LUNs belonging to an ESXi cluster were encapsulated behind VPLEX.

When LUNs belonging to an ESXi cluster are encapsulated behind VPLEX, the information that must be shared with the ESXi administrator for them to re-discover the datastore and the RDM LUNs is the Virtual Volume VPD (Vital Product Data).

Virtual Volume VPD: The VPD for a virtual volume contains essential information about the volume, such as its identifier, which is used by the ESXi host to recognize and differentiate the volume1.

Re-Discovery Process: After encapsulation, the ESXi administrator will need to perform a rescan of the storage adapters on the ESXi hosts.During this rescan, the hosts use the VPD information to identify the newly encapsulated LUNs and re-discover the associated datastore and RDM LUNs1.

Datastore and RDM LUNs: Datastores are storage containers that hold virtual machine files, while RDM (Raw Device Mapping) LUNs allow a virtual machine to directly access a storage device.Both rely on unique identifiers to ensure correct access and operation within the ESXi environment1.

Sharing Information: The VPLEX administrator should provide the VPD information to the ESXi administrator, typically after the encapsulation process is complete and before the ESXi storage rescan is initiated1.

Ensuring Access: By sharing the correct VPD information, the ESXi administrator can ensure that the ESXi cluster correctly identifies and regains access to the encapsulated LUNs, maintaining the continuity of services and data availability1.

The sharing of the Virtual Volume VPD is a critical step in the process of LUN encapsulation behind VPLEX, ensuring that the ESXi cluster can successfully re-discover and utilize the datastore and RDM LUNs.