topic Re: Is it possible to remove Disposable Disk option from a pool configuration in VMware View? in Horizon Desktops and Apps

Is it possible to remove Disposable Disk option from a pool configuration in VMware View?

btboat — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 17:58:19 GMT

I'd like to remove the Disposable Disk option from several persistent pools in VMware Horizon View 5.3.1 (where the VMs are already using Disposable Disks); however, there doesn't appear to be a way to do this in the pool options. Is it possible to remove the Disposable Disk option some other way or do I need to remove the old pool and create an entirely new one without this option enabled?

I was using Disposable Disk option as it appeared to be saving storage space, but I discovered that the Disposable Disks were only refreshed when View initiated a power-off of VMs in the pool (which never happens). I had thought that the Disposable Disks refreshed every time a customer shutdown/restarted the VM... but that is not the case. Given this information, I'd like to stop using Disposable Disks as they really aren't conferring any benefit the way our persistent VMs are setup.

Thank you in advance for any help!

Re: Is it possible to remove Disposable Disk option from a pool configuration in VMware View?

kgsivan — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 04:45:04 GMT

Your understanding is true with 'Disposable Disk". They gets refreshed only while power-down initiated through VMware View. To remove System Disposable Disk from existing disk, first disable it on the pool configuration and then perform a Recompose (to a new image) or simple do a rebalance , so that VMs will get re-provisioned and the new settings will get applied.

On a side note, you can make use to "Space Efficient Sparse Disk" enabled for pool, and schedule the wipe and shrink on the disks, to save storage.

Re: Is it possible to remove Disposable Disk option from a pool configuration in VMware View?

btboat — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 22:10:16 GMT

I don't see a way to undo the Disposable Disk option from within the pool settings... all I am able to do is adjust the disk size and/or drive letter. I don't see an option to remove or uncheck Disposable Disk feature for an existing pool that already has it enabled.

Re: Is it possible to remove Disposable Disk option from a pool configuration in VMware View?

kgsivan — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 05:06:36 GMT

OK, you are right.. only customization of drive letter is allowed.

Now to answer your question, the one and only formal way is to delete the pool by archiving all the Persistent Disks (User Data Disk), then create a pool with same name (but without SDD).

Further, select all the archived UDD and then click, "recreate". All the new desktops will be recreated with new spec,

Another way (not officially validated/ not sure of its impacts)

pae-SVIVmPersistentDiskSpec entry will be there at ADAM database OU=Server Groups (VMware KB: Connecting to the View ADAM Database)

In this one entry will be there for system disposable which has a parameter "DiskUsage=SystemDisposable"

Upron removing the corresponding entry *may* end up in not configuring the SSD for further provisioning.