How to shrink Linux .vmdk file on Windows host

Ever face the problem of your Linux image file keep growing bigger in size while the actual usage is smaller? I encountered this when my apache server created a massive 15GB log file and after deleting the log file, my image file is still 15GB+.

 Follow the steps to reduce the image file.

Step 1. Fill the unused space with zero with the following command:

sudo cat /dev/zero > zero.fill;sync;sleep 1;sync;rm -f zero.fill

Wait for it to complete as it will take some times to complete depending on the assigned storage size.

Step 2. Power down the Linux guest OS when Step 1 complete.

Step 2.   If you have not set a path for your vmware, locate the location of where you installed your vmware. For mine, it is located at "C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Workstation".

Step 3. Open command prompt and browse to the directory of the .vmdk file you want to reduce and enter the following command to begin shrinking:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Workstation" -k "Your_Image_File.vmdk"