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ESX Server 3i Installable Setup GuideUpdate 2 and later for

ESX Server 3i version 3.5 Installable and VirtualCenter 2.5

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VMware, Inc.3401 Hillview Ave.Palo Alto, CA 94304www.vmware.com

2 VMware, Inc.

ESX Server 3i Installable Setup Guide

You can find the most up-to-date technical documentation on our Web site at:

http://www.vmware.com/support/

The VMware Web site also provides the latest product updates.

If you have comments about this documentation, submit your feedback to:

[email protected]

2008, 2009 VMware, Inc. All rights reserved. This product is protected by U.S. and internationalcopyright and intellectual property laws. VMware products are covered by one or more patents listedat http://www.vmware.com/go/patents.

VMware, the VMware boxes logo and design, Virtual SMP and VMotion are registered trademarks ortrademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names

mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.

VMware VirtualCenter 2.5 is distributed with certain third-party technology licensed from Tom SawyerSoftware. Tom Sawyer Visualization (c) 2004 Tom Sawyer Software, Oakland, California. All RightsReserved.


Revision: 20090313Item: EN-000026-03
http://www.vmware.com/supportmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.vmware.com/supporthttp://www.vmware.com/support/

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VMware, Inc. 3

Contents

AboutThisBook 9

1 IntroductiontoVMware Infrastructure 13VMware InfrastructureataGlance 14

AboutESX Server 3i 16

2 InstallingESX Server 3i 19AboutInstallingESX Server 3i 19

ESX Server 3iRequirements 20

MinimumServer

Hardware

Requirements 20

EnhancedPerformanceRecommendations 21

HardwareandSoftwareCompatibilityGuides 23

InstallingESX Server 3i 23

WheretoGoNext 25

3 SettingUpESX Server 3i 27

NetworkAccesstoYourESX Server3iHost 28SettinguptheDirectConsoleUserInterface 29

ConfiguringtheKeyboardLayout 29

ConfiguringaSecurityBannerfortheDirectConsole 30

ConfiguringESX Server 3iBootSettings 30

SelectingtheBootDevice 30

ConfiguringtheBootSettingforESX Server 3i 31

Configuringthe

Boot

Setting

for

Another

Mode

31

ConfiguringtheBootSettingforVirtualMedia 32

ConfiguringNetworkSettings 33

ChoosingNICSfortheManagementNetwork 33

SettingtheVLANID 33

ConfiguringIPSettings 34

ConfiguringDNS 35

ConfiguringDNSSuffixes 36

TestingNetworkConnectivity 36

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ConfiguringStorageBehavior 37

ConfiguringtheScratchPartition 37

ConfiguringESX Server 3iSecurity 39

RecordingtheESX Server 3iSerialNumber 39

ConfiguringtheAdministrativePassword 40

ConfiguringLockdownMode 40

ResettingtheConfigurationDefaults 41

ManagingESX Server 3iRemotely 42

RestartingManagementAgents 43

ViewingSystemLogs 43

4 BackingUpandRestoringESX Server 3i 45AboutBackingUpandRestoringanESX Server 3iConfiguration 46

ConsiderationsWhenUsingtheRemoteCLIVirtualAppliance 46

BackingUpESX Server 3iConfigurationData 47

RestoringESX Server 3iConfigurationData 48

RecoveringtheESX Server 3i InstallableSoftware 49

RemovingESX Server 3ifromthehost 51

5 AddingESX Server 3itoVMwareInfrastructure 53VirtualCenter 53

VirtualMachines 54

VirtualMachineTools 54

ESX ServerUpgrades 54

6 VMwareInfrastructureSystemRequirements 57VirtualCenterRequirements 58

VirtualCenterHardwareRequirements 58

VirtualCenterSoftwareRequirements 58

VirtualCenterDatabaseRequirements 59

Endof

Support

Life

for

Microsoft

Access

and

MSDE

Databases 60

VI ClientHardwareRequirements 60

VI ClientSoftwareRequirements 60

LicenseServerRequirements 61

SupportedGuestOperatingSystems 61

VirtualMachineRequirements 62

VirtualProcessor 62

VirtualChipSet 62VirtualBIOS 62

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VMware, Inc. 5

Contents

7 VirtualCenterandESX Server 3iLicensingOverview 63LicensingTerminology 64

ESX Server 3iEditions

64

VirtualCenter ServerEditions 66

VirtualCenterandESX Server 3iLicensingModel 66

SingleHostandCentralizedLicenseTypes 66

CentralizedLicensing 68

SingleHostLicensing 68

LicenseKeyFunctionality 69

PerProcessor

Licensing 70

PerInstanceLicensing 72

LicenseExpirationConsiderations 72

LicenseServerAvailability 72

UsinganExistingFLEXnetLicenseServer 76

ContactingSupport 77

8 RunningVMwareVirtualCenterandVMware ESX Serverin EvaluationMode 79

UsingEvaluationModeforESX Server 79

UsingEvaluationModeforVirtualCenter 80

LicensingVirtualCenterandESX ServerAftertheEvaluationPeriodExpires 80

ConsiderationswhenSwitchingESX ServerandVirtualCentertoLicensedModes 81

9 LicensingVirtualCenterandESX Server 3i 83LicensingProcess 84

ObtainingLicenseFiles 87

SettingUpCentralizedLicensing 87

InstallingLicenseFiles 87

LocationoftheLicenseServer 88

ConfiguringCentralizedLicensing 88DefaultLicenseServerPorts 91

ChangingfromSingleHosttoCentralizedLicensing 91

SettingUpSingleHostLicensing 92

ConfiguringanESX Server 3iMachinetoUseaHostBasedSerialNumber 92

ConfiguringanESX ServerMachineforHostBasedLicensing 92

SingleHostandCentralizedLicensingintheSameEnvironment 93

ConfiguringLicensing

for

aMixed

ESX Server

2.x

and

ESX Server

3.x

Environment 94

ChangingfromCentralizedtoSingleHostLicensing 94

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LicenseFileContents 95

LicenseFileLocations 97

AddingNewLicenseFilestoLicenseServers 97

AddingNewLicenseFilestoSingleHosts 98

InstallingaLicenseServer 99

TroubleshootingLicensing 100

ReceivingLicenseActivationCodes 100

CheckingtheLicenseServer 100

CheckingtheLicenseFile 102

CheckingLicenseConfiguration 103

10 InstallingVMwareInfrastructureManagement 105PreparingtheVirtualCenter ServerDatabase 105

ConfiguringYourVirtualCenterDatabase 106

ConfiguringanOracleConnectiontoWorkLocally 106

ConfiguringanOracleConnectiontoWorkRemotely 107

ConfiguringaSQL

Server

ODBC

Connection 108

ConfiguringMicrosoftSQLServer2005Express 111

MaintainingYourVirtualCenterDatabase 111

InstallingVMwareInfrastructureManagementSoftware 111

VirtualCenterInstallationPrerequisites 112

ComponentsInstalled 113

InstallationProcedure 113

ConfiguringCommunicationBetweenVirtualCenterComponents 116

ConnectingtoYourVirtualCenter ServerThroughaFirewall 117

ConnectingtoYourManagedHostsThroughaFirewall 117

ConnectingHostswiththeLicenseServerThroughaFirewall 118

UninstallingVMwareInfrastructureComponents 118

InstallingVirtualCenteronaVirtualMachine 119

11 Updating

and

Patching

your

ESX Server

3i

Hosts

121PerformingMaintenancewithInfrastructureUpdate 121SystemRequirementsforInfrastructure Update 122

SchedulingAutomaticUpdateNotifications 122

SelectingHoststoBeManaged 123

InstallingAvailableUpdates 123

DisablingAutomaticUpdateNotifications 124

ManuallyCheckingforAvailableUpdates 124

UsingRemovableMediatoInstallUpdates 124

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VMware, Inc. 7

Contents

PerformingMaintenancewiththevihostupdateUtility 125

HowthevihostupdateMaintenanceUtilityInstallsSoftwareUpdates 126

OptionsforthevihostupdateUtility 127

Examples:thevihostupdateUtility 127

RollingBackanUpdate 128

12 MonitoringtheConditionofESX Server 3i 129

Index 131

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VMware, Inc. 9

Thismanual,theESXServer3iInstallableSetupGuide,describeshowtoinstallandset

upnewconfigurationsofVMware VirtualCenterandESX Server 3i.Itdiscusses

ESX Server 3ionly.ToreadaboutESX Server 3.5,see

http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vi_pubs.html .

Foreaseofdiscussion,thisbookusesthefollowingproductnamingconventions:

FortopicsspecifictoESX Server3.5,thisbookusesthetermESX Server3.

FortopicsspecifictoESX Server3iversion3.5,thisbookusestheterm

ESX Server 3i.

For

topics

common

to

both

products,

this

book

uses

the

term

ESX Server.

Whentheidentificationofaspecificreleaseisimportanttoadiscussion,thisbook

referstotheproductbyitsfull,versionedname.

WhenadiscussionappliestoallversionsofESX ServerforVMware

Infrastructure 3,thisbookusesthetermESX Server3.x.

Intended AudienceThismanualisintendedforanyonewhoneedstoinstall,setup,orrepair

ESX Server 3i Installable.Theinformationinthismanualiswrittenforexperienced

WindowsorLinuxsystemadministratorswhoarefamiliarwithvirtualmachine

technologyanddatacenteroperations.

About This Book
http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vi_pubs.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vi_pubs.html

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10 VMware, Inc.

Document Feedback

VMwarewelcomesyoursuggestionsforimprovingourdocumentation.Ifyouhave

comments,sendyourfeedbackto:

[email protected]

VMware Infrastructure Documentation

TheVMwareInfrastructuredocumentationconsistsofthecombined

VMware VirtualCenterandESX Serverdocumentationset.

Abbreviations Used in Figures

ThefiguresinthismanualusetheabbreviationslistedinTable 1.

Technical Support and Education Resources

Thefollowingsectionsdescribethetechnicalsupportresourcesavailabletoyou.You

canaccessthemostcurrentversionsofthismanualandotherbooksbygoingto:

http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs

Table 1. Abbreviations

Abbreviation Description

database VirtualCenterdatabase

datastore Storageforthemanagedhost

dsk# Storagediskforthemanagedhost

hostn VirtualCentermanagedhosts

SAN Storageareanetworktypedatastoresharedbetweenmanagedhosts

tmplt Template

user# Userwithaccesspermissions

VC VirtualCenter

VM# Virtualmachinesonamanagedhost
mailto:[email protected]://www.vmware.com/support/pubshttp://www.vmware.com/support/pubsmailto:[email protected]

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VMware, Inc. 11

About This Book

Online and Telephone Support

Useonlinesupporttosubmittechnicalsupportrequests,viewyourproductand

contractinformation,andregisteryourproducts.Gotohttp://www.vmware.com/support.

