I mean that the actual formatted filesystem itself is expanded when you use VMWare Converter. The link below is talking about the equivalent of doing it within VirtualCenter server. This is a process where you are making an adjustment to an existing virtual machine. You will either have to do the Windows "expand" process, or use something like gparted with that method (as you indicate).
VMWare Converter is used for making a new virtual machine, and matches my understanding of what the OP is trying to do. You can also use this method to upgrade an existing VM, but you will have to do some further manipulation to complete it (either replace the existing VM or link the new VMDK to the existing VM). I did this just last week actually, albeit to SHRINK the disk instead of grow it. Bill Mayo -----Original Message----- From: Steven M. Caesare [mailto:scaes...@caesare.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 10:25 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Partiioning tool for ESXi By "Windows will see the new space", do you mean that the volume shows additional partitioned space on that drive in Disk Admin, or that the actual formatted filesystem itself was expanded? Two different things, and one of them doesn't fit the "no further adjustment necessary" assertion below. See: http://communities.vmware.com/message/1148250;jsessionid=B5E10A24FAB5813 6350A016211183DED and note the posts discussing the need to use a partition mgm't utility afterward to grow the filesystem after converter expanded the .vmdk file. -sc > -----Original Message----- > From: Mayo, Bill [mailto:bem...@pittcountync.gov] > Sent: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 9:56 AM > To: NT System Admin Issues > Subject: RE: Partiioning tool for ESXi > > It depends on what methodology you are talking about. If you use VMWare > Converter, you can resize a disk and it handles everything for you (Windows > will see the new space). If you simply expand the disk through the > VirtualCenter interface, then it is correct that Windows will not see the extra > space and you will have to take extra measures. > > Bill Mayo > > -----Original Message----- > From: Steven M. Caesare [mailto:scaes...@caesare.com] > Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 10:08 PM > To: NT System Admin Issues > Subject: RE: Partiioning tool for ESXi > > Right, so Mark's assertion that "... so, no other adjustment needed.", is not > correct, and as Jim originally stated, " the OS sees the bigger disk, but doesn't > expand the volume.". > > That's my experience as well. > > -sc > > -----Original Message----- > From: Matthew W. Ross [mailto:mr...@ephrataschools.org] > Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 8:26 PM > To: NT System Admin Issues > Subject: Re: Partiioning tool for ESXi > > Yes, the volume is expanded, but the actual partition on the drive remains > the same. This is the expected behavior. > > Next, you use a partition resizing utility to expand that partitin to fill the > drive. I use a Gparted live cd, which is free. Someone else already mentioned > a rescue cd that contains the same program. > > I hope that helps. > > > --Matt Ross > Ephrata School District > > On Dec 28, 2009, at 5:06 PM, "Steven M. Caesare"<scaes...@caesare.com> > wrote: > > > Are you sure Jim isn't correct? > > > > The disc volume file (.vmdk) is expanded, but I don't believe the > > filesystem (NTFS logical volume) within in it is extended, no? > > > > This is akin to imaging a machine on to a larger hard drive... it then > > > needs to have the NTFS volume expanded, correct? > > > > > > -sc > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Mark Boersma [mailto:ma...@triangle-inc.com] > > Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 7:42 PM > > To: NT System Admin Issues > > Subject: RE: Partiioning tool for ESXi > > > > Jim, if you use the VMware tool it will ask you if you want to resize > > the disks. You simply enter the size that you want and it will make > > it so, no other adjustment needed. > > > > Mark > > ------------------------------------------------- > > Two rules for success in life: > > 1. Never tell people everything you know. > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Jim von Stein [mailto:jvonst...@soastc.org] > > Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 7:33 PM > > To: NT System Admin Issues > > Subject: RE: Partiioning tool for ESXi > > > > I haven't actually done a P-to-V conversion yet, but it appears that > > if I extend a disk, the OS sees the bigger disk, but doesn't expand > > the volume. > > > > Jim > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: John Cook [mailto:john.c...@pfsf.org] > > Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 11:01 AM > > To: NT System Admin Issues > > Subject: RE: Partiioning tool for ESXi > > > > I thought VMWare Converter would let you do this during the P2V > > process. > > > > John W. Cook > > Systems Administrator > > Partnership For Strong Families > > 315 SE 2nd Ave > > Gainesville, Fl 32601 > > Office (352) 393-2741 x320 > > Cell (352) 215-6944 > > Fax (352) 393-2746 > > MCSE, MCTS, MCP+I, A+, N+, VSP4, VTSP4 > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Jim von Stein [mailto:jvonst...@soastc.org] > > Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 1:49 PM > > To: NT System Admin Issues > > Subject: Partiioning tool for ESXi > > > > I have a Windows 2003 R2 server that has an inadequately sized system > > drive (it's an old server). I'm thinking of P-to-V'ing it onto an ESXi > > > box and expanding the drive, but I need a cheap (preferably free - > > we're a non-profit) partitioning tool that will expand the system > > drive on a virtual. Any suggestions? > > > > Jim von Stein > > Information Services Administrator > > SOASTC > > > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ > > <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > > > > > CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT: The information transmitted, or contained > > or attached to or with this Notice is intended only for the person or > > entity to which it is addressed and may contain Protected Health > > Information (PHI), confidential and/or privileged material. Any > > review, transmission, dissemination, or other use of, and taking any > > action in reliance upon this information by persons or entities other > > than the intended recipient without the express written consent of the > > > sender are prohibited. This information may be protected by the Health > > > Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and > > other Federal and Florida laws. 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Any review, transmission, > dissemination, or other use of, and taking any action in reliance upon this > information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient without > the express written consent of the sender are prohibited. This information > may be protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act > of 1996 (HIPAA), and other Federal and Florida laws. Improper or > unauthorized use or disclosure of this information could result in civil and/or > criminal penalties. > Consider the environment. Please don't print this e-mail unless you really > need to. > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ > <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~