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2 Replies Last post: Jan 6, 2009 11:17 PM by whynotq  

Partition Question posted: Jan 6, 2009 3:29 PM

Click to view John Johnston's profile Lurker
John Johnston
2 posts since
Nov 14, 2007

I am installing a single ESX 3.5 server into a remote office. The ESX server will be connected to an AX4 SAN, with approximately 3.5 TB usable space. The ESX server will support a single Windows 2003 server with three partitions, as follows:

C: - 25 GB

D: - 800 GB

E: - 250 GB

What is the best practice regarding the guest partition configuration in a situation as described above? Is it better to use 1 large virtual disk, or three smaller ones, or does it make any difference?

Thank you.

Re: Partition Question

1. Jan 6, 2009 3:52 PM in response to: John Johnston
Click to view RParker's profile Champion
RParker
5,288 posts since
Dec 6, 2006
What is the best practice regarding the guest partition configuration in a situation as described above? Is it better to use 1 large virtual disk, or three smaller ones, or does it make any difference?

1 large virtual disk

Not really any difference since your VM will have only 1 SCSI controller virtualized on one HBA on the ESX host, so performance wise and sanity it's better to just have 1 disk partitioned... but I question why you are partitioning in the first place. I am never a fan of partitioning...

Re: Partition Question

2. Jan 6, 2009 11:17 PM in response to: John Johnston
Click to view whynotq's profile Master
whynotq
759 posts since
Mar 2, 2005
my personal preference is not to have a VMFS above 500 G, i'd consider using RDM for the D & E drives but it will also be dictated by your backup method as to what gives most resilience and recovery.

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