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

Chapter 27 Using vmkfstoolsRenaming a Virtual DiskThis option renames a virtual disk file at the specified path on the VMFS volume.You must specify the original file name or file path oldName and the new file name or file path newName.-E --renamevirtualdisk oldName newNameCloning a Virtual Disk or RDMThis option creates a copy of a virtual disk or raw disk you specify.-i --clonevirtualdisk srcfile -d --diskformat [zeroedthick|thin|eagerzeroedthick|rdm:device|rdmp:device|2gbsparse]You can use the -d|--diskformat suboption to specify the disk format for the copy you create. A non-rootuser is not allowed to clone a virtual disk or an RDM.Example for Cloning a Virtual DiskThis example illustrates cloning the contents of a master virtual disk from the templates repository to avirtual disk file named myOS.vmdk on the myVMFS file system.vmkfstools -i /vmfs/volumes/myVMFS/templates/gold-master.vmdk /vmfs/volumes/myVMFS/myOS.vmdkYou can configure a virtual machine to use this virtual disk by adding lines to the virtual machineconfiguration file, as in the following example:scsi0:0.present = TRUEscsi0:0.fileName = /vmfs/volumes/myVMFS/myOS.vmdkMigrate Virtual Machines Between DifferentVMware ProductsTypically, you use VMware Converter to migrate virtual machines from other VMware products into yourESXi system. However, you can use the vmkfstools -i command to import virtual disks in 2gbsparseformat into ESXi and then attach this disk to a new virtual machine you create in ESXi.You must import the virtual disk first because you cannot power on disks in 2gbsparse format on the ESXihost.Procedure1 Import a disk in 2gbsparse format into the ESXi host by running the following command. Make sure toselect the disk format compatible with ESXi.vmkfstools -i -d 2 Use the vSphere Web Client to attach the disk you imported to a virtual machine in ESXi.For information, see the vSphere Virtual Machine Administration.Extending a Virtual DiskThis option extends the size of a disk allocated to a virtual machine after the virtual machine has beencreated.-X --extendvirtualdisk newSize [kK|mM|gG]VMware, Inc. 265