Unable to mount NFS datastores on ESXi cluster due to disabled storage services
Article ID: 435348
Updated On:
Products
Issue/Introduction
When attempting to mount NFS datastores on a newly built 3-node ESXi cluster, the operation fails. While basic network connectivity (ICMP ping) and Port 111 (RPC) are successful, connections to the storage target on Port 2049 (NFS) fail. Packet analysis shows the ESXi hosts sending TCP SYN packets but receiving RST (Reset) packets from the storage array.
Environment
VMware ESXi
Cause
The issue is caused by a twofold configuration failure on the storage array side:
1. The NFS service (Port 2049) was not active or listening on the target storage node.
2. NFS 4.1 support was not explicitly enabled on the specific storage export/share.
Resolution
To resolve this issue, you must ensure the storage array is correctly configured to accept NFS 4.1 traffic:
1. Enable NFS Service: Log in to your storage management interface and verify that the NFS service is started and listening on Port 2049.
2. Verify Port Connectivity: From the ESXi CLI, use nc -vz <Storage_IP> 2049 to confirm the port is now reachable.
3. Configure Protocol Version: Ensure the specific export or share intended for the ESXi cluster has NFS 4.1 support explicitly enabled.
4. Mount Datastore: Return to the vSphere Client and attempt to mount the NFS 4.1 datastore.
Additional Information
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