Can I shrink a Virtual Disk using Openmanage

Question

I got a PERC H730 configured as a RAID 6 and a single VD was created that contains 6-2TB physical Disk, that gave us a total of 7.5 TB usable space . Now I don't know if I'm doing something wrong but windows server is only allowing me to create 2TB partitions and since we have the OS installed there and the owners want to keep the recovery partition and we have the OEM partition, that is giving me the option to create only 2 more partitions of 2 TB each, so I have about 3 TB that are Unallocated and I can't use it. So, am I'm doing something wrong on windows? and if not is there a way to shrink the disk used on the main VD configured on the RAID so I can create a second disk and reclaim that unused space. I made it as far as the reconfigure menu in Openmanage, but don't know if I can do it from there. Any help will be appreciated. -Jose

theflash1932 · Accepted Answer

First, you cannot 'shrink' RAID arrays on hardware RAID controllers, either to use less space or to use fewer disks. Second: Windows cannot use a 'disk' larger than 2TB unless it is converted to a GPT disk. Windows cannot boot a GPT 'disk' unless installed on UEFI-enabled system. If boot mode is set to BIOS, you are stuck - you will need to reinstall Windows with UEFI enabled or change the RAID configuration(s). What OS are we talking about?

DELL-Chris H · Answer

Jwmartinez,

The issue you are seeing with Windows only allowing 2TB partitions is due to it being configured as a MBR disk, which has the 2TB limitation. If the drive was configured as a GPT, that limitation is removed. YOu can read more on the partition limitations here - http://dell.to/1nAwNfg. Unfortunately you can't convert the drive live, without data loss. So if you are going to have to delete and reinstall, you might as well reconfigure the array to the sizes you prefer.

jwmartinez · Answer

Thanks for the quick replies,

I kind of figure most of it before posting, I just didn't want to accept that I had to go on site an rebuild the array :-), but I guess that's my next step.

theflash1932:

I didn't know about the boot mode, thanks for that, I guess that by default Dell configure the Server to be on BIOS mode, at least that what they told me. BTW I'm running Server 2012r2.

theflash1932 · Answer

If you don't specify otherwise, Dell will do BIOS mode. If you ordered online, you probably overlooked the option for GPT/UEFI.

2012 R2 should convert the disk to GPT automatically when installing on UEFI-enabled system.

PowerEdge Hardware General

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