Knowledge Base

Power off the virtual machine.

To expand the VMDK using the VI Client (if the option exists), edit the settings of the virtual machine and click the hard disk you want to expand.

Enter a new value in the New Size field:



To expand the VMDK using the vmkfstools -X command, run the command:

#vmkfstools -X <New Disk Size> <VMDK to extend>

#vmkfstools -X 30G /vmfs/volumes/datastore_name/vm_name/vm_name.vmdk

Note: Ensure that you point to the <vm_name>.vmdk, and not to the <vm_name>-flat.vmdk. Using vmkfstools -X is the only option to expand an IDE virtual disk .

To extend the C: partition, find a helper virtual machine and attach the disk from the first virtual machine to the helper.

To add an existing virtual disk to the helper virtual machine:

1. Go to the Edit Settings menu of the virtual machine.

2. Click Add > Hard Disk > Use Existing Virtual Disk.
3. Navigate to the location of the disk and select to add it into the virtual machine.
   
   Note: A helper virtual machine is a virtual machine that has the same operating system to which you attach the disk.
   
   

Start the virtual machine.

Verify the volume in question has been mounted and has been assigned a drive letter. This can be set in Windows Disk Management or by selecting the volume and typing assign from within the DiskPart command.

In versions of Windows prior to 2008, open a command prompt and run the DiskPart command:

C:\Documents and Settings\username>diskpart

Microsoft DiskPart version 5.1.3565
Copyright (C) 1999-2003 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: USERNAME-HELPER-VM
DISKPART> list volume

Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 D CD-ROM 0 B
Volume 1 C NTFS Partition 30 GB Healthy System
Volume 2 E NTFS Partition 10 GB Healthy

DISKPART> select Volume 2
Volume 2 is the selected volume.

DISKPART> extend
DiskPart successfully extended the volume.
DISKPART> exit
Leaving DiskPart...

Note: Ensure to choose the correct volume. The Size is the old value.

Note: If you are in Windows 2003, and you see the error The volume you have selected may not be extended. Please select another volume and try again, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 841650.

In Windows 2008, click Start > Computer Management > Disk Manager, right-click on the partition and select Extend Volume. For more information, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 325590.

Power off and detach the disk from the helper virtual machine. Keep all default settings and do not delete the VMDK from the disk.

Power on the first virtual machine and verify the disk size change.