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1. Re: Compact doesn't seem to work
wila Apr 23, 2016 4:33 AM (in response to IReallTryhard)Hi,
First step... Shut down the VM and make a backup then...
Before we try to shrink the virtual disk files, we should try to remove any unneeded files from the virtual machine to free space.
For example, on Debian-based VMs, you can run
apt-get autoremove apt-get clean all
to clear out the local repository of retrieved package files.Next, run as root (sudo won't work)
cat /dev/zero > /zero.fill;sync;sleep 1;sync;rm -f /zero.fill
to fill the unused space with zeros.
Then power down the VM and open a terminal on the Linux host.
Navigate to the directory where the .vmdk files are located, e.g.:
cd /var/lib/vmware/Virtual\ Machines/Ubuntu\ 14.04/
now run vmware-vdiskmanager -k eg:
/wherever-vmware-has-installed-this/vmware-vdiskmanager -k ubuntu.vmdk
Sorry to lazy to go look up the location of where vmware-vdiskmanager lives, but that's the steps if you want to shrink.
Enjoy,
--
Wil
| Author of Vimalin. The virtual machine Backup app for VMware Desktop Products
| Vimalin : Automated backups for VMware Fusion and VMware Workstation Professional
| More info at https://www.vimalin.com
| Twitter @wilva
| VMware Wiki at http://www.vi-toolkit.com
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2. Re: Compact doesn't seem to work
IReallTryhard Apr 23, 2016 8:34 AM (in response to wila)Ooops, thanks Wil, my mistake, but the host is win8.1. I just did disk-search for "vmware-vdiskmanager" and nothing found on my C: drive.
Found this online
VMware KB: Repairing a virtual disk in Workstation
and this
VMware KB: Increasing the size of a virtual disk
But nothing matches up on my stock-installation of Player 12.0.0, for the vmware-vdiskmanager.
I guess it is in the paid-only version and not the free.
What's a poor, retired old fart to do?
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3. Re: Compact doesn't seem to work
wila Apr 23, 2016 9:11 AM (in response to IReallTryhard)More my mistake I guess as I wasn't 100% sure if VMware did include this file with VMware Player or not.
Guess not.. Normally I recommend people install the full suite (VMware Workstation) and when that expires you still have a working VMware Player left - with all the extra tools.
Anyways.. I digress. It should be part of the VMware Virtual Disk Development Kit, but for completeness here's another discussion that lists the possibilities:
Download vmware-vdiskmanager.exe separately? Show version?
PS: I just downloaded the VDDK 6.0.2 down here. Had to go back and redownload after logging in as the VMware portal claimed "maintenance".. I tend to not believe that and try again, after that the download went through.
--
Wil
| Author of Vimalin. The virtual machine Backup app for VMware Desktop Products
| Vimalin : Automated backups for VMware Fusion and VMware Workstation Professional
| More info at https://www.vimalin.com
| Twitter @wilva
| VMware Wiki at http://www.vi-toolkit.com
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4. Re: Compact doesn't seem to work
IReallTryhard Apr 23, 2016 2:32 PM (in response to wila)Wila, persistence pays. Got 6.02 OK, thanks. Will follow through your process and see what's what before marking your latest response as "Correct Answer."
An amusing note in that thread you pointed me at...
DerekShaw:
"'cause I keep having to find it again and again"
I have been using VMware for many years and they seem masters at the art of hiding and experts at no-longer-working KBs.
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5. Re: Compact doesn't seem to work
IReallTryhard Apr 23, 2016 2:59 PM (in response to wila)- Wooo Hooo that reclaimed 14GB!
Awesome help, thanks again wila.