Comments on: How To Expand An Exisiting Virtual Disk In VMWare Server http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html Computer - Internet - Technology Tips And Tutorials Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:38:51 +0000 hourly 1 By: Sirire http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-25508 Sirire Wed, 09 Jun 2010 04:35:36 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-25508 I checked thru the previous posts and had a related question. I use Vsphere4 and I have a Virtual Machine and I want to expand its D drive. However, I can't simply increase the provisioning size, because the datastore is already 95% used. What is the best way to introduce another volume from another datastore and extend my D drive? Thanks, Sirrire I checked thru the previous posts and had a related question.

I use Vsphere4 and I have a Virtual Machine and I want to expand its D drive. However, I can't simply increase the provisioning size, because the datastore is already 95% used.

What is the best way to introduce another volume from another datastore and extend my D drive?

Thanks,
Sirrire

]]> By: Watching The Net http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-24927 Watching The Net Fri, 14 May 2010 11:02:18 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-24927 @Jay Wheeler Good point and thanks for emphasizing the use of Windows 7 for expanding partitions . I have been so used to using third party tools, I sometimes forget to see what new features are available in Windows....yet another reason to move to Windows 7. @Jay Wheeler

Good point and thanks for emphasizing the use of Windows 7 for expanding partitions . I have been so used to using third party tools, I sometimes forget to see what new features are available in Windows….yet another reason to move to Windows 7.

]]> By: Sootie http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-24920 Sootie Fri, 14 May 2010 03:34:16 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-24920 Jay, This feature is availible on windows vista (and is what I used to resize my disk after I posted my comment above). I had intended to post this finding when I discovered it but forgot all about it. Jay,

This feature is availible on windows vista (and is what I used to resize my disk after I posted my comment above). I had intended to post this finding when I discovered it but forgot all about it.

]]> By: Jay Wheeler http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-24919 Jay Wheeler Fri, 14 May 2010 02:46:40 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-24919 You are right about that. My comment was a bit obscure, although I did mention that the procedure could be used to expand the partition. More to the point, the procedure that I gave should replace, or augment, your original section above for Windows 7 users: "You will need to use a third party tool such as Partition Magic or Acronis Disk Director to resize the partition inside the Virtual Machine Operating System." In other words, once the disk has been enlarged by following your procedure, there is no need for a third party product to expand the virtual disk partition for Windows 7 hosted servers. This ability was not available on Windows XP (nor Vista, I believe). I was surprised to discover this for myself and wanted to share my discovery. Hope that this helps. Thanks for your input and the opportunity to clarify my original comment. You are right about that. My comment was a bit obscure, although I did mention that the procedure could be used to expand the partition.

More to the point, the procedure that I gave should replace, or augment, your original section above for Windows 7 users:

"You will need to use a third party tool such as Partition Magic or Acronis Disk Director to resize the partition inside the Virtual Machine Operating System."

In other words, once the disk has been enlarged by following your procedure, there is no need for a third party product to expand the virtual disk partition for Windows 7 hosted servers. This ability was not available on Windows XP (nor Vista, I believe).

I was surprised to discover this for myself and wanted to share my discovery. Hope that this helps. Thanks for your input and the opportunity to clarify my original comment.

]]> By: Watching The Net http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-24903 Watching The Net Thu, 13 May 2010 16:03:54 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-24903 @Jay Wheeler I could be wrong, but I don't think Win 7 can expand a virtual disk file. Win 7 can expand the partition where the virtual disk file resides, but not the file itself. @Jay Wheeler

I could be wrong, but I don't think Win 7 can expand a virtual disk file. Win 7 can expand the partition where the virtual disk file resides, but not the file itself.

]]> By: Jay Wheeler http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-24888 Jay Wheeler Wed, 12 May 2010 23:54:06 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-24888 Thanks for the tip. Just what I needed to get going Note that when using Windows 7, you can use the operating system to expand the disk partition: 1. Go to the Control Panel and select Administrative Tools. 2. Select Computer Management 3. Select Disk Management under the Storage category 4. Move the mouse over the drive to be expanded in the right window and right click on it 5. Click on the Extend Volume entry on the pop up menu and fill in the form appropriately Thanks for the tip. Just what I needed to get going

Note that when using Windows 7, you can use the operating system to expand the disk partition:

1. Go to the Control Panel and select Administrative Tools.
2. Select Computer Management
3. Select Disk Management under the Storage category
4. Move the mouse over the drive to be expanded in the right window and right click on it
5. Click on the Extend Volume entry on the pop up menu and fill in the form appropriately

]]> By: Duggan http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-23625 Duggan Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:24:09 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-23625 @Sootie the "" worked perfectly thank you! @Sootie the "" worked perfectly thank you!

