vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-55-storage-guide

vSphere StorageIncreasing VMFS Datastore CapacityIf your VMFS datastore requires more space, increase the datastore capacity. You can dynamically increasethe capacity by growing a datastore extent or by adding a new extent.Use one of the following methods to increase a datastore capacity:• Dynamically grow any expandable datastore extent, so that it fills the available adjacent capacity. Theextent is considered expandable when the underlying storage device has free space immediately afterthe extent.• Dynamically add a new extent. The datastore can span over up to 32 extents with the size of each extentof more than 2TB, yet appear as a single volume. The spanned VMFS datastore can use any or all of itsextents at any time. It does not need to fill up a particular extent before using the next one.NOTE Datastores that only support hardware assisted locking, also called atomic test and set (ATS)mechanism cannot span over non-ATS devices. For more information, see “VMFS LockingMechanisms,” on page 137.Increase VMFS Datastore Capacity in the vSphere Web ClientWhen you need to add virtual machines to a datastore, or when the virtual machines running on a datastorerequire more space, you can dynamically increase the capacity of a VMFS datastore.If a shared datastore has powered on virtual machines and becomes 100% full, you can increase thedatastore's capacity only from the host with which the powered on virtual machines are registered.PrerequisitesBrowse to Datastores in the vSphere Web Client navigator. See “Display Datastore Information in thevSphere Web Client,” on page 22.Procedure1 Select the datastore to grow and click the Increase Datastore Capacity icon.2 Select a device from the list of storage devices.Your selection depends on whether an expandable storage device is available.OptionTo expand an existing extentTo add a new extentDescriptionSelect the device for which the Expandable column reads YES. A storagedevice is reported as expandable when it has free space immediately afterthe extent.Select the device for which the Expandable column reads NO.3 Review the Current Disk Layout to see the available configurations and click Next.4 Select a configuration option from the bottom panel.Depending on the current layout of the disk and on your previous selections, the options you see mightvary.OptionUse free space to add new extentUse free space to expand existingextentDescriptionAdds the free space on this disk as a new extent.Expands an existing extent to a required capacity.144 VMware, Inc.