10 ESXi Scratch Partition Best Practices
The scratch partition is an important part of ESXi, and there are a few best practices to follow to ensure it is set up correctly.
VMware ESXi is a popular virtualization platform used by many organizations. It is important to configure the ESXi host with the best practices in order to ensure optimal performance and reliability. One of the most important best practices is to configure a scratch partition.
A scratch partition is a dedicated partition on the ESXi host that is used to store temporary files. This partition is used by the ESXi host to store log files, core dumps, and other temporary files. In this article, we will discuss 10 best practices for configuring a scratch partition on an ESXi host.
1. Use a dedicated disk for the scratch partition
Using a dedicated disk for the scratch partition ensures that it is not competing with other disks in the system for resources. This helps to ensure that the scratch partition has enough space and performance to do its job properly. Additionally, if you ever need to move or replace the disk containing the scratch partition, you can easily do so without affecting any of your other data.
2. The scratch partition should be at least 1GB in size
The scratch partition is used to store temporary files and logs that are generated by the ESXi host. If the scratch partition is too small, then these files can quickly fill up the space and cause performance issues or even prevent certain operations from being completed.
By having a larger scratch partition, you ensure that there is enough room for all of the necessary files and logs to be stored without any problems. Additionally, it’s important to note that the scratch partition should not be shared with other virtual machines as this could lead to conflicts and data corruption.
3. Don’t use an SSD drive as your scratch partition
SSD drives are much faster than traditional hard drives, but they also have a limited number of write cycles. This means that if you use an SSD drive as your scratch partition, it will quickly become filled with data and the drive will wear out more quickly.
Instead, use a traditional hard drive for your ESXi scratch partition. Hard drives can handle more writes and will last longer. Plus, since the scratch partition is only used to store temporary files, there’s no need to worry about speed or performance.
4. Ensure that the ESXi host has access to the scratch partition
The scratch partition is used to store temporary files and logs that are generated by the ESXi host. Without access to this partition, the ESXi host may not be able to properly function or generate necessary log files for troubleshooting purposes.
To ensure that the ESXi host has access to the scratch partition, you should configure the storage settings in the vSphere Client. This will allow you to specify which datastore should be used as the scratch partition. Additionally, you should make sure that the scratch partition is large enough to accommodate the expected amount of data that will be stored on it.
5. Set up the scratch partition on each ESXi host individually
When you set up a scratch partition on each ESXi host, it ensures that the data stored in the scratch partition is isolated from other hosts. This helps to prevent any potential conflicts or issues with data corruption if multiple hosts are accessing the same scratch partition. Additionally, setting up the scratch partition on each host allows for more flexibility when managing and configuring the environment.
Finally, having an individual scratch partition per host also makes it easier to troubleshoot any issues that may arise since all of the logs and files related to the host will be stored locally.
6. Do not store the scratch partition on a network share
When an ESXi host boots, it needs to access the scratch partition in order to load its configuration and other files. If the scratch partition is stored on a network share, then the host must wait for the network connection to be established before it can boot. This can cause significant delays in the boot process, which can lead to problems with services that rely on the host being available quickly.
By storing the scratch partition locally on the ESXi host, you ensure that the host will always have quick access to the necessary files during the boot process. This helps keep your environment running smoothly and efficiently.
7. Create a new scratch partition after upgrading or reinstalling ESXi
When you upgrade or reinstall ESXi, the existing scratch partition is overwritten. This means that any logs and diagnostic information stored in the scratch partition will be lost. To prevent this from happening, it’s important to create a new scratch partition after upgrading or reinstalling ESXi.
Creating a new scratch partition also helps ensure that your system has enough space for storing log files and other diagnostic information. If the scratch partition is too small, then the system may not have enough room to store all of the necessary data. By creating a new scratch partition with adequate storage capacity, you can help ensure that your system runs smoothly and efficiently.
8. Remove the old scratch partition before creating a new one
When you create a new scratch partition, the old one is still present and can cause conflicts. This can lead to errors when trying to access files or applications that are stored on the old partition. Additionally, if the old partition contains any sensitive data, it could be exposed if not properly removed.
To avoid these issues, always remove the old scratch partition before creating a new one. This will ensure that all of your data is secure and that there won’t be any conflicts with existing partitions.
9. Check if the scratch partition is working correctly
The scratch partition is used to store temporary files and logs, which are essential for the proper functioning of ESXi. If the scratch partition isn’t working correctly, it can lead to system instability or even data loss.
To check if the scratch partition is working correctly, you should use the vSphere Client to view the datastore where the scratch partition is located. You should also run a disk health check on the datastore to make sure there aren’t any errors. Additionally, you should periodically review the log files stored in the scratch partition to ensure that they’re being written properly.
10. Make sure you have backups of all VMs
The ESXi scratch partition is a temporary storage location for files that are used during the boot process. If something goes wrong with the scratch partition, it can cause your VMs to become inaccessible or even corrupt. Having backups of all VMs ensures that you have a copy of the data in case anything happens to the scratch partition.
It’s also important to make sure that the scratch partition has enough space allocated to it so that it doesn’t run out of room and cause problems. Additionally, you should regularly check the integrity of the scratch partition to ensure that there aren’t any errors or issues that could lead to data loss.
