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LuanneSoon
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What are the vmdk files on the host?

I see for each VM device there is are a number of associated files including a vmdk.  On our vcenter host there are quite a few vmdk files of varying sizes.  What are those?  The names are generic such as 'VCSA.vmdk', vcsa_1.vmdk, vcsa_12.vmdk.  I have no idea what they are.  I've search on vmdk files and can't find an explanation.

Thank you.

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a_p_
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Can you please provide an example of the files that you see? This way it might be easier to explain what they are for.

A virtual disk on an ESXi host consists of two .vmdk files, a small descriptor/header file (a text file that only contains metadata), and the data file which contains user data. If a VM has active snapshots, each of these snapshots also consists of two .vmdk files. Sample: A VM with a single virtual disk, and two snapshot has six .vmdk files.

Sample names:

Primary virtual disk: <vmname>.vmdk + <vmname>-flat.vmdk

Additional virtual disks: <vmname>_#.vmdk + <vmname>_#-flat.vmdk

Snapshots: <vmname>-00000x.vmdk + <vmname>-00000x-delta.vmdk (or <vmname>-00000x-sesparse.vmdk for newer ESXi versions)

André

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daphnissov
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Virtual disk files

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scott28tt
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Virtual Machine Files


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LuanneSoon
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Thank you for the information in your post.  I feel like I did those things but apparently I missed the boat on something.  I'm brand new at VMWare.  I did google.  For example the other response said that VMDK files are Virtual Machine Files.  I knew that from googling and searching forums. 

This may not even be the right forum and for that I apologize but I didn't see one that just had VCenter.  For all I know this is the wrong community even.

I'm not trying to be a smart a@@ or anything, I did appreciate reading the rules and will keep them in mind.

Have a nice day.

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LuanneSoon
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Thank you.  I did know that from searching and actually RTFM as suggested in the rules for posting.  So I was not clear and I will try again.

Each VM has its own VMDK containing the name of the virtual machine.  The host itself has a number of VMDK files that have only numbers in the name and the amout of vmdk files on the host  does not correspond to the number of virtual machines.  I am curious about what those are.  I didn't see anything that explained those.If this is the wrong community or forum for this please let me know.  I do not intend to be a pest.

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a_p_
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Can you please provide an example of the files that you see? This way it might be easier to explain what they are for.

A virtual disk on an ESXi host consists of two .vmdk files, a small descriptor/header file (a text file that only contains metadata), and the data file which contains user data. If a VM has active snapshots, each of these snapshots also consists of two .vmdk files. Sample: A VM with a single virtual disk, and two snapshot has six .vmdk files.

Sample names:

Primary virtual disk: <vmname>.vmdk + <vmname>-flat.vmdk

Additional virtual disks: <vmname>_#.vmdk + <vmname>_#-flat.vmdk

Snapshots: <vmname>-00000x.vmdk + <vmname>-00000x-delta.vmdk (or <vmname>-00000x-sesparse.vmdk for newer ESXi versions)

André

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LuanneSoon
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Thank you!

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