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Basavaraj2016
Contributor
Contributor

VixDiskLib_Create() fails to create vmdk > 2TB

Hello Guys,

I am using VDDK 5.5.4 version, creating vmdk file for managed disk type.

About Managed disk:-
VixDiskLib_Create() locally creates a new virtual disk, after being 
connected to the host(). In createParams, you must specify the disk type, 
adapter, hardware version, and capacity as a number of sectors. 
This function supports hosted disk.
For managed disk, first create a hosted type virtual disk, then use 
VixDiskLib_Clone() to convert the virtual disk to managed disk.


Currently existing VMware API - VixDiskLib_Create is failing in virtual disk 
creation with disk type VIXDISKLIB_DISK_MONOLITHIC_SPARSE  when user 
requests for size =>2TB

I am exploring over virtual disk creation to managed disk with below virtual 
disk type supported by VMWare VDDK. 


I have tried to create virtual disk with type for >2TB.
Prerequisites:-
Have backup of a machine having NTFS drive with size 2.2TB.
Machine with NTFS drive with size 2.5TB for temporary destination to for vmdk.
ESXi 6.0 with data store formatted with VMFS5 and has 4TB free space.

VMware API - VixDiskLib_Create with virtual disk type.
1.) VIXDISKLIB_DISK_MONOLITHIC_SPARSE fails to create vmdk with size -2.2TB.
2.) VIXDISKLIB_DISK_MONOLITHIC_FLAT able to create vmdk but pre allocates complete 2.2TB size irrespective of actual data and took more than 8hours.
3.) VIXDISKLIB_DISK_VMFS_THIN fails to create vmdk file.
4.) VIXDISKLIB_DISK_VMFS_FLAT able to create vmdk but pre allocates complete 2.2TB size irrespective of actual data and took more than 8hours.
Note:- In case of managed disk creation, even though we create vmdk any type but while cloning to ESXi host it will be VIXDISKLIB_DISK_VMFS_FLAT.

I am not sure why VixDiskLib_Create is failing for VIXDISKLIB_DISK_MONOLITHIC_SPARSE when size >=2TB? 

Please help in resolving this issue.

Thanks,
Basavaraj.

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3 Replies
diwakaridrive
Contributor
Contributor

I am also getting the same issue, Can anyone please help here?

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mandlaafolabi68
Contributor
Contributor

The VixDiskLib_Create() function encounters a failure when attempting to create a Virtual Machine Disk (VMDK) larger than 2 terabytes. This limitation could be attributed to the underlying architecture or configuration. To diagnose the issue, employing the Get Info function on the VMDK creation process is crucial. Examining the obtained information may reveal insights into any constraints or errors that hinder the successful creation of VMDKs exceeding the 2TB threshold.

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diwakaridrive
Contributor
Contributor

Thanks for your reply, will check it using getinfo

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