Shrink VMDK File

[ozzproject]

Hi there,

currently i have a VM called kemit which has a bunch of vdmk files. see below.

I want to shrink the vm using  vmkfstools -K [disk].

But which of this files are the right one?

I tried already this:

kermit.vmdk

kermit-000001.vmdk

but i got always

Couldn't find VMFS handle on virtual disk 'kermit.vmdk'

Couldn't find VMFS handle on virtual disk 'kermit-000001.vmdk'

kermit-000001-s001.vmdk

kermit-000001-s002.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s003.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s004.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s005.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s006.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s007.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s008.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s009.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s010.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s011.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s012.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s013.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s014.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s015.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s016.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s017.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s018.vmdk     

kermit-000001-s025.vmdk

kermit-000001-s026.vmdk

kermit-000001-s027.vmdk

kermit-000001-s028.vmdk

kermit-000001-s029.vmdk

kermit-000001-s030.vmdk

kermit-000001-s031.vmdk

kermit-000001-s032.vmdk

kermit-000001.vmdk

kermit-85de2526.vswp

kermit-Snapshot1.vmsn

kermit.vmdk

kermit.vmsd

kermit.vmx

kermit.vmx.lck

kermit.vmxf

kermit.vmx~

nvram kermit-000001-s019.vmdk     

vmware-1.log kermit-000001-s020.vmdk     

vmware-2.log kermit-000001-s021.vmdk     

vmware-3.log kermit-000001-s022.vmdk     

vmware-4.log kermit-000001-s023.vmdk     

vmware.log kermit-000001-s024.vmdk     

vmx-kermit-2245928230-1.vswp

[Kay_ausderkiste]

Hey,

i think you need to do something with your Snapshots.

The 000001-sxxx.vmdk  Files show that.

First thing that i would do, erase all that snapshots.

Than you will have only the 1 or 2 or xx many .vmdk that your VMs needs.

BTW  be sure that u have a Backup

Shrink a VMware Virtual Machine Disk (VMDK) – virtualman

https://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/12938/HOW-TO-Shrink-a-VMware-Virtual-Machine-Disk-VMDK-in-...

[continuum · Accepted solution]

Kermit was created on Workstation or Fusion and does not use ESXi-compatible VMDKs.

Either shrink the vmdk on WS or Fusion or import it via

vmkfstools -i kermit-000001.vmdk esxi-compatible.vmdk

first.

You do not need to read the random links provided in the previous reply.

[Raj1988]

The supported method of shrinking a VMware virtual machine disk (VMDK) is to use VMware vCenter Converter Standalone and create a virtual to virtual (V2V) conversion, a similar process to a Physical to Virtual (P2V) conversion.

Check https://www.vladan.fr/reduce-vmdk-size/  and Shrink a VMDK using VMware Converter  .

Regards,

AJ

[Kay_ausderkiste]

Hey continuum​ how do you know that this VM was made with Workstation or Fusion?

Is there a pattern or something? I wouldt like to know how you recognize this.

[continuum]

Open kermit-000001.vmdk in a texteditor and you will see how I identified the vmdk-format.

ESXi-compatible snapshots only use one binary file - that file would use the name blabla-delta.vmdk or blabla-sesparse.vmdk.

Also note the "createType" parameter.