Before you set up your ESXi host to boot from a SAN LUN, configure SAN components and a storage system.

Because configuring the SAN components is vendor-specific, refer to the product documentation for each item.

Procedure

  1. Connect network cable, referring to any cabling guide that applies to your setup.
    Check the switch wiring, if there is any.
  2. Configure the storage array.
    1. From the SAN storage array, make the ESXi host visible to the SAN. This process is often called creating an object.
    2. From the SAN storage array, set up the host to have the WWPNs of the host’s adapters as port names or node names.
    3. Create LUNs.
    4. Assign LUNs.
    5. Record the IP addresses of the switches and storage arrays.
    6. Record the WWPN for each SP.
    Caution: If you use a scripted installation process to install ESXi in boot from SAN mode, take special steps to avoid unintended data loss.