uploading and downloading vmdk files from windows

[aleceiffel]

On the VMware ESX host, disk files are stored as <name>.vmdk and <name>-flat.vmdk files. In the datastore browser, you can only see the <name>.vmdk file and when you download it to windows, you get both. How do I upload these files to an ESX host so that they are useable to virtual machines? If I upload just the <name>.vmdk file, the flat file with all the data does not upload.

[sbrousse]

Use the ESX datastore browser upload feature and select "UPLOAD FOLDER". Then right click on the .vmx file and add to inventory.

Scott

[adolopo]

So, it goes without saying that you'll need both VMDK files for it to work. I think you'll find that there are multiple ways to accomplish what you're trying to do. My personal preference is to use/install Cygwin and "scp *.vmdk login@host", then move it the necessary VMFS volume.

[kjb007]

Use vmware converter and point to the file as a local standalone vm, and choose your esx host as the destination. You'll get the files copied and a vm created at the same time.

-KjB

[Texiwill]

Hello,

There are several ways to do this... The best is VMware Converter. However if that is not available then WinSCP or Veeam FastSCP will work as well. Note, however that moving a VMDK from a VMFS to a non-VMFS filesystem often requries the VMDK to be exported. VMware Converter does the export and Veeam FastSCP has some workings like this as well. If you want to do everything by hand then I suggest you use vmkfstools -e to do the export then copy the result to your windows disk.

Ideally VMware Converter is your tool of choice.

Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky

VMware Communities User Moderator

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Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education. CIO Virtualization Blog: http://www.cio.com/blog/index/topic/168354, As well as the Virtualization Wiki at http://www.astroarch.com/wiki/index.php/Virtualization