Customerswithappropriatesupportcontractsshouldusetelephonesupportforthe

fastestresponseonpriority1issues.Goto

http://www.vmware.com/support/phone_support.html.

Support Offerings

FindouthowVMwaresupportofferingscanhelpmeetyourbusinessneeds.Goto

http://www.vmware.com/support/services.

VMware Education Services

VMwarecoursesofferextensivehandsonlabs,casestudyexamples,andcourse

materialsdesignedtobeusedasonthejobreferencetools.Formoreinformationabout

VMwareEducationServices,gotohttp://mylearn1.vmware.com/mgrreg/index.cfm.
http://www.vmware.com/supporthttp://www.vmware.com/support/phone_support.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/support/serviceshttp://mylearn1.vmware.com/mgrreg/index.cfmhttp://mylearn1.vmware.com/mgrreg/index.cfmhttp://mylearn1.vmware.com/mgrreg/index.cfmhttp://www.vmware.com/support/serviceshttp://www.vmware.com/support/phone_support.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/support

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1

ThisbookdescribesVMware ESX Server 3iandVMware VirtualCenter.Thischapter

describesthecomponentsindividually,tohelpyoudecidewhichcomponentstoinstall.

ThefollowingsectionsintroduceVMware ESX Server 3iandVirtualCenter.

VMware InfrastructureataGlanceonpage 14

AboutESX Server 3ionpage 16

Introduction to

VMware Infrastructure

1

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14 VMware, Inc.

VMware Infrastructure at a Glance

Figure 11illustratesthesixbasiccomponentsofVMware Infrastructure.Thefigure

showsthelicenseserveronaseparatemachine.YoucaninstallthelicenseserveronthesamemachinethathostsVirtualCenter.

Figure 1-1. VMware Infrastructure Components

OneVirtualCenter ServermanagesmultipleESX Server 3ihosts.

Eachshadedblockrepresentsaseparateinstallerorprocedure.

The VMware InfrastructureClient

(VI Client)

appears

twice,

because

you can run it on multipleworkstations.

VMware Infrastructure Client

license server

ESXServer 3i

hosts

VirtualCenter

database

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Chapter 1 Introduction to VMware Infrastructure

ThemajorcomponentsofVMware Infrastructureare:

VMwareESX Server 3iProvidesavirtualizationlayerthatabstractsthe

processor,memory,

storage,

and

networking

resources

of

the

physical

host

into

multiplevirtualmachines.YoucaninstallESX Server 3ionanyharddriveonyour

server.SeetheESX Server 3i InstallableSetupGuide.

VMware VirtualCenter Server(VirtualCenter)InstallsonaWindowsmachine,

eitherphysicalorvirtual,tocentrallymanageyourVMware ESX Server 3ihosts

andVMware Serverhosts.VirtualCenterallowstheuseofadvanced

VMware InfrastructurefeaturessuchasVMware DRS,VMware HA,and

VMware VMotion.

AVMware SDKWebserviceisinstalledwithVirtualCenter.SeeConfiguring

CommunicationBetweenVirtualCenterComponentsonpage 116.

VirtualCenterPluginsOptionalapplicationsthatprovideadditional

capabilitiesandfeaturestoVirtualCenter.Generally,pluginsarereleased

separately,installontopofVirtualCenter,andcanbeupgradedindependently.

Youcaninstallservercomponentsofpluginsonthesamecomputerwherethe

VirtualCenter Serverresides,oronaseparateone.Aftertheservercomponentofa

pluginisinstalled,youcanactivatethepluginsclientcomponent,which

enhancestheVI ClientwithappropriateUIoptions.

Documentationprovidedwitheachpluginoffersinformationabouthowserver

componentsofpluginsareinstalled.

Forinformationabouthowtoinstalltheclientcomponent,verifywhichplugins

arealreadyinstalled,andhowtodisableoruninstallpluginsthatyouarenotusing,seeBasicSystemAdministration.

Thefollowingpluginsareavailable:

VMware ConverterConvertsphysicalorvirtualmachinesinto

ESX Server 3ivirtualmachines.Afterconvertingthevirtualmachines,you

canaddthemtoyourVirtualCenterinventory.

VMware UpdateManagerProvidessecuritymonitoringandpatching

supportforESX Server 3ihostsandvirtualmachines.

Inadditiontoanindependentservercomponentinstallation,thisrelease

supportsthecombinedinstallationfortheVirtualCenter Serverand

Update Manager.Formoreinformationoninstallingthe

VMware Update ManagerservercomponentalongwithVirtualCenter,

see ConfiguringCommunicationBetweenVirtualCenterComponentson

page 116.Ifupgrading,seetheUpgradeGuide.Forgeneralinformationon

UpdateManager,seetheVMware UpdateManagerAdministrationGuide.

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VI ClientInstallsonaWindowsmachineandistheprimarymethodof

interactionwithVMware Infrastructure.TheVI Clientactsas:

Aconsole

to

operate

virtual

machines.

AnadministrationinterfaceintotheVirtualCenter ServerandESX Server 3i

hosts.

LicenseserverInstallsonaWindowssystemtoauthorizeVirtualCenterhosts

andESX Server 3ihostsappropriatelyforyourlicensingagreement.

AdministratorsmakechangestosoftwarelicensesusingtheVI Client.SeeSetting

UpCentralizedLicensingonpage 87.

DatabaseVirtualCenterusesadatabasetoorganizealltheconfigurationdatafor

theVMware Infrastructureenvironment.Forsmalldeployments,thebundled

MicrosoftSQLServer2005Expressdatabaseletsyousetupalimitednumbersof

hostsandvirtualmachines(5hostsand50virtualmachines).VirtualCenter

supportsseveralotherdatabaseproductsforlargerdeployments.SeePreparing

theVirtualCenter ServerDatabaseonpage 105.

About ESX Server 3i

AnESXServer3ihostisaphysicalserverthatcontainsanESXServerimageinstalled

onalocalharddrive.

WhenyoufirstbootuptheESX Server 3ihost,youusethedirectconsoleuser

interface forinitialconfigurationandtroubleshootingoftheESX Serversoftware.

The direct consoleappearsifyouattachamonitortothehost.Ifyouinstallthe

VMware InfrastructureManagementsoftware,youcanalsousetheVI Clientto

managethehost.

WhenyoupowerontheESX Server3ihostforthefirsttime(orwhenyoupoweronthe

hostafteryouresetthehosttotheconfigurationdefaults),thehostentersabootup

phaseduringwhichsystemnetworkandstoragedevicesareconfiguredwithdefaults.

ThedefaultbehaviorfornetworkingisfortheDynamicHostConfigurationProtocol

(DHCP)toconfigureIP.Thedefaultbehaviorforstorageisforallvisibleblankinternaldiskstobeformattedwiththevirtualmachinefilesystem(VMFS)sothatvirtual

machinescanbestoredonthedisks.

Afterthehostcompletesthebootupphase,thedirectconsoleappearsontheattached

monitor.Usingakeyboardandmonitorattachedtothehost,youcanexaminethe

defaultnetworkconfigurationappliedduringthebootupphaseandchangeany

settingsthatarenotcompatiblewithyournetworkenvironment.

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Chapter 1 Introduction to VMware Infrastructure

Keyoperationsavailabletoyouinthedirectconsoleinclude:

ConfiguringESX Server 3ihostdefaults

Settingupadministrative access

TroubleshootingESX Server 3i

ForinformationaboutsettingupyourESX Server 3ihostandusingthedirectconsole,

seeSettingUpESX Server 3ionpage 27.

ForinformationaboutinstallingESX Server 3i,seeInstallingESX Server 3ion

page 19.

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2

ThischapterprovidesESX Server 3i Installablesystemrequirementsandinstructions

onhowtoinstalltheESX Server 3isoftware.

Seethefollowingtopics:

AboutInstallingESX Server 3ionpage 19

ESX Server 3iRequirementsonpage 20

InstallingESX Server 3ionpage 23

WheretoGoNextonpage 25

About Installing ESX Server 3i

YouusetheESX Server 3iCDROMtoinstalltheESX Server 3isoftwareontoaSATA,

SAS,orSCSIharddrive.InstallingonaUSBdrive,anIDE/ATAdrive,oraSANbased

drive,suchasFCSANoriSCSISAN,iscurrentlynotsupported.

Duringtheinstallationoperation,theinstallerreformatsandpartitionsthefirst750MB

ofthetargetdiskandinstallstheESX Server 3ibootimage.Alldatalocatedonthispart

ofthedrivewillbeoverwritten.Thisincludeshardwarevendorpartitions,operatingsystempartitions,previousversionsofESX Server,ESX Serverconfigurationsettings,

andassociateddata.Toensureyoudontloseanydata,migratethedatatoanother

machinebeforeyouinstallESXServer3i.

AfterESX Server 3iisinstalled,youmustrebootthehost.Duringtherebootoperation,

theVFATscratchpartitioniscreatedonthediskfromwhichtheESX Server3ihostis

booting.EachblankdiskontheinstallationharddriveisformattedandtheVMFS3

partitioniscreated.

Installing ESX Server 3i

2

ESX S 3i I t ll bl S t G id

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20 VMware, Inc.

Aftertheinstallationiscomplete,youcanmigrateexistingVMFSdatatothe

ESX Server 3i Installablehost.Forinformationonmigratingdata,seetheUpgrade

Guide.

ESX Server 3i Requirements

Thissectiondiscussestheminimumhardwareconfigurationssupportedby

ESX Server 3i.

Minimum Server Hardware Requirements

(SEEUPDATE)YouneedthefollowinghardwareandsystemresourcestoinstallanduseESX Server 3i:

Oneofthefollowingservers:

Dell2950

HPDL380(Experimentalsupport)

Atleasttwoprocessorsofoneofthefollowingtypes:

1500 MHzIntelXeonandlaterorAMDOpteron(32bitmode)for

ESX Server 3i

1500 MHzIntelXeonandlaterorAMDOpteron(32bitmode)for

Virtual SMP

1500 MHzIntelViivorAMDA64x2dualcoreprocessors

1GBRAMminimum.

OneormoreofthefollowingEthernetcontrollers.

