ESXi and vCenter Server systems support file access using HTTP and secure HTTP. You can use HTTP/HTTPS for the following kinds of access.
- Datastore access on ESXi and vCenter Server systems.
- ESXi configuration and log file access on ESXi systems.
- Update bundle access on ESXi systems.
You can use the HTTP methods GET, HEAD, PUT, and DELETE to access files. The URL of the HTTP/HTTPS request must contain an embedded keyword that specifies the type of access. The following table shows the server access types with the corresponding URL keyword and HTTP methods.
| Server Access | URL Keyword | HTTP Method or Methods |
|---|---|---|
| Datastore | folder | GET, HEAD, PUT, DELETE |
| ESXi configuration file | host | GET, HEAD, PUT (See Host File Access (/host) for the specific methods supported for each file type.) |
| Update bundle | tmp | PUT |
Use the PUT method to create new files or overwrite existing files. You can create a subdirectory by using a URL that is consistent with the supported top-level directories. You cannot create datastores or datacenters because the URL must refer to a valid datacenter or datastore.
You can use a Web browser to browse and download files. You cannot use a Web browser to post or delete files.
