Virtual server disk space
hi,
we are using a server 2012 running hyperV . hyper V houses a virtual file server( FS1 ), and a virtual terminal server ( TS1 ).
We noticed that the disk space on my hyper V server had been used and there was very little left. my tech, and I am no tech, said that for a temporary time, I had copied a large file on to my FS1 , which allocated space from my HyperV. and that although I deleted the file from FS1, the hyper V server does not contract, even after the FS1 server deleted the large file
he explained it this way... it was like putting a big box on my hyper V with data in it. then subsequently removing the contents of the box, did not affect the fact that hyper v was still accommodating the size of that box.
sounds all good, but my hyper V C drive is a color of bright red in my file explorer and it concerns me with a relatively small amount of disk space free , at least seemingly so.
Can anyone confirm this is how it functions, and is there a type of a Defrag program which reclaims this unused space for my hyper V server ?
we are using a server 2012 running hyperV . hyper V houses a virtual file server( FS1 ), and a virtual terminal server ( TS1 ).
We noticed that the disk space on my hyper V server had been used and there was very little left. my tech, and I am no tech, said that for a temporary time, I had copied a large file on to my FS1 , which allocated space from my HyperV. and that although I deleted the file from FS1, the hyper V server does not contract, even after the FS1 server deleted the large file
he explained it this way... it was like putting a big box on my hyper V with data in it. then subsequently removing the contents of the box, did not affect the fact that hyper v was still accommodating the size of that box.
sounds all good, but my hyper V C drive is a color of bright red in my file explorer and it concerns me with a relatively small amount of disk space free , at least seemingly so.
Can anyone confirm this is how it functions, and is there a type of a Defrag program which reclaims this unused space for my hyper V server ?
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ASKER
lee
if they compact will it affect performance in any way ?
and compacting is not the same as compression is it ?
if not can you please talk about the differences?
if they compact will it affect performance in any way ?
and compacting is not the same as compression is it ?
if not can you please talk about the differences?
Where do you see "compression"?
Go to your lab and go through the process. The wizard explains the differences between options.
*IF* it affects performance it should improve it since the file size gets smaller and you're already (as I understand it) fragmented with both systems and the host OS on the same partition!
See image: http://www.virtualizationadmin.com/img/upl/image0051297801019962.jpg
Go to your lab and go through the process. The wizard explains the differences between options.
*IF* it affects performance it should improve it since the file size gets smaller and you're already (as I understand it) fragmented with both systems and the host OS on the same partition!
See image: http://www.virtualizationadmin.com/img/upl/image0051297801019962.jpg
ASKER
thanks friends,
i will refer this back to my techs...
excellent information.
i will refer this back to my techs...
excellent information.
And compacting VHDs does NOT GUARANTEE they will shrink or shrink by as much as you think. It depends on where in the VHD the data is stored.
Defragmenting before does NOT GUARANTEE they will shrink completely either.
Another problem with putting VHDs on the same drive - FRAGMENTATION - this can slow overall performance. Partitions act as hard boundaries - I put one, MAYBE two VHDs on a partition to minimize fragmentation.
If you don't understand dynamic disks and what could happen, I STRONGLY DISCOURAGE THEIR USE! At this point, I would advise you to get two (or more) new drives, setup a new RAID array, and move one if not both sets of VHDs to the new drive - MAKE SURE that new drive is LARGER than the VHDs report to the OS.