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Wajeeh
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Reduce size of vmdk for virtual machine running Linux

Dear All,

I created a virtual machine few months back with size of 100GB vmdk as thin provision way. It is running 'Other 2.6.x linux 64 bit', now after few months usage I found that 50GB is okay with me, I would like to know practically if this now possible to reduce the size of vmdk for this machine without creating any disturbances.

Waiting for inputs.

Kind Regards,

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6 Replies
suresh1180
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Hello,

you have to use VMware converter to reduce the VMDK size, it needs a brief downtime.

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jfgutier
Contributor
Contributor

First of all you need to take in mind that the disks size and partition sizes are related, but not the same thing.

My advice, given you are already using a thin provisioned disk, is to create a new disk having the desired size, attach it to the vm, and boot using an ISO of gparted (http://gparted.org/download.php) and let it boot

That is a tool for managing partitions and from there you can copy ( and resize fs on fly) the partitions from one disk to the other.

Once you are done you just need to set the new disk as the main disk of your VM,

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maungtan
Contributor
Contributor

hi ,

i have use converter but i could not reduce the linux vm size.

can you help me please

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brunofernandez1

this guide should help you:

How to shrink a VMDK using VMware Converter - TechRepublic

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you found this or any other answer helpful, please consider to award points. (use Correct or Helpful buttons) Regards from Switzerland, B. Fernandez http://vpxa.info/
maungtan
Contributor
Contributor

thanks you reply.

i can only reduce windows vm server. i cannot reduce the linux server.

do you have any idea about linux server reduce the space

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brunofernandez1

i think you will have to zero out first your disk:

small brain dump and more » Shrink Thick Linux virtual disk (vmdk) in ESX

i actually don't have the possibility to test it by my own....

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you found this or any other answer helpful, please consider to award points. (use Correct or Helpful buttons) Regards from Switzerland, B. Fernandez http://vpxa.info/