Cannot add new nfs datastore

[yewhiong]

Hi,

I would like to get some guidance how to add a new nfs datastore. These are the steps that I have done:

1) I have setup a standalone ESXi 4 server. I configured VMNIC0 with the IP 192.168.100.1/24 with Vswitch0.

2) I have setup a NFS storage. The NFS share is . I tested using a Windows Laptop and I can access the share.

3) AT the ESXi server, I created another Vswitch1 with VMNIC1 IP 192.168.200.1/24. I connect my storage to VMNIC1. From ESXi, I am able to ping my storage 192.168.200.2.

4) I connect my Windows Laptop (IP 192.168.100.2) to VMNIC0. I am able to Vsphere Client into the ESXi Server.

5) Using the Vsphere Client GUI, I click "Add New Datastore". The fields that I enter are "192.168.200.2" and "share". I got the below error message:

"Error during the configuration of the host: NFS Error: Unable to mount filesystem: Unable to connect to NFS server"

What has went wrong?

Regards,

Kent

[yewhiong]

I have surfed around and realised that it is not that straight forward to add a datastore. More details below:

My NFS Storage is actually a NAS Storage.

Brand: Buffalo

Model: TS-X2.0TL/R5

I have formatted it using XFS.

[Gerrit_Lehr]

So are you using NFS or CIFS/SMB? Only NFS will work with ESX(i).

Kind regards,

Gerrit Lehr

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Co-Author of the German reference book on Virtualization and VMware

"Das Virtualisierungsbuch" - http://www.cul.de/virtual2.html

Regular Author on Virtualization and other topics in the German FreeX IT Magazine by CuL

http://www.cul.de/freex.html

[yewhiong]

The storage is XFS.

[Gerrit_Lehr]

The storage Filesystem (in your case XFS) does not really matter. What is important is the protocol used to access it over the network (which has to be NFS). Since you mentioned accessing it from Windows and using a
server\share location, it looks to me like the NAS is using CIFS/SMB and not NFS. This is not working with ESX(i).

Kind regards,

Gerrit Lehr

If you found this or other information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful".

Co-Author of the German reference book on Virtualization and VMware

"Das Virtualisierungsbuch" - http://www.cul.de/virtual2.html

Regular Author on Virtualization and other topics in the German FreeX IT Magazine by CuL

http://www.cul.de/freex.html

[yewhiong]

Hi Gerrit,

Thanks on the prompt reply. The first step I need to do is to check on whether my NAS supports NFS? It it supports, I have to re-configure from CIFS/SMB to NFS?

[yewhiong]

Hi Gerrit,

Just to confirm.... When I connect Windows Notebook to ESXi Server using Vsphere Client and add NFS Datastore through the GUI, must the NAS Storage be in the same network segment with my Windows Notebook?

[Gerrit_Lehr]

Not nessecarily, the NFS must be in the same subnet as your ESX VMKernel Port and your VI Client must be in the same subnet as the ESX Service Console / Management Port. But in a lot of cases (especially with ESXi and if not configured otherwise) Management and VMKernel are on the same Interface / Subnet.

Kind regards,

Gerrit Lehr

If you found this or other information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful".

Co-Author of the German reference book on Virtualization and VMware

"Das Virtualisierungsbuch" - http://www.cul.de/virtual2.html

Regular Author on Virtualization and other topics in the German FreeX IT Magazine by CuL

http://www.cul.de/freex.html

[yewhiong]

Hi all,

The issue is resolved.

This are the items that I have done:

1) Install the latest firmware version 1.5 for Buffalo TerastationIII

2) Enable NFS through the NAS web admin site.

3) Ensure VMKernel port is connected to the NAS.

Hope this message can help people who still experiencing problems connecting to NFS share.

[DSTAVERT]

Your NAS device does support NFS. You must usually enable each storage protocol or service so I would look specifically for NFS and enable it. These small NFS devices can usually support multiple protocols to a single share which means you should be able to access the same files from a Windows CIFS connection and an ESX(i) NFS connection. I don't know what the settings page looks like but you basically want to set this as an anonymous connection for ESX(i).

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