Formatting virtual storage

In order to use integrated server virtual disks (network server storage spaces), you must format them.

Before you can format virtual disks, you must first create them (see Creating virtual storage for integrated servers) and link them (see Linking virtual storage to integrated servers). Then start the integrated server from IBM® i (see Starting integrated servers).

Formatting storage for VMware ESX servers

For an integrated server with VMware ESX, format virtual storage based on the operating system that will use the storage.

Refer to VMware ESX documentation for information on partitioning and formatting storage for ESX and the associated virtual machines. See White Paper Aligning storage partitions for VMware ESX Server on iSCSI attached integrated serversLink to PDF for additional considerations to help you partition your storage for improved performance.

Formatting storage for Windows servers

Do these steps to format virtual storage for an integrated server with the Microsoft Windows operating system.

  1. On the integrated Windows server console, select Start > All Programs > Administrative Tools > Computer Management.
  2. Double-click Storage.
  3. Double-click Disk Management.
  4. To create a new partition, right-click the unallocated space on the basic disk where you want to create the partition, and then click New Partition.
  5. Follow the prompts to format the new drive.
    1. Specify the storage space name for the volume label.
    2. Select the file system you specified when you created the virtual storage.
    3. Select the quick format for a storage space that has just been created. It has already been low level formatted by IBM i when it was allocated.