches to Boot-bank 0, ensuring uninterrupted operation of the ESXi host
Boot-banks (1)
- Similar to Boot-bank 0, Boot-bank 1 contains another complete and independent copy of the ESXi hypervisor image.
- The dual boot banks enhance the system’s resiliency, providing redundancy in case of critical failures
ESX-OSData
- Acts as the unified location to store extra (nonboot) modules, system configuration and state, and system virtual machines
- Type: VMFS-L
- Should be created on high-endurance storage devices
The OSData partition is divided into two high-level categories of data called ROM-data and RAM-data. Frequently written data, for example, logs, VMFS global traces, vSAN EPD and traces, and live databases are referred to as RAM-data. ROM-data is data written infrequently, for example, VMtools ISOs, configurations, and core dumps.
ESXi 7 System Storage Contents
The sub-systems that require access to the ESXi partitions, access these partitions using the symbolic links. For example: /bootbank and /altbootbank symbolic links are used for accessing the active bootbank and alternative bootbank. The /var/core symbolic link is used to access the core-dumps.
Review the System Storage Layout
When examining the partition details in the vSphere Client, you’ll notice the partition layout as described below. Use this information to review your boot media capacity and the automatic sizing as configured by the ESXi installer.
A similar view can be found in the CLI of an ESXi host. You’ll notice the partitions being labeled as BOOTBANK1/2 and OSDATA.
You might notice the OSDATA partition being formatted as the Virtual Flash File System (VFFS). When the OSDATA partition is placed on a SDD or NVMe device, VMFS-L is labeled as VFSS.
In conclusion, the updates in ESXi 8.0's system storage layout highlight VMware’s commitment to evolving its virtualization technology for modern demands. By enhancing scalability, flexibility, and resource efficiency, these changes simplify virtual environment management while supporting larger modules and third-party components. With improved stability and reduced risks like data loss, VMware ensures users are better equipped to manage increasingly complex workloads. The ESXi 8.0 advancements reflect a forward-thinking approach, helping organizations achieve more robust and reliable infrastructure solutions for their growing virtualization needs.
Thank you for reading!
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