How to contract C partition?

[DheereshLodhi]

How to contract C partition?

[vmroyale]

Hello.

VMware Converter is the easiest way to do this.

Good Luck!

[AndreTheGiant]

In ESX there isn't a shrink function.

So VMware Converter could be the simplest solutions.

Or you can converter the disk to thin format (in ESX 3.5 the only way is using vmkfstools tools) to reduce the used space (is not the same thing but could also be an idea).

Andre

[Erik_Zandboer]

@Andre: As far as I know, there is no such function to shrink VMDKs using vmkfstools. It used to be possible (ESX 2.5) by growing the VMDK to a number smaller than the disk was, but I think since 3.0 it is no longer possible. I have seen options for shrinking disks inside VMware Tools, but I have never used that functionality (interesting to know if it works at all?).

EDIT: I was not reading right. Converting to a thin provisioned disk would indeed be possible (although not the same as shrinking).

Beware if you find a way to shrink a vmdk: In that case you must use a tool like partition magic first in order to shrink the partition inside the vmdk. Only after that you may be able to shrink the vmdk to that size.

I would strongly suggest to use Converter though...!




Visit my blog at http://www.vmdamentals.com

[AndreTheGiant]

Sorry... I forgot the NOT in last sentence.

Andre