[itdiscuss] Reduce VMDK File Size

[Danny Ybarra]

Do you plan on making the D drive larger?
You can always copy the VMDK to the new location. Then remove the old C partition then Expand the D to use the space where the C was.

Directions and tool for expanding.
http://taylor.freeshell.org/2009/06/dell-extpart.html
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R64398&formatcnt=2&fileid=83929




of course always have a backup.   (At this point you probably have Gigs of vmdks sitting everywhere :), the fun part of ESX/ESXI)

Danny Ybarra | ViantSolutions
IT Consultant
mailto:DannyY at viantsolutions.com
office:         678.889.6089 x103
mobile:      678.358.4603

From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of blloyd at buskercom.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 7:45 AM
To: discuss at itdiscuss.org
Subject: Re: [itdiscuss] Reduce VMDK File Size

Danny,
Once you get the C drive over, do you just do a backup and restore of the D drive or do you use a VMware tool to copy the second volume?



Bill Lloyd
IT Manager
[cid:image001.jpg at 01CA6834.55FAFA60]

2567 Athens Hwy.
Gainesville, GA 30507
Phone: 770-417-1604 Ext.: 250
Fax:     770-417-1747
Cell:     404-379-6963

blloyd at buskercom.com
This email and any accompanying attachments may contain confidential and proprietary information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are requested to delete this entire communication immediately. Emails cannot be guaranteed to be secure or free of errors or viruses. The sender does not accept any liability or responsibility for any problems that may result from emails you receive.
From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of Danny Ybarra
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 10:09 AM
To: IT Discussion Forum
Subject: Re: [itdiscuss] Reduce VMDK File Size


p2v is easier.



(sent via mobile device)





-----Original Message-----

From: blloyd at buskercom.com <blloyd at buskercom.com>

Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 9:43 AM

To: discuss at itdiscuss.org <discuss at itdiscuss.org>

Subject: Re: [itdiscuss] Reduce VMDK File Size


The P2V approach sounds the most appealing.  What do you think?



Bill Lloyd
IT Manager
[cid:image001.jpg at 01CA6834.55FAFA60]

2567 Athens Hwy.
Gainesville, GA 30507
Phone: 770-417-1604 Ext.: 250
Fax:     770-417-1747
Cell:     404-379-6963

blloyd at buskercom.com
This email and any accompanying attachments may contain confidential and proprietary information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are requested to delete this entire communication immediately. Emails cannot be guaranteed to be secure or free of errors or viruses. The sender does not accept any liability or responsibility for any problems that may result from emails you receive.
From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of Danny Ybarra
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 9:19 AM
To: IT Discussion Forum
Subject: Re: [itdiscuss] Reduce VMDK File Size

2 ways.

1)ghost/image the partition to a new drive.
Boot with another VM, attach the current C/D vmdk to the VM.  Attach a new vmdk The size of your new c drive (make it a tad larger just in case).
Ghost the C to partition to the new vmdk.

2)P2V (actually V2V)
Use the P2V software for VMware and don't select the D drive when creating a new server.




From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of blloyd at buskercom.com
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 8:59 AM
To: discuss at itdiscuss.org
Subject: [itdiscuss] Reduce VMDK File Size

This may sound strange, but I'm looking for a way to reduce the size of a VMDK file.  Here is the story.

I have an Exchange 2003 server that I setup a C and a D drive on in one VMDK file.  The D drive holds the Exchange store.  Of course, since one VMDK represents a "physical drive" to the Windows guest.  The problem is that when you have only one drive and the system drive is on it, you can't extend either of the partitions.  So I have a plan to move the Exchange store to another drive, thus freeing up the D drive, so I can eliminate it.  But, the "physical drive" will still be the same size.  I'd like to reduce the size to just what the C drive holds.  Any thoughts on how to reduce that drive while not messing up the boot drive, (or C drive)?

Thanks,



Bill Lloyd
IT Manager
[cid:image001.jpg at 01CA6834.55FAFA60]

2567 Athens Hwy.
Gainesville, GA 30507
Phone: 770-417-1604 Ext.: 250
Fax:     770-417-1747
Cell:     404-379-6963

blloyd at buskercom.com
This email and any accompanying attachments may contain confidential and proprietary information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are requested to delete this entire communication immediately. Emails cannot be guaranteed to be secure or free of errors or viruses. The sender does not accept any liability or responsibility for any problems that may result from emails you receive.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://optimus.thompsonic.com/pipermail/discuss/attachments/20091118/f04ee3c5/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 14873 bytes
Desc: image001.jpg
URL: <http://optimus.thompsonic.com/pipermail/discuss/attachments/20091118/f04ee3c5/attachment-0002.jpg>