Disk/LUN - Formatting : File size = virtual image size?

[Artez]

Hello,

I am trying to add a storage on a vClient and I am just stuck on a Formatting step.

As you can see in the attached, it is asking me to set up a "maximum file size".

Does it include virtual machine images?

Because I am trying to create few server images that can grow larger than 256GB.

or is it just .iso images and other files I might save on that storage?

[a_p_]

The screen shot looks like you are running ESXi 4.x, although you are posing in the ESXi 5.0 forum.

With ESXi 4.x you need to format the datastore based on the maximum expected virtual disk size (which is basically a .vmdk file) wit a 1, 2, 4 or 8MB block size. ESXi 5.0 uses a unified block size of 1MB for all file sizes.

André

[Artez]

No No,

I am using ESXi 5.0. (did not update yet but I will)

I just selected VMFS-3 if that helps.

BTW, "based on the maximum expected virtual disk size" means that maximum file size also includes VM image right?

Thank you

[vmroyale]

Hello.

Just out of curiosity, why choose VMFS-3 at this point?

Good Luck!

[weinstein5]

Since you are running ESXi 5 I would not choose VMFS 3 but VMFS 5 as that will limit the functionality of the VMFS storage since the features of vSphere 5 will not be availanle -

[a_p_ · Accepted solution]

BTW, "based on the maximum expected virtual disk size" means that maximum file size also includes VM image right?

Yes, as mentioned before, the VM's virtual disk is just a .vmdk file on the datastore and you'll need to select the appropriate block size in case you are going to use VMFS-3, which may only make sense if older hosts need to access the datastore.

André

[Artez]

Hello and sorry for the late reply

I reviewed it again and it was just my short English..... sigh.....

Under VMFS-5 it said "Select this option to enable additional capabilities such as 2TB+ support. VMFS-5 is not supported by hosts with an ESX version older than 5.0"

and somehow I thought "our storage is 1.5TB so no need for 2TB+ support".

But thanks and now I know what to choose!

[Artez]

Thank you!

I will choose VMFS-5