Copying a template from an ESX host to a remote ESX host in a different datacenter using SCP

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides instructions to copy a template from one ESX host to another ESX host in a different datacenter using SCP.

Symptoms:

Resolution

To copy a template from one ESX host to another ESX host in a different datacenter using SCP:

1. Log in to the ESX host as root using an SSH client.
2. Verify that the SSH client is allowed through the firewall on the ESX host with the command:
   
   # esxcfg-firewall -q
   
   Look for the sshClient in the Allowed Services string.
3. If the SSH client is not allowed, enable it with the command:
   
   # esxcfg-firewall -e sshClient
   
4. Change to the datastore that has the template with the command:
   
   # cd /vmfs/volumes/<datastore_name>
   
5. Verify that the remote root connection is allowed on the destination ESX host. For more information, see 
   

   Enable ESXi Shell and SSH Access with the Direct Console User Interface
   
   

   
   
6. Run the scp command:
   
   # scp -r <template_directory_name> <destination_host>:/vmfs/volumes/<destination_datastore_name>
   
7. Accept the SSH keys if necessary, and provide the root login credentials. The copy process begins.