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m4biz
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Can't download entire folder from ESXi 6.5 datastore

Hi .

When I try to download entire folder from ESXi 6.5 datastore (for backup purpose), I can't (download option is shaded😞

datastore.jpg

Even if I right click the folder I can't download.

Any idea?
Thanks in advance

Ing. Cosimo Mercuro http://cosimomercuro.wordpress.com/
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a_p_
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Downloading folders is unfortunately not supported.

It might be an alternative to export the VM instead of downloading individual files.


André

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a_p_
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Downloading folders is unfortunately not supported.

It might be an alternative to export the VM instead of downloading individual files.


André

MBreidenbach0
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You can do manual VM backups with the Veeam Backup&Replication free edition (if ESXi host has a 'paid' license)

m4biz
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Hi, a.p.

thanks for your reply.

But in the previous version of ESXi (5.5) I can download entire folders without issue.

Why with this version (6.5) I can't?

Ing. Cosimo Mercuro http://cosimomercuro.wordpress.com/
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a_p_
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It's just one of the features that have not (yet?) been integrated into the Web Client.


André

m4biz
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Ok.

And how may I export the VM ?

Ing. Cosimo Mercuro http://cosimomercuro.wordpress.com/
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a_p_
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You should see the Export option from the VM's pop-up (right-click the VM) menu.

André

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RAJ_RAJ
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Hi ,

If you running 6.5 only not 6.5 U1 . try to access the esxi from vSphere client  . you will be requested update client and you can access server

then try to download the vm full folder from there .

if you don't have old vSphere client you can download 6.o u3 vsphere client and try to access the 6.5 esxi

RAJESH RADHAKRISHNAN VCA -DCV/WM/Cloud,VCP 5 - DCV/DT/CLOUD, ,VCP6-DCV, EMCISA,EMCSA,MCTS,MCPS,BCFA https://ae.linkedin.com/in/rajesh-radhakrishnan-76269335 Mark my post as "helpful" or "correct" if I've helped resolve or answered your query!
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m4biz
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Hai Raj_Raj.

Thanks for your reply.

I'm not shure, but in another 6.5 serve I've used without issue the download feature...

Ing. Cosimo Mercuro http://cosimomercuro.wordpress.com/
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m4biz
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Hi Raj_Raj.

I've installed vsphere client 6.0 u3 but I can't connect to the ESXi server:

2018-04-19_182303.jpg

Any idea?

Ing. Cosimo Mercuro http://cosimomercuro.wordpress.com/
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yerviz
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Ended up doing a work around to do this. Temporarily enabled SSH access to the esxi host that hosted the VM I wanted to download the image of. Consolidated snapshots then shut the VM down. Used WinSCP to directly SSH into the esx host I wanted to grab the VM from. Created a tar.gz archive of the VM on its datastore and then downloaded to my Windows desktop. From there I was free to do what I wanted with the VM image. Would rather there was a VMware supported solution through the tools but in the meantime this is viable work around (assuming you have access to SSH into vsphere hosts).

bkjackson78
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Try the HTML vCenter client (not flash/web client).

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Thewintelguy
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enable SSH on ESX temporarily

install filezilla

log on to ESX with your admin credentials or "root"

drill down to volumes under vmfs

select folder

download Smiley Happy

(I'm assuming these vm's are not up and running)

TahirG
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Thank you TheWintelGuy, your solution has helped me.

Enabled SSH, in vCenter choose any host which has that Datastore (from where you want to download) mounted. Navigate to Configure (tab) - > Security Profile -> Services

     Edit (button) -> Select the service SSH -> Click Start (button)

Enabling SSH on ESX.jpg

I downloaded WinSCP from their official website WinSCP :: Official Site :: Download 

Fired up WinSCP and provided root credentials for the ESX host Server

WinSCP login.jpg

browsed to vmfs\volumes\<desired Datastore>

Selected the folder (or files) and click download,

Download file from DS.jpg

and it works.

Thewintelguy
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Glad to be of assistance

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krislong
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Yep, very similar here.

I needed to archive a VM off of our infrastructure, encrypted.

So what I did was to open SSH on the host, build a very basic linux VM (ubuntu 22.04 I think but this will work even on most minimal common installs), attach the disk using LUKS (Linux disk encryption - predates Bitlocker, has some ports to other Unixy things (like FreeBSD), seem to perform decently and not be too fussy), and ssh into the host, find the exact path under vmfs/volumes , run 'scp -r /path/to/directory_with_the_VMDK_files_in_it' and it's zipping along. Because I am one of 2 pretty regular VCSA operating/admin folks, I reached out to make sure nobody messes with it.

Works liek 

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