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Swaraj
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Mounting a Windows Shared folder onto ESX server

Hi,

My requirement is to copy the VM snapshot file to ESX server and start power it on. The challenges i face are:

1. I am unable to copy the VM snapshot to the ESX Server.

a. I tried by mounting the Shared folder of VM to ESX machine. But only 846 MB odd of data got mounted. The VM snapshot file is some 5 GB.

b. I tried tranfering the VM snapshot file using the FastScp. The transfer failed with the below message:

Preparing scripts

Logged into server using one-time login name 52ba0101-36ba-4ac8-82a0-db210990ad21 and password 6bb61ca7-bf1c-4f61-9088-4797e3511516

Server IP: 64.104.136.14. Port: 2500

Transfer timeout. No data transferred in the last 20 seconds

Can u forward me the document which might help me in acheiving my task?

A quick response would be appreciated.

Regards,

-Swaraj.

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ExCon
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The FastSCP error is due to the ESX firewall. You need to either open the appropriate ports (2500 only is not sufficient) for FastSCP or use WinSCP or another file transfer utility. Personally, I've had problems with FastSCP and ESX 3.5, so I'd suggest using something else until FastSCP gets updated.

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Dave_Mishchenko
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Below is a link for mounting a windows share in ESX. It is a VMDK that you'll be copying over? You'll want to use the command vmkfstools -i /source_path/source.vmdk /destination_path/destination.vmdk for that. If it is more that the VMDK and is all the files for a VM, then you could try vmware converter (www.vmware.com/converter).

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ExCon
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The FastSCP error is due to the ESX firewall. You need to either open the appropriate ports (2500 only is not sufficient) for FastSCP or use WinSCP or another file transfer utility. Personally, I've had problems with FastSCP and ESX 3.5, so I'd suggest using something else until FastSCP gets updated.

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Swaraj
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Hey, u were right, the firewall was blocking the transfer. I was successfully able to transfer the vmdk file to the ESX server after removing the firewall

The next question i have is that why do i need to convert the ".vmdk" file using the "vmfstool". Why isnt the ESX server able to bring up the VM without doing the conversion. Isnt that an redundant overhead?

Why have the developers of ESX not

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Dave_Mishchenko
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As noted here, there is a concern with corruption when not using vmkfstools to read / write to vmfs - .

ExCon
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Think of it as copying and then importing. The import is the important part, but first the ESX box needs to be able to access the file.

BTW, if you think Dave and I helped please award points. :smileygrin:

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ExCon
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I assumed that the SCP copy was to /tmp (or somewhere other than VMFS) and then the import with vmkfstools. Maybe I misunderstood.

Swaraj
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Thanks alot for all ur patience and quick replies.

Can u also let me know how i can award points. The page is not so intuitive for me to find out wherethe points are awarded from.

-Swaraj.

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ExCon
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Points are awarded by using the Helpful and Correct buttons, which it looks like you already did. Thanks!

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