What determines a Datastore's Maximum File Size?

[esuarez78]

I have two SAN devices that serve as datastores for VMs.  When looking in the Datastores view, Configuration tab, selecting a host (while a datastore is selected in tree on left hand pane), then selcting properties for that datastore. 

On one datastore the Total Capacity is 600GB, VMFS3.33, Max File Size 256, & Block Size 1MB

On the other datastore the Total Capacity is 1.42TB, VMFS3.46, Maximum File Size 1024GB, & Block Size 4MB

Obviously I understand that the amount of free space in a datastore can limit how large a File size can be, but I am wondering what are the other deciding factors.

[esuarez78]

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On one datastore the Total Capacity is 600GB, VMFS3.33, Max File Size 256GB, & Block Size 1MB

On the other datastore the Total Capacity is 1.42TB, VMFS3.46, Maximum File Size 1024GB, & Block Size 4MB

[idle-jam · Accepted solution]

it's the blocksize when you first format it. if you need larger file size the only way is to reformat it again. http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003565

[Troy_Clavell]

block size determines the maximum size... Athough a LUN can be no bigger than 2TB minus 512bytes (8MB)

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003565

[esuarez78]

Thanks for the link @idle-jam &Troy Clavell !  My question is answered!

[idle-jam]

Glad that you find it useful and happy virtualizing!