BroadcomNetXtreme570xgigabitcontrollers

IntelPRO/1000adapters

OneofthefollowingSCSIadapterorinternalRAIDcontroller:

BasicSCSIcontrollersAdaptecUltra160andUltra320,LSILogic

FusionMPT,andmostNCR/SymbiosSCSIcontrollers.

RAIDadaptersDellPercRAID(AdaptecRAIDandLSIMegaRAID),and

IBM(Adaptec)ServeRAIDcontrollers.

NOTE

The3Com

3c990

driver

does

not

support

all

revisions

of

the

3c990.

For example,3CR990Bisincompatible.

Chapter 2 Installing ESX Server 3i

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VMware, Inc. 21


ASCSIdiskoralocal(nonnetwork)RAIDLUNwithunpartitionedspaceforthe

virtualmachines.

For

SATA,

a

disk

connected

through

supported

dual

SAS

SATA

controllers.

ESX Server 3i Installablesupportsinstallingonandbootingfromthefollowingstorage

systems:

SerialATA(SATA)diskdrivesWhenpluggedintodualSATA/SAScontrollers,

supportedforinstallingESX Server 3iandforstoringvirtualmachines.Ensure

thatyourSATAdrivesareconnectedthroughsupportedcontrollers.

SCSIdisk

drives

SupportedforinstallingESX Server 3iandforstoringvirtual

machines.

SerialAttachedSCSI(SAS)diskdrivesSupportedforinstallingESX Server 3i

andforstoringvirtualmachinesonVMFSpartitions.

Enhanced Performance Recommendations

TherequirementslistedintheprevioussectionsareforabasicESX Server 3iconfiguration.Inpractice,youcanusemultiplephysicaldisks,whichincludeSCSI

disks,RAIDLUNs,andsoon.

NOTE YoucannotconnectaSATACDROMdevicetoaVirtualMachineonan

ESXServer3ihost.TousetheSATACDROMdeviceyoumustuseIDEemulation

mode.

NOTE SharingVMFSdatastoresonSATAdisksacrossmultipleESX Server 3i

hostsisnotsupported.

NOTE YoucannotinstallESX Server 3ionaLUN,butyoucancreateyourvirtual

machinesonone.


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Considerthefollowingrecommendationsforenhancedperformance:

RAMSufficientRAMforallyourvirtualmachinesisimportanttoachieving

goodperformance.ESX Server 3ihostsrequiremoreRAMthantypicalservers.An

ESX Server 3ihostmustbeequippedwithsufficientRAMtorunconcurrent

virtualmachines.

For example,operatingfourvirtualmachineswithRed Hat Enterprise Linuxor

Windows XPrequiresthatyourESX Server 3ihostbeequippedwithoverone

gigabyteofRAMforbaselineperformance.ThisincludesRAMforthe

ESX Server 3ibootimageandapproximately1024MBforthevirtualmachines

(256MBminimum

per

operating

system

as

recommended

by

vendors 4).

Runningtheseexamplevirtualmachineswithamorereasonable512MBRAM

requiresthattheESX Server 3ihostbeequippedwithapproximately2.2GBRAM,

whichincludes2048MBforthevirtualmachines(512MB 4).

Thesecalculationsdonottakeintoaccountpossiblememorysavingsfromusing

variableoverheadmemoryforeachvirtualmachine.See theResourceManagement

Guide.

DedicatedfastEthernetadaptersforvirtualmachinesPlacethemanagement

networkandvirtualmachinenetworksondifferentphysicalnetworkcards.

DedicatedgigabitEthernetcardsforvirtualmachines,suchasIntelPRO/1000

adapters,improvethroughputtovirtualmachineswithhighnetworktraffic.

DisklocationPlacealldatausedbyyourvirtualmachinesonphysicaldisks

allocatedspecificallytovirtualmachines.Performanceisbetterwhenyoudonot

placeyourvirtualmachinesonthediskcontainingtheESX Server 3iInstallablebootimage.Usephysicaldisksthatarelargeenoughtoholddiskimagestobeused

byallthevirtualmachines.

VMFS3partitioningTheESX Server 3iinstallercreatestheinitialVMFS

volumesautomatically.Toadddisksormodifytheoriginalconfiguration,use

VI ClientorVIWebAccess.Bothapplicationsensurethatthestartingsectorsof

partitionsare64Kaligned,whichimprovesstorageperformance.

ProcessorsFasterprocessorsimproveESX Server 3iperformance.Forcertain

workloads,largercachesimproveESX Server 3iperformance.

HardwarecompatibilityUsedevicesinyourserverthataresupportedby

ESX Server 3idrivers.SeetheESX ServerI/OCompatibilityGuide.


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VMware, Inc. 23

p g

Hardware and Software Compatibility Guides

Formoreinformationaboutsupportedhardwareandsoftware,downloadthe

followingESX Server 3i

compatibility

guides

from

www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vi_pubs.html.

SystemscompatibilityListsthestandardoperatingsystemsandserver

platformsagainstwhichVMwaretests.

I/OcompatibilityListsdevicesthatareaccesseddirectlythroughdevicedrivers

intheESX Serverhost.

Storagecompatibility

Lists

the

combinations

of

HBAs

and

storage

devices

currentlytestedbyVMwareanditsstoragepartners.

BackupsoftwarecompatibilityDescribesthebackuppackagestestedby

VMware.

VMwareInfrastructureCompatibilityMatrixesContainscompatibility

matrixesforVMwareInfrastructurecomponents,includingESX Server,

VirtualCenter,VIClient,andVMwareConsolidatedBackup.

Installing ESX Server 3i

Thefollowingprocedurepresumesyouareusingakeyboardandmonitorattachedto

thehost.

To install ESX Server 3i

1 InserttheESX Server 3i InstallableCDintotheCDdrive.

2 SettheBIOStobootfromtheCD.

TheESX ServerrunsthroughitsbootprocessuntiltheWelcomescreendisplays.If

thisscreendoesnotdisplay,dothefollowing:

a Rebootthemachine.

b PressthekeyrequiredtoenteryourmachinesBIOSSetuppage.

ThiskeyisoftenF1,F2,orF10.

c SettheCDdriveasthefirstbootdevice.

d Rebootthemachine.

NOTE Beforeyoubegin,VMwaresuggestsyoudisconnectyournetworkconnections.

Thisdecreasesthetimeittakestheinstallertosearchforavailablediskdrives.

http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vi_pubs.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vi_pubs.html

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24 VMware, Inc.

3 PressEntertocontinuewiththeInstallation.

4 ReadtheVMwareenduserlicenseagreementandacceptitbypressingF11.

Youcannotinstallthisproductunlessyouacceptthelicenseagreement.UsethePageDownbuttontoscrollthroughthetext.

5 IntheSelectaDiskscreen,choosethediskdriveonwhichtoinstallESX Server 3i.

a Usetheuparrowanddownarrowkeystonavigateinthedisklist.

b Selecttherowcontainingthedisk.

Therowishighlightedyellow.

c PressEnter.

Ifthediskyouselectedcontainsdata,aConfirmDiskSelectionscreendisplays,

warningyouthattheselecteddiskisabouttobeoverwritten.Confirmthedisk

choiceorchangethetargetdisk:

Toconfirmthediskyouchoseforinstallation,pressEnter.

Tochangethetargetdisk,pressBackspaceandrepeatStep 5.

6 Confirmyou

are

ready

to

install

ESX Server 3i.

7 PressF11tostarttheinstallation.

Whentheinstallationiscomplete,theInstallationCompletescreendisplays.

8 RemovetheinstallationCDfromtheCDdrive.

9 PressEntertorebootthehost.

NOTE ThediskorderintheinstallersDiskSelectionlistisdeterminedbyBIOS

andmightappearoutoforderinsomecircumstances.Forexample,thismight

occuronsystemswheredrivesarecontinuouslybeingaddedandremoved.Dont

relyon

the

disk

order

to

select

adisk.

WARNING Thisisyourlastopportunitytocanceltheinstallation.Ifyoucontinue,

theinstallerwilloverwritethediskandinstalltheESX Server 3isoftware.


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Where to Go Next

SettingUpESX Server 3ionpage 27

BackingUpandRestoringESX Server 3ionpage 45

AddingESX Server 3itoVMwareInfrastructureonpage 53


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3

Thischapterprovidesinformationaboutusingthedirectconsoleuserinterfaceand

configuringdefaultsforESX Server 3i.Itincludesthefollowingsections:

NetworkAccesstoYourESX Server3iHostonpage 28

SettinguptheDirectConsoleUserInterfaceonpage 29

ConfiguringESX Server 3iBootSettingsonpage 30

ConfiguringNetworkSettingsonpage 33

ConfiguringStorageBehavioronpage 37

ConfiguringESX Server 3iSecurityonpage 39

ResettingtheConfigurationDefaultsonpage 41

ManagingESX Server 3iRemotelyonpage 42

RestartingManagementAgentsonpage 43

ViewingSystemLogsonpage 43

Setting Up ESX Server 3i 3


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Network Access to Your ESX Server 3i Host

ThedefaultbehaviorfornetworkingisforDHCPtoconfigureIP.Youcanacceptthe

defaultbehavior,

prevent

the

default

behavior

from

taking

effect

during

the

bootup

phase,oroverridethedefaultbehaviorafterittakeseffect.Youcanchangeanysettings

thatarenotcompatiblewithyournetworkenvironment.Table 31summarizestheuse

casesandapproachesfornetworkconfigurationthatESX Server 3isupports.

Table 3-1. Network Configuration Scenarios and Approaches

Scenario Approach

YouwanttoaccepttheDHCPconfiguredIPsettings.

NotetheIPaddressthatDHCPassignsandusetheVI ClientoranotherdesktopclientinterfacetoconnecttotheESX Server 3ihost.

Oneofthefollowingistrue:

YoudonothaveaDHCPserver.

TheESX Server 3ihostisnotconnectedtoaDHCPserver.

YourconnectedDHCPserverisnotfunctioningproperly.

Duringtheinitialbootupphase,thesoftwareassignsadefaultIPaddress(169.254.0.1/16).

IfyouareconnectingtotheESX Server 3ihostremotelythroughtheVI Clientoranotherdesktopclientinterface,Aftertheinitialconnectionismade,youcanmaketheinitialconnectionbyusingthedefaultIPaddress.

ThenyoucanconfigureastaticIPaddress.

IfyouarelocaltotheESX Server 3ihost,youcanoverridethedefaultIPaddressbyconfiguringastaticIPaddressusingthedirectconsole.

TheESX Server 3ihostisconnectedtoafunctioningDHCPserver,butyoudonotwanttousetheDHCPconfiguredIPaddress.

