Configuring Block size Level !

[AhmedTabl]

Dear All,

I'm new for VSphere and VMware tech. but I think it is very interesting, so I'm in a middle of ESX 4.0 test lab design and implementation for my company.

I have been reviewing the best practices and what should we consider before the implementation and deployment.

So, the Block level size "1M, 2M, 4M and 8M" the default configuration is 1M, is there is way to change this size during the ESX server deployment or what

Because 256 G.B for VMFS data store is so small I need at least 1 T.B.

So please advice with URLs or steps upon your experience.

[lamw]

Take a look at this article by Duncan Epping for selecting block size: http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2009/05/14/block-sizes-and-growing-your-vmfs/

Regarding modifying the default 1MB block size during install, there's a few hacks, take a look at this article by Duncan: http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2009/11/11/changing-the-block-size-of-your-local-vmfs-during-the-instal... Take a look at some of the comments for other methods

The best way is to create two separate volumes, one for the COS VMDK and the 2nd which you can have a post-script to re-create the volume using the preferred block size.

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

Twitter: @lamw

VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators

VMware Developer Comuunity

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

[petedr]

This is a vmtn thread on block sizes.

http://communities.vmware.com/message/1413925

www.phdvirtual.com, makers of esXpress

[MKguy]

>Because 256 G.B for VMFS data store is so small I need at least 1 T.B.

Are you sure you aren't confusing something here? The VMFS block size dictates only the maximum size of a single file on your VMFS volume, and not the maximum size of the volume itself.

As was already said, it's generally recommended to use another VMFS on another disk/LUN for VMs.

[AhmedTabl]

Dear MKguy,

Thanks for your clarification; you are saying that if I installed the ESX with its default setting. The block size level will be 1 Mb. by this way the max. size for a single VMDK file on the VMFS data store will be 256 G.B.

If I'm right than this is not recommended according to my needs.

I just need a way, tool or a step-by-step procedure to change this setting from 1M.b to 4 or 8 M.b.

Cause I need one single vmdk file with 500 G.B size.

[MKguy]

OK, I just wanted to make sure that you aren't confusing these things.

In that case, lamw linked a step by step procedure already above:

Regarding modifying the default 1MB block size during install, there's a few hacks, take a look at this article by Duncan: Take a look at some of the comments for other methods

</div>

[AhmedTabl]

Dear MKguy,

I went through the article and I successfully accessed and edited the file, BUT

I didn’t know how to save and exit

This is very embarrassing but I didn’t know how to do it.

regards

[MKguy · Accepted solution]

Your problem is step 9 save and exit the file?

Oh well, you can save and exit in vi with ``:x'' (save and exit) or ``:w'' (write) and a following ``:q'' (quit); everything without quotes.

Read

http://www.unix-manuals.com/tutorials/vi/vi-in-10-1.html