Hi all,

I install Ubuntu 16.04 on Windows 7 via VMWare 9. Windows 7 spent 20 GB for Ubuntu.

Firstly, VMWare storage is only 9.0 GB, I didn't install much program. After 2 months using, VMWare used 18.6 GB/20 GB . However I check Ubuntu storage is only 9.9 GB. I have tried to compact and Defragment Disk but it reduce to 18.4 GB.

Could you advise me. If this problem is duplicated in this forum, could you send me link.

Thanks,

Khanh CN

Hi khancn,

I believe the behaviour you are describing is normal and by design. Although I am more familiar with Virtualbox than VMWare, I believe they both function similarly in this regard. In essence:

- VMWare created a dynamically allocated "container" file that essentially functions as your virtual Ubuntu drive

- You likely specified a maximum size of 20 GB

- Initially, the actual size of the file was 9 GB

- As you used it and installed programs and such, VMWare increased the size of the container file according to its own space-management algorithm, to 18.6 GB. This is by design.

- You noticed that the actual usage inside the Ubuntu VM was still only around 9 GB - this is normal. VMWare saw the need to provision up to 18.6 GB of space for whatever reason and can go as high as 20GB.

- There is no reason to try to decrease the size of the virtual disk - it can grow but will never shrink. Again this is by design

- When choosing the maximum initial size of a dynamically allocated virtual disk, just make sure you are comfortable with that maximum size being no longer available to your Windows system.

Hope this helps - let us know if not or if you need any other help.

Cheers.

1 members found this post helpful.

I don't use VMware however I've got some VMs that were installed in VMware. There are prescribed ways of shrinking the VMDKs but I cheat. I install VMware Player 7.1.2 where the VMware tools have the ability to easily shrink the disk.

Or, you don't have to install VMware 7.1.2 (or similar) but just install the 7 series tools and you can easily shrink the VMDK.