.vmdk Question

[firstamb]

I am trying to free up space and I have .vmdk, 000001-3.vmk files for a total of four .vmdk files. I looked at the edit settings on the VM, and clicked on the two hard disks. HDD1 is associated with 000001.vmdk and HDD2 is associated with 000003.vmdk. It is my understanding that, I can delete the ones that are not associated with HDD1 or 2?  HDD1 is sized at 234gb and HDD2 is sized at 110gb.

.vmdk is Size: 234GB provisioned: 00

000001.vmdk is Size: 11gb provisioned: 234gb

000002.vmdk is Size: 124gb provisioned: 234gb

000003.vmdk is Size: 75gb provisioned: 110

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Oscar

[a_p_]

Definitely not!

Snapshots are used in a chain, which means all files are in use but only the last one has write access.

Please post/attach the VM's vmx file as well as a list of files in the VM's folder.

André

[Troy_Clavell]

I wouldn't simply "delete" them.  You should go into your snapshot manager and delete them there.  If you want all snapshots commited, "delete all"

The below may also be something to keep handy

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1015180

[firstamb]

Thanks for the fast responses!

The reason this came about was, me searching through the datastores and locating snapshot files. I tried to delete signle snapshots and I get 'file has already been deleted or not fully created'. If I delete all snapshots, will it remove the ones that I couldn't?

Oscar

[a_p_]

If the VM is running without issues the "Delete All" function will delete all snapshots regardless of the displayed ones in the snapshot manager (which are obviously not up to date). However, be aware that if you are running an ESXi version older than ESXi 4.0 Update 2, you will temporarily need up to 125GB of additional disk space on the datatore!!

From what you write I assume the second "base" virtual disk (110 GB) is either located in another folder or on another datastore!?

André

[firstamb]

Well, I went ahead and deleted all the snapshot files. This server is not in production/use anymore, so that is why I am testing with it. I am running ESXi 4.1 so I should be ok on that point.

Is it because I upgraded from ESX to ESXi that I cannot see all the snapshots correctly in the snapshot manager?

Oscar

[continuum]

if snapshotmanager does not display the snapshots correctly it only means that the vmsd-file is corrupt.
This is not a problem in itself and can happen in several scenarios.

[firstamb]

Well, after deleting all snapshots feature, it did just that, all the .vmdk and snapshot files are gone. Just HDD1 is there. I am sure that HDD2 is on a different datastore...at this point it really doesn't matter for me, but that is just strange how I have to use that feature and can't simply delete snapshots on their own.  I will read up on that kb posted earlier, thanks for the quick replies all.

Oscar

[a_p_]

Yes, I think the KB article posted by Troy will explain how snapshot chains work in VMware products.

Anyway, if you still have any questions regarding snapshots, don't hesitate to ask.

André