Favoritevmguy

In the past I have configured a LSI MegaRAID SAS 3108 – Cisco 12G SAS Raid controller with 1GB FBWC module. When I set that up, I just passed through control to VMware. The MegaRAID SAS 9271-I is different; here is how I set them up. I used VMware KB2111266 for reference on configuration settings.

When booting and the controller information comes up, press CTRL-H.

1. Click “Start”.
   
2. I already have Virtual Drive 0 configured for my ESXi OS. Virtual Drive 1 has my 400GB disk I am using for VSAN caching. I have four unconfigured disks that I want to use for my capacity tier.
   Click “Configuration Wizard”.
   
3. Click “Add Configuration” radio button and then click “Next“.
   
4. Click “Manual Configuration” radio button and then click “Next“.
   
5. Now we see the four unconfigured drives on the left side. Click the first one, then click “Add to Array“.
   
6. Click on the “Accept DG” button. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 until all of your disks are in their own disk group then click “Next“.
   
7. In the left pane click the “Add to SPAN” button.
   
8. The Disk Group appears in the right window under Span. Click “Next“.
   
9. Depending on if the disk is an HDD or SSD, your settings will change. In my example I configured for HDD. When finished changing settings, click “Accept” and then “Next“.
   

10. You will receive and alert about the possibility of slower performance with Write Through. Click “Yes“.
    
11. You now have to click “Back” and repeat steps 7-10 until all of your drives have been added.
    
12. One all of your drives have been added, click “Accept“.
    
13. Click “Yes” to save the configuration.
    
14. Acknowledge that you know that data will be lost on the new virtual drives. Click “Yes”.
    
15. You will now see all of your drives under Virtual Drives. Click the “Home” button.
    
16. Click “Exit”.
    
17. Click “Yes”.
    
18. Power cycle your server.
    
19. Success!! Vcenter shows my drives under storage devices. I can now add these disks to VSAN.