[VSAN] Getting started with disks that already contain data?

[MauriceMoss]

I browsed the docs for quite a bit and couldn't determine if this is possible. I see that physical hard drives can be added as "Disk Bridges", but I'm unsure if that is what I'm after.

We have an existing Microsoft Failover Cluster in our production environment that is attached to a Dell PowerVault ME5 storage array (iSCSI). The storage pool is setup using "ADAPT". We already have volumes carved out and exposed to the cluster as CSVs with live workloads on them. The plan, if possible, was to use a second ME5 storage array to setup VSAN with replication. We want (need) to be able to do this with the existing data/structure already on the primary ME5 array.

[yaroslav (staff)]

Welcome to StarWind Forum!
Disk bridge is not for HA purposes.
I'd rather go with *.img files for the simpler setup that is capable of HA.

[MauriceMoss]

Welcome to StarWind Forum!
Disk bridge is not for HA purposes.
I'd rather go with *.img files for the simpler setup that is capable of HA.

Thanks for the warm welcome and the information, but that doesn't answer the heart of my question:

Can VSAN be setup with the existing data on the primary storage array, or must things be formatted during setup?

[yaroslav (staff)]

Yes, it should be able to with It can in DiskBridge (there's no file system).
Still, I'd suggest keeping the backups.

[MauriceMoss]

To be clear;

1. If I want HA, I need to create the devices as ".img" files, but I won't be able to retain the data already on the disk(s)?
2. If I want to retain the data, I can create "Disk Bridges", but I won't be able to use HA?

[yaroslav (staff)]

1. If I want HA, I need to create the devices as ".img" files, but I won't be able to retain the data already on the disk(s)?

Yes, you need the *.img for HA. It is a file, and it needs to be formatted, so you won't be able to retain data.

2. If I want to retain the data, I can create "Disk Bridges", but I won't be able to use HA?

Yes.