2 esx host to share each other's datastore

[TPT]

Hi experts

I was wondering, I got two esx hosts and I want them to share each other's datastore. Can I do it without things like Vcenter?

I tried adding the storage as NFS but that didn't work. I thought if I just gave it the ESX host IP and the path to the folder that I want to share I could get away with it. But no such luck.

thanks

[rcporto]

You will need a server that export an NFS share and you cannot use the local ESXi disks as a NFS export.

An alternative, for small environments is use Openfiler or FreeNAS to export the local disks as NFS or iSCSI.

[markdjones82]

I also agree with Richard.  You would need to spin up a linux or windows guest up and add a disk to it.  Then share the disks out with NFS to add to the Hosts.  These VM's you couldn't move around without VCenter and you would basically be running a VM inside a VMDK.  Not sur eon the practicality.

[Gortee]

Agreed with both previous answers.  Really you have a few options that depend on what you are trying to get done:

Home Lab:

-Build another machine as a NFS server and share it out

-Use synology to share disk out

-Use the virtual machine NFS share out which will break half your vm's when a host goes down.

Work / Enterprise:

-Build another machine as a NFS server and share it out

-Use synology to share disk out

-Get a supported storage array

Really if you don't want to use vCenter most of the advanced features that need shared storage will not be available so it's not needed.

Let us know if you have additional questions.

Thanks,

J