After VM copy from ESXi 3.5 to ESXi 4.1 difference on a Virtual Disk file

[Pixxxx]

Dear all,

I see that after a Virtual Machine copy from an ESXi 3.5 host to an ESXi 4.1 host I have the following difference on a Virtual Disk file, see picture below:

,

why the disk is different? could you please clarify what's happened?

Thanks to all for your help

[a_p_]

I can't really tell you the reason for this, but it seems copying snapshots sometimes ends up with different results. I'd recommend you commit/delete the snapshot on the ESXi 3.5 host and then copy the VM over to the new host.

Btw. how did you copy the files over to the new host?

André

[Pixxxx]

I have used Veeam Backup and FastSCP, BTW the guest machine can be started

I'd like to understand why this difference, some one can help me?

Thanks

[NeilRHunter]

Thin provisioning?

I'm guessing that your disk is 24gb with 8gb used

[Pixxxx]

so it mean that virtual disk has been converted?

this virtual machine will start again if I will transfer it again to the ESXi 3.5?

thanks

[petedr · Accepted solution]

I would agree the 4.1 disk is now thin provisioned. 8GB has been provisioned. The Size column is the actual storage size of the disk.

This is a KB article on thin provisioned.

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100541...

Also a forums post discussing a similar topic.

http://communities.vmware.com/message/1721998

[a_p_]

@NeilRHunter

Out of curiosity. Where do you see a 24GB virtual disk?

I only see an 8 GB thick provisioned disk with a ~24MB snapshot on ESXi 3.5 and an 17MB snapshot on ESXi 4.1.

André

[petedr]

I would agree after looking closer at the screenshots.