Shrink guest on hosted platform - Revision history

Wila: /* Zero out using fstrim */

2024-01-06T12:02:29Z

Zero out using fstrim

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:02, 6 January 2024
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	* [https://github.com/vmware/open-vm-tools/issues/457 Avoid disk expansion while shrinking (github issue tracker)]		* [https://github.com/vmware/open-vm-tools/issues/457 Avoid disk expansion while shrinking (github issue tracker)]

			On most modern systems fstrim is being run automatically using systemctl. You can check if it is enabled:

			# systemctl status fstrim.timer
			● fstrim.timer - Discard unused blocks once a week
			Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/fstrim.timer; disabled; vendor preset: enabled)
			Active: inactive (dead)
			Trigger: n/a
			Triggers: ● fstrim.service
			Docs: man:fstrim

			Oh-huh, our system does not have it enabled.. might there be a reason, such as that the UNMAP command is not supported?
			If so, the following command would return 0.
			# cat /sys/block/sda/queue/discard_max_bytes
			1073741824

			So UNMAP is supported, but fstrim still is not enabled, lets fix that.
			# systemctl enable fstrim.timer
			Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/timers.target.wants/fstrim.timer → /lib/systemd/system/fstrim.timer.
			and reload systemctl plus check that it now works...

			# systemctl start fstrim.timer
			# systemctl daemon-reload
			# systemctl status fstrim.timer
			● fstrim.timer - Discard unused blocks once a week
			Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/fstrim.timer; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
			Active: active (waiting) since Sat 2024-01-06 13:00:46 CET; 6s ago
			Trigger: Mon 2024-01-08 01:17:59 CET; 1 day 12h left
			Triggers: ● fstrim.service
			Docs: man:fstrim


			see also:
			* https://www.suse.com/support/kb/doc/?id=000019447

	== Zero out unused space on a Windows VM ==		== Zero out unused space on a Windows VM ==

Wila: /* Zero out using fstrim */ adding a small example

2024-01-03T16:33:19Z

Zero out using fstrim: adding a small example

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:33, 3 January 2024
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	These days there's an alternative way for zero-ing out the parts of the disk that are not used using [https://www.man7.org/linux/man-pages/man8/fstrim.8.html fstrim].		These days there's an alternative way for zero-ing out the parts of the disk that are not used using [https://www.man7.org/linux/man-pages/man8/fstrim.8.html fstrim].

			eg:
			# fstrim -a -v
			/var: 274.3 MiB (287592448 bytes) trimmed on /dev/sda3
			/tmp: 63 MiB (66060288 bytes) trimmed on /dev/sda5
			/home: 125 MiB (131072000 bytes) trimmed on /dev/sda6
			/boot/efi: 505.2 MiB (529735680 bytes) trimmed on /dev/sda1
			/: 5 MiB (5242880 bytes) trimmed on /dev/sda2

	The great thing about this is that it only zero's out the parts of the disk that are not zero and as such the disk does not inflate to its full size.		The great thing about this is that it only zero's out the parts of the disk that are not zero and as such the disk does not inflate to its full size.

Wila: /* Shrink the disk */

2022-09-07T20:37:45Z

Shrink the disk

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:37, 7 September 2022
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	Note that vmware-vdiskmanager is probably not in your search path, so you might have to prepend the vmware-vdiskmanager command with the actual path with the command is located.		Note that vmware-vdiskmanager is probably not in your search path, so you might have to prepend the vmware-vdiskmanager command with the actual path with the command is located.

	If you need to use "sudo" in order to be able to run the above then beware that the ownership of the .vmdk files might get changed to root.		On macOS you run it as:
			/Applications/VMware\ Fusion.app/Contents/Library/vmware-vdiskmanager -k Ubuntu\ Desktop.vmdk

			If you need to use "sudo" in order to be able to run the above then beware that the ownership of the .vmdk files might get changed to root. So certainly try it first without running as root!

	You will have to change the ownership back to your own user, eg:		You will have to change the ownership back to your own user, eg:

Wila: /* Zero out using fstrim */

2021-10-12T23:15:55Z

Zero out using fstrim

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:15, 13 October 2021
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	The great thing about this is that it only zero's out the parts of the disk that are not zero and as such the disk does not inflate to its full size.		The great thing about this is that it only zero's out the parts of the disk that are not zero and as such the disk does not inflate to its full size.

	[https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/ssd-trim-maintenance.56951/post-328912 Detail comment from Theodore Ts'o on using fstrim]		* [https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/ssd-trim-maintenance.56951/post-328912 Detail comment from Theodore Ts'o on using fstrim]

			* [https://github.com/vmware/open-vm-tools/issues/457 Avoid disk expansion while shrinking (github issue tracker)]

	== Zero out unused space on a Windows VM ==		== Zero out unused space on a Windows VM ==

Wila: /* Zero out using fstrim */

2021-10-12T22:23:06Z

Zero out using fstrim

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:23, 13 October 2021
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	The great thing about this is that it only zero's out the parts of the disk that are not zero and as such the disk does not inflate to its full size.		The great thing about this is that it only zero's out the parts of the disk that are not zero and as such the disk does not inflate to its full size.

