VMware ESX Disk Types and Disk Modes

VMware ESX Disk Types and Disk Modes

• Virtual Disk Types
– Virtual pre-allocated or fixed disk
– Virtual growable or dynamic disk - ALL ESX Virtual
Disks are FIXED, there are no dynamic/growable
disks in ESX
– Physical RAW disk
• Virtual Disk Access Modes
– Independent mode - not affected by snapshots
• Persistent mode - all data is written when modified
• Nonpersistent mode - all changes are discarded - good for a
kiosk