]]> By: Sootie http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-23616 Sootie Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:00:21 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-23616 Also if you only have the one windows partition you can just expand the permission in disk management without having to worrk about 3rd party utilities. Also if you only have the one windows partition you can just expand the permission in disk management without having to worrk about 3rd party utilities.

]]> By: Sootie http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-23615 Sootie Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:59:10 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-23615 @<a href="#comment-23608" rel="nofollow">Duggan</a>: Hey mate thats an easy one mine was the same just put quotes around the virtual disk name This was the command I used E:\Virtual Machines\Vista Image Test>"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Server\vmware-vdiskmanager" -x 50GB "Vista Image Test.vmdk" And result of command: Grow: 100% done. Disk expansion completed successfully. WARNING: If the virtual disk is partitioned, you must use a third-party utility in the virtual machine to expand the size of the partitions. For more information, see: http://www.vmware.com/support/kb/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1647 @Duggan: Hey mate thats an easy one mine was the same just put quotes around the virtual disk name

This was the command I used

E:\Virtual Machines\Vista Image Test>"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Server\vmware-vdiskmanager" -x 50GB "Vista Image Test.vmdk"

And result of command:
Grow: 100% done.
Disk expansion completed successfully.

WARNING: If the virtual disk is partitioned, you must use a third-party
utility in the virtual machine to expand the size of the
partitions. For more information, see:
http://www.vmware.com/support/kb/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1647

]]> By: Duggan http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-23608 Duggan Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:18:46 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-23608 My vmdk file isn't just a single file name like yours ( WTN1C.vmdk). It SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.vmdk so I cd into the directory my vmdk is located and when I dir I can see it's there although when I run the vmware-vdiskmanager it just spits out the help menu for vmware-vdiskmanager. I tried renaming the vdk to suse.vmdk and it looked like it started to work but it referenced off a log file that still has the original name in it and failed. Any ideas? Thanks, Duggan My vmdk file isn't just a single file name like yours ( WTN1C.vmdk). It SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.vmdk so I cd into the directory my vmdk is located and when I dir I can see it's there although when I run the vmware-vdiskmanager it just spits out the help menu for vmware-vdiskmanager. I tried renaming the vdk to suse.vmdk and it looked like it started to work but it referenced off a log file that still has the original name in it and failed. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Duggan

]]> By: Watching The Net http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-23410 Watching The Net Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:06:32 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-23410 @Aniket I never had any issues with corruption. But, to be on the safe side, always backup the data before expanding. @Aniket

I never had any issues with corruption. But, to be on the safe side, always backup the data before expanding.

]]> By: Aniket http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-23335 Aniket Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:06:46 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-23335 My VMware is windows server 2000. My VMware is windows server 2000.

]]> By: Aniket http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-23333 Aniket Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:03:18 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-23333 Hi While expanding the size does the existing data or the installed software get corrupt. Hi While expanding the size does the existing data or the installed software get corrupt.

]]> By: chella http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-22766 chella Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:14:03 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-22766 Many thanks for your instruction, I did this successfully, much appreciate it. Many thanks for your instruction, I did this successfully, much appreciate it.

]]> By: Paul Evans http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-22197 Paul Evans Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:22:22 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-expand-an-exisiting-virtual-disk-in-vmware-server.html#comment-22197 here is an easier way! You should download and try fatVM http://www.gudgud.com/fatvm fatVM is a reliable, robust, and safe, 1-click solution for extending the C drive of your VMware Fusion or Workstation virtual disk that is becoming full. * It provides a simple, intuitive, interface and a reliable process that hides the technical complexity of extending a virtual disk. * It is robust because it can extend virtual disks having snapshots and clones. * It is safe because it preserves your original disk, which remains available to you for when the need ever arises. here is an easier way! You should download and try fatVM http://www.gudgud.com/fatvm

fatVM is a reliable, robust, and safe, 1-click solution for extending the C drive of your VMware Fusion or Workstation virtual disk that is becoming full.
* It provides a simple, intuitive, interface and a reliable process that hides the technical complexity of extending a virtual disk.
* It is robust because it can extend virtual disks having snapshots and clones.
* It is safe because it preserves your original disk, which remains available to you for when the need ever arises.

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