When creating a new virtual machine in HyperV mgt console, there is no option
to specify what type of disk you want to create - either fixed disk size
(preferred for SAN storage) or dynamically expanding disk. The wizard just
goes ahead and created a dynamically expanding disk, not good for disk block
alignment whic will cause performance issues when the disk starts growing.
Microsoft please add an option to choose your disk type!



Many thanks

The solution is simple. When you create a new VM, choose the option to
specify a disk later, or point to a disk that has already been created.
Either option is available. Or, if you use System Center Virtual Machine
Manager, create the template appropriately.

I don't disagree with the choice MS made here, to keep the wizard as simple
as possible and still get the job done for the majority of basic users. Most
folks using SANs, for example, are very likely using a management suite and
not using the native MMC to manage and create VMs. Not all, certainly, but
I'd wager a substantial majority. But for lots of folks using hyper-v in
test environments, or fairly static production environments, they're not
dealing with SANs or need to worry much about fixed v. dynamic. Yes, fixed
has better speed. But the difference isn't all that much in R2, and dynamic
disks are a much more compelling choice.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel




"MTD" <MTD@newsgroup> wrote in message
news:6E12CDDA-3267-43C2-BC04-269ABA0AD512@newsgroup

> When creating a new virtual machine in HyperV mgt console, there is no
> option
> to specify what type of disk you want to create - either fixed disk size
> (preferred for SAN storage) or dynamically expanding disk. The wizard
> just
> goes ahead and created a dynamically expanding disk, not good for disk
> block
> alignment whic will cause performance issues when the disk starts growing.
> Microsoft please add an option to choose your disk type!
>
> Many thanks

Hi MTD,

+1

that is correct, but you do have a "New Disk" wizard in the manager included
for creation of fixed/dynamic/differencing disks. Create an empty VM
"skelett" and attach the disk later which you had created with the wizard.
Btw, I would also like to point you to the Powershell (Hyper-V) Library
where you can configure all these properties via Hyper-V API. this can be
used a.e. in automation/mass deployment scenarios.

Here is an example for creation of an complete new VM :
# Create a VM skelett
New-VM -name testVM -path C:\Hyper-V\testVM\ -server localhost > NULL

# Create new VHD (Fixed with 10GB)
# New-VHD -vhdpath C:\Hyper-V\testVM\testVM_OS_Fixed10.vhd -size
10GB -fixed -server localhost -wait

# Create new VHD and attach to VM "Test"
Add-VMNewHardDisk -VM testVM -controllerid 0 -vhdpath
C:\Hyper-V\testVM\testVM_OS_Fixed10.vhd -size 10GB -fixed -server localhost

> NULL

# Change VM Memory (RAM) to 2048 MB
Set-VMMemory -vm testVM -memory 2048MB -server localhost > NULL

# Change CPUs
Set-VMCPUCount -vm testVM -cpucount 1 -server localhost > NULL

# Add vNIC (Syntetic) and connect to External Switch called "Public"
Add-VMNIC -vm testVM -virtualswitch "Public" -server localhost > NULL

The powershell library can be downloaded from codeplex :
http://pshyperv.codeplex.com/releases/view/38769

Regards
Ramazan


"MTD" <MTD@newsgroup> wrote in message
news:6E12CDDA-3267-43C2-BC04-269ABA0AD512@newsgroup

> When creating a new virtual machine in HyperV mgt console, there is no
> option
> to specify what type of disk you want to create - either fixed disk size
> (preferred for SAN storage) or dynamically expanding disk. The wizard
> just
> goes ahead and created a dynamically expanding disk, not good for disk
> block
> alignment whic will cause performance issues when the disk starts growing.
> Microsoft please add an option to choose your disk type!
>
> Many thanks

Hi MTD ,

I do fully confirm with Charlie here :-)

Just want to add the following whitepaper that is really interesting around
the topic "performance differences in VHDs".

Windows Server 2008 R2 Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) Performance Paper
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...hitePaper.docx

Regards
Ramazan

"Charlie Russel - MVP" <Charlie@newsgroup> wrote in message
news:eC$IT40vKHA.1796@newsgroup

> The solution is simple. When you create a new VM, choose the option to
> specify a disk later, or point to a disk that has already been created.
> Either option is available. Or, if you use System Center Virtual Machine
> Manager, create the template appropriately.
>
> I don't disagree with the choice MS made here, to keep the wizard as
> simple as possible and still get the job done for the majority of basic
> users. Most folks using SANs, for example, are very likely using a
> management suite and not using the native MMC to manage and create VMs.
> Not all, certainly, but I'd wager a substantial majority. But for lots of
> folks using hyper-v in test environments, or fairly static production
> environments, they're not dealing with SANs or need to worry much about
> fixed v. dynamic. Yes, fixed has better speed. But the difference isn't
> all that much in R2, and dynamic disks are a much more compelling choice.
>
> --
> Charlie.
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>
>
>
>
> "MTD" <MTD@newsgroup> wrote in message
> news:6E12CDDA-3267-43C2-BC04-269ABA0AD512@newsgroup

>> When creating a new virtual machine in HyperV mgt console, there is no
>> option
>> to specify what type of disk you want to create - either fixed disk size
>> (preferred for SAN storage) or dynamically expanding disk. The wizard
>> just
>> goes ahead and created a dynamically expanding disk, not good for disk
>> block
>> alignment whic will cause performance issues when the disk starts
>> growing.
>> Microsoft please add an option to choose your disk type!
>>
>> Many thanks

>