topic Re: comparison different formats virtual disk (Thick Provision Lazy Zeroed, Thick Provision Eager Zeroed, Thin Provision) in ESXi Discussions

comparison different formats virtual disk (Thick Provision Lazy Zeroed, Thick Provision Eager Zeroed, Thin Provision)

rschmid — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 11:18:14 GMT

Hi,

we are running vSphere 5.5 with a small amount of hosts.

We have used the Thick Provision Lazy Zeroed format for virtual disks.

I think the format has a disadvantage, because if I create a virtual disk with this format and later my VM used e.g. the half of given disk space, it's a waste of datastore space.

Would it not be useful to create virtual disk with Thin Provision format ?

(all our datastores are local)

Kind regards,

Roland

Re: comparison different formats virtual disk (Thick Provision Lazy Zeroed, Thick Provision Eager Zeroed, Thin Provision)

SatyS — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 11:23:17 GMT

You can use thin provision.Only difference is thin provision uses the storage space on the fly.

Whereas thick will allocate the space in a single shot.

Thin provisioning myth-busters: The benefits of thin virtual disks

This link will guide you.

-SatyS

Re: comparison different formats virtual disk (Thick Provision Lazy Zeroed, Thick Provision Eager Zeroed, Thin Provision)

goppi — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 11:44:01 GMT

Only disadvantage of thin provision is if you have a scenario where the disk is constantly

growing in size. Whenever a thin provisioned disk is expanded in size on the fly you

will have a small performance penalty compared to the thick formats.

If you application is normally reusing already allocated diskspace and only somtimes

allocate new diskspace there is absoultely nothing wrong with thin.

HTH

goppi.

Re: comparison different formats virtual disk (Thick Provision Lazy Zeroed, Thick Provision Eager Zeroed, Thin Provision)

rschmid — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 13:25:54 GMT

Hi SatsS,

can I change a thick into a thin disk after having created the thick disk ?

Kind regards,

Roland

Re: comparison different formats virtual disk (Thick Provision Lazy Zeroed, Thick Provision Eager Zeroed, Thin Provision)

SatyS — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 18:22:59 GMT

You can use a p2v converter or use storage vmotion.

-SatyS

Re: comparison different formats virtual disk (Thick Provision Lazy Zeroed, Thick Provision Eager Zeroed, Thin Provision)

vJJSosa — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 18:42:59 GMT

That's right, only works converter or storage vmotion.

On the other hand, fromt thin to thick is more easy, you only need to power off the vm and inflate the vmdk needed.

Regards

Re: comparison different formats virtual disk (Thick Provision Lazy Zeroed, Thick Provision Eager Zeroed, Thin Provision)

SatyS — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 09:22:33 GMT

Hope you have migrated to thin provision.

If the answers helped you,please award points by marking correct/helpful answers!!

-SatyS