Adjusting Chunk Size for StarWind Devices in Proxmox

Description

By default, the LVM thin pool uses a 64 KB chunk size, which is suitable for devices up to 16 TB. When a StarWind device exceeds this size, the default chunk size must be increased to prevent allocation or performance issues.

Use the following recommendations:

• 128 KB chunk size – for devices up to 32 TB

• 256 KB chunk size – for devices up to 64 TB

NOTE: The thin_pool_chunk_size parameter appears only after the StarLVM plugin is installed in Proxmox. Make sure the plugin is installed before proceeding: https://www.starwindsoftware.com/resource-library/starwind-x-proxmox-san-integration-configuration-guide/

Steps

1. Open the LVM configuration file
   Access the Proxmox CLI and open the lvmlocal.conf file for editing:

   nano /etc/lvm/lvmlocal.conf

2. Modify the chunk size value
   Find the line containing thin_pool_chunk_size and change its value:

   thin_pool_chunk_size = 128

3. Create the physical volume
   Once the configuration is saved, create a new physical volume using:

   pvcreate /dev/<device_name>

   Then, continue creating a StarWind LUN in Proxmox following the standard deployment guide.

4. Validate the configuration
   To confirm there are no storage restrictions, perform a test migration of a virtual machine.

Conclusion

When deploying StarWind devices larger than 16 TB in Proxmox, adjusting the thin_pool_chunk_size parameter is required to ensure proper thin pool operation. Configuring the chunk size before creating a physical volume prevents allocation errors and ensures consistent storage performance.