Task 11: Clear Previous Storage Configuration (Conditional)

Status: Active | Estimated Time: 5–15 minutes | Last Updated: 2026-03-04

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Overview

If nodes have previously been used with Storage Spaces Direct, all existing storage pools, virtual disks, and disk metadata must be cleared before Azure Local deployment.

Data Loss Warning

This step DESTROYS ALL DATA on data disks. Ensure all data is backed up before proceeding. This is irreversible.

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When to Run

Scenario	Run?
New hardware, first deployment	❌ Skip
Redeployment on existing hardware	✅ Yes
Hardware with previous S2D config	✅ Yes
Disks showing CanPool = False	✅ Yes
After a failed deployment	✅ Yes

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Prerequisites

Requirement	Details
Tasks 01–10 complete	Hostname configured, nodes restarted
Data backed up	All important data saved — this cannot be undone

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Variables from variables.yml

Path	Type	Description
cluster_nodes[].management_ip	string	PSRemoting target IP (orchestrated mode)
cluster_nodes[].hostname	string	Node display name for logging

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Execution Options

Direct (On Node)

Run on each node individually via console, KVM, or RDP.

Toolkit script: scripts/deploy/04-cluster-deployment/phase-03-os-configuration/task-11-clear-previous-storage-configuration-conditional/powershell/Clear-StorageConfiguration-Direct.ps1

# Task 11 - Clear Previous Storage Configuration (run locally on target node)

Update-StorageProviderCache
Get-StoragePool | ? IsPrimordial -eq $false | Set-StoragePool -IsReadOnly:$false -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Get-StoragePool | ? IsPrimordial -eq $false | Get-VirtualDisk | Remove-VirtualDisk -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Get-StoragePool | ? IsPrimordial -eq $false | Remove-StoragePool -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Get-PhysicalDisk | Reset-PhysicalDisk -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Get-Disk | ? Number -ne $null | ? IsBoot -ne $true | ? IsSystem -ne $true | ? PartitionStyle -ne RAW | ? BusType -ne USB | % {
 $_ | Set-Disk -isoffline:$false
 $_ | Set-Disk -isreadonly:$false
 $_ | Clear-Disk -RemoveData -RemoveOEM -Confirm:$false
 $_ | Set-Disk -isreadonly:$true
 $_ | Set-Disk -isoffline:$true
}
Get-Disk | Where Number -Ne $Null | Where IsBoot -Ne $True | Where IsSystem -Ne $True | Where PartitionStyle -Eq RAW | Group -NoElement -Property FriendlyName

Orchestrated (Mgmt Server)

Run from the management server against all nodes.

Toolkit script: scripts/deploy/04-cluster-deployment/phase-03-os-configuration/task-11-clear-previous-storage-configuration-conditional/powershell/Invoke-ClearStorage-Orchestrated.ps1

# Task 11 - Clear Previous Storage Configuration (orchestrated, all nodes)
# variables.yml variables:
# cluster_nodes[].management_ip -> $ServerList

$ConfigPath = "$env:USERPROFILE\variables.yml"
$ServerList = (Get-Content $ConfigPath | Select-String 'management_ip:\s+"?([^"'' ]+)' |
 ForEach-Object { $_.Matches[0].Groups[1].Value.Trim() })

Invoke-Command ($ServerList) {
 Update-StorageProviderCache
 Get-StoragePool | ? IsPrimordial -eq $false | Set-StoragePool -IsReadOnly:$false -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
 Get-StoragePool | ? IsPrimordial -eq $false | Get-VirtualDisk | Remove-VirtualDisk -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
 Get-StoragePool | ? IsPrimordial -eq $false | Remove-StoragePool -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
 Get-PhysicalDisk | Reset-PhysicalDisk -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
 Get-Disk | ? Number -ne $null | ? IsBoot -ne $true | ? IsSystem -ne $true | ? PartitionStyle -ne RAW | ? BusType -ne USB | % {
 $_ | Set-Disk -isoffline:$false
 $_ | Set-Disk -isreadonly:$false
 $_ | Clear-Disk -RemoveData -RemoveOEM -Confirm:$false
 $_ | Set-Disk -isreadonly:$true
 $_ | Set-Disk -isoffline:$true
 }
 Get-Disk | Where Number -Ne $Null | Where IsBoot -Ne $True | Where IsSystem -Ne $True | Where PartitionStyle -Eq RAW | Group -NoElement -Property FriendlyName
} | Sort -Property PsComputerName, Count

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Validation

# Verify all data disks are CanPool = True
$ServerList = @("<node1-ip>", "<node2-ip>")
Invoke-Command ($ServerList) {
 Get-PhysicalDisk | Where-Object { $_.BusType -ne 'USB' } |
 Select-Object FriendlyName, CanPool, CannotPoolReason, BusType, MediaType
} | Format-Table -AutoSize

Expected: All data disks show CanPool = True. Boot disk shows CannotPoolReason = Insufficient Capacity — this is expected.

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Validation Checklist

• Script ran without errors on all nodes
• All data disks show CanPool = True
• Boot disk excluded (shows Insufficient Capacity — expected)

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Troubleshooting

Issue	Resolution
CanPool = False after running	Re-run Reset-PhysicalDisk
Storage pool still exists	Remove from cluster first, then re-run

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Navigation

← Task 10: Configure Hostname · ↑ Phase 03 · Task 12: Combined Script →