VMware has decided to reverse their decision on non-persistent removable USB and SD cards as boot media and will continue supporting customers using these devices through the next major release. That’s good news for now, but there are some caveats to keep in mind when moving to vShpere 7.
VMware Changes Partitions
According to VMware, vSphere 7.x has increased boot- and performance-related issues with USB and SD cards. It seems that changes VMware made to the system storage structure may factor into those known issues.
To eliminate some of the constraints in vSphere 6.x, VMware has consolidated all non-boot partitions under a new partition called ESX-OSData in vShpere 7. This change has brought new capabilities, but it also has put increased IO demands on the low endurance boot media everybody is accustomed to using.
System Storage Layout: vSphere 6.x vs. vSphere 7
What Are Your Options?
When properly configured, USB and SD cards can be used as boot media in vSphere 7. Is it recommended? No.
VMware strongly encourages customers to make plans now to replace USB and SD cards as boot media. For customers who don’t have that option, there is a detailed workaround. If you are looking for guidance on the best path forward with boot media and vSphere 7, please Contact Us – we’re happy to help!
Further Reading
The full details on VMware’s revised stance for using USB and SD cards can be found in these links:
