Changes to ESXi partitions

[RTmxa]

Hi,

I would like to know where I need to make changes to alter the partition sizes created by ESXi on install

Thanks in advance

[a_p_]

What I usually do on local installations, is to split the RAID into multiple logical volumes. I create a logical volume with 10GB for the OS and use the remaining space to create a logical volume for the VMFS datastore.

André

[Dave_Mishchenko]

Are you looking to change the partition sizes of the ESXi system partitions or the default virtual disk sizes for new VMs. For the installation of ESXi the system partitions are not created and then populated with system files such as is the case with Windows / Linux. Rather a disk image is copied from the install CD. So you can't alter the partition sizes during the installation as you can with ESX. If you do want to alter the system partitions is there any reason for wanting to do this?




Dave

VMware Communities User Moderator

Now available - vSphere Quick Start Guide

Do you have a system or PCI card working with VMDirectPath? Submit your specs to the Unofficial VMDirectPath HCL.

[RTmxa]

Thanks Dave.

I am trying to modify the partitions of the ESXi system partitions. This was essentially done by someone in my company earlier and I am trying to understand how he achieved this so that I can make modifications on top of that.

If this is a disk image copied at install time, would I need to make the required modifications of partitions on an installed ESXi and create an equivalent disk image?

Is this the approach to achieve this?

Thanks

[Dave_Mishchenko · Accepted solution]

If you get an ESXi 4.1 install CD, open imagedd.bz2 and you'll find the disk image that is used. I would hazard a guess that the person who did the install didn't change any partition sizes as it is not an option during the install.

Changing the partitions in the dd image would provide what you need. What partitions are you looking at changing and why?




Dave

VMware Communities User Moderator

Now available - vSphere Quick Start Guide

Do you have a system or PCI card working with VMDirectPath? Submit your specs to the Unofficial VMDirectPath HCL.

[DiegoVirt]

Hi,

　

I'm getting a lot of problems related to lack of space .　

　

I'm trying to copying some tar files to install apps...but, I got error messages

..

"No space left on device"

My partitions.

df -k
Filesystem           1k-blocks      Used Available Use% Mounted on
visorfs                1371004    305912   1065092  22% /
vfat                   4192960      3648   4189312   0% /vmfs/volumes/4dba8b0a-44db7abe-161e-00145e7b90b9
vmfs3                 66322432    574464  65747968   1% /vmfs/volumes/4dba8b0b-9cab7106-f529-00145e7b90b9
vfat                    255716     91336    164380  36% /vmfs/volumes/a64a1372-89399612-715c-ee2221d5eabd
vfat                    255716         4    255712   0% /vmfs/volumes/e1fb447a-65c58d87-ea04-d3ace49a5ebb
vfat                    292752    144096    148656  49% /vmfs/volumes/2da668ef-40e5d96b-90bf-855ddb9c5547

I used to get ESX partitions resized ..like:

/ = 30 gb

/tmp = 2

/usr = 5

/home = 10gb

/var = 2

/var/log=2

This is my first time trying ESXi 4.1 ..Would you be able to help me out ? How can I resize those partitions on ESXi .. I just read, that there is no way to resize them during the installation ..Now need I run Gparted or something like that ?

Thanks in advance !

[DSTAVERT]

What apps are you trying to install? Unless these are specifically created for ESXi they won't work. Management is generally done remotely. The ESXi "console" is a very minimal with busybox. The local COS of ESX has been replaced with a remote management appliance vMA http://vmware.com/go/vma or the vCLI or Powershell powercli management tools.

[DiegoVirt]

Yes, I reading the document:

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r41/vsp4_41_vcli_inst_script.pdf

Apps that I want to install, scm, tsm, tivoli, etc..is there any way to get the disks resized ?

[]'s

[DSTAVERT]

ESXi isn't designed to have local apps like you may have added to ESX. Like I said unless they have been expressly created for ESXi you are mostly wasting your time. Even modules that are created for ESXi aren't installed like any usual ESX or Linux one.

[DiegoVirt]

hummm....I do not know if it is a good or very very very BAD news ..cuz, we used to get some apps installed to make it in compliance with some policies....

Now, I need to starting figure out another possibility..once, according to vmware,  we going to have only ESXi ....it will cause some changes which involves money..btw...thanks very much for your help ! .

I'm giving some points .

[]'s

[DSTAVERT]

You are not alone and I will guess you will need to start looking at re writing policies.

I would have a look through this link. http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/esxi-and-esx/overview.html