Cannot Create a VMDK Larger than 16TB in VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5

This article provides information on not being able to create a VMDK larger than 16TB in VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5.

Issue:

When creating a new virtual machine with a virtual machine disk (VMDK) or adding a VMDK to an existing virtual machine over 16TB in the vSphere client 5.5, you receive the following error:

Solution:

The vSphere Client for 5.5 will only allow you to create a maximum of 16TB VMDKs.

Use the web client instead of the vSphere Client.
If you cannot use the web client, then you can do a workaround via command line :

• Connect to the server via SSH :

  • More information on enabling SSH on ESXi 5.x : https://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/555/KCS/kcsarticles/articleview?docid=623809

• Navigate to your VM's directory :

  • # cd /vmfs/volumes/<datastore>/<vm>
    • Example :
      • # cd /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/testvm

• Create new VMDK :

  • # vmkfstools -c <size> <newvmdk> -a lsilogic -d thin
    • Example (creates a 25T thin provisioned vmdk named "testvm2.vmdk" with a lsilogic adapter) :
      • # vmkfstools -c 25t  testvm2.vmdk -a lsilogic -d thin

• Add VMDK to existing VM :

  • Right click on VM and click on 'Edit Settings'
  • Click on the 'Add' button at the top of the window
  • Click on 'Hard Disk' and then click on the 'Next' button
  • Select the 'Use an existing virtual disk' radial and then click on the 'Next' button
  • Select the newly created VM and then click on the 'Next' button
  • Click on the 'Next' button
  • Click on the 'Finish' button
  • Ignore the informational messages
  • Click on the 'OK' button to exit out of the VM properties