What is the term for VM storage that allocates a set amount of space regardless of current use?

The term for VM storage that allocates a set amount of space regardless of current use is thick provisioning. In thick provisioning, the total specified disk space is reserved upfront, even if not all of it is immediately utilized. This means that the storage is preallocated, which can lead to improved performance, as the space is ready to use without needing to dynamically allocate more as data grows.

In contrast, other options such as thin provisioning allocate storage space on an as-needed basis, allowing for more efficient use of resources by only using space that is actually required at any moment. Dynamic storage typically refers to storage that can change size based on workload demands, and elastic storage often pertains to cloud environments where the storage can be scaled up or down automatically, based on needs. Thick provisioning ensures that all space is available when needed but may result in wasted resources if the allocated space is not fully utilized.