My Own ESXi Server Part 8 WinSCP to the Rescue

As I mentioned in my previous post, I ran into some weird problems using ISO files that appeared to have successfully transferred into the datastore using vSphere Client Datastore Browse. I needed to find an alternate way to upload my ISO files.  WinSCP to the rescue!

WinSCP is an open source free SFTP client and FTP client for Windows.  Legacy SCP protocol is also supported. Its main function is safe copying of files between a local and a remote computer.

In order for WinSCP to work, SSH must first be enabled.  SSH is disable by default on ESXi 4.

How to Enable SSH on ESXi

1)  From the ESXi console, press ALT+F1 (Option+F1 using VMware Fusion).

2)  Type unsupported and hit enter.

3)  Enter the password for root.

4) Type vi /etc/inetd.conf.

5)  Using the arrow keys, scroll down until you see #ssh.

 6)  Remove the # in front of ssh.  This will un-comment this line.

7)  To save this change, press the ESC key.  Then type :wq and press enter.

8)  Restarting your ESXi server.  Type Alt+F2 (Option+F2 in VMware Fusion) to exit the console.  F12 to Restart.


Using WinSCP to Upload to Datastore

1)  Download and install WinSCP.

2)  Start WinSCP.  Fill in Host name, User name, and change File protocol to SCP.  Click Save.

2)  You can leave the default name and click OK.

3)  You will be taken to the WinSCP Login screen.  Click Login.

4)  Enter Password and click OK.

5)  You will now see a 2-pane window.  The left pane is your local computer.  The right pane is ESX server.

6)  To navigate to the datastore, in the right-pane, click on vfms, then volumes, then datastore1.

7)  You can now start copying files over by dragging and dropping!

Related Posts:
Part 1  The Time Has Come
Part 2  Running ESXi on VMware Fusion
Part 3  Building My ESXi Server
Part 4  Installing ESXi 4 on a USB Stick
Part 5  Installing vSphere Client on Windows
Part 6  Updating ESXi using vSphere Host Update Utility
Part 7  Browsing the VMware ESXi Datastore
Part 8  WinSCP to the Rescue
Part 9  Creating a VM
Part 10  Downloading a Virtual Machine

***Updated March 26th 2010
I have decided to continue the series with at least the following:

Part 11  Running vSphere Client from Ubuntu
Part 12  Running vSphere Client from Mac OS
Part 13  Adding/Removing a VM to ESXi
Part 14  Export in ESXi
Part 15  Deploying OVF Templates
Part 16  Adding a License Key