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megaframe
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New to ESXi - How do I ftp files from the ESXi host?

I have read several threads on configuring FTP for other machines to connect to the ESXi server. But I need to FTP my backup files (created with the ghettoVCB.sh) to our Lacie enthernet disk. The ethernet disk is embedded XP that allows FTP connections to it.

Can someone tell me how to FTP from the ESXi machine?

Thanks!

Charles

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lamw
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Not sure about ESXi 3.5, but on ESXi 4.0 there is an FTP client,l as mentioned you need to get into the unsupported busybox console:

~ # vmware -v
VMware ESXi 4.0.0 build-171294

ftpget

~ # ftpget
BusyBox v1.9.1-VMware-visor-654 (2008-12-17 10:01:32 PST) multi-call binary

Usage: ftpget [options] remote-host local-file remote-file

Retrieve a remote file via FTP

Options:
        -c,--continue   Continue previous transfer
        -v,--verbose    Verbose
        -u,--username   Username
        -p,--password   Password
        -P,--port       Port number

ftpput

~ # ftpput
BusyBox v1.9.1-VMware-visor-654 (2008-12-17 10:01:32 PST) multi-call binary

Usage: ftpput [options] remote-host remote-file local-file

Store a local file on a remote machine via FTP

Options:
        -v,--verbose    Verbose
        -u,--username   Username
        -p,--password   Password
        -P,--port       Port number


=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators

VMware Developer Comuunity

Twitter: @lamw

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

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DSTAVERT
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Did you use a local datastore or an NFS datastore? If you used local look at setting up an NFS datastore. You then have many options for moving / copying your data.

There are directions etc for adding ftp to ESXi on vm-help.com but I would suggest that the more you add as services to the ESXi host the more chance you have of making the host unstable.

-- David -- VMware Communities Moderator
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_David
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You would have to enable the hidden console to use the builtin ftp client. Have a look at this link.

http://professionalvmware.com/2009/05/unsupported-console-and-ssh-on-esxi-4/

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megaframe
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I used the ghettoVCB sh to make a copy of the VM files locally. Unfortunately the Lacie disk device does not support NFS. So I am trying to FTP the files to the Lacie disk. I looked at the vm-help.com site and I must be missing something because I don't see and information on using FTP from the esxi console.

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megaframe
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I have enabled the hidden console. I can't find any info on the "builtin ftp client" you mentioned.

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NWP_Tom
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Once you have enabled the ssh console on the ESXi server you can use fastscp or winscp to secure ftp in to your ESXi host and grab your files.

Tom

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megaframe
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Right! but I am trying to FTP them from the esxi host to the Lacie disk. This way I can script the transfer to happen via scheduled job. So I really need outgoing FTP is what I trying to say I suppose. Sorry if this wasnt clear.

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NWP_Tom
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I do not believe there are any FTP binaries on the ESXi host. Your only option would be to ftp to the host from your desktop, grab the files, then from your desktop put them on your Lacie.

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megaframe
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Is there anyway to install FTP binaries to the ESXi host?

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NWP_Tom
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Not that I'm aware of.

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lamw
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Not sure about ESXi 3.5, but on ESXi 4.0 there is an FTP client,l as mentioned you need to get into the unsupported busybox console:

~ # vmware -v
VMware ESXi 4.0.0 build-171294

ftpget

~ # ftpget
BusyBox v1.9.1-VMware-visor-654 (2008-12-17 10:01:32 PST) multi-call binary

Usage: ftpget [options] remote-host local-file remote-file

Retrieve a remote file via FTP

Options:
        -c,--continue   Continue previous transfer
        -v,--verbose    Verbose
        -u,--username   Username
        -p,--password   Password
        -P,--port       Port number

ftpput

~ # ftpput
BusyBox v1.9.1-VMware-visor-654 (2008-12-17 10:01:32 PST) multi-call binary

Usage: ftpput [options] remote-host remote-file local-file

Store a local file on a remote machine via FTP

Options:
        -v,--verbose    Verbose
        -u,--username   Username
        -p,--password   Password
        -P,--port       Port number


=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators

VMware Developer Comuunity

Twitter: @lamw

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

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megaframe
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Wow! that's it!

works great.

