RCLI and HTTP Datastore browsing problems

[sfeaganes]

In ESXi had anyone run into a problem where they cant view directory contents on a data store using the RCLI or the http utility, but can browse them fine in VIC using the datastore browser? This particular VM was named unconventially using spaces and has parenthesis as well. Its just one machine out of the many that I have installed that I cannot browse with those two tools.

As an additional note this VM was coppied from an ESX eval server and given a new UID. The VM runs fine and snap shots are working as normal, I just cant browse the files using remote http or RCLI tools to make backups.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Dave_Mishchenko]

Welcome to the VMware Community forums. What's the folder and file names that you're dealing with?

[sfeaganes]

Well here is an exerpt from the command line tool:

~$ vifs --server 10.20.30.10 --dir '\[datastore1\] Linux Web Server (web0e)/'

Enter username: xxxxxxxx

Enter password:

GET (web0e)/?dsName=datastore1 unsuccessful : 404 Not Found

As you can see I have quoted the directory path correctly due to the spaces but I still get that 404 message. I have the directories correct as you can see from the ouput of this command

~$ vifs --server 10.20.30.10 --dir \[datastore1\]

Enter username: xxxxxxxx

Enter password:

Linux DB Server (Bitbox)/

Linux Web Server (web0e)/

Toolbox/

I can browse the other directories using the same command and it works as you can see here:

~$ vifs --server 10.20.30.10 --dir \[datastore1\]Toolbox

Enter username: xxxxxxx

Enter password:

Toolbox-000001-delta.vmdk

Toolbox-000001.vmdk

Toolbox-76dd84a3.vswp

Toolbox-Snapshot1.vmsn

Toolbox-flat.vmdk

Toolbox.nvram

Toolbox.vmdk

Toolbox.vmsd

Toolbox.vmx

Toolbox.vmxf

vmware.log

Thanks for your help

[sfeaganes]

Hmmm, would this have something to do with the parenthesis in the URL? I see that in this support wiki the link stops just before the ( symbol, possibly meaning that the link cant be parsed?

hmmm.....

[sfeaganes]

Ok so I solved my own problem, http URL's don't like ( or ) being in the URL string and since the RCLI uses HTTP GET it fails.

If anyone reads this thread and figures out how to properly quote the URL so that the ( and ) are interpreted correctly I would greatly appreciate that. Meanwhile im going to consult google.

😄

[Dave_Mishchenko]

You can use double quotes for the folder name. I created a VM called Linux (Web01) and this format then worked

vifs.pl --server --dir datastore1/"Linux (Web01)"

I've excluded the square backets around datastore1 (as the forum software will mess up the formatting), but you would need to include them.

[sfeaganes]

Hmm, that didn't work for me. I tried both in Linux and windows RCLI

using your syntax. I've decided to give up and just go rename the vm

directories (as well as the files and all the references within them). I

tested this yesterday and manual rename works its just painful to move

the files back and forth to my nfs server so I can edit them. Anyway its

only two machines and I've learned my lesson now :-D.

Thanks for all your help.

Seth Feaganes

Network Engineer

Helix Computer Systems

Charlottesville, Va 22903

434-963-4900 ext 124

[pverdin]

I'd same problem

I entered to console (Alt+F1,unsupported,root password) and made a soft link to the directory.

By example:

#cd /vmfs/volumes/datastore1

#ls

MyDir (withParenth)

#ln -s MyDir\ \(withParenth\)/ mydirparenthless

#ls

MyDir (withParenth) mydirparenthless

#exit

Then, in browser typed

And it works for me.

Regards.