Why Can't I Attach My Disk to a Server?

Symptom

My disk cannot be attached to a server.

Troubleshooting

Possible causes are listed here in order of their probability.

If the fault persists after you have ruled out one cause, move on to the next one in the list.

Check Whether the Disk and Server Are in the Same AZ

Symptom: After you click Attach, the target server cannot be found on the Attach Disk page.

Solution: A disk can only be attached to a server in the same AZ and region. The Attach Disk page filters and shows all the servers that the disk can be attached to. Determine whether your disk data is required.

• If the disk data is no longer needed, delete or unsubscribe from the disk, and then purchase a new disk in the AZ where your target server is located.
• If the disk data is still required, create a new disk with the same data in the target AZ. The procedure is as follows:
  1. Create a backup for the disk.
     Figure 1 Create Backup
     
  2. Create a new disk from this backup. During the creation, select the target AZ. You can also change the settings of Disk Type and Advanced Settings if needed.
     Figure 2 Create from backup
     
  3. After the disk is created, click Attach. Your target server is displayed on the Attach Disk page.

Maximum Number of Disks That Can Be Attached to the Server Has Been Reached

Symptom: The Attach button is grayed out.

Solution:

• Non-shared disk: When you hover the mouse over the Attach button, message "This operation can be performed only when the disk is in the Available state" is displayed.

  A non-shared disk can only be attached to one server. If the disk status is In-use, the disk has been attached. You can detach the disk, wait until the disk status changes to Available, and then attach the disk to the target server.

• Shared disk: When you hover the mouse over the Attach button, message "This operation cannot be performed because the maximum number of servers that a shared disk can be attached to has been reached" is displayed.

  A shared disk can be attached to a maximum of 16 servers, but you can detach the shared disk from one server and attach it to a new one if needed.

  

  Data may be lost after you detach an encrypted disk. For more information, see If I Detach a Disk, Will I Lose the Data on My Disk?

Check Whether the Disk Has Been Added to a Replication Pair

Symptom: The Attach button is grayed out. When you hover the mouse over the Attach button, message "This operation cannot be performed on a disk in a replication pair" is displayed.

Solution: Delete the replication pair and attach the disk again.

1. Choose Storage > Storage Disaster Recovery Service.

   The Storage Disaster Recovery Service page is displayed.

2. Locate the protection group containing the disk and click the protection group name.

   The protection group details page is displayed.

3. Click the Replication Pairs tab.

   Check that the disk in the Production Site Disk column is the target disk.

4. Confirm the information and click Delete in the Operation column.
5. After the replication pair is deleted, return to the disk list, and the disk can be attached.

Check Whether the Servers Attached with the Shared Disk Are Running the Same Type of OS

Symptom: After you click Attach, the target server cannot be selected on the Attach Disk page, and message "A shared disk must be attached to servers with the same OS type" is displayed.

Solution: This message indicates that the OS type of the target server is inconsistent with that of the servers attached with the shared disk. You can change the OS type based your service requirements.