Tim Else
asked on
ASR Backup fails as the C:\ partition exceeds 300GB.
Hi,
Wondering if anyone can shed any light here, we have a Terminal Server that we are trying to set up with ASR, the person that originally set the TS up created a 1 TB Dynamic disk from the Hyper-V Host before extending the C:\ partition into this unallocated space.
End result is a 1TB C:\
Unfortunately we can't shrink this down whilst the TS is on, we have tried defragmenting and shrinking the disk down but the original image for the TS came from some heavily fragmented Laptop disks which I am led to believe is the cause, due to files that sit at the end of the disk and can't be moved whenever we try to carry out a shrink operation on the disk.
If we try to set up ASR we get an error message on the Azure portal stating that the local C:\ exceeds the 300GB limit.
I'm at a bit of a loss really with what to do next, we have tried defragment, disabling hibernate, shadow copies, pagefile, and we are still unable to shrink the partition due to the above issues.
My next thought was to try using Windows Server Backup to backup the existing C:\ volume, my concern is though that this backup will just back the C:\ as a 1TB partition despite the C:\ only using 270 odd GB of this.
Other thought was to use Storagecraft to backup the TS before conducting a shrink on the partition from Storagecrafts recovery environment although I do believe their technology uses Microsofts inbuilt shrink so we could potentially run into the same issues.
do any of you tech gurus have any suggestions as to how I can shrink this C:\ down to less than 300GB or somehow get ASR to accept and backup a Generation 1 C:\ volume larger than 300GB.
Many thanks
Tim
Wondering if anyone can shed any light here, we have a Terminal Server that we are trying to set up with ASR, the person that originally set the TS up created a 1 TB Dynamic disk from the Hyper-V Host before extending the C:\ partition into this unallocated space.
End result is a 1TB C:\
Unfortunately we can't shrink this down whilst the TS is on, we have tried defragmenting and shrinking the disk down but the original image for the TS came from some heavily fragmented Laptop disks which I am led to believe is the cause, due to files that sit at the end of the disk and can't be moved whenever we try to carry out a shrink operation on the disk.
If we try to set up ASR we get an error message on the Azure portal stating that the local C:\ exceeds the 300GB limit.
I'm at a bit of a loss really with what to do next, we have tried defragment, disabling hibernate, shadow copies, pagefile, and we are still unable to shrink the partition due to the above issues.
My next thought was to try using Windows Server Backup to backup the existing C:\ volume, my concern is though that this backup will just back the C:\ as a 1TB partition despite the C:\ only using 270 odd GB of this.
Other thought was to use Storagecraft to backup the TS before conducting a shrink on the partition from Storagecrafts recovery environment although I do believe their technology uses Microsofts inbuilt shrink so we could potentially run into the same issues.
do any of you tech gurus have any suggestions as to how I can shrink this C:\ down to less than 300GB or somehow get ASR to accept and backup a Generation 1 C:\ volume larger than 300GB.
Many thanks
Tim
ASKER
Windows Server 2016 Virtualised
ASR is Microsoft Azure Site Recovery (Failover).
ASR is Microsoft Azure Site Recovery (Failover).
Can you use a setup ISO and boot it at the hypervisor? From that setup ISO, partition operations are easily done offline (OS not running) using diskpart on the command line.
ASKER
Hi McKnife,
We have tried both shrink and diskpart whilst the OS is running and this hasn't worked, do you think we would have more joy trying to use diskpart whilst the VM is offline?
The issue is with specific files that sit at the end of the disk that can't be moved whenever we try to run a shrink/diskpart operation while it's online.
I ask as whether the OS is running or not the disk fragmentation issue is still the same?
Kind regards,
Tim
We have tried both shrink and diskpart whilst the OS is running and this hasn't worked, do you think we would have more joy trying to use diskpart whilst the VM is offline?
The issue is with specific files that sit at the end of the disk that can't be moved whenever we try to run a shrink/diskpart operation while it's online.
I ask as whether the OS is running or not the disk fragmentation issue is still the same?
Kind regards,
Tim
"do you think we would have more joy trying to use diskpart whilst the VM is offline? " - yes, that is why I am suggesting it: offline is more fun, it simply works, while online, you won't be able to shrink to less than 50% (if at all).
ASKER
I will propose this as a solution, we are hesitant to test this on the live VM so will need to shutdown and copy the .VHDX first and attempt this solution on that.
Thanks for your input, I'll report back on findings.
Thanks for your input, I'll report back on findings.
You can shrink it using third party partitioning tool. Will take some time but it will be less than taking backup and restoring it.
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It failed how, if I may ask? What was the error message?
Wasn't it me who suggested to use a third party partitioning tool which you've used at the end?
ASKER
Thanks both, Noxcho we had already decided to try a third party partition manager before I saw your comment, but I appreciate your input none the less. Thanks
What is ASR in this context? (could mean several things)