You can use ESXCLI commands to add and remove vSAN storage.

Procedure

  1. Add an HDD or data disk for use by vSAN.
    esxcli vsan storage add --disks <device_name>
    Note: The command expects an empty disk, which is partitioned or formatted. Specify a device name, for example, mpx.vmhba2:C0:T1:L0.
  2. Add an SSD disk for use by vSAN.
    esxcli vsan storage add --ssd <device_name>
    Note: The command expects an empty disk, which is partitioned or formatted. Specify a device name, for example, mpx.vmhba2:C0:T1:L0.
  3. List the vSAN storage configuration. You can display the complete list, or filter to show only a single device.
    esxcli vsan storage list --device <device>
  4. Remove disks or disk groups.
    Note: You can remove disks or disk groups only when vSAN is in manual mode. For the automatic disk claim mode, the remove action is not supported.
    • Remove an individual vSAN disk.
      esxcli vsan storage remove --disk <device_name>
      Instead of specifying the device name, you can specify the UUID if you include the --uuid option.
    • Remove a disk group's SSD and each of its backing HDD drives from vSAN usage.
      esxcli vsan storage remove --ssd <device_name>
      Instead of specifying the device name, you can specify the UUID if you include the --uuid option. Any SSD that you remove from vSAN becomes available for such features as Flash Read Cache.