Unable to delete files in .snapshot directory on NFS datastore on Pure FlashArray

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• While attempting to reclaim space on an NFS datastore located on a Pure Storage SAN from an ssh session on the ESXI host, the host responds with the following error:
  
  

  [root@myhost:/vmfs/volumes/########-########/.snapshot/DatastoreSnapshot/MyVM] rm -rf ./MyVM-flat.vmdk
  rm: can't remove './MyVM-flat.vmdk': Read-only file system

 

Environment

• VMware ESXi 7.x, 8.x
• Pure Storage FlashBlade/FlashArray SAN

Cause

• The .snapshot directory is a special, virtual, and typically hidden directory located at the root of an NFS file system or datastore. It provides direct, read-only access to point-in-time storage snapshots created by the Pure storage array.

Resolution

1. Remove the files within the .snapshot directory from the vSphere plug-in, SAN management interface, or CLI.
2. Review the following Pure Documentation for specific instructions:
   
   • vSphere Plugin: Destroying a VMFS Snapshot
   • Volume Snapshots
   • VMware NFS Datastores Snapshot Management
     
     
3. If needed, engage Pure support for further assistance.