VMFS full but VMDK not use all the VMFS Space

[VanDam93]

Dear All,

I don't found anyway answer to my problem.

This WeekEnd We have Exchange Crash, because the VPShere is out of space on the VMFS of our Exchange.

We are in VSphere 4.1, 2 ESX in cluster mode (HA etc disable)

All the VMFS are on SAN ISCSI Falconstor.

I have created 1 LUN for my exchange, with 300 Go Provisionned.

The Vsphere client display 278 Go not shared,ans the same on Storage Used.

For Restart correctly my exchange, i have deleted 2 Vsphere Snapshot.

I don't understand were is the storage missing, because in my Exchange I use 2 vmdk.

The first vmdk : 34 Go (Os sytem & Program File)

The Second One : 140 Go. (Information Store)

So 140 + 34 = 174 Go used on the VMFS, where is the rest of the 280 Go ?

I could not expend each time my vmfs volume, what the VSPhere server do with the space ?

Did I need to change a parameter for recovery automaticaly the disapear storage space or something else ?

Best REgards.

[AWo]

Welcome to the forums!

Does the guest have active snapshots?

Does that guest have thin-provisioned disks and other guest took away the free space?

AWo

[szabotoma]

You sould check all files your datastore!

[VanDam93]

Dear Awo

Normaly this VM haven"t got snapshot activated (I have deleted them for recover space on the vmfs).

I use Backup Exec for backup the VM as like Physical, without use any agent on the VMware structure.

The Lun are statics, no thin provisionning, and the San have suffisant storage place.

Regards

[a_p_]

Bienvenue à VMware Communities,

I agree with AWo, the cause is usually the presence of snapshots. Some backup applications don't create an entry in the Snapshot Manager when they create a snapshot, so if they fail to delete the snapshot after backup, you can only see it in the datastore browser.

Please take a look at the datastore browser to see whether there are some <vmname>-00000x.vmdk files. There's a simple way to delete all snapshots, even the ones which do not appear in the snapshot manager. However, you have to be careful. It's important to be at least on ESX(i) 4.0 Update 2 to be on the save side.

André

EDIT: Just saw you mentioned, you are already on 4.1. So disregard my last sentence.

[VanDam93]

Dear All

Thanks a lot for helping me, i am not totaly aware about the VMFS paramter

So in fact, I saw i have another snapshot on the datastore , so I delet it.

Here the datastore browsing from my exchange

SO i stand that the snapshot was deleted for showing you the result.

Regards

[szabotoma · Accepted solution]

As I see you use some snapshots.

Be aware snapshot is NOT backup and use no single snapshot for more than 24-72 hours and etc.

Look this:

Best practices for virtual machine snapshots in the VMware environment

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=102527...

Regards,

[a_p_]

In the datastore browser you can see, there are 2 snapshots.

If these snapshots don't show up in the snapshot manager, you can create another snapshot and then click "Delete All" which will consolidate all the snapshots into the base vmdk disk.

Depending on the current load of the Exchange server and the free disk space on the datastore, you should consider to do this during off hours. With low free disk space I'd even recommend to do this while the VM is powered off. The worst thing would be to run out of disk space during the snapshot consolidation.

André

[VanDam93]

Ok, You right szabotoma

I think I don't use correctly the snashot ressources of the VPShere.

I will takle a look of all link you post.

Now I understood why all storage growing (Snaphot issue).rds

Thanks A lot, i will post next reply the new screen shot of my datastore, event the snapshot was deleted.

What is the recommandation for VMFS, doublespace than the vmdk file ?

Regards

[satishchirala]

Better solution is while creating a virtual machine , there is option thin and thick , i will always saves the space of lun  and if we have free space on vmfs use gparted tools , please find the attachment

[szabotoma]

To calculate the correct LUN or datastore size is a complex task.
I suggest you should read the Making LUN Decisions chapter in this document:
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r41/vsp_41_san_cfg.pdf

and one more:

I think the default alarm level is <30% free space on the datastore.

and again:

thin or thick disk?

http://communities.vmware.com/message/1514521#1514521

[VanDam93]

Dear szabotoma

So, here the screenshot after deleting all snapshot found, the capacity used still be good now.

Thanks for support.

Regards