Copying a thin-provisioned vm from one datastore to another

[Honk123]

Hello!

I have a problem when copying a thin-provisioned VM from a datastore to another by using the vSphere client (ESXi 4.1). Let's say I have a 100 GB-machine and its real size is only 10 GB. When I copy it with the datastore browser it grows to the complete 100 GB. It's no problem when you copy it on the same datastore, just to a different one.

Does anybody noticed similar problems or have a solution for it?

-Thanks!

[AWo]

Welcome to the forums!

Use sVMotion. You can choose to keep it thin there.

AWo

VCP 3 & 4

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[Honk123]

Hello and thank you!

Is sVMotion included in the ESXi or do I have to get a license for it?

And if so, is there any other way to do it in the free ESXi?

[AWo]

Yes, you need a license.

Look here: http://pubs.vmware.com/vsp40u1_i/admin/r_storage_vmotion_command-line_syntax.html

and page 44 of this document: http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40_u1/vsp_40_u1_vcli.pdf

But I didn't find something to keep the file format. Try the interactive modus,

AWo

VCP 3 & 4

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[Honk123]

Why does it change the file format? And which format is it using?

[AndreTheGiant]

To keep the same format you can also use vmkfstools command with the right option.

But in this case you must use the command line.

Andre

[Honk123]

CLI is fine if it works for ESXi 4.1 free license.

But will it copy thin provisioned vmdks as well?

[Nikhil_Patwa]

Hi,

It looks like you want to copy the virtual machine to a datastore in a different ESXi host, I have an ESXi server with 2 datastores and am able to copy VMs that are thin provisioned with the same size in the destination datasource. Try to use VMWare Standalone Converter to copy a VM from one datastore to another across different ESXi Host thereby you will have the ability to define hard disk as thin provisioned and if required also change the hard disk size in the destination. You will be required to power off the VM at source and the VM needs to be in Inventory. VMWare Standalone Converter is free

Hope this will resolve your problem

Nikhil

[Honk123]

Hi Nikhil!

I'm sorry, I haven't seen your message yet and thanks for your reply!

Is it possible to use the standalone converter to copy thin provisioned vmdks to nfs environments as well?

[Nikhil_Patwa]

Hi,

VMWare Standalone Converter uses .vmx file and you can only add a VM to inventory of your ESXi using the vmx file. You can define the destination datastore to be the NFS during conversion with thin provisioned selected and the source can be your local storage of ESXi. I have also read some documents on NFS that mentions all VMs stored in NFS systems are by default thin provisioned but am not so sure about it.

I have also done conversion within the same ESXi host (same datastore) for VM with thick to thin provisioned hard disk and define another destination datastore within the same ESXi host. Bottom line is if you are able to select different datastores within an ESXi host you can carry out conversion process.

Hope this information helps you, do let me know how your conversion process goes.

Nikhil