Using the Data Browser it is not possible to download the full parent guest folders with all size vmdks for a running virtual machine

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

The attempt to download the contents of a running virtual machine via the vSphere UI Data Browser results in a partial download only.

 

Environment

VCF 9.x

Cause

Downloading the files of a running virtual machine is not possible.

Additionally, downloading the virtual machine contents in this way is not a recommended/supported approach - it is a web browser limitation as to whether or not the download will be successful.

Resolution

Stop the virtual machine that is running.

Once the virtual machine is stopped, either - 

(1) right click the virtual machine in the vSphere UI > Template > Export OVF Template

or

(2) use WinSCP (or similar) to connect to the host, navigate to the relevant directory and download the files that way