Volume Free Space

[esnmb]

Hello all,

I have a SQL server on a volume that has 184GB free out of a total 1TB.  I need to add an additional 150GB drive to the VM but really didn't want to have to create a new datastore since it's currently on a replicated mirror.  Since this is a SQL server we do not take snapshots so I am wondering, should I just create the 150GB disk and do I need to have a bunch of free space on that datastore?

[vmroyale]

You could do this. The alarms would need to be addressed for sure.

Check out  VMware KB: Troubleshooting a datastore or VMFS volume that is full or near capacity for info on the free space requirements and thresholds.

[esnmb]

So if I have 34GB or so free I may be ok?  I don't know, I think I may just create a new larger datastore and svmotion it to it.  I was going to create a consistency group on the SAN for replication, but that's just another thing to remember...

Thanks.

[vmroyale]

You would probably be OK with 34GB, but personally I feel like that is cutting it pretty close. Like you said, its one more thing to remember and creates additional operational complexity around that VM.

Agree on the larger datastore approach - what about expanding the current VMFS volume?

[esnmb]

I've never actually expanded a VMFS volume before.  That is creating an extent?

[vmroyale]

You can use extents or grow the volume - depends on which versions you are working with. What do you have?

[esnmb]

I'm running 5.0 update 2.

[vmroyale · Accepted solution]

Depending on the storage, you might be able to use the grow feature - check out p.117 of

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-501-storag...

for the procedure.

I've done this without issue plenty of times, but the standard backup warnings apply anytime you make these kind of changes.

[esnmb]

ok cool.  I'll check it out.

Of course this is a replicated volume, so I would most likely need to stop that, increase both sides then re-establish replication...

[vmroyale]

Definitely check your storage vendor's documentation for the procedure. There was some info on the differences in a recent discussion.

[esnmb]

Thanks!