How to see mounted volume in Windows Explorer?

[RockyConcept]

Hello All,

I am new bie to the VDDK stuff, so you may find my question pretty obvious.

I am using VXMnt API to mount the disk but I don;t see it got mounted as part of Windows Explorer.

I am able to see the \\.\vstor2-mntapi10-shared-2CB22CB2007E00000000001000000\. I believe this device comes only after successful mount of the volume.

I also called DoDOSDevice(...) to map this device as drive.
DoDOSDevice(...) returns successfully and creates drive but I am not able to browse it from Windows Explorer.

Below are the calls I am making :

VixMntApi_Init(1, 0, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL )
VixMntApi_OpenDisks( connection, DiskNames, numberOfDisks, VIXDISKLIB_FLAG_OPEN_READ_ONLY, &disksetHandle)

VixMntApi_GetVolumeHandles(....)
VixMntApi_MountVolume(...)
VixMntApi_GetVolumeInfo(...)  ---> Used Symboliclink for DefineDOSDevice
DoDeviceName(..)

I changed \\.\vstor2-mntapi10-shared-2CB22CB2007E00000000001000000\
To
"\DEVICE\vstor2-mntapi10-shared-2CB22CB2007E00000000001000000"  ---- But no success
"\\?\GLOBALROOT\\DEVICE\vstor2-mntapi10-shared-2CB22CB2007E00000000001000000"  -- No success.

Please correct me where I am going wrong. If possible share the sample code.

Thanks

[admin]

Hi,

You can use DefineDosDevice to let windows explorer open the mounted disk:

BOOL  fResult = DefineDosDevice(0, "M:", volInfo->symbolicLink);

[RockyConcept]

I do call

QueryDosDevice( .... )

DefineDosDevice ( 0, "P:", SymbolicLink );

Both the above calls are successful. I do see the drive letter in Windows Explorer but with RED question mark on it. When I click to browse "P:" i get error. Even sometimes Windows Explorer process hangs.

I used WinObj - SysInternal tool to see P: device but I don;t find there..... am I doing anything wrong.

I am using Windows XP to run my mount program. I am calling MountVolume function with read-only flag.

VixDiskLib.dll File Version : 1.2.1 Build 323406

vixMntApi.dll FileVersion : 7,5,0,180

[RockyConcept]

Interesting thing is I am able to mount it using Vmware-mount.exe utility but not through Mount API. :smileysad:

I will really appreciate your inputs..... If you have any sample program, that will be of great help me..... :

[admin]

Hi,

It sounds like the program is prematurely exiting.

Note that the program is calling MountVolume function must not exit as long as the volume needs to be accessible.

-Sudarsan

[RockyConcept]

I ensured that I am not exiting prematurely.

I am doing below thing :

1. Call MountVolume  - Result = Successful

2) Call GetVolumeInfo  to know the Symbolic link : Result = Successful.

3) Call QueryDosDevice  Result = SucessFull

4) Call DefineDOSDevice  Result = SuccessFull

I put a BREAK POINT or MessageBox here so not to exit prematurely.

Please find the attached source.....

[admin]

Setting a Breakpoint will not work. The program needs to be running to be able to service the IO requests from Windows. I have not seen the attached code, but you may need to restructure your program to continue running as long as there are mounted volumes.

Thanks

Sudarsan

[gangan2000]

I also face the same issue. Mount & DosDefineDevice are successful. Unable to explore the drive letter through Windows explorer or command line.

@Sudarsan -- Where can I find the source code for Vmware-mount.exe utility (VDDK sample)? It would be really helpful (for VDDK devs) if you provide the source for this sample utility.

[gangan2000]

@RockyConcept

Did you solve this issue? If so, Can you please explain how?