Duringtheinitialbootupphase,thesoftwareassignsaDHCPconfiguredIPaddress.

IfyouareconnectingtotheESX Server 3ihostremotelythroughthe

VI Clientor

another

desktop

client

interface,

you

can

make

the

initial

connectionbyusingtheDHCPconfiguredIPaddress.ThenyoucanconfigureastaticIPaddress.

IfyouarelocaltotheESX Server 3ihost,youcanoverridetheDHCPconfiguredIPaddressbyconfiguringastaticIPaddressusingthedirectconsole.

Yoursecuritydeploymentpoliciesdonotpermit

unconfigured

hosts

to

be

poweredonthenetwork.

Setupprocedure:

1 Makesurethatnonetworkcablesareconnectedtothehost.

2 Poweronthehost.3 Usethedirectconsoletoconfiguretheadministrativepassword.

4 UsethedirectconsoletoconfigureastaticIPaddress.

5 Connectanetworkcabletothehost.

6 UsetheVI ClienttoconnecttoVirtualCenter.

7 AddthehosttotheVirtualCenterinventory.

Chapter 3 Setting Up ESX Server 3i

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Setting up the Direct Console User Interface

ThedirectconsoleissimilartotheBIOSofacomputerwithakeyboardonlyuser

interface.Table 3

2lists

the

keys

you

can

use

to

navigate

and

perform

actions

in

the

directconsole.

Configuring the Keyboard Layout

Youcanconfigurethelayoutforthekeyboardthatyouusewiththedirectconsole.

To configure the keyboard layout

1 Fromthedirectconsole,selectConfigureKeyboardandpressEnter.

2 Selectthelayouttouse.

3 Pressthespacebartotoggleselectionsonandoff.

4 PressEnter.

Table 3-2. Navigating in the direct console

Actions Keys

Viewandchangeconfiguration F2

Shutdownorrestartthehost F12

Movethehighlightbetweenselectionfields

Arrowkeys

Selectamenuitem Enter

Toggleavalue Spacebar

Confirmsensitivecommands,suchasresettingconfigurationdefaults

F11

Saveandexit Enter

Exitwithoutsaving Esc

Exitsystemlogs q


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Configuring a Security Banner for the Direct Console

AsecuritybannerisamessagethatisdisplayedonthedirectconsoleWelcomescreen.

To add a security banner to the direct console

1 LogintothehostfromtheVI Client.

2 FromtheConfigurationtab,selectAdvancedSettings.

3 FromtheAdvancedSettingswindow,selectAnnotations.

4 Enterasecuritymessage.

ThemessageisdisplayedonthedirectconsoleWelcomescreen.

Configuring ESX Server 3i Boot Settings

WhenyoupowerontheESX Server 3ihostforthefirsttime(orwhenyoupoweronthe

hostafteryouresetthehosttotheconfigurationdefaults),thehostentersabootup

phaseduringwhichyoucanselectabootdevice.Youcanalwaysbootinto

ESX Server 3imodeorintoanothermode.Duringthebootupphase,systemnetworkandstoragedevicesareconfiguredwithdefaults.

Afterthehostcompletesthebootupphase,thedirectconsoleuserinterfaceappearson

theattachedmonitor.Usingakeyboardandmonitorattachedtothehost,youcanuse

thedirectconsoletoconfiguretheESX Serverhost,toexaminethedefaultnetwork

configurationappliedduringthebootupphase,andtotroubleshoottheESX Server

software.

Selecting the Boot Device

Thebasicinput/outputsystem(BIOS)bootconfigurationdeterminesinwhichmode

yourserverboots.Generally,theCDROMdeviceislistedfirst.Youcanchangetheboot

settingbyconfiguringthebootorderintheBIOSduringstartuporbyselectingaboot

devicefromtheBootOptionsmenu.Thisisusefulifyouhaveothersupported

operatingsystems

on

the

host.

WhenyouchangethebootorderintheBIOS,thenewsettingaffectsthecurrentboot

andallsubsequentreboots.WhenyouselectabootdevicefromtheBootOptionsmenu,

theselectionaffectsthecurrentbootonly.TheBootOptionsmenuisusefulforonetime

bootswhenyoudonotwanttochangethedefaultBIOSsettings.


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SomeserversdonothaveaBootOptionsmenu,inwhichcaseyoumustchangethe

bootorderintheBIOS,evenforonetimeboots,andthenchangeitbackagainduring

thesubsequentreboot.

Configuring the Boot Setting for ESX Server 3i

FollowthisprocedureifyouneedtoconfigureBIOStobootintoESX Server 3imode.

To configure the boot setting for ESX Server 3i mode

1 WhiletheESX Server 3ihostispoweringon,pressthekeyrequiredtoenteryour

hostsBIOSSetuppage.

Dependingonyourserverhardware,thekeymightbeF1,F2,F10,F11,F12,orDel.

TheoptiontoopentheBIOSSetuppagemightbedifferentforyourserver.

2 SelectthediskdriveontowhichyouinstalledtheESX Server 3isoftwareandmove

ittothefirstpositioninthelist.

ThehostpowersoninESX Server 3imode.Ifthehostdoesnotpoweronin

ESX Server 3imode,youmightneedtorepairtheESX Server3iimage,as

describedinRestoringESX Server 3iConfigurationDataonpage 48.

Configuring the Boot Setting for Another Mode

Ifyouuseyourserverformultiplepurposes,youcanchangethebootconfigurationas

appropriate.

Followtheprocedureforonetimebootsifyourserverhasabootoptionmenuandyou

donotwanttochangethedefaultbootorder.Thefollowingprocedureisusefulfor

bootingfromvirtualmedia,forexample.

Ifyourserverdoesnothaveabootoptionmenuorifyouwanttochangethedefault

bootorder,followtheproceduretochangethebootorder.

NOTE TheBootOptionsmenudiscussedinthissectionisdifferentfromthesystem

bootoptionsthatyoucanconfigurebyloggingintotheVI Client,selectingahost,and

clickingConfiguration>Processors>BootOptions.

ThissectiondiscussesthesystemBIOSBootOptionsmenu.Thebootoptionsinthe

VI Clientonlyallowyoutoconfigurethebootsequenceforfloppy,CDROM,andthe

harddisk(C:drive).Forsomeservers,thesystemBIOShastwooptions.Oneisforthe

bootsequence(floppy,CDROM,harddisk)andanotherfortheharddiskbootorder(USBkey,localharddisk).WhenyouareusingtheVI Client,thebootoptions

correspondtotheBIOSbootsequence(floppy.CDROM,harddisk).


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To select a one-time boot option

1 Reboottheserver.

2 Whilethe

server

is

powering

on,

open

the

boot

option

menu.

Forexample,onsomeserversyoucanselectF11toopenthebootmenuoption.

3 Fromthisbootoptionmenu,followtheinstructionstoselectadevicefromwhich

toboot.

Theserverbootsintheconfiguredmodeonetimeandgoesbacktothedefaultboot

orderforsubsequentreboots.

To change the boot order

1 Reboottheserver.

2 Whiletheserverispoweringon,pressthekeyrequiredtoenteryourhostsBIOS

Setuppage.

Dependingonyourserverhardware,thekeymightbeF1,F2,F10,F11,F12,orDel.

Theoption

to

open

the

BIOS

Setup

page

might

be

different

for

your

server.

3 Changethebootorderbyselectingadeviceandmovingittothefirstpositionin

thelist.

Thehostpowersonintheconfiguredmodeforthisbootandforallsubsequent

reboots.

Configuring the Boot Setting for Virtual MediaVirtualmediaisaccessstoragemedia(suchasflashmemory,externaldrive,USB,

floppy,orCDROM)thatcanbemadeavailabletoanymachineonanetwork.

To boot from virtual media

1 Connectmediatothevirtualdevice.

Forexample,

if

you

are

using

aDell

server,

log

in

to

the

Dell

Remote

Access

Controller(DRAC)(orasimilarremotemanagementinterface)andselecta

physicalfloppyorCDROMdrive,orprovideapathtoafloppyimageor

CDROMimage.ThenclickConnecttoconnecttheselectedmediatothevirtual

device.

2 Reboottheserver.

Whiletheserverispoweringon,configurethebootsettingtobootfromthevirtual

mediadevice.SeeConfiguringtheBootSettingforAnotherModeonpage 31.


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Configuring Network Settings

YoumustsetupyourIPaddressbeforeyourESX Server 3ihostisoperational.

To configurebasic

network

settings,

use

the

direct

console

or

the

VI Client.

Choosing NICS for the Management Network

TrafficbetweenanESX Server 3ihostandanyexternalmanagementsoftwaremovesin

andoutthroughanEthernetnetworkinterfacecard(NIC)onthehost.Examplesof

externalmanagementsoftwareincludetheVI Client,VirtualCenter,andSNMPclient

software.NICsonthehostarenamedvmnic,whereNisthenumberoftheNIC(for

example,vmnic0,vmnic1,andsoforth.)

Duringthebootupphase,theESX Server 3ihostchoosesvmnic0formanagement

traffic.YoucanoverridethedefaultchoicebymanuallychoosingtheNICthatcarries

managementtrafficforthehost.Insomecases,forbestavailability,youmightwantto

useaGigabitEthernetNICforyourmanagementtraffic.Anotherwaytohelpensure

availabilityistoselectmultipleNICsformanagementtraffic.ChoosingmultipleNICs

enablesloadbalancingandfailovercapabilities.

To choose NICs

1 Fromthedirectconsole,selectConfigureManagementNetworkandpressEnter.

2 SelectNetworkAdaptersandpressEnter.

3 SelectaNIC.

4 Pressthe

spacebar

to

toggle

NIC

selections

on

and

off.

5 PressEnter.

Afterthenetworkisfunctional,youcanusetheVI ClienttoconnecttotheESX Server 3i

host.

Setting the VLAN ID

Optionally,youcansetthevirtualLAN(VLAN)IDnumberoftheESX Server 3ihost.

To set the VLAN ID


2 SelectVLAN(optional)andpressEnter.

3 EnteraVLANIDnumber.

VLANIDnumbersrangefrom1through4094.


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Configuring IP Settings

YoucanchooseeithermanualorautomaticIPconfigurationoftheESX Server 3ihost.

Bydefault,IPconfigurationisautomatic.TheautomaticsettingenablesDHCPtoset

theIPaddress,subnetmask,anddefaultgateway.ThedirectconsoledisplaystheIP

addressthatDHCPassignstothehost.Forfuturereference,VMwarerecommendsthat

youwritedownthisIPaddress.

