Local Storage as RDM

/vmfs/devices/disks           for local or SAN-based disks.

/vmfs/devices/lvm               for ESXi logical volumes.

/vmfs/devices/generic        for generic SCSI devices.

1. Open an SSH session to the ESXi/ESX host.
2. Run this command to list the disks that are attached to the ESXi host:# ls -l /vmfs/devices/disks
3. From the list, identify the local device you want to configure as an RDM and copy the device name.Note: The device name is likely be prefixed with t10. and look similar to:
   
   t10.F405E46494C4540046F455B64787D285941707D203F45765
4. To configure the device as an RDM and output the RDM pointer file to your chosen destination, run this command:# vmkfstools -z /vmfs/devices/disks/diskname /vmfs/volumes/datastorename/vmfolder/vmname.vmdkFor example:

   # vmkfstools -z /vmfs/devices/disks/t10.F405E46494C4540046F455B64787D285941707D203F45765 /vmfs/volumes/Datastore2/localrdm1/localrdm1.vmdk

   Note: The size of the newly created RDM pointer file appears to be the same size and the Raw Device it it mapped to, this is a dummy file and is not consuming any storage space.

5. When you have created the RDM pointer file, attach the RDM to a virtual machine using the vSphere Client:
   1. Right click the virtual machine you want to add an RDM disk to.
   2. Click Edit Settings.
   3. Click Add.
   4. Select Hard Disk.
   5. Select Use an existing virtual disk.
   6. Browse to the directory you saved the RDM pointer to in step 5 and select the RDM pointer file and click Next.
   7. Select the virtual SCSI controller you want to attach the disk to and click Next.
   8. Click Finish.
6. You should now see your new hard disk in the virtual machine inventory as Mapped Raw LUN.