When you perform VMFS datastore management operations, vCenter Server uses default storage protection filters. The filters help you to avoid storage corruption by retrieving only the storage devices that can be used for a particular operation. Unsuitable devices are not displayed for selection. You can turn off the filters to view all devices.

These filters are available by default.
Filter Name Description
config.vpxd.filter.vmfsFilter

(VMFS Filter)

Filters out storage devices, or LUNs, that are already used by a VMFS datastore on any host managed by vCenter Server. The LUNs do not show up as candidates to be formatted with another VMFS datastore or to be used as an RDM.
config.vpxd.filter.rdmFilter

(RDM Filter)

Filters out LUNs that are already referenced by an RDM on any host managed by vCenter Server. The LUNs do not show up as candidates to be formatted with VMFS or to be used by a different RDM.

For your virtual machines to access the same LUN, the virtual machines must share the same RDM mapping file. For information about this type of configuration, see the vSphere Resource Management documentation.

config.vpxd.filter.sameHostsAndTransportsFilter

(Same Hosts and Transports Filter)

Filters out LUNs ineligible for use as VMFS datastore extents because of host or storage type incompatibility. Prevents you from adding the following LUNs as extents:
  • LUNs not exposed to all hosts that share the original VMFS datastore.
  • LUNs that use a storage type different from the one the original VMFS datastore uses. For example, you cannot add a Fibre Channel extent to a VMFS datastore on a local storage device.
config.vpxd.filter.hostRescanFilter

(Host Rescan Filter)

Automatically rescans and updates VMFS datastores after you perform datastore management operations. The filter helps provide a consistent view of all VMFS datastores on all hosts managed by vCenter Server.
Note: If you present a new LUN to a host or a cluster, the hosts automatically perform a rescan no matter whether you have the Host Rescan Filter on or off.

Prerequisites

Before you change the device filters, consult with the VMware support team.

Procedure

  1. Browse to the vCenter Server instance.
  2. Click the Configure tab.
  3. Under Settings, click Advanced Settings, and click EDIT SETTINGS.
  4. Specify the filter to turn off.
    In the Name and Value text boxes at the bottom of the page, enter appropriate information.
    Name Value
    config.vpxd.filter.vmfsFilter False
    config.vpxd.filter.rdmFilter False
    config.vpxd.filter.sameHostsAndTransportsFilter False
    config.vpxd.filter.hostRescanFilter False
    Note: If you turn off this filter, your hosts continue to perform a rescan each time you present a new LUN to a host or a cluster.
  5. Click ADD, and click SAVE to save your changes.
    You are not required to restart the vCenter Server system.