Single VMDK for multiple VM's in esx3.5?

[71mb0]

Hi,

Is it possible to use a single VMDK to host multiple VM's under ESX3.5 or is this feature on the way? I'm thinking of the vmware view tech that allows you to host multiple vm's from a single image and only store the deltas for the replca vms.

We run multiple ts's which are approximately 12GB per image, and each server is essentially identical. it would help reduce space if these could be consolidated at the vmware level.

Many thanks.

[madda]

The title of your thread isn't possible as when you launch a VM it locks the VMDK file.

You can create a template VM which you can create other VMs off using the template as a basis.

[71mb0]

(sorry, nicked the enter key by mistake which posted before I intended).

This scenario appears to be supported in vmware view I was just wondering if it's supported under general esx implementations?

It seems I'll also be able to get this type of consolidation via dedupe on my san if I structure my datastores with similar images.

[madda]

I can't see how this would work in normal ESX as you would end up with alot of locking problems in the VMDK. I assume VMware View would use a basis VMDK and then the machines would run on snapshots so basically it wouldn't be sharing the base VMDK it would be using its own snapshots, but I don't really know much about VMware View and how it works, that is just my assumption.

[TomHowarth · Accepted solution]

What you are refering to is the concept of Linked Clones, this is something completely different from sharing a single VMDK. with linked clones you are actually running mulitple snapshots of a single Machine. this fuinctionality is not available in Raw ESX but is a feature of Lab Manager and VMware View Premium.

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Tom Howarth

VMware Communities User Moderator

Blog: www.planetvm.net