			[https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/ssd-trim-maintenance.56951/post-328912 Detail comment from Theodore Ts'o on using fstrim]

	== Zero out unused space on a Windows VM ==		== Zero out unused space on a Windows VM ==

Wila: /* Zero out using fstrim */

2021-10-12T22:14:49Z

Zero out using fstrim

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:14, 13 October 2021
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	=== Zero out using fstrim ===		=== Zero out using fstrim ===

	These days there's an alternative way for zero-ing out the parts of the disk that are not used using fstrim.		These days there's an alternative way for zero-ing out the parts of the disk that are not used using [https://www.man7.org/linux/man-pages/man8/fstrim.8.html fstrim].

	The great thing about this is that it only zero's out the parts of the disk that are not zero and as such the disk does not inflate to its full size.		The great thing about this is that it only zero's out the parts of the disk that are not zero and as such the disk does not inflate to its full size.

Wila: /* Zero out a part of your virtual disk */

2021-10-12T22:12:58Z

Zero out a part of your virtual disk

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:12, 13 October 2021
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	If this is not for you, then do read on.		If this is not for you, then do read on.

			=== Zero out using fstrim ===

			These days there's an alternative way for zero-ing out the parts of the disk that are not used using fstrim.

			The great thing about this is that it only zero's out the parts of the disk that are not zero and as such the disk does not inflate to its full size.

	== Zero out unused space on a Windows VM ==		== Zero out unused space on a Windows VM ==

Wila: Added an example of the shrinking process in progress and listing the RDP side effect that I am seeing here.

2021-08-09T13:35:49Z

Added an example of the shrinking process in progress and listing the RDP side effect that I am seeing here.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:35, 9 August 2021
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	Where "/" is the mount point of the partition that you want to shrink.		Where "/" is the mount point of the partition that you want to shrink.

	On Windows in order to use this run:		On Windows in order to use this run (as administrator):

	C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools>VMwareToolboxCmd.exe disk shrink <location>		C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools>VMwareToolboxCmd.exe disk shrink <location>

	where <location> is the drive you want to shrink		where <location> is the drive you want to shrink

			For example:
			C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools>VMwareToolboxCmd.exe disk shrink c:\
			Please disregard any warnings about disk space for the duration of shrink process.
			Progress: 62 [=======> ]
			The progress you see here is VMware Tools blanking out the unused space.

			At 99% it will popup the "Shrinking Disk" progress dialog at the host that takes care of the actual shrinking process.

			If you are logged in via remote desktop then do expect to loose the connection for a bit while the actual shrinking is taking place.

	On OS X / macOS the command to use is:		On OS X / macOS the command to use is:

Wila: and for Fusion

2021-04-15T22:39:01Z

and for Fusion

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:39, 16 April 2021
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	* [https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Workstation-Pro/16.0/com.vmware.ws.using.doc/GUID-3F94C7B5-19A5-4E91-9709-B17FAA93FF75.html Configuring and Maintaining Virtual Hard Disks - Workstation 16 Pro documentation]		* [https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Workstation-Pro/16.0/com.vmware.ws.using.doc/GUID-3F94C7B5-19A5-4E91-9709-B17FAA93FF75.html Configuring and Maintaining Virtual Hard Disks - Workstation 16 Pro documentation]

			* [https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Fusion/12/com.vmware.fusion.using.doc/GUID-6BB29187-F47F-41D1-AD92-1754036DACD9.html#GUID-6BB29187-F47F-41D1-AD92-1754036DACD9 Clean up a Virtual Machine - VMware Fusion 12 documentation]

Wila: adding links to the official doc of VMware Workstation

2021-04-15T22:30:48Z

adding links to the official doc of VMware Workstation

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:30, 16 April 2021
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	[https://communities.vmware.com/thread/581576 Solved: Shrink an APFS virtual disk]		[https://communities.vmware.com/thread/581576 Solved: Shrink an APFS virtual disk]

			== External links ==

			* [https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Workstation-Pro/16.0/com.vmware.ws.using.doc/GUID-421A1073-BF16-4BC7-AA76-46B954CA438D.html Clean Up a Virtual Hard Disk on Windows Hosts - Workstation 16 Pro documentation]

			* [https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Workstation-Pro/16.0/com.vmware.ws.using.doc/GUID-3F94C7B5-19A5-4E91-9709-B17FAA93FF75.html Configuring and Maintaining Virtual Hard Disks - Workstation 16 Pro documentation]