Thanks sooo much.

Charles

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NWP_Tom
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Wow, I learned something new!

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maishsk
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Thanks Lam!!


Maish

Virtualization Architect & Systems Administrator

Maish Saidel-Keesing • @maishsk • http://technodrone.blogspot.com • VMTN Moderator • vExpert • Co-author of VMware vSphere Design
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bjkamp
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Here is a script that may be helpful. it uses the output of vim-cmd /vmsvc/getallvms, the parameter you provide will be matches against this output. Be sure you setup the backup directory with the proper access and directory names that match the vmname (2nd field in the getallvms output) as data will be stored there. The script will stop all running VMs that will be backed up and start them again (if they where running in the first place). It will not start VMs that where not running.

Sorry that the indents are not copied in correctly, had to lose the comments as well as the posting does funny things with it:

#!/bin/sh

VERSION=1.1

if ; then

echo "Usage: $0 vmname"

exit 1

fi

SERVNAME=$1

BACKUPHOST=<hostname or ip>

BACKUPUSER=<vmbackup_ftp_user>

BACKUPPW='password'

BACKUPDIR='/vmbackup'

VMID=`vim-cmd /vmsvc/getallvms | grep -v "^Vmid" | grep "$SERVNAME" | awk '{ print $1 }'`

VMNAME=`vim-cmd /vmsvc/getallvms | grep -i "^$j " | awk '{ print $2 }'`

VMSTAT=`vim-cmd /vmsvc/power.getstate $j | grep Powered | awk '{ print $2 }'`

VMDATASTORE=`vim-cmd /vmsvc/get.datastores $j | grep url | awk '{ print $2 }'`

VMLOCATE="$VMDATASTORE/$VMNAME"

echo "Location: $VMLOCATE"

echo "Name : $VMNAME"

ALLFILES=`ls -1 $VMLOCATE`

VMSTAT=`vim-cmd /vmsvc/power.getstate $j | grep Powered | awk '{ print $2 }'`

if ; then

echo "Server $VMNAME with VMID $j is already powered off"

else

echo "Powering off server $VMNAME with ID $j"

vim-cmd /vmsvc/power.shutdown $j

VMSTAT=on

echo "Checking status (now $VMSTAT)"

while ; do

echo wait for $VMNAME to shutdown..

sleep 10

VMSTAT=`vim-cmd /vmsvc/power.getstate $j | grep Powered | awk '{ print $2 }'`

done

VMSTAT=on

fi

for i in $ALLFILES; do

echo backup $VMLOCATE/$i to $BACKUPDIR/$VMNAME/$i on $BACKUPHOST

ftpput -u $BACKUPUSER -p $BACKUPPW $BACKUPHOST $BACKUPDIR/$VMNAME/$i $VMLOCATE/$i

done

if ; then

vim-cmd /vmsvc/power.on $j

fi

done

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DSTAVERT
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You should add this to a new post so it isn't lost.

-- David -- VMware Communities Moderator
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bjkamp
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I am new to this, so where would I do that?

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DSTAVERT
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There are several places you could post it. Make a new post in this forum. Back forum, developer forum?? have a look through.

-- David -- VMware Communities Moderator
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nickolas666
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Hello, nice script you made.

I tried it on my ESXi (VSphere) but i can´t get it to work.

Just typed the Vm-machinename after the script.

-


-


/bin # sh backup.sh VmTestBackup

Insufficient arguments.

Insufficient arguments.

Location: /

Name :

Insufficient arguments.

Powering off server with ID

Insufficient arguments.

Usage: power.shutdown vmid

Shutdown the guest OS

Checking status (now on)

wait for to shutdown..

Insufficient arguments.

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DSTAVERT
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You can wrap your script in tags to make the script readable.

A link to the forum markup language.

-- David -- VMware Communities Moderator
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