Creating a VMDK Resource Hierarchy

Perform the following on your primary server and initiate the Create Resource Wizard.

1. Select Edit > Server > Create Resource Hierarchy

2. The Select Recovery Kit dialog appears. Select the File System option from the dropdown list. (Note: A VMDK Resource Hierarchy is a File System Hierarchy created on a shared virtual disk.)

Click Next to continue.

*If you click the Cancel button at any time during the process of creating your hierarchy, LifeKeeper will cancel the entire creation process.

3. The Switchback Type dialog appears. The switchback type determines how the VMDK resource will be switched back to the primary server when it becomes in-service (active) on the backup server following a failover. Switchback types are either intelligent or automatic.

Intelligent switchback requires administrative intervention to switch the resource back to the primary server while automatic switchback occurs as soon as the primary server is back on line and reestablishes LifeKeeper communication paths.

Click Next to continue.

4. The Server dialog appears. Select the name of the server where the VMDK resource will be created (typically this is your primary server). All servers in your cluster are included in the dropdown list.

Click Next to continue.

5. Select the Mount Point path to be protected by the VMDK (File System) Resource Hierarchy. All “local” (i.e. file systems using shared storage) and mount points of the virtual hard disk that can be managed with the VMDK Recovery Kit are listed. Select the desired mount point from the dropdown list.

Click Next to continue.

6. The Root Tag dialog is automatically populated with a unique name for the resource instance on the target server (i.e. the server selected above). You may accept the default or enter a unique tag consisting of letters, numbers and the following special characters: –, _, ., or /.

Click Create Instance.

7. An information box appears indicating the start of the hierarchy creation.

Click Next to continue.

8. An information box appears after the successful creation of your VMDK resource hierarchy. You must Extend the hierarchy to another server in your cluster in order to place it under LifeKeeper protection.

Click Continue to extend the resource.

Click Cancel if you want to extend your resource at a later time.

9. Click Done to exit the Create Resource Hierarchy menu.