BBrayton
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Running out of space on the guest machines in VMware
WE have a client who is just about running out of space on both of their guest machines.
When I log into vsphere client and click on Configuration tab, and in the hard ware section I click on storage it shows Capacity 1.09 TB and 379.25 GD free.
Can I allocate that free drive space to one of the Guest Machines.
vshere.PNG
When I log into vsphere client and click on Configuration tab, and in the hard ware section I click on storage it shows Capacity 1.09 TB and 379.25 GD free.
Can I allocate that free drive space to one of the Guest Machines.
vshere.PNG
SOLUTION
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ASKER
OK where would I have to go in Vsphere to allocate more drive space.
I'm new in Virtual so bare with me.
I'm new in Virtual so bare with me.
ASKER
I think i found it. DO I right click on the virtual Machine and go to edit settings.
then CLick on hard disk 1 or 2
then under Disk provisioning its set to Thin Provisioning.
Provision size you can make it larger
then CLick on hard disk 1 or 2
then under Disk provisioning its set to Thin Provisioning.
Provision size you can make it larger
ASKER
its set to 500 GB
and under it it telly you Maximum size is 879.gb
and under it it telly you Maximum size is 879.gb
ASKER
tells not telly
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Sounds like you are there!
Scott
Scott
You also want to be careful with thin provisioning to make sure that in the event you "overprovision" that you never let the physical space fill up. In other words you can create two 1TB thin volumes from 1TB of physical space but if storage needs approach or exceed your physical space your system can shut down.
Scott
Scott
ASKER
Thanks!!
ASKER
What would be a good approach to make sure i don't overprovision?
see my EE Article
HOW TO: Resize a VMware (VMDK) Virtual Disk
Two processes are involved,
1. Increase the size of the VMDK (virtual disk).
2. Expand the OS.
BUT be carefull here....because you need space on the datastore for the SWAP file equal to memory in the VM, and ALSO space for the Snapshots, if you use Backups.....
350GB, is getting very close to the limit, of using up all the space on the datastore.
So it may be wise to select a larger datastore.
If this currently thin provisioned, what is the maximum datastore size ?
HOW TO: Resize a VMware (VMDK) Virtual Disk
Two processes are involved,
1. Increase the size of the VMDK (virtual disk).
2. Expand the OS.
BUT be carefull here....because you need space on the datastore for the SWAP file equal to memory in the VM, and ALSO space for the Snapshots, if you use Backups.....
350GB, is getting very close to the limit, of using up all the space on the datastore.
So it may be wise to select a larger datastore.
If this currently thin provisioned, what is the maximum datastore size ?
One addition: you don't have to shut down the guest OS to do this in server 2008 and up. Just assign the extra space in VM > edit then in disk management in the guest OS right click the new space and extend volume. Done!
And like Scott says do watch out with Thin provisioning. If you go to the datastores view in inventory and select the datastore > summary tab you will see capacity/provisioned space/free space. As he said with thin provisioning provisioned space can be greater than the total capacity. So basically just try to keep provisioned space under capacity and create new a datastore, extend that one or move VMs if it exceeds.
And like Scott says do watch out with Thin provisioning. If you go to the datastores view in inventory and select the datastore > summary tab you will see capacity/provisioned space/free space. As he said with thin provisioning provisioned space can be greater than the total capacity. So basically just try to keep provisioned space under capacity and create new a datastore, extend that one or move VMs if it exceeds.
ASKER
The OS is SBS2011
I haven't used SBS 2011 personally but from a bit of research I understand it functions the same way as Server 2008 in this respect.
ASKER
Yes its based on Server 2008 r2
ASKER
How about if I just add more Physical drive space. There are 3 or 4 empty bays on the physical server. I could probably add 1.5 TB
ASKER
Would that be the better way to go?
That would be a much better idea.
Lets have some details, what is the server ?
Because ideally, you would want some RAID protection, is the current datastore a single disk, or a RAID volume, of many disks.
What is the physical server...because some storage controllers, you can expand the current array, others you cannot.
Lets have some details, what is the server ?
Because ideally, you would want some RAID protection, is the current datastore a single disk, or a RAID volume, of many disks.
What is the physical server...because some storage controllers, you can expand the current array, others you cannot.
What version of VMware is it by the way?
Adding more drive space involves several more steps in a VMware environment but is certainly an option. With that said 379 GB free is OK depending on the provisioned space. As a general rule of thumb you should maintain at a minimum 15% free space or more. ESXi at least warns at 25% remaining free space and alarms at 15% remaining. So you have 100 GB you can assign to the guest OS before hitting the warning stage. Again, watch provisioned space.
Also removing unnecessary data under the guest OS may be an option but requires further research on the specific applications etc.
Adding more drive space involves several more steps in a VMware environment but is certainly an option. With that said 379 GB free is OK depending on the provisioned space. As a general rule of thumb you should maintain at a minimum 15% free space or more. ESXi at least warns at 25% remaining free space and alarms at 15% remaining. So you have 100 GB you can assign to the guest OS before hitting the warning stage. Again, watch provisioned space.
Also removing unnecessary data under the guest OS may be an option but requires further research on the specific applications etc.
ASKER
Vsphere client is version 5.1.0
Vmware ESXi Version 5.1.0
Vmware ESXi Version 5.1.0
ASKER
Its a raid volume of 5 disks and there are 3 more bays for more disks.
Its a Dell Power edge R520
Its a Dell Power edge R520
You may be able to add these 3 disks to the existing virtual disk set.
otherwise, you would have to create a RAID set on these 3 additional disks, and then create a new datastore.
this depends on the storage controller in use.
and you would have to take the server down, to do this, so all VMs, would be off, downtime required.
otherwise, you would have to create a RAID set on these 3 additional disks, and then create a new datastore.
this depends on the storage controller in use.
and you would have to take the server down, to do this, so all VMs, would be off, downtime required.
ASKER
Once I create a new Datastore with the guest OS see it as unallocated Space?
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https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/df950ab0-21e7-4aa9-8a1c-3a674716c3bc/how-to-extend-system-volume-in-windows-server-2008
Scott