I wanted to reduce the VMDK file size since Guesst VM has 500GB of unallocated space.
VM configured with single disk and that disk has two primary partitions and an unallocated space 500GB.
I couldn't find proper solutions as Vmware recommended. But there is a way that we can edit descriptor value .VMDK file.
To edit the value use the formula of
New descriptor value
(Total disk size*1024*1024*2)-(Total disk sizet be removed*1024*1024*2)
If we perform above one then on VM edit setting hardisk option is greyed out.
So let me know know is there any best solutions which we can perform and achieve the resizing.
Convert to a new VM with Converter Standalone, resizing the partitions and disks.
From the Growing, thinning, and shrinking virtual disks for VMware ESX and ESXi (1002019) KB article VMware Knowledge Base
"Shrinking
Before shrinking
I wouldn’t edit the vmdk descriptors unless you want to spend the next few hours recovering data...
Simon
Unallocated space at the end of a flat.vmdk can be easily cut off with dd.
see vm-sickbay.com for details.
this is the solution which I followed initially. But only problem is that under VM edit settings option hardisk section would be greyed out and Incase if we wish increase some space in future on same VM then it would be hard.
Relpying to continuum
Did you update/reconfigure the .vmdk descriptor file, so that it matches the new data/flat file's size?
André
Hello Andre,
Total size of the disk is 800GB and 500GB in that disk is unused so I have shrinked it then it became unallocated space. Now I wanna reclaim that unallocated space back to the datastore.
So I have reconfigured the .VMDK file descriptor value using steps I mentioned in beginning. Post performing this only Harddisk option went greyed out in VM settings.
Performing V2V is also an another option but it is a time consuming process.
Let me know any other possible ways ... without affecting VM data .
did you already read
How to use dd to work with VMDKs stored on VMFS | VM-Sickbay