Delete folders from a datastore through VI Client?

[geno5150]

When I browse a datastore through VI Client, I can delete individual files, but not folders (delete button grayed out). Is this by design? I can delete them if I FTP to the ESX host and do it command line.

It's not really a problem, but more of a curiosity.

[Lightbulb · Accepted solution]

No you cannot delete folders via the VIC datastore browser.

You could delete the folder via Winscp http://winscp.net/eng/download.php (If you do not want to do it from the command line)

[geno5150]

Sounds good. Thanks for the response.

[puzzledtux]

Hmmm...are you sure "Delete" is greyed out for folders in the VI client datastore browser? I think you can delete VM folder after selecting it in the right-hand side pane in the datastore browser window. As good as "rm -rf " (no questions asked!)

[Lightbulb]

Yep you are right. I tend to use datstore browser for uploading ISOs. I think I will stick with rm but good to know,

[hitdrum]

You can indeed delete folders on a datastore via the VIC datastore browser, here is how.

1. Open the data store browser

2. In the left pane select the root of the datastore tree (so all the folder are shown in the right pane)

3. In the right pane select the folder that you want to delete

4. Right click and select "delete from disk" or alternatively click the red X on the icon bar