ForDHCPtowork,yournetworkenvironmentmusthaveaDHCPserver.IfDHCPis

notavailableornotdesirable,thehostmightbeassignedthebuiltindefaultIPaddress,

whichis169.254.0.1/16.Youcanusethisdefaultaddresstoconnectinitiallyandthen

configure

a

static

network

address.

The

default

subnet

mask

is

255.255.0.0.

The

default

gatewayisblank.IftwohostspowerupwithnoDHCPservice,bothhostsreceivethe

default169.254.0.1IPaddress.NooutboundtrafficisallowedthroughthisIPaddress.

ThisiswhythedefaultIPaddressisnotalongtermalternativetoDHCP.Itprovidesa

temporarymethodtoconnecttothehostsothatyoucanconfigurestaticIPsettings.

Ifyouarenotlocaltothehost,youcanusetheVI ClienttoconfigurestaticIPsettings,

ifyouareonthesamephysicalsubnetandyouconfiguretheVI ClientIPtobeonthe

169.254.0.xnetwork.

Ifyouarelocaltothehost,youcanusethedirectconsoletoconfigurestaticIPsettings,

includingtheIPaddress,subnetmask,anddefaultgateway.

To configure static IP settings from the direct console


2 Select

IP

Configuration

and

press

Enter.3 NavigatetoSetstaticIPaddressandnetworkconfiguration.

4 Pressthespacebartoselectthehighlighteditem.

5 SelectanddeletethecurrentIP address,subnetmask,anddefaultgateway.

6 EnterastaticIPaddress,subnetmask,anddefaultgateway.

7 PressEnter.

To configure static IP settings from the VI Client

1 FromtheVI Client,selectthehostintheinventory.

2 SelecttheConfigurationtabandclickNetworking.

3 ClickPropertiesnexttoVirtualSwitch:vSwitch0.

4 SelectManagementNetworkandclickEdit.


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5 OntheGeneraltab,clickUsethefollowingIPsettings.

6 EnterastaticIPaddress,subnetmask,anddefaultgateway.

7 ClickOK.

Configuring DNS

YoucanchooseeithermanualorautomaticDomainNameSystem(DNS)configuration

oftheESX Server 3ihost.Bydefault,DNSconfigurationisautomatic.Theautomatic

settingenablesaDHCPservertoacquireDNSinformation.ForautomaticDNSto

work,yournetworkenvironmentmusthaveaDHCPserverandaDNSserver.

InnetworkenvironmentswhereautomaticDNSisnotavailableornotdesirable,you

canconfigurestaticDNSinformation,includingahostname,aprimarynameserver,a

secondarynameserver,andDNSsuffixes.

Ifyouarenotlocaltothehost,youcanusetheVI ClienttoconfigureDNSinformation.

Ifyouarelocaltothehost,youcanusethedirectconsoletoconfigureDNSinformation.

To configure DNS settings from the direct console


2 SelectDNSConfigurationandpressEnter.

3 NavigatetoUsethefollowingDNSserveraddressesandhostname.

4 Pressthespacebartoselectthehighlighteditem.

5 Selectanddeletethecurrentprimaryserver,alternateserver,andhostname.

6 Enterastaticprimaryserver,alternateserver,andhostname.

7 PressEnter.

To configure DNS settings from the VI Client


2 SelecttheConfigurationtabandclickNetworking.

3 ClickPropertiesnexttoVirtualSwitch:vSwitch0.

4 SelectManagementNetworkandclickEdit.

5 OntheGeneraltab,clickUsethefollowingIPsettings.

6 ClickEditnexttoVMkernelDefaultGateway.


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7 OntheDNSConfigurationtab,enterastaticprimaryserver,alternateserver,host

name,andDNSsuffixes.

8 ClickOK.

Configuring DNS Suffixes

Bydefault,DHCPacquirestheDNSsuffixes.

To configure the DNS suffixes

1 Fromthedirectconsole,selectConfigureManagementNetwork.

2 SelectCustomDNSSuffixesandpressEnter.

3 PresstheBackspacekeytodeletethecurrentDNSsuffixes.

4 EnternewDNSsuffixes.

5 PressEnter.

Testing Network ConnectivityYoucanusethedirectconsoletoperformsomesimplenetworkconnectivitytests.By

default,thedirectconsolepreformsthefollowingtests:

Pingsthedefaultgateway

PingstheprimaryDNSnameserver

Pings

the

secondary

DNS

nameserver ResolvestheDNShostname

To test the management network

1 Fromthedirectconsole,selectTestManagementNetworkandpressEnter.

2 PressEntertostartthetest.

TheESX Server 3ihosttestsyournetworkconfiguration.

To test connectivity to other devices or networks

1 Fromthedirectconsole,selectTestManagementNetworkandpressEnter.

2 Selectanddeleteoneormoredefaultaddressesorthedefaulthostname.

3 TypeotheraddressestopingoranotherDNShostnametoresolve.

4 PressEntertostartthetest.


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Configuring Storage Behavior

WhenyoureboottheESX Server 3ihostafterinstallingtheESX Server 3iimage,the

host

configures

the

system

storage

devices

with

defaults.

The

default

behavior

for

storageisforthesoftwaretoformatallvisibleblankinternaldisksontheinstallation

harddrivewithVMFS,soyoucanstorevirtualmachinesonthedisks.

OntheharddrivefromwhichtheESX Server3ihostisbooting,thediskformatting

softwareretainsexistingdiagnosticpartitionsthatarecreatedbythehardwarevendor.

Intheremainingspace,thesoftwarecreates:

One4GBVFATscratchpartitionforsystemswap,ifthispartitionisnotpresenton

anotherdisk.SeeConfiguringtheScratchPartitiononpage 37.

OneVMFS3partitionontheremainingfreespace.

TheVFATscratchpartitioniscreatedonlyonthediskfromwhichtheESX Server3i

hostisbooting.Ontheotherdisksontheinstallationharddrive,thesoftwarecreates

oneVMFS3partitiononeachdiskthatcontainsafreeprimarypartition,usingthe

wholedisk.Thesoftwareformatsblankdisksonly.

Youmightwanttooverridethisdefaultbehaviorif,forexample,yourpolicyistouse

sharedstoragedevicesinsteadoflocalstorage.

Topreventautomaticdiskformattingfromoccurring,detachlocalstoragedevicesfrom

thehostbeforeyoupoweronthehostforthefirsttime(orbeforeyoupoweronthehost

afteryouresetthehosttotheconfigurationdefaults).Theautomaticdiskformatting

occursthefirsttimeyoupoweronthehostandwhenyoupoweronthehostafteryou

resetthehosttotheconfigurationdefaults.Forsubsequentreboots,youdonotneedto

detachlocalstoragedevices.Ifautomaticdiskformattingalreadyoccurredandyou

wanttooverridetheVMFSformatting,youcanremovethedatastore.Seethe

Server ConfigurationGuide.

Configuring the Scratch Partition

ThefirsttimeyoupowerontheESX Server3ihost(andwhenyoupoweronthehost

afteryouresetthehosttotheconfigurationdefaults),thesoftwarecreatesandenablesone4GBVFATscratchpartitionforsystemswap,ifthispartitionisnotpresenton

anotherdisk.Thehostusessystemswapforitsownoperation.Systemswapisdifferent

fromvirtualmachineswap.

Ifthehostdoesnothaveascratchpartition,thehostuses512MBmorememorythanit

wouldotherwiseuse.Ifyoudonotwantthehosttousethisadditionalmemory,keep

thescratchpartitionenabled.Ifthescratchpartitionisdisabled,youcanenableit.


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Beforeyoucanenablethescratchpartition,youmusthaveaccesstoamachineon

whichyoucanruntheRemoteCommandLineInterface(CLI).Forinformationabout

importingorinstallingtheRemote CLI,seetheRemoteCommandLineInterfaces

appendixof

the

ESX Server

3i

Configuration

Guide.

To enable the scratch partition

1 PowerontheRemoteCLIandlogin.

Youdonotneedtotypethepasswordonthecommandline.Ifnopasswordis

specified,thetoolpromptsyouforthepasswordwithoutechoingtheoutputtothe

terminal.Thismeansthepasswordyoutypeisnotvisibleinthewindowasyou

runthecommand.

YoucancreateasecureconnectiontotheRemoteCLIbyusingtheRemoteCLIIP

address.IfyouareusingtheVI Client,youcanrightclicktheRemoteCLIand

selectOpenConsole.

IftheRemoteCLIisinstalledonyourWindowsorLinuxsystem,youcanusethe

installedapplication,inwhichcaseyoudonotneedtologin.

2 Togetthecurrentstate,runthefollowingreadonlycommands:

vicfg-advcfg.pl --server --username root

--password -s /ScratchConfig/CurrentScratchLocation

vicfg-advcfg.pl --server --username root

--password -s /ScratchConfig/ConfiguredSwapState

3 Runthefollowingcommandstoenableordisablesystemswap:

Toenableswap:

vicfg-advcfg --server --username root

--password -s true ScratchConfig.ConfiguredSwapState

Todisableswap:


--password -s false ScratchConfig.ConfiguredSwapState

4 Ifyouenabledsystemswap,runthefollowingcommandtoenterthelocationofadatastoreonwhichtocreateandenablethesystemswappartition:


--password

-s "/vmfs/volumes//"

ScratchConfig.ConfiguredScratchLocation

Theconfigureddirectorymustbeuniqueacrosshosts.


To retrieve the swap state:

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Toretrievetheswapstate:


--password -g ScratchConfig.ConfiguredSwapState

Toretrievescratchlocation:


--password -g ScratchConfig.ConfiguredScratchLocation

5 Tomakethechangestakeeffect,rebootthehost.

Configuring ESX Server 3i Security

Theproceduresinthissectiondescribehowtosettheroot usernameandpassword

tosecureyourESX Serverhostandtoconfigurehostlockdownmode,whichprevents

remotepersonnelfromloggingintotheESX Server 3ihostbyusingtherootlogin

name.Inaddition,itdescribeshowtodeterminetheESX Server 3iserialnumber,

whichisrequiredforrecoveryoperations,ifnecessary.

Recording the ESX Server 3i Serial NumberIftheESX Server 3ihostislicensedtousetheStandaloneedition,aserialnumberis

assignedtothehost.VMwarerecommendsthatyouwritedowntheserialnumberand

tapeittotheserver,ifpossible,orputtheserialnumberinasecure,easilyaccessible

location.YoucanaccesstheserialnumberfromthedirectconsoleortheVI Client.

