---
title: How to mount an RPN SAN volume in VMware ESXi
description: This page explains how to mount a Scaleway Dedibox RPN SAN volume in VMware ESXi
tags: dedibox rpn san vmware esxi
dates:
  validation: 2025-08-27
  posted: 2021-11-10
---
import Requirements from '@macros/iam/requirements.mdx'

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<Message type="important">
  Due to VMware's acquisition by Broadcom, the free edition of VMware vSphere Hypervisor is no longer available on the VMware website. For more details, check out [the EOL of free vSphere Hypervisor](https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article?legacyId=2107518). Note that the following content is provided as-is, without any guarantee of functionality.
We suggest considering alternative hypervisors such as Proxmox. You can learn how to [deploy virtual machines with Proxmox on Scaleway Dedibox](/tutorials/configure-failover-proxmox/).
</Message>

<Requirements />

- A Dedibox account logged into the [console](https://console.online.net)
- A [Dedibox dedicated server](https://www.scaleway.com/en/dedibox/)
- An [RPN SAN](https://www.scaleway.com/en/dedibox/storage/)

<Message type="important">
  This documentation covers **VMware ESXi version ESXi 5.0/5.1/5.5 and 6.0** and later. Follow [this link](/dedibox-rpn/how-to/use-rpn-san-esxi-v7/) to see the Documentation for ESXi 7 and later.
</Message>

## How to configure VMware ESXi to use RPN

### Enable SSH on your ESXi

1. Start the vSphere client or log in using the web interface.
2. Click the Configuration tab (1), then click **Security Profile** (2) in the software panel.
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3. Click **Properties** in the Services section.
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4. Select SSH (1) then click options (2). Select **Start and stop manually** (3) and launch the service manually (4).
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### Configure ESXi to access the RPN

#### Configuration in the ESXi interface

1. Go to **Configuration** > **Networking** (1). Then, click **Add Networking** (2).
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2. Create a new VMKernel named **RPN**, attached to the RPN network card.
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For the next step, validate the windows by choosing **Automatic recovery** for the IP addressing.

<Message type="important">
  The network will go down because the virtual MAC is not the same as the physical one (for security reasons).
</Message>

#### Configuration of the MTU 9000

1. Go to **Configuration** > **Networking** > **Properties...** (of vSwitch1).
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2. Select the vSwitch (1) and edit it (2).
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3. Set the MTU to **9000**, then confirm and quit.
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### ESXi configuration

1. Edit the configuration file of ESXi.
    ```
    nano /etc/vmware/esx.conf
    ```
2. Locate the number of the child in the RPN portgroup (in this example: 0001).
    ```
    /net/vmkernelnic/child[0001]/portgroup = "RPN"
    ```
3. Locate the MAC of the network card connected to the RPN (in this example: `XX:YY:ZZ:AA:BB:CC`).
    ```
    /net/pnic/child[0001]/mac = "XX:YY:ZZ:AA:BB:CC”
    ```
4. Replace the MAC of the VMKernel RPN (see the number of the child) with the MAC of the network card connected to the RPN.
    ```
    /net/vmkernelnic/child[0001]/mac = "XX:YY:ZZ:AA:BB:CC”
    ```
5. Reboot the ESXi to take the changes into effect.4. Replace the MAC of the VMKernel RPN (see the number of the child) with the MAC of the network card connected to the RPN.
    ```
    /net/vmkernelnic/child[0001]/mac = "XX:YY:ZZ:AA:BB:CC”
    ```
5. Reboot the ESXi to take the changes into effect.  ```
    <Message type="important">
      You need to add the route to `/etc/rc.`local` to keep it after a reboot.
      For the version ESXi 5.1 the file is located at `/etc/rc.local.d/local.sh`.
    </Message>
7. Ping the RPN SAN to check your configuration.
    ```
    # ping san-1.rpn.online.net
    PING 10.90.254.2 (10.90.254.2): 56 data bytes
    64 bytes from 10.90.254.2: icmp_seq=0 ttl=61 time=0.241 ms
    64 bytes from 10.90.254.2: icmp_seq=1 ttl=61 time=0.241 ms
    ```
    <Message type="important">
      The `ping` command must work. If not, check your configuration.
    </Message>

#### Configuration from the ESXi interface

1. Go back to **Configuration**, then click **Storage Adapter** (1) followed by **Add...** (2).
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2. Select **Add Software iSCSI Adapter**, then, click **OK**.
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    A new device created `vmhba32` should appear in the adapter list.
3. Click the device (1), then, go to **Properties** (2).
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4. Go to the **Dynamic Discovery** tab (1), then click on **Add...** (2).
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5. Enter the RPN server address in the **iSCSI Server** box (the address is available in your Dedibox console).
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6. Click **OK** > **Close**. Then accept the rescan that is proposed.
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    * The IET disk is displayed in the device list in the bottom panel.
7. Go to **Configuration** > **Storage** (1) > **Add storage...** (2).
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8. Select **Disk/LUN**.
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9. Select the Target, then click **Next**.
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Finish the configuration with the default settings.

<Message type="tip">
  If you have problems with VMFS5, choose to configure your target with VMFS3.
</Message>