Can ESXi access file server for .iso storage

[llawson1]

Preface:  Very new vCenter user here!

Question:  Can I use an external file server as a source for all of my .iso for building vm's on my ESXi hosts?

And if so, would anyone be able to post a walk through of how to do it?

Thanks!

[llawson1]

This is for the 6.5 vCenter web interface.

[Camero]

Yes, you can add a file server for access on ESXi for installing OS in VMs.

Here is a video with detailed steps

Add NFS Datastore for VMware vSphere (vSOM) - YouTube

[llawson1]

Looked through the video which is 4 years old and the menu system on 6.5 isn't the same.  Thanks, but this video doesn't help.

[llawson1]

Muddled through the interface change, however the example is for a NFS and not sure how to translate to a Windows file server...

[llawson1]

Installed NFS on the Windows 2016 server (duh!).

Still can't connect.  anonymous_login and everyone are included on the access list with r/w.  Not sure what version of nfs to use 3.1 or 4.1.  Seems 4.1 would be smoother and has the RO checkbox to help on abuse by users.

I'm probably mucking up the syntax on the nfs file share... windows and linux together.  oil and water.

[vasan22in · Accepted solution]

Hello llawson

You can use File Server space to store .iso file for building VM's using NFS. Refer the below links to configure NFS datastore and create NFS share in Windows.

http://masteringvmware.com/how-to-add-nfs-datastore/

http://masteringvmware.com/how-to-create-nfs-share/

http://masteringvmware.com/how-to-install-nfs-server-in-windows-server/

NFS 4.1 supports all the below features,

• Authentication with Kerberos
• In-band, mandatory, and stateful server side locking
• Session trunking (true NFS multipathing)
• Greater error recovery

Refer my screen shot, if you choose NFS 4.1 and wants to enable kerberos authentication. It has few conditions like ESXi host has to be part of an AD domain. Refer it in the screen shot.

Let me know if you had any questions.

Thanks,

Srini

[Camero]

My Bad!  I missed your post about version by few minutes.

Please refer to the links provided by @vasan22in​ and let us know if you how it goes.

[llawson1]

My thanks esp to Srini for the information.  Perseverance pays off

I think having a concise manner of what to do on both ends would be helpful (Windows and vCenter).  I also noticed a time lag until my NFS shares would populate when I went to look for them in building a vm.

Now I have a file server holding all of my iso's accessible from every host in each cluster in vCenter, and also external file storage for vm's that people build.  I'm not so sure that this will be a good idea, as when the storage on the host runs out, that makes them clean up their clutter     Users... what are you going to do with them! 

My lab work has been taken over by managerial duties, and now have only about 10% of my original time to learn new $#!%, so thanks again for the patience and help. 

[vasan22in]

Hello,

You always welcome . Let me know if you have any question for your lab work. I am happy to help...