New-Datastore: Issues with CIFS and Local datastores

[halr9000]

If you look at the help for this cmdlet you'll see there is a Local and CIFS datastore type. I'm unable to get either of these types of datastores to work. I've tried in so many different combinations of parameters that it's either an issue with my hardware or a bug in the software. I'd like to know if anybody can make 'em work, and if so, please paste the output (need examples for my book). Otherwise, I'm hoping VMware can shed a little light on the subject.

example:

PS > $vmhost = Get-VMHost 192.168.0.51
PS > $path = "/opt/vmimages2"
PS > New-Datastore -Local -VMHost $vmhost -Path $path -Name VMImages2
New-Datastore : 9/7/2008 11:53:34 PM    New-Datastore    C0377B69-0756-4002-9ECE-C298
EC102A08    The operation is not supported on the object.
At line:1 char:14
+ New-Datastore  <<<< -Local -VMHost $vmhost -Path $path -Name VMImages2

P.S. I had no idea there was even such a thing as a CIFS datastore--I could find no mention of such a concept anywhere online. Maybe it only works in VMware Server 2.0 (which is still in beta)?

Author of the upcoming book: Managing VMware Infrastructure with PowerShell

Co-Host, PowerScripting Podcast (http://powerscripting.net)

[halr9000]

I just realized this one went unanswered. Can others repro? Will it be fixed in the upcoming version?

[PowerShell MVP|https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile=5547F213-A069-45F8-B5D1-17E5BD3F362F], VI Toolkit forum moderator

Author of the upcoming book: Managing VMware Infrastructure with PowerShell

Co-Host, PowerScripting Podcast (http://powerscripting.net)

Need general, non-VMware-related PowerShell Help? Try the forums at PowerShellCommunity.org

[LucD · Accepted solution]

Afaik local and CIFS datastores are for VMware Server 2.

ESX 3.5 only supports FC, iSCSI, local SCSI and NFS as storage types for datastores.

[halr9000]

Ahhh, that makes sense. I wish this were documented somewhere.

PowerShell MVP, VI Toolkit forum moderator

Author of the upcoming book: Managing VMware Infrastructure with PowerShell

Co-Host, PowerScripting Podcast (http://powerscripting.net)

Need general, non-VMware-related PowerShell Help? Try the forums at PowerShellCommunity.org

[halr9000]

VMware Server 2, CIFS:

PS > New-Datastore -Name eastman -Path '\\eastman\iso' -Cifs -Username user  -Password password

cmdlet New-Datastore at command pipeline position 1
Supply values for the following parameters:
NfsHost: eastman.qatest.iss.net
New-Datastore : 12/22/2008 2:12:18 PM    New-Datastore        Creating a CIFS datastore is only supported on VirtualCenter Server version 2.5.
At line:1 char:14
+ New-Datastore  <<<< -Name eastman -Path '\\eastman\iso' -Cifs -Username user -Password password

VI 2.5, CIFS:

[VI Toolkit] C:\tmp> get-vmhost tupac* | new-datastore -name foo -path \\eastman.qatest.iss.net\iso -NfsHost eastman.qatest.iss.net -user administrator -Password (read-hostmasked) -Cifs
Password: ******
New-Datastore : 12/22/2008 2:19:48 PM    New-Datastore    BE059F6B-2B67-49D9-BB93-653E83BF9151    Error during the configuration of the host: NFS Error: 
Unable to Mount filesystem: The mount request was denied by the NFS server. Check that the export exists and that the client is permitted to mount it
At line:1 char:34
+ get-vmhost tupac* | new-datastore  <<<< -name foo -path \\eastman.qatest.iss.net\iso -NfsHost eastman.qatest.iss.net -user administrator -Password (read-hostmasked) -Cifs

VMware Server 2, Local:

PS > New-Datastore -Name foo -Path c:\tmp -Local

Name                               FreeSpaceMB      CapacityMB
----                               -----------      ----------
foo                                      67209           76308

@VMware, I'd like to see some proof that CIFS datastores work.

[PowerShell MVP|https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile=5547F213-A069-45F8-B5D1-17E5BD3F362F], VI Toolkit forum moderator

Author of the upcoming book: Managing VMware Infrastructure with PowerShell

Co-Host, PowerScripting Podcast (http://powerscripting.net)

Need general, non-VMware-related PowerShell Help? Try the forums at PowerShellCommunity.org

[RockyConcept]

Please let me know how to add CIFS based datastore using VI SDK. I would be really greatful if you provide me some sample. I am working with VMware server 2.0.2.