when I create a new guest vm and try to attach the disk to it the "browse datastores" doesn't see any files in the folde

[narendralankala]

hi

         I copied a VM from  remote location.., and uploaded to datacenter..., when I want to create a new VM connected to existing disk the folder showing empty.

Even I refresh the datastore. ESX Host -> Summary Tab  -> Datastore -> Right-click on datastore and refresh.., it showing the empty folder only.

Can any one please help me to resolve this one

[idle-jam]

how do you upload the vmdk to the datastore? you need to copy both .vmdk and -flat.vmdk too. another way of copying and assured that it will work is using vmware converter to do a V2V clone.

[Shark201110141]

I did several times download/upload for the vmdk files.

if you cannot refresh it from current "browse datastore", you can try to close it and open it again, to see if the directory/folder/file refreshed.

[narendralankala]

No I copied only -flat.vmdk file only. I will try again by coping the .vmdk file also

[AndreTheGiant]

You need both.

One contain the blocks, the other the disk geometry and configuration.

Andre

[narendralankala]

yes I copied both the files but the .vmdk type is showing as file type. But it should show virtual disk. Please help me to change that file type to virtual disk

[narendralankala]

hi Andre

          Can you tell me which one is for  blocks, and which one is for geometry and configuration

[AndreTheGiant]

The VM.vmdk is the small file with disk configuration (is a text file and you cann see it).

The VM-flat.vmdk is the data file.

Note that you can see the two file only from the ESX console or with SCP.

With datastore browser it show only one file.

Andre

[idle-jam]

why not just copy all the files that you can see in that virtual machine folder? with that in place you do not need to go thru this hassle of missing files and etc.

[bulletprooffool]

Shark,

Did you have any snapshots on this vmdk?

Best to move vmdks after flushing snapshots (though you could in theory use vmkfstools to import even snapshotted disks)

also, i fyou are not seeing ANY files (I assume from the datastore browser) then it may be that you have in fact copied files to the wrong place?

try using a different tool for the copy (i.e. instead of upload / download from VC try seomthing like SCP / WinSCP / FastSCP) - I use FastSCP

http://www.get-virtual.info/2011/01/20/essential-tools-fastscp/