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How can I increase the size of the data disk on a Windows Server VM running SQL Server?

Daniel-08125 0 Reputation points
2025-10-10T02:08:16.9533333+00:00

Hi, I have a Windows Server VM on Azure that is running SQL Server. Its size is Standard E4bds v5 and it was created from the sql2022-ws2022 source image offer. It has a single P30 Premium SSD LRS data disk of swize 1024GiB. I want to increase the size of the data disk to 2TB, as more space is needed for SQL data files. Within the OS, the F: drive is 1TB and is used for the SQL data files. How can I do this storage increase in the safest possible way?

I can see the option under disk settings > size + performance to change the existing data disk to the 2048GiB P40 disk tier. If I make that change, will I simply be able to extend the F: drive using Disk Management to have the additional 1TB of space allocated to it?

What is causing me some confusion and concern, is that although the VM has a single 1TB data disk from the Azure portal perspective, when I look at Disk Management on the VM, it shows there is a Storage Pool for SQL of 256GB and the F: drive as being spanned over two disks, as per below screenshot.

Thanks, Daniel

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SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
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  1. TP 141.6K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-10-10T03:05:14.96+00:00

    Hi Daniel,

    In order to increase the disk size of your SQL VM you need to use the SQL virtual machine resource for your VM. Note this is not the same as the regular virtual machine resource that you are likely already familiar with. This is a separate resource type for SQL Server VMs.

    For example, when you created your SQL VM it created a resource of type "Virtual machine" and a second resource of type "SQL virtual machine", both named the same in the resource group. The one you want to use to change the disk is the "SQL virtual machine".

    When you navigate to the SQL virtual machine resource for your VM in the portal it will have SQL virtual machine in upper left corner. Under Settings -- Storage blade, click on Management tab on the right. Next click on Configure next to Data drive.

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    On the Extend Data drive screen, select the disk size and quantity you would like to add, confirm what it says is correct (e.g. "1024 GiB will be added to Data drive 'F'"), click Apply.

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    Again confirm what it says is correct (e.g. "This will extend the SQL virtual machine storage Data drive (F) with the following disks - P30 x 1 (1024 Gib, 5000 IOPS, 200 MB/s)"), click Yes.

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    After you click Yes it will start deployment to add additional disk(s) to VM, add physical disk(s) to storage pool and extend size of virtual disk (F in this example).

    Please click Accept Answer and upvote if the above was helpful.

    Thanks.

    -TP

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