vmkfstools -d eagerzeroedthick /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/myVM/myVM.vmdk
vmkfstools -c <size> -d <disk_format> <disk_name.vmdk> vmkfstools -d
If you need to create a raw disk directly from the ESXi Shell: which prefers eagerzeroedthick
-d zeroedthick Default Behavior: If the -d flag is omitted, this is the default format used by vmkfstools . becomes seamless with a simple conversion.
Analysis: While the creation of this disk may take hours depending on the underlying storage speed, the database application is insulated from write penalties during production hours.
vmkfstools -d thin /path/to/source.vmdk
Some storage arrays or backup applications require a specific format. Moving from a legacy SAN that supports only thick disks to vSAN, which prefers eagerzeroedthick, becomes seamless with a simple conversion.