Create NFS Datastore For ESX in WIn Server 2K8 R2

                             Services for NFS, is used to integrate Unix and Linux hosts with Windows Servers, allowing those hosts to share files. It can connect the Windows Server to an NFS share (could be another server or a NAS) as a client, but Services for NFS can also make the Windows Server into an NFS server. In other words, it can turn your Windows Server into a NFS Network Attached Storage NAS device.

Add the Services for NFS

            1. From your Windows host, run Server Manager.

2. Click on Roles and then on Add Role.

3. Click to add the File Services Role.

4. Under Role Services click to add Services for Network File System. Click Next and Install.

Crete Folder and Set NFS Permissions

                         Create a new Windows folder and share it using NFS (which has different permissions than Windows). Right-click on that folder and click on Properties. You'll see a new tab called NFS Sharing.

1. Click on the NFS Share Permissions button

2. Checked to allow all machines Read-Write and root access.

3. Checked to "enable unmapped user access." From there, click OK and OK.

4. Give everyone full control in the NTFS permissions.

Mount Shared folder into the vSphere

In the vSphere Client, go to the ESXi host you want to connect and to the Configuration tab, then to Storage.

1. Click to Add Storage and add a Network File System.
2. Enter the Server name (via IP or DNS name), NFS Share name and a new name that you specify for the new NFS datastore.