How to Copy files between ESXi hosts using SCP Command

Posted 2020-10-08

How to Copy files between ESXi hosts using SCP command

Enable SSH and allow SSH in ESXi firewall

Only prerequisite to copy files between ESXi host using SCP command is that both source and destination ESXi host should have SSH enabled and SSH allowed in Firewall. Let’s take a look at how to enable SSH and allow SSH via firewall in the standalone ESXi host. In this example, We are going to transfer files between ESXi 6.5 hosts using SCP command.

Log in to the ESXi Host Client using the below URL https:<ESXi host name or IP>/ui and log in with “root” credentials.

Click on Manage under Host -> Services -> Select the SSH service “TSM-SSH” –> Click on Start to start the SSH service.

Once SSH service is started, We need to allow the SSH Client in ESXi firewall. To allow SSH client in ESXi Firewall, Click on Networking -> Firewall -> Select SSH Client -> Click on “Enable” under Actions Menu.

Testing SSH Port Connectivity between ESXi hosts

Once SSH service is started and allowed via ESXi firewall on both source and destination ESXi, You can test the connectivity on Port 22 between the ESXi hosts using the below command

nc -Z destination_hostname port number Example: nc -Z esxi65-2 22

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nc -Z destination_hostname port number   Example:   nc -Z esxi65-2 22

Connection to destination ESXi host via port 22 is succeeded. We are good to copy files between ESXi host using SCP command.

Copy Files between ESXi hosts using SCP command

You can use the SCP command in below format to copy files between ESXi host.

SCP /source_directory  [email protected]_hostname://destination_dircetory/

1	SCP /source_directory  root@destinatiion_hostname://destination_dircetory/

I have transferred windows 2008 OS ISO image file called “win_2k8.iso” store in the directory called “ISO” in local datastore  of the source ESXi host “esxi65-1” to the “ISO” directory in Local datatsore of destination ESXi host “esxi65-2” using the below command

SCP /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ISO/win_2k8.iso  [email protected]:/vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ISO

1	SCP /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ISO/win_2k8.iso  root@esxi65-2:/vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ISO

It will prompt you to enter the root password of the destination ESXi host to transfer files using SCP. Enter the password and Hit enter. The copy will start and It will display the progress of the copy in % and also the Speed of the transfer and ETA to complete the transfer.

Copy of files between the ESXi host is completed and It shows Size of the file, Average speed of the transfer and time taken to complete the copy.

I have connected to destination ESXi host “esxi65-2” to validate the copied file. It is located under ISO directory of local datastore.

That’s it. We are done and I am sure you are clear with the procedure to copy files between ESXi host using SCP command. Thanks for Reading !!!. Be social and share it with social media, if you feel worth sharing it.