Whenyouperformaconfigurationbackup,theserialnumberisbackedupwiththe

configuration

and

is

restored

when

you

restore

the

configuration.

To access the ESX Server 3i serial number from the direct console

Fromthedirectconsole,selectViewSupportInformation.

ThelicenseserialnumberappearsintheformXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.

Thephysicalmachineserialnumberalsoappears.Donotconfusethelicenseserial

numberwiththephysicalmachineserialnumber.

To access the ESX Server 3i serial number from the VI Client


2 SelecttheConfigurationtabandclickLicensedFeatures.

TheserialnumberislistedunderLicenseSource.Iftheserialnumberisnotlisted,

anotherhostlicensesourceisconfigured.


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Configuring the Administrative Password

TheadministrativeusernamefortheESX Server 3ihostisroot.Bydefault,the

administrativepasswordisnull,meaningthereisnoadministrativepassword.

To create an administrative password

1 Fromthedirectconsole,selectConfigureRootPassword.

2 Ifpromptedforanoldpassword,pressEnter.

Ifyouaresettingthepasswordforthefirsttime,youarenotpromptedforanold

password.

3 Enteranewpassword.

4 RetypethenewpasswordandpressEntertosavethepasswordconfiguration.

Configuring Lockdown Mode

LockdownmodepreventsremotepersonnelfromloggingintotheESX Server 3ihost

byusing

the

root

login

name.

If

you

configure

lockdown

mode

and

you

do

not

configureotherlocalhostuseraccounts,directhostaccessisrestricted.Thismeans

standalonehostaccessthroughtheVI Client,accessthroughtheVIAPI,andtheremote

commandlineinterface(CLI)arenotallowedforuserroot.

Whenlockdownmodeisenabled,userscanstillaccessthehostthroughthedirect

consoleorthroughanauthorizedcentralizedmanagementapplication,suchas

VirtualCenter.Bydefault,lockdownmodeisdisabled.

Whenlockdownmodeisenabled,youcancreateauser(otherthanroot)with

administratorprivilegestoconnecttoastandalonehost.Donotusethisapproachin

environmentswithnumeroushostsbecausemaintainingseparateuserpassword

databasesforeachhostmightbedifficulttomanage.

EnablelockdownmodeonlyafteryouaddthehosttotheVirtualCenterinventory.The

operationtoenablelockdownmodefailsifyoutryitbeforeyouaddthehostto

VirtualCenter.InVirtualCenter,youcanchoosetoenablelockdownmodewhenyou

addthehosttotheVirtualCenterinventory.Ifyoudoso,youdonotneedtoenable

lockdownmodeinthedirectconsole.


To configure lockdown mode

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o co gu e oc do ode

1 AddtheESX Server3ihosttotheVirtualCenterinventory.

2 Fromthe

direct

console,

select

Configure

Lockdown

Modeand

press

Enter.

3 PressthespacebartoselectEnableLockdownModeandpressEnter.

4 PressEnter.

Resetting the Configuration Defaults

Whenyouresettheconfigurationdefaults,thesoftwareoverridesallconfiguration

changesthatyouhavemade,deletestheadministrativepassword,andrebootsthehost.

Someconfigurationchangesthatyourhardwarevendormighthavemadeinthe

factoryaredeletedaswellwhenyouresettheconfigurationdefaults.Thesechanges

includeIPaddresssettingsandlicenseconfiguration.

Beforeyouresettheconfigurationdefaults,firstbackuptheESX Serverconfiguration.

Afteryouresettheconfigurationdefaults,youcanusethebackupfiletorestoreyour

configuration.

Resettingtheconfigurationdefaultsdoesnotremoveanyvirtualmachinesthatareon

theESX Server 3ihost.VirtualmachinesarenotstoredontheESX Serverbootpartition.

Afteryouresettheconfigurationdefaults,thevirtualmachinesarenotvisible,butyou

canretrievethembyreconfiguringstorage(ifthehostdoesntrecognizeandconfigure

storageduringthereboot),andreregisteringthevirtualmachines.

To reset configuration defaults

1 (Recommended)BackuptheconfigurationbyrunningtheRemoteCLI

vicfg-cfgbackupcommand.

2 Fromthedirectconsole,selectResetCustomizedSettingsandpressEnter.

3 PressF11toconfirm.

Thesystemprocessorrebootstheserverafterallsettingsarereset.

4 (Optional)Torestoreoverriddenconfigurationdata,usetheRemoteCLItorunthe

vicfg-cfgbackupcommand.

SeeAboutBackingUpandRestoringanESX Server 3iConfigurationonpage 46.

CAUTION

When

you

reset

the

configuration

defaults,

users

accessing

this

host

through

theVI ClientorVirtualCenterloseconnectivity.


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Managing ESX Server 3i Remotely

AftertheESX Server 3ihostisbootedintothedirectconsole,youcanmanagethehost

byusingtheVI ClientandVirtualCenter.Todothis,installbothapplicationsona

computerservingasamanagementstationwithnetworkaccesstotheESX Server 3i

host.YoucaninstallVirtualCenterinlicensedmodeorinevaluationmode.

YoucandownloadVirtualCenterfromwww.vmware.comorusethe

VMware InfrastructureManagementInstallerCD.YoucandownloadtheVI Client

directlyfromtheESX Server3ihostorusetheVMware InfrastructureManagement

InstallerCD.

FollowingarebriefinstructionsforinstallingtheVI ClientandVirtualCenter:

VI ClientUsetheVI ClienttoconnecttoasingleESX Server 3ihostorto

VirtualCenter.

ToinstalltheVI Client,useabrowsertopointtotheIPaddressoftheESX Server 3i

host(http://ESXhostIPaddress).OntheWelcomepage,clickDownloadthe

VI Client.Alternatively,youcanusetheVMware InfrastructureManagement

InstallerCD,

which

is

included

with

ESX Server 3i.

AfteryouinstalltheVI Client,youcanconnecttotheESX Server 3ihostbyusing

theESX Server 3ihostIPaddresswithusernamerootandnopassword.Ifyou

configureanadministrativepassword(asdescribedinConfiguringthe

AdministrativePasswordonpage 40),usetheconfiguredpassword.Fordetailed

informationaboutinstallingtheVI Client,seeInstallingVMwareInfrastructure

Managementonpage 105.

VirtualCenterIfyouhavemultipleESX Serverhosts,considerusing

VirtualCenter,whichletsyoumanageallhostsfromasingleinterfaceanduse

advancedfeatures,suchasVMware HA,DRS,andVMotion.

ToinstallVirtualCenter,downloadthelatestversionfrom

http://www.vmware.com/download/vi/ .Alternatively,youcanusetheVMware

InfrastructureManagementInstallerCD,whichisincludedwithESX Server 3i.

AfteryouinstallVirtualCenter,youcanmanageallofyourESX Serverhosts(includingESX Server 3i)fromasingleinterface.ToaccessVirtualCenter,usethe

VI ClienttoconnecttotheVirtualCenterIPaddresswithyourWindowslogin

usernameandpassword.Specifically,usethelogincredentialsappropriatetothe

WindowsmachineonwhichVirtualCenterisinstalled.TheVirtualCenter

usernameandpasswordmightbedifferentthantheusernameandpasswordyou

useforESX Server 3i.


AfteryouinstalltheVI ClientandVirtualCenter,youcanconvertaphysicalmachine
http://www.vmware.com/http://www.vmware.com/download/vi/http://www.vmware.com/download/vi/http://www.vmware.com/

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intoavirtualmachine.Alternatively,youcandownloadsamplevirtualmachinesat

http://www.vmware.com/appliances/ .Forinformationaboutimportingvirtual

machines,see

the

Basic

System

Administration

Guide.

Restarting Management Agents

AmanagementagentissoftwarethatsynchronizesVMwarecomponentsandletsyou

accesstheESX Server 3ihostthroughtheVI ClientorVirtualCenter.Itisinstalledwith

theVMwareInfrastructureManagementsoftware.Youmightneedtorestartthe

managementagentsifremoteaccessisinterrupted.

Whenyourestartmanagementagents,thesoftwarerestartsallmanagementagentsand

servicesthatareinstalledandrunningin/etc/init.d ontheESX Serverhost.

Typically,theseagentsincludehostd,ntpd,sfcbd,slpd,andwsmand.Thesoftwarealso

restartstheAutomatedAvailabilityManager(AAM)ifitisinstalled.

To restart management agents

1 Fromthedirectconsole,selectRestartManagementAgentsandpressEnter.

2 PressF11toconfirmtherestart.

TheESX Server 3ihostrestartsthemanagementagents.

Viewing System Logs

Systemlogsprovidedetailedinformationaboutsystemoperationalevents.

To view system logs

1 Fromthedirectconsole,selectViewSystemLogs.

2 Pressacorrespondingnumberkeytoviewalog:

1Messages

2Configuration

3ManagementAgent(hostd)

4VirtualCenterAgent(vpxa)

VirtualCenterAgent(vpxa)logsappearifyouaddthehosttoVirtualCenter.

CAUTION Whenyourestartmanagementagents,usersaccessingthishostthroughthe

VI ClientorVirtualCenterloseconnectivity.


3 PressEnterorthespacebartoscrollthroughthemessages.
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4 (Optional)Performaregularexpressionsearch:

a Pressthe

slash

key

(/).

b Typethetexttofind.

c PressEnter.

Thefoundtextishighlightedonthescreen.

5 Pressqtoreturntothedirectconsole.

To redirect system log files to a remote host


2 SelecttheConfigurationtabandclickAdvancedSettings.

3 ClickSyslog.

4 ForSyslog.Remote.Hostname,enterahostnametowhichsyslogdatacanbe

forwarded.

4

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ThischapterprovidesinformationaboutbackingupandrestoringtheESX Server 3i

configurationandrecoveringtheESX Server 3ibootimageifitbecomesdamaged.In

addition,itdescribeshowtoremoveESX Server 3ifromthehost.

Thischaptercontainsthefollowingsections:

AboutBackingUpandRestoringanESX Server 3iConfigurationonpage 46.

RecoveringtheESX Server 3i InstallableSoftwareonpage 49.

RemovingESX Server 3ifromthehostonpage 51.

ForinformationoninstallingVMwareInfrastructureManagementsoftware,see

Installing

VMware

Infrastructure

Management

on

page 105.

For

information

about

usingthedesktopclients,seetheVMwareInfrastructure 3documentationset.

Backing Up and Restoring

ESX Server 3i 4


About Backing Up and Restoring an ESX Server 3i

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46 VMware, Inc.

