I would suggest one of three options for storing ISO's.
1) Just create a ISO directory on one of your VMFS volumes and store them there.
2) Create a samba mount to a Windows Server and store them there.
3) Create a NFS VMFS volume using a Windows Server and store them there.
How do I create a ISO mount point that points to a Windows Server for storing ISO files for my VMs? You can create a mount point inside /vmimages so your VMs can access ISO files when needed. You could just create a directory on your VMFS volume and copy them there but this takes valuable disk space away from the ESX server. You can also use this technique to create other mount points on the ESX server if you need to copy files from a Windows server to or from it for patches and other things.
First you will have to open the firewall port in ESX by typing in the service console esxcfg-firewall -e smbClient. This opens outbound TCP ports 137 139 and 445.
Next make sure the Local Security Policy on the Windows Server you are going to map to has the following settings under Security options. If you do not do this you may get a Stale NFS Handle or Permission denied error when trying to mount.
o Microsoft network client - digitally sign communications (always) DISABLED
o Microsoft network client - digitally sign communications (if server agrees) DISABLED
o Microsoft network server - digitally sign communications (always) DISABLED
o Microsoft network server - digitally sign communications (if server agrees) DISABLED
Next type cd /vmimages and then mkdir ISO
Next type mount -t smbfs -o username=<local windows username> //windows server/share /vmimages/ISO you can also use a windows domain username by typing username=<windows domain username>,workgroup=<windows domain name>
You will be prompted for a password for the user account you are using.
You can type cd /vmimages/ISO and do ls and you should see all your files. You can now map your VMs CD-ROM using the Datastore ISO file device type and select the /vmimages/ISO folder.
If you no longer need this mount point you can un-mount it by typing umount /vmimages/ISO
To automatically have your ESX server mount this when it restarts do the following:
o Edit /etc/fstab using Nano or Vi
o Add the following line to the bottom of the file: //windows server/share /vmimages/ISO smbfs noauto,username=<windows username>,password=<windows username password> 0 0
o Edit /etc/rc.local using Nano or Vi
o Add the following line to the bottom of the file mount a
How do I create a NFS volume on a Windows Server to use for storing ISO files for my VMs? You can do this if you have Windows 2003 Server R2 which has built-in NFS Services
On the Windows 2003 Server make sure Microsoft Services for NFS in installed. If not you need to add it under Add/Remove Programs, Windows Components, Other Network File and Print Services
Next go to folder you want to share and right-click on it and select Properties
Click on the NFS Sharing tab and select Share this Folder
Enter a Share Name, check Anonymous Access and make sure the UID and GID are both -2
In VirtualCenter, select your ESX server and click the Configuration tab and then select Storage
Click on Add Storage and select Network File System as the storage type
Enter the Windows Server name, the folder (share) name and a descriptive Datastore Name
Once it finishes the configuration you can now map your VMs CD-ROM devices to this new VMFS volume
