Linux – Creating a file server – How to use a large VHD file in Hyper-V? (700GB)

hyper-vlinuxoperating systemvirtual-machines

After a few discussions (here, here, and here), I am still unable to create a simple VM that will be used as a fileserver hosted on my Hyper-V box. I have created a fixed 700GB SCSI drive (.vhd file), as I have learned an IDE drive of this size is not possible. Not to sound too cynical, but its blown me away at how much trouble its been to create a large amount of space and start using it.

What is the best way to create a fileserver with a drive of this size hosted on Hyper-V Server 2008, and how can I get it going???

Inclusion of OS, driver, integration tools etc, anything you feel is required would be greatly appreciated.

Extra information

I am using the stand-alone version of
Hyper-V server, and not Windows
Server 2008.
I have tried loading the Linux Integration Tools (linked in the comments of the last link above) onto a SUSE 11 VM and the installation fails, the machine cannot see the vhd at all.

Thanks very much,

Best Answer

I would assume that this is issue with drivers.

However, IDE has same size limit as SCSI on Hyper-V. Usually IDE disks are a LOT easier to use in Linux and that solves problems with visibility in most cases. In your case that is a problem since you use first Hyper-V Server 2008 release.

If you can, I would recommend moving to Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 which will allow you to have big disk on IDE interface and thus avoid any driver issues with Linux and SCSI.

P.S. You can just disconnect already existing VHD and re-attach it as IDE since format is not dependent on interface.

Example

To create a 100 GB VHD, use something like:

.\VhdTool.exe /create '.\Virtual Hard Disks\SRV-EXCHANGE_Backup.vhd' 107374182400

It will take only seconds to complete.

Output

PS C:\VMStorage> .\VhdTool.exe /create '.\Virtual Hard Disks\SRV-EXCHANGE_Backup.vhd' 107374182400
        Status: Creating new fixed format VHD with name ".\Virtual Hard Disks\SRV-EXCHANGE_Backup.vhd"
        Status: Attempting to create file ".\Virtual Hard Disks\SRV-EXCHANGE_Backup.vhd"
        Status: Created file ".\Virtual Hard Disks\SRV-EXCHANGE_Backup.vhd"
        Status: Set the file length
        Status: Set the valid data length
        Status: VHD footer generated
        Status: VHD footer written to file.
        Status: VHD header area cleared.
        Status: Complete
PS C:\VMStorage>

Linux – Why is the Fedora HD STILL coming up as 127 GB

Quoting from an article about Hyper-V (thanks Ryaner):

Virtual hard disk specifications are independent of the bus type used to connect to the virtual machine. However, the bus type does impose a size limitation on virtual hard disks. Virtual hard disks connected via IDE cannot exceed 127 GB. Virtual hard disks connected via SCSI cannot exceed 2040 gigabytes.

So it seems that you'll need to use a SCSI hard disk, instead of an IDE one. You could also try splitting the current hard disk into multiple smaller IDE hard disks.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Hyper-V – Creating a large fixed disk – EXTREMELY Slow

Example

Output

Linux – Why is the Fedora HD STILL coming up as 127 GB

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