Configuration

Youcan

back

up

the

ESX Server 3i

host

configuration

data

after

preliminary

tasks

are

completed.Alwaysbackupyourhostconfigurationafteryouchangetheconfiguration

orupgradetheESX Serverimage.

Whenyouperformaconfigurationbackup,theserialnumberisbackedupwiththe

configurationandisrestoredwhenyourestoretheconfiguration.However,theserial

numberisnotpreservedwhenyouruntherepairoperation.Forthisreason,the

recommendedprocedureistofirstbackuptheconfiguration,runtherepairoperation

ifneeded,

then

restore

the

configuration.

Youperformthebackupbyusingthevicfg-cfgbackupcommand,whichyourun

fromtheRemoteCommandLineInterface(RemoteCLI).TheRemoteCLIisavailable

intwoforms:

AsavirtualappliancethatyouimportintoESX Server,VMwareWorkstation,or

VMwarePlayer.

AsapackagethatyouinstallonMicrosoftWindowsandLinuxmachines.

Yourunthevicfg-cfgbackupcommandfromtheserviceconsoleofthevirtual

applianceorfromacommandpromptonthesystemwhereyouinstalledtheRemote

CLIs.YourunCLIcommandsonanESX Server 3ihosttowhichyouconnectremotely.

ForinformationaboutsettingupandusingtheRemoteCLI,seetheESX Server3i

ConfigurationGuideappendices.

Considerations When Using the Remote CLI Virtual Appliance

Whenyoubackupthehostconfiguration,youcanrunthevicfg-cfgbackup

commandfromaRemoteCLIvirtualappliancethatisrunningonthetargethost(the

hostyouarebackinguporrestoring),oronaremotehost.However,torestorea

configurationonthetargethost,youmustruntheRemoteCLIvirtualappliancefrom

aremotehost.

Whenyourestoretheconfiguration,thetargethostmustbeinmaintenancemode,

whichmeansallvirtualmachines(includingtheRemoteCLIvirtualappliance)must

bepoweredoff.

Forexample,supposeyouhavetwoESX Server 3ihosts(host1andhost2)andyou

importthevirtualapplianceintobothhosts.Tobackupthehost1configuration,runthe

vicfg-cfgbackupcommandintheRemoteCLIoneitherhost1orhost2andpointto

host1in

the

--server

command

line

option.

Chapter 4 Backing Up and Restoring ESX Server 3i

Likewise,tobackupthehost2configuration,runthevicfg-cfgbackupcommandin

the Remote CLI on either host1 or host2 and point to host2 in the server

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VMware, Inc. 47

theRemoteCLIoneitherhost1orhost2andpointtohost2inthe--server

commandlineoption.Torestorethehost1configuration,runthevicfg-cfgbackup

command

in

the

Remote

CLI

on

host2

and

point

to

host1

in

the--server

commandlineoption.Torestorethehost2configuration,runthevicfg-cfgbackup

commandintheRemoteCLIonhost1andpointtohost2inthe--server

commandlineoption.

Backing Up ESX Server 3i Configuration Data

ThefollowingproceduredescribeshowtobackupyourESX Server 3iconfiguration

data.

To back up host configuration data

1 StarttheRemoteCLIandlogin.


specified,thetoolpromptsyouforthepasswordwithoutechoingtheoutputtothe


runthecommand.


address.IfyouareusingtheVI Client,rightclicktheRemoteCLIandselectOpen

Console.IftheRemoteCLIisinstalledonyourWindowsorLinuxsystem,youcan

usetheinstalledapplication,inwhichcaseyoudonotneedtologin.

2 Runthevicfg-cfgbackupcommandwiththe-sflagtosavethehost

configurationtothespecifiedbackupfilename.

vicfg-cfgbackup --server --portnumber

--protocol --username root

--password -s

The-portnumberand-protocoloptionsareoptional.Ifyouexcludethem,the

defaultsareport443andprotocolHTTPS.

Ifyour

administrative

password

includes

special

characters,

such

as

$or

&,

you

must

includeabackslashescapecharacter(\)beforeeachspecialcharacter.

Forthebackupfilename,includethebuildnumberthatiscurrentlyrunningonthe

hostthatyouarebackingup.IfyouarerunningtheRemoteCLIasavirtualappliance,

thebackupfileissavedlocallyonthevirtualappliance.Localstorageforbackupfiles

issafebecausevirtualappliancesarestoredinthe/vmfs/volumes/

directory,whichisseparatefromtheESX Server 3iimageandconfigurationfiles.


Restoring ESX Server 3i Configuration Data

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YoucanrestoretheESX Server 3ihostconfigurationdataifyouhavecreatedabackup.

To restore host configuration data

1 Poweroffanyvirtualmachinesthatarerunningonthehostthatyouwantto

restore.

2 (Optional)RestorethehosttotheESX Serverbuildthatwasrunningwhenyou

createdtheconfigurationbackup.

Whenyourestoreconfigurationdata,thebuildnumbercurrentlyrunningonthe

hostmustbethesameasthebuildnumberthatwasrunningwhenyoucreatedthebackupfile.Youcanoverridethisrequirementbyincludingthe-f(force)flagwith

thevicfg-cfgbackupcommand.

3 Onahostotherthanthehostyouarerestoring,starttheRemoteCLIvirtual

applianceandlogin.


specified,the

tool

prompts

you

for

the

password

without

echoing

the

output

to

the


runthecommand.


address.IfyouareusingtheVI Client,rightclicktheRemoteCLIandselectOpen

Console.IftheRemoteCLIisinstalledonyourWindowsorLinuxsystem,youdo

notneedtologin.

4 Runthevicfg-cfgbackupcommandwiththe-lflagtoloadthehost

configurationfromthespecifiedbackupfile.

vicfg-cfgbackup --server --portnumber

--protocol --username root

--password -l

Thehostyouarerestoringrebootsandthebackupconfigurationisrestored.

The-portnumberand-protocoloptionsareoptional.Ifyouexcludethem,thedefaultsareport443andprotocolHTTPS.

Ifyouradministrative passwordincludesspecialcharacters,suchas$or&,youmust

includeabackslashescapecharacter(\)beforeeachspecialcharacter.


Recovering the ESX Server 3i Installable Software

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IfthehostdoesnotbootinESXServermode,thefilepartitionsormasterbootrecord

ontheinstallationdiskmightbecorrupted.Toresolvethisproblem,youcanrestorethe

softwarebyrunningtheinstallationCDinrepairmode.(NoseparaterecoveryCDis

availableforESX Server 3i Installable.)Runtheinstallerinrepairmodeonlywhen

directedtodosobyVMwareCustomerService.

Whenyouruntheinstallerinrepairmode,allhostconfigurationdataisoverwrittenby

systemdefaults.Ifyoubackeduptheconfiguration,youcanrestoreitafteryou

performtherepairoperation.

Duringtherepairoperation,yourexistingESX Server 3i InstallableVMFSdatastoreis

preservedifitisinitsoriginallocationontheESX Server 3ibootdisk,orifitislocated

onanotherdisk(separatefromthebootdisk).

IfyouchangedtheVMFSlocationonthebootdisk,itispreservedifitislocatedbeyond

the750MBpartition.Insituationswherethepartitiontableiscorrupt,theVMFScannot

berecoveredautomaticallybytherepairoperation.Inthiscase,youaredirectedtocall

VMwarecustomerserviceforhelpinrecoveringyourVMFS.

(SEEUPDATE)IfyoudonothavetheoriginalinstallationCD,contactyoursupportrepresentativeforhelpobtainingtheappropriateISOfile.AfteryouobtaintheISOfile,

youcanburnitontoablankCD.

ThefollowingproceduredescribeshowtorecovertheESX Server 3i Installablesoftware.

To recover ESX Server 3i Installable

1 InserttheESX Server 3i InstallableinstallationCDintoESX Server 3i Installable

hostCDROMdrive.

2 UsethesystemBIOStochangethebootordersothattheCDROMdriveislisted

first.Tomodifythebootsequence:

a Rebootthehost.

b Whilethehostispoweringon,pressF2toopentheBIOSSetuppage.

c SelecttheCDROMdriveandmoveittothefirstpositioninthelist.

NOTE Beforeyouruntherepairoperation,backupyourexistingVMFSasa

precaution.


TheoptiontoopentheBIOSSetuppagemightbedifferentforyourserver.You

mightneedtoopentheBIOSconfigurationscreenstomodifythebootsetting.

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g p g y g

Asthehostcontinuestopoweron,theinstallationWelcomescreenappears.

3 PressRtorepairESX Server 3i.

4 ReadtheVMwareenduserlicenseagreementandacceptitbypressingF11.

Youcannotreinstallthisproductunlessyouacceptthelicenseagreement.

5 FromtheSelectADiskscreen,choosethediskdrivethatcontainedtheoriginal

installationofESX Server 3i.

a Usetheupanddownarrowkeystonavigateinthedisklist.

b Highlighttherowcontainingthedisk.

c PressEnter.

AConfirmDiskSelectionscreendisplays,warningyouthatthedataonthe

selecteddiskisabouttobeoverwritten.Ifyoudidnotchangethedefaultpartitions

createdduringtheESX Server 3iinstallation,thedataexistinginthethirdand

fourthprimarypartitionsispreserved.ThisincludesyourVMFSdatastore.

6 Dooneofthefollowing:

Toconfirmthediskyouchoseforrepair,pressEnter.

Tochangethetargetdisk,PressBackspaceandrepeatStep 5.

7 IntheConfirmRepairscreen,confirmyouarereadytoinstallESX Server 3i.

PressF11tostarttherecovery.

NOTE Ifyoudonotchoosethesameinstallationdisk,thedamagedESX Server 3i

imageisnotfixedandanewimageisinstalled.

CAUTION Thisisyourlastopportunitytocancelthereinstallation.Ifyoucontinue,

theinstallerreformatsthediskandinstalltheESX Server 3isoftware.


8 Whentheoperationiscomplete,oneofthefollowingcompletionscreensdisplays:

Repair Complete The ESX Server 3i image was repaired successfully and the

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VMware, Inc. 51

RepairCompleteTheESX Server 3iimagewasrepairedsuccessfullyandthe

partitiontablewasrestored.Theinstallerrecreatedthepartitiontableto

recoveryourVMFSpartitionsorcustompartitions.Therepairoperationaddedtheseentriesinthepartitiontableforyou.

