Where Does ESXi Store Config and VMs?
ESXi hypervisor settings bundle and VM datastore paths on bare metal virtualization hosts. Plus migration notes.
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ESXi keeps host settings in a config bundle managed by the system. The vicfg-cfgbackup command writes it to a tarball with networking and users. VM data lives separately in datastores under /vmfs/volumes.
Each datastore mounts VM folders with vmdk and vmx files inside. Back up the host bundle with VM folders. The bundle restores settings, datastores restore machines. Version match matters across major releases. Snapshots chain delta disks per VM. vMotion needs shared storage between hosts. NTP keeps cluster clocks aligned.
Where ESXi stores this, by platform
/vmfs/volumes (ESXi datastores)
Datastore roots with one folder per VM inside. Browse with the datastore browser or SSH. Copy VM folders with machines powered off.
ESXi host config backup (.tgz)
Host networking and user settings bundle from vicfg-cfgbackup. Store off host with VM backups. Restore through the installer or CLI.
Frequently asked questions
what do i back up for an ESXi host move
Copy the host config backup with VM files in datastores. The bundle holds networking and licensing. VMs live as vmdk sets under /vmfs/volumes. Both restore the host.
where are ESXi virtual machine files
Browse /vmfs/volumes with one folder per datastore. VM files sit in per VM subfolders. The config backup records which datastore each VM belongs to. Keep bundles safe.
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