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ESXi 6.0 Host not Seeing USB Drive

Trying to add more datstore space with USB attached drive so I can run snapshot backups

I found this Nice article
https://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/5414/VMware-ESX-ESXi-Backup-Guide.html

 I got this from a question you posted

 I have a ESXi 6.0 Host with many VM Guests running
 Windows 2012 Windows 2008 Windows 2003 Unbuntu
 VMA Host Windows 7 Windows XP and Windows 8.1

 Looking for a method to automate the snapshots

 the ghettoVCB looks like it will fit my needs since I have a Free License of ESXi this runs in my Home I do testing here for my work etc.

 My real question here is can I add a USB drive to my ESxi Host and make it a Datastore? I am not looking for any performance here just want to backup my VM guests on a regular basis

 I now NAS would work too but USB is a lost cost method.

 What format must the drives be in to become a datstore?

I have a 1TB usb drive connected now to my ESXi 6.0 Host but it is not being seen by the Host or the guests.

 Thanks

 Tom
Avatar of Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
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Trying to add more datstore space with USB attached drive so I can run snapshot backups

USB is NOT SUPPORTED as a VMFS datatore, WITHOUT hacking your ESXi installation.

My real question here is can I add a USB drive to my ESxi Host and make it a Datastore?

Not supported.
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ASKER

Andrew thanks

What do you suggest to use instead? any recommendations?


Also the guests can not see the usb drive connected to the host

I ran this

[root@TGCSHOSTVM:~] lsusb
Bus 001 Device 009: ID 0bc2:a013 Seagate RSS LLC
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 0951:1666 Kingston Technology
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0424:2514 Standard Microsystems Corp. USB 2.0 Hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
[root@TGCSHOSTVM:~]


So the host sees my usb 1tb drive by Seagate

Why does the guests cant see it?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
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Andrew thanks

Open new question about usb not being seen