VMware Communities
mattad
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
‎09-02-2011 12:20 AM

Why do I need "prepare for shrinking"? Compact not enough?

In VmWare Tools Panel there is a function "Prepare for shrinking".

Why do i need this?

Is "Compact" in VmWare Player not enough?

Do I need "Prepare for shrinking" only for Win guestOS or for Linux/Solaris guestOS as well?

Matt

0 Kudos
3 Replies
iw123
Commander
Commander
‎09-02-2011 01:27 AM

I believe you have to 'prepare for shrinking' before it will let you do it. This only works for windows hosts.

*Please, don't forget the awarding points for "helpful" and/or "correct" answers
0 Kudos
iw123
Commander
Commander
‎09-02-2011 01:28 AM

Windows guests that should read. Sorry, late night!

*Please, don't forget the awarding points for "helpful" and/or "correct" answers
0 Kudos
a_p_
Leadership
Leadership
‎09-02-2011 02:08 AM

A VMDK file basically consists of 64kB data blocks (plus some Metadata). The "Compact" process actually does not care (does not know) about the installed guest OS and it's file system, it only copies all data blocks which contain anything else but all zeroes from the current vmdk file to a new vmdk file. The "Prepare for shrinking" process however uses functions in/of the guest OS itself to zero out any unused disk space.

André

0 Kudos