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5 Replies Last post: Sep 15, 2008 5:16 PM by John Rossi  
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Stephen
7 posts since
Dec 9, 2007

Apr 17, 2008 7:56 PM

How to decrease the size of your Virtaul Disk?


Hello All

I have a question about decreasing the size of an existing VM's hard disk VMFS.

I converted a physical server to VM by using VMware Converter.
I have re-sized the partition using a partitioning tool but unable to decrease the size of the physical disk under Intrastructure Client.

While i know how to increase the disk, im unable to decrease the size.

Can anyone assist.

Im using Intrastructure client and not Virtual Center.
VMware ESX 3.5 Server.

Regards

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weatherman
1 posts since
Sep 10, 2007
1. May 2, 2008 12:07 PM in response to: Stephen
Re: How to decrease the size of your Virtaul Disk?

This is a great article that should help you out with your issue: http://communities.vmware.com/click.jspa?searchID=2240814&objectType=2&objectID=450465

It talks about expanding the disk but the same process can be used to shrink the disk as well. And this process also works on your BOOT disk in your VM! I use it all the time. Good luck!

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Stephen
7 posts since
Dec 9, 2007
2. May 11, 2008 7:07 PM in response to: weatherman
Re: How to decrease the size of your Virtaul Disk?

Thanks for the reply mate.

I found that if i changed the size of the disks during migration with VMware Converter, the process was completed for me.

For example:
I migrated my exchange server which had a primary c:\ of 10Gb and a data drive d:\ of 60Gb
During my migration i had the option of changing my disk sizes.
I changed my c:\ from 10Gb to 20Gb and my data drive d:\ from 60Gb to 40Gb.
So in this instance I increased and decreased my disk drives.

I thought i would have to run a partitioning tool to complete the alterations, but to my surprise the partitions were altered for me during migration. Very happy yet very surprised.
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deepak
2 posts since
May 9, 2008
3. May 12, 2008 4:07 AM in response to: Stephen
Re: How to decrease the size of your Virtaul Disk?

Yes i would like to add a point here.... That is the strength of "MIGRATIONS", even though i have not used vmware convertor... i used a similiar tool i.e. HP Server Migration Pack... in which you can actually resize/shrink the partitions if you want to.... and the destination machine would have those changes present in it ...
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Wally Hass
1 posts since
Aug 14, 2008
4. Aug 14, 2008 7:32 AM in response to: Stephen
Re: How to decrease the size of your Virtaul Disk?

Hello,

We are getting ready to convert a DC/Exchange 2003 server to a VM. Any advice before we start?


Thanks,

Wally

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John Rossi
2 posts since
Sep 10, 2007
5. Sep 15, 2008 5:16 PM in response to: Stephen
Re: How to decrease the size of your Virtaul Disk?

We've been able to do this on Windows VMs by:

  1. Adding a new VMDK of the desired size
  2. Boot the VM off our BartPE boot ISO
  3. Use Ghost32 off the BartPE to image the old (large) disk to the new (small) disk
  4. Restart the VM
  5. Change the drive letters as required
  6. After verifying proper operation, shut down the VM and remove the old (large) disk

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