Use the datastore file browser to upload files to datastores accessible to ESXi hosts.

In addition to their traditional use as storage for virtual machines files, datastores can serve to store data or files related to virtual machines. For example, you can upload ISO images of operating systems from a local computer to a datastore on the host. You then use these images to install guest operating systems on the new virtual machines.

Note: You cannot upload files directly to the Virtual Volumes datastores. You must first create a folder on the Virtual Volumes datastore, and then upload the files into the folder. The created folders in Virtual Volume datastores for block storage have a limited storage capacity space of 4GB. The VVols datastore supports direct uploads of folders.

Prerequisites

Required privilege: Datastore.Browse Datastore

Procedure

  1. Open the datastore browser.
    1. Display the datastore in the inventory.
    2. Right-click the datastore and select Browse Files ().
  2. (Optional) Create a folder to store the file.
  3. Select the target folder and click the Upload a file to the datastore icon (Install the Client Integration plug-in icon.).
  4. Locate the item to upload on the local computer and click Open.
  5. Refresh the datastore file browser to see the uploaded file on the list.

What to do next

You might experience problems when deploying an OVF template that you previously exported and then uploaded to a datastore. For details and a workaround, see the VMware Knowledge Base article 2117310.