topic Extend D: drive of virtual server whilst keeping data? in Virtual Machine, Guest OS and VM Tools Discussions

Extend D: drive of virtual server whilst keeping data?

iceman1976 — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 10:52:25 GMT

We are running VMWare ESX 3.5. We have Windows 2003 SP2 Enterprise Server guests located on the server. Each guest has a 20GB C: as standard and we also build them with a 20GB Both hard disks are seperate VMDK files

I have a server where we need the drive extended to 30GB. Unfortunately, there is already data on this drive.

Does anyone know how I can extend the existing from 20GB to 30GB without losing any of the data? Should it be a case of going to the Virtual Machine properties > Hard Disk 2 > Disk Provisioning and then changing the Provisioned Size from 20 to 30? Then we can use Diskpart to extend the volume?

Will this keep the data intact though? Or are there any other recommended methods?

Re: Extend D: drive of virtual server whilst keeping data?

marcelo_soares — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:02:29 GMT

I don't remember for sure if on 3.5 you can expand on the edit settings, but you certainly can do it using this instructions: http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1007266

Hope this helps.

Marcelo Soares

VMWare Certified Professional 310/410

Virtualization Tech Master

Globant Argentina

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Re: Extend D: drive of virtual server whilst keeping data?

iceman1976 — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:18:12 GMT

Great, thanks Marcelo.

Out of interest, I notice the KB speaks about extending the VMDK. Do you know if the same process can be used to reduce the size if we decide we don't need all the space?

Re: Extend D: drive of virtual server whilst keeping data?

marcelo_soares — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:21:19 GMT

No... unfortunately, shrinking disks can't be done (yet, I think...). It involves many variants, as the Guest OS partition table. You can user VMware Converter to reduce disks sizes by creating a VM copy reduced (converter can change Windows partition size).

Marcelo Soares

VMWare Certified Professional 310/410

Virtualization Tech Master

Globant Argentina

Consider awarding points for "helpful" and/or "correct" answers.

Re: Extend D: drive of virtual server whilst keeping data?

iceman1976 — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:22:50 GMT

Thanks for the prompt answers

Re: Extend D: drive of virtual server whilst keeping data?

marcelo_soares — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:24:24 GMT

You are welcom.... some points???

Marcelo Soares

VMWare Certified Professional 310/410

Virtualization Tech Master

Globant Argentina

Consider awarding points for "helpful" and/or "correct" answers.

Re: Extend D: drive of virtual server whilst keeping data?

marcelo_soares — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:24:48 GMT

There it is... thanks man!!!

Marcelo Soares

VMWare Certified Professional 310/410

Virtualization Tech Master

Globant Argentina

Consider awarding points for "helpful" and/or "correct" answers.