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How to make VMDK files smaller
Let's say I have a VM that is Windows 2008 R2 with a 100 GB Hard disk and therefore the corresponding VMDK file is 100 GB in size. Now let's say I want to move 30 GB of files in that VM to somewhere else and now only need a 70 GB hard drive. Is there a way to make the VMDK file smaller? I know I can make them bigger but can anything be done in the opposite direction? I would be using ESXi v5 Enterprise edition.
VMware
Last Comment
Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
The easiest and most 'supported' way to do so according to VMware is to use vCenter Converter Standalone to do a V2V. You run the very least potential of VM corruption. During the Conversion wizard, you have the option to choose the disk and shrink it to the size you want. it.
Here's the download:
http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/infrastructure_operations_management/vmware_vcenter_converter_standalone/5_0
The User Guide:
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/convsa_50_guide.pdf
Best Practice KB:
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1004588
Regards,
~coolsport00
Here's the download:
http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/infrastructure_operations_management/vmware_vcenter_converter_standalone/5_0
The User Guide:
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/convsa_50_guide.pdf
Best Practice KB:
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1004588
Regards,
~coolsport00
You can do a Storage Vmotion and choose thin disk format. This way you will be using only what is used but there is a some performance hit.
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From a Windows perspective, there is an option to shrink the disks although the ratio of shrinkage depends on how much data is currently occupied by the guest.