Support Knowledge Base

Unable to Detect RAID Array with VMware* ESXi Using 4Kn SSD

Content Type: Troubleshooting | Article ID: 000057838 | Last Reviewed: 08/06/2021

Description Resolution Additional information

Hardware Intel® RAID Controllers such as the Intel® RAID Adapter RSP3WD080E 4Kn SSD such as the HGST Ultrastar* SN200 HUSMR7616BDP301

Description

Virtual Drive with Intel® RAID Adapter RSP3WD080E was created using a Solid State Drive (SSD) with 4KB sector size.
VMware* could not detect the RAID Array.

ESXi* doesn't support 4Kn SSD. This is why RAID arrays created using 4Kn SSD will not be detected by the ESXi.

Workaround: Use SSD with 512 bytes sector size (512n or 512e) or hard disks for ESXi.

For more information:

Recent SSDs may have a sector size of 4096 bytes (4KiB), also known as the advanced format. Both the Intel® RAID Controller and the operating system must support this advanced format.
Some SSD vendors may provide ways to re-format a 4Kn drive to 512e. Contact your drive vendor for further information.

This article applies to 19 products.

Intel® RAID Module RMSP3AD160F Intel® RAID Module RMSP3CD080F Intel® RAID Module RMSP3HD080E Intel® RAID Adapter RSP3DD080F Intel® RAID Adapter RSP3MD088F Intel® RAID Adapter RSP3TD160F Intel® RAID Adapter RSP3WD080E Intel® Integrated RAID Module RMS3AC160

Intel® RAID Controller RS3FC044 Intel® Integrated RAID Module RMS3HC080 Intel® Integrated RAID Module RMS3JC080 Intel® RAID Controller RS3DC040 Intel® RAID Controller RS3DC080 Intel® RAID Controller RS3MC044 Intel® RAID Controller RS3SC008 Intel® RAID Controller RS3UC080 Intel® RAID Controller RS3WC080 Intel® Integrated RAID Module RMS3CC040 Intel® Integrated RAID Module RMS3CC080

Contact support