Shrinking(decrease) of VM's vmdk size on ESXi 5.5 hosts

[vickyshiv123]

Hi

Could anyone please assist how we can reduce the VM's vmdk file size(Thick provision Lazy Zeroed) on ESXi 5.5 hosts

Any methods are there,I don't think so it is possible to reduce the disk by just pressing down arrow in edit settings-->Hard disk section

Much appreciate your help

Thanks&Regards,

Vick

[JimKnopf99]

Hi,

you could use the vmware converter to create a copy of your vm and during the wizard, change the size of your vm´s vmdk size.

Frank

[vfk]

You cannot dynamically shrink vmdk file size, if you want to reduce the physical size of the vmdk file you have to use tools like VMware Convertor to resize it.  Alternatively you can Thin Provision the VM if you want to reclaim space in the short term, and keep an eye your storage consumption.

[vickyshiv123]

Hi Frank,

Thanks a lot for your reply

Is there any other way to perform like vmkfstools or in command line

Thanks

Vick

[vickyshiv123]

hi,

Thanks for your reply.

Is there any other way to shrink

Regards,

Vick

[JimKnopf99]

Hi,

https://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=10020...

It is not supported. VMware converter is an easy and fast option for that.

Frank

[vickyshiv123]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply

You mean to say, shrinking can only be done using VMware vCenter converter

Is it available free or need to purchase license

Regards,

Vick

[JimKnopf99]

‌it is free. You do not have to buy a license.

Frank

[vickyshiv123]

Hi Frank,

Thanks a lot for your reply,

For your kind information, our objective is to reduce the vmdk for non-system drive(like D drive or E drive)

In that case, can we do it manually like first shrink the volume from the Guest OS level and reduce the size of the virtual disk.

Or still need to do using VMware vCenter converter

Kindly advise.

Regards,

Vick

[JimKnopf99]

‌yyou could use the converter ass well. Or, if possible, create a new diesel with the size you want and copy the files. Maybe with robocopy if you use Windows, and delete the old disk after that.

Frank

[vickyshiv123]

Hi Frank,

Thanks for your reply.

One more query, while using the VMware vCenter converter the VMs should be powered off or can do the process in the Powered on state itself

Kindly advise.

Thanks

Vick

[JimKnopf99]

Hi Vick,

read this guide please.

https://www.vmware.com/pdf/convsa_60_guide.pdf‌

It is both possible. Depends on your source.

Frank