how to zip and unzip from the host

[nndm]

Sorry if this sounds like a newbie question - but I am.

Due to poor communications, I would like to transfer files from one client to the ESX4i datastore as a zip file. e.g. the VM is 80GB but when zipped it is less that 8GB. I cannot depend on 80GB transferring over the network potentially for hours without getting dropouts etc.

I know I can transfer the zip file via the CLI (vifs). Question I have, once it is there, how do I unzip the file.

I think I can drop to unsupported mode on the ESX 4i host and use gunzip - can I do the equivalent using the CLI interface or the vsphere client?

Likewise, can I zip up the contents of a datastore folder and transfer just the zip file?

[athlon_crazy]

You can try "gzip -d" but since the file is big, not sure if ESXi gzip have the limitation though.

[nndm]

thanks - I'll give that a try tomorrow.

Any ideas how to run a gzip and gunzip but not from the "unsupported" host command line, but instead from the vsphere CLI I have installed on my windows xp client?

[lamw]

So you won't be able to execute gzip/gunzip using vCLI, you need to execute those on the actual host itself, ESXi

I would also be cautious using vifs, I know there was a bug reported awhile back for large file transfer. vifs is really meant for small file transfers, it probably can handle a few gigs but I don't know what sizes people have tried. If you're looking to transfer a VM from a host, perhaps expose it as an OVF and import using vSphere Client OR using something like ovftool or VMware Converter, you'll probably have better transfer rate and success rate.

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009,2010

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Twitter: @lamw

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[petedr]

I don't see anything in the CLI for gzip commands

http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vcli/vcli41/doc/reference/index.html

www.phdvirtual.com, makers of PHD Virtual Backup for Vmware and Xen Server, formally esXpress

[lamw]

Because there aren't any, you'll need to run the commands from Tech Support Mode

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009,2010

VMware scripts and resources at:

Twitter: @lamw

Getting Started with the vMA (tips/tricks)

Getting Started with the vSphere SDK for Perl

VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators

VMware Developer Community

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

[petedr]

Right, thanks for the clarification.

www.phdvirtual.com, makers of PHD Virtual Backup for Vmware and Xen Server, formally esXpress

[nndm]

ovftool looks very interesting from a quick reading of the ovftool guide. When I go to download, the target platform is just ESX vsphere - no mention of ESX 4.0i or ESX4.1i... any thoughts on compatability?

[lamw · Accepted solution]

I know it supports both ESX(i) 4.0, not sure if there are any major changes from it support 4.1, you'll want to test it out and see. The documentation is probably the next place to take a look at and there is actually a dedicated forum for questions regarding ovf tool - http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/vsphere/automationtools/ovf

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009,2010

VMware scripts and resources at:

Twitter: @lamw

Getting Started with the vMA (tips/tricks)

Getting Started with the vSphere SDK for Perl

VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators

VMware Developer Community

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".