# Adding Directory Pools

Before adding a Directory Pool, identify the path to be used as the datastore location. You may use an existing directory, or you may specify a desired path that doesn't yet exist. HPE Morpheus VM Essentials will handle creation of the directory (if necessary), changing its ownership, and defining the storage pool (along with configuring auto-start) all in the background.

To create a new Directory Pool-type datastore:

1. Navigate to Infrastructure > Clusters
2. Select the desired HVM Cluster
3. Select the Storage tab and the Datastores subtab
4. Click ADD
5. Configure the following:

   1. **NAME:** An identifiable name for the datastore used throughout HPE Morpheus VM Essentials UI
   2. **DIRECTORY:** Directory Pool
   3. **TARGET PATH:** Your desired path (does not have to currently exist)
   4. **IMAGE TARGET:** If selected, this datastore will be made available for storage of virtual images
6. Click SAVE

![The add directory pool modal](https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/api/document/sd00007735en_us/GUID-F74F45D1-59C7-4B4B-BCA2-726D24B4B76A-high.png)

WARNING

When Directory Pools are removed, the target directory is deleted along with all files contained within. Users should take care not to manually store additional files in Directory Pool-targeted directories as the files could be deleted if a datastore were removed.

![The datastores list showing the newly-added directory pool](https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/api/document/sd00007735en_us/GUID-CA6224CA-4FD9-4E70-8FED-81234ABACC40-high.png)
