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→Shrinking a VMware Server Virtual Disk
== Shrinking a VMware Server Virtual Disk ==
Unlike increasing the capacity of virtual disks, which is performed outside the virtual machine using the VI Web Access interface, virtual disks can only be reduced in capacity from within the virtual machine's guest operating system and requires the installation of VMware Tools. If VMware Tools are not currently installing on the guest operating system, begin by reading the chapter entitled [[Understanding and Installing VMware Tools]].
Once VMware Tools are installed into the guest operating system, the next step is to access the VMware Tools Control Panel. The default configuration for VMware Tools on Windows should have placed a VMware Tools icon in the Windows notification area in the bottom right hand corner of the Windows task bar (where the date and time are typically displayed) and also as an icon in the Windows Control Panel (accessed via Start->Control Panel). Double clicking on either of these options will invoke the control panel.
To invoke the VMware Tools control panel on Linux and Solaris systems, simply execute the following at a command-line prompt:
<pre>
/usr/bin/vmware-toolbox&
</pre>
The shrink tab of the VMware Tools control panel allows virtual disks associated with the virtual machine to be reduced in size by reclaiming unused areas on the disk. In the first instance, free space on the disk is reclaimed within the guest operating system. Subsequently, the virtual disk image on the host file system is then reduced in size by the VMware Server software.
In order to be able to perform a shrink operation the virtual disk must not be been created as a ''pre-allocated'' disk and there must be no current snapshots of the virtual machine. If the virtual disk is an ''independent'' disk it must be in ''persistent mode''. In the case of Linux guest operating systems, the operation must be performed as superuser.
== Removing a VMware Server Virtual Disk ==
