vmware-mount vmdk on ESXi 5.0 - anyone ?

[continuum]

whats wrong with this command ?

VMware-mount u:/i:"ha-datacenter/vm/VM-2003" "[PRODLUN] VM-2003/VM-2003.vmdk" /v:1  /m:w  /h:10.89.2.31 /u:root /s:password

Unable to mount the virtual disk. The disk may be in use by a virtual
machine, may not have enough volumes or mounted under another drive
letter. If not, verify that the file is a valid virtual disk file.

VM-2003 = name of the VM
PRODLUN = name of the datastore
VM-2003.vmdk = name of the vmdk

[a_p_]

Nothing really, except the .vmdk is in use on the host!?

André

[continuum]

No - the VMs are powered down.
I even removed existing ctk.vmdks - cleaned the vmdk-descriptor - removed vmsd files ....

[a_p_]

Hmm, do you get the same message when you try to mount the volume using /m:n instead of /m:w?

André

[continuum]

I tried various option /m:n , /m:w or no /m at all - does not make any difference.
I also tried various vmdks from various VMs on various datastores.

[ItsMeHere]

Did you check already which information is stored in the vmdk's MBR?

I seem to remember having had such an issue when the partition type was not set to 0x07, but to a different value (e.g. for drive mirroring or hidden), and the mount command not being able to determine the filesystem used...

[continuum]

I used very simple vmdks for first tests - thats a XP-vmdk and one with 2003 - always one partition NTFS - nothing special.

Can anybody please post a commandline that works for you ?

[a_p_]

I used the same syntax with my test, so I'd rule out a syntax issue.

Please let me know the exact ESXi build and the license type you are using as well as the VMFS version (just in case). Also provide how one of the guest OSs - which doesn't work - is partitioned. I then will setup a test system to see what happens.

André

[continuum]

Hi Andre
I try with ESXi build 821926 - which is controlled by vCenter 804277. Enterprise Plus license.

The VMs use standard partitioning the way XP or 2003 would create them - nothing special.

We use VMFS 5.54 1 MB block size.

Please dont waste too much time on this - I do not even expect that it works - given my past experience with vmware-mount

[continuum]

Andre  - case closed .

Someone mixed 5.1 binaries with vmware-mount.exe from an older version and then gave his OK to the package
It can not work with the latest download.
Use 5.0 and my command works.

I'll report it now