snapshot deletion stackd at 99% on production server

[rhmahfuz]

HI,

On ESXi 4.1 (thick prov) I've only one host with 4 snapshot. There were 20 gb free space on esxi host. I started deletion process with 1st snapshot (40gb) but it stacks at 99% for 2 hour. I used vSphere client.

I ran the following command in command line

# ls -luth |grep -E "delta|flat"

output:

03:30(current time)     server-000002-delta.vmdk

00:07(start time)         server-flat.vmdk

00:07(start time)         server-000004-delta.vmdk

(few year ago)              server-000001-delta.vmdk

(few year ago)              server-000003-delta.vmdk

please help. it is a production server.

Thanks in advance

[a_p_]

Please explain what you consider "the 1st snapshot". Is it the one closest to the base disk? What's the free disk space on the datastore at the moment?

Please provide a complete list of files (ls -lisa) and post (attach) the VM's .vmsd file.

Btw. what type of storage do you use? Do you see datastore activity in to ESXi host's performance tab?

André

[rhmahfuz]

The current free space is 21 GB. No storage. Using local storage.Performance tab is not opening.

I started deletion with BeforePlesk.

Here is the output of (ls -lisa)

Performance Tab is not opening

Please help

[memaad]

Hi,

Just run this command  "watch ls -ltrh"  inside the virtual machine folders. If time stamp is changing, then consolidation is still going on.

Regards

Mohammed

[rhmahfuz]

Hi

Time stamp is changing.

[a_p_]

With the time stamp of the flat.vmdk file still being updated, I think you just need to be patient.

What type of local controller do you use and does it have write-cache? This makes a huge difference in disk performance.

André

[rhmahfuz]

Hi Andre,

Thanks for your reply.

Please tell me how can I know what type of local controller I used and does it have write cache.

Many Thanks

Mahfuz

[a_p_]

Unless you know it (I assume you bought the system :smileywink: ) you can try to identify the controller from the command line (see http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003916). However, you may not be able to find out whether or not it has write cache this way.

André

[memaad]

Hi ,

As Andrea said, need to give more time for ESXI host :smileyhappy:

Regards

Mohammed

[rhmahfuz]

Hi Mohammed & Andre,

Thanks for your reply. Yes I am waiting.

Many Thanks,

Mahfuz

[rhmahfuz]

Hi, Andre & Mohammed,

Many Many Thanks for your help. My Snap Shot Deletion process completed successfully.

So Now I've 3 Snapshot. If I want to delete one more then the process should be the same (Need to delete the snapshot that is nearest to the base disk)?

This process frees almost 75 GB of space from my Host. Thank You once again.

Regards,

Rahman

[a_p_]

Good to hear the process succeeded. Yes, always delete the snapshot closest to the base disk. This will merge the data in the "delta" file to the "flat" file.

André