How-To: mount Windows Share under VMware ESX Service Console

Hi,

Ever wanted to mount windows share under VMware ESX. Do you believe it would make it easier for you to move files and packages you want to install into your service console if you have your windows shares accessible by your service console. Ever wanted to copy your ISOs images from your Windows machine to a volume or a mount on VMware ESX. This all can be eased out by mapping your windows share in the ESX console service. To move any file to your mount all you have to do is put it in your share in windows then copy it in the service console. OK, now you are wondering how to map the windows share under the VMware ESX service console. Below is the step by step on how to do so:

1. Login as root to the ESX service Console
2. The ESX internal firewall must be configured to allow the smbClient by running the following command at the service console: "esxcfg-firewall-enableService smbClient"
3. Create a local mountpoint using: "mkdir /mnt/myshare"
4. The windows shares mapped to the local mountpoint using the following command:      “mount -t smbfs -o username=<user>/<domain-name>,password=<password> //<server-name>/<share> /mnt/myshare”     
5. After you are done you can disconnect the mapping using the following command: “umount /mnt/myshare”
6. To delete the local map point after you had unmapped the share you can use the following command: “rmdir /mnt/myshare”

I hope this was helpfull to everyone.

Enjoy,

Mrvirtualizaiton.