RepairIncompleteTheESX Server 3iimagewasrepairedsuccessfully,but

thepartitiontablecouldnotberestored.Theinstallercouldnotrecreatethe

partitiontabletorecoveryourVMFSpartitionsorcustompartitions.Youmust

manuallyaddthepartitionentriestothepartitiontabletorecoveryourdata.

CallVMwaresupportforhelp.

9 RemovetheinstallationCDfromtheCDdrive.

10 PressEntertorebootthemachine.

Yourdiskstorageareamayhavechangedduringtherebootandyourvirtualmachines

mightnotbevisibleintheVI ClientInventory.Ifyourstorageareaisvisiblebutyour

virtualmachinesarenotvisible,dooneofthefollowing:

Reregister

the

virtual

machines

with

VI Client.

See

the

VI Client

Help.

Restoreyourhostconfigurationdata.Thisoptionisavailableonlyifyoubacked

upyourhostconfigurationdata.SeeRestoringESX Server 3iConfiguration

Dataonpage 48.

Ifyourstorageareaisnotvisible,theESX Server3irepairoperationdidnotcomplete

successfully.Donottrytorecreateyourdatastorageareabecausethismayoverwrite

existingdataandcoulddestroyyourvirtualmachines.CallVMwaresupportforhelp

inrecoveringyourexistingdatastore.

Removing ESX Server 3i from the host

IfyoudonotwantyourservertobeanESX Server 3ihost,youcandeactivatethe

ESX Server 3isetup.Todothis,youdothefollowing:

1 RemoveVMFSdatastoresontheinternaldiskssothattheinternaldisksareno

longersetuptostorevirtualmachines.SeeConfiguringStorageBehavioron

page 37.

2 ChangethebootsettingintheBIOSsothatthehostnolongerstartsupin

ESX Server 3imode.SeeConfiguringtheBootSettingforAnotherModeon

page 31.


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Thischapterdiscussestherequirementsandrecommendationsforadding

ESX Server 3ihoststoadatacenterthathasexistingVMwareInfrastructure

components,suchasESX ServerhostsandVirtualCenter Server.

Specifically,this

chapter

discusses

the

implications

for

VirtualCenter,

virtual

machines,

virtualmachinetools,andESXupgrades,whenyouaddESX Server 3itoyour

VMware Infrastructure.

UpgradingVMwareInfrastructurecomponentsfromearlierversionsisamultistage

processinwhichproceduresmustbeperformedinaparticularorder.Theupgrade

pathdependsonyourESX Serveranddatastoreconfigurations.Fordetailed

informationaboutpreparingforandexecutingVMwareInfrastructureupgrades,see

theUpgradeGuideforESX Server 3.5andVirtualCenter 2.5.

VirtualCenter

IfyouhaveanolderversionofVirtualCenterandyouwanttouseVirtualCenterto

manageESX Server 3i(orESX Server 3),youmustupgradetheVirtualCenter

softwaretoversion2.5.

ESX Server 3iversion3.5hostsandESX Server 3.5hoststhataremanagedtogetherinVirtualCentercanrunthesamevirtualmachines,useVMotiontomigrate

virtualmachinesbetweenthehosts,andaccessthesamedatastores.

YoucanmanageESX Server 3.0hostsinthesameclusterwithESX Server 3iand

ESX Server 3.5hosts.

YoucanmanageESX Server2.0.xasstandalonehostsinVirtualCenter.

ESX Server 2.0.xhosts

cannot

be

added

to

clusters.

Adding ESX Server 3i to

VMware Infrastructure 5


Virtual Machines

In general virtual machines that you create on ESX Server 3i (or ESX Server 3)

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54 VMware, Inc.

Ingeneral,virtualmachinesthatyoucreateonESX Server 3i(orESX Server 3)

hostsaresupportedonESX Server 3.0.xhosts.Thiscapabilitymeansthatyoucan

migratethevirtualmachinesbetweenthehostsanduseVMotion.Ifyoucreate

virtualmachinesthatuseparavirtualization(VMI)oranenhancednetworking

device(vmxnet),VMotionisnotsupported.Inthiscase,youcanmovethevirtual

machinetotheESX Server 3.0.xhostifthevirtualmachineispoweredoff.

VirtualmachinesthatyoucreateonESX Server 3i(orESX Server 3.5)hostsarenot

supportedonESX Server2.xhosts.

Virtual Machine Tools

ForESX Server3iversion3.5,thereisavirtualhardwareupgradeanda

VMware Toolsupgrade.TheVMwareToolsupgradeisnotrequiredbutis

availableforversion2.xandversion3.xvirtualmachines.

IfyouupgradeVMwareToolsforavirtualmachinetoVMwareToolsversion3.5,

youcanusetheupgradedvirtualmachineonanESX Server 3.0.xhost.Ifyoudo

migratethevirtualmachinetoanESX Server3.0.xhost,VMwarerecommendsthat

youuninstalltheESX Server3.5ToolsandinstallESX Server3.0.xTools.

ESX Server Upgrades

UpgradesfromESX Server3.0.xversionstoESX Server 3ihavenoinplace

upgrade,butyoucanmigrateexistingvirtualmachinesanddatastores.

YoucanupgradeESX Server3iversion3.5tothefollowingreleases:

ESX Server3iversion3.5Update1

ESX Server3iversion3.5Update2

Chapter 5 Adding ESX Server 3i to VMware Infrastructure

ToreplaceESX Server 3iversion3.5withESX Server3,youcandisable

ESX Server 3i(as describedinRemovingESX Server 3ifromthehostonpage 51)

and then install ESX Server 3 in place Alternatively you can migrate virtual

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VMware, Inc. 55

andtheninstallESX Server3inplace.Alternatively,youcanmigratevirtual

machinesfromanESX Server3ihosttoanESX Server 3host.Youmustreregister

thevirtualmachinesundertheESX Server3hostwithVI Client.SeetheVI Client

Help.

ToreplaceESX Server 3withESX Server 3i Installable,youcanuninstall

ESX Server 3andtheninstallESX Server 3i Installableinplace.Alternatively,you

canmigratevirtualmachinesfromanESX Server3hosttoanESX Server 3ihost.

YoumustreregisterthevirtualmachinesundertheESX Server3ihostwith

VI Client.

See

the

VI Client

Help.


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YoucanmanageastandaloneVMwareESX ServerwithoutVirtualCenter Server.

However,ifyouhavemultipleESX Serverhostsandyouwanttomanagethem

centrally,considerinstallingtheVirtualCenter Server.Thisserverinstallsona

Windowsmachine,eitherphysicalorvirtual.VirtualCenterallowstheuseofadvanced

VMwareInfrastructurefeaturessuchasVMware DRS,VMware HA,andVMotion.

Thischapterdescribesthehardwareandoperatingsystemrequirementsforhosts

runningVirtualCenterandotherVMware Infrastructurecomponents.Usethe

informationinthischaptertoensurethatyourenvironmentmeetstherequirementsfor

installation.Topicscoveredhereare:

VirtualCenterRequirementsonpage 58

VI ClientHardwareRequirementsonpage 60

VI ClientSoftwareRequirementsonpage 60

LicenseServerRequirementsonpage 61

SupportedGuestOperatingSystemsonpage 61

VirtualMachineRequirementsonpage 62

ForinformationonESX Server 3irequirements,seeInstallingESX Server 3ion

page 19.

VMware Infrastructure

System Requirements 6


VirtualCenter Requirements

VirtualCentermanagesESX Serverhostsbyusingaserverandthreetypesofremote

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58 VMware, Inc.

managementclients.TheVirtualCenter Serverisaphysicalmachineorvirtualmachine

configuredwithaccesstoasupporteddatabase.

VirtualCenter Hardware Requirements

VirtualCenterhardwaremustmeetthefollowingrequirements:

Processor2.0GHzorlaterIntelorAMDx86processor.Processorrequirements

canbelargerifyourdatabaseisrunonthesamehardware.

Memory2GBRAMminimum.RAMrequirementscanbelargerifyourdatabase

isrunonthesamehardware.

Diskstorage560MBminimum,2GBrecommended.Youmusthave245MBfree

onthedestinationdriveforinstallationoftheprogram,andyoumusthave315MB

freeonthedrivethatcontainsyour%temp%directory.

MicrosoftSQLServer2005ExpressdiskrequirementsThebundleddatabase

requiresupto2GBfreediskspacetodecompresstheinstallationarchive.

However,approximately1.5GBofthesefilesaredeletedaftertheinstallationiscomplete.

NetworkingGigabitrecommended.

VirtualCenter Software Requirements

VirtualCenterissupportedonthe32bitversionsoftheseoperatingsystems:

Windows2000ServerSP4withUpdateRollup1(DownloadUpdateRollup1at

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/news/bulletins/rollu

p.mspx)

WindowsXPProSP2

Windows2003ServerSP1andSP2

Windows2003

Server

R2

NOTE

Storagerequirements

can

be

larger

if

your

database

runs

on

the

same

hardwareastheVirtualCentermachine.Thesizeofthedatabasevarieswiththe

numberofhostsandvirtualmachinesyoumanage.Usingdefaultsettingsfora

yearwith25hostsand8to16virtualmachineseach,thetotaldatabasesizecan

consumeupto2.2GB(SQL)or1.0GB(Oracle).

Chapter 6 VMware Infrastructure System Requirements

VirtualCenter 2.xinstallationisnotsupportedon64bitoperatingsystems.(SEEUPDATE)

The VirtualCenter installer requires Internet Explorer 5 5 or later
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/news/bulletins/rollup.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/news/bulletins/rollup.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/news/bulletins/rollup.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/news/bulletins/rollup.mspx

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TheVirtualCenterinstallerrequiresInternetExplorer5.5orlater.

VirtualCenter Database Requirements

VirtualCentersupportsthedatabaseformatslistedinTable 61.

Eachdatabaserequiressomeconfigurationadjustmentsinadditiontothebasic

installation.SeePreparingtheVirtualCenter ServerDatabaseonpage 105.

Table 6-1. Supported Database Formats

Database Type Service Pack, Patch, and Driver Requirements

MicrosoftSQL

Server

2000

Standard SP4

ForWindows2000andWindowsXP,applyMDAC2.8SP1totheclient.UseSQLServerdriverfortheclient.

MicrosoftSQLServer2000Enterprise SP4ForWindows2000andWindowsXP,applyMDAC2.8SP1totheclient.UseSQLServerdriverfortheclient.

MicrosoftSQLServer2005Standard SP1orSP2ForWindows2000andWindowsXP,applyMDAC2.8SP1totheclient.UsetheSQLNativeClientdriverfortheclient.

MicrosoftSQLServer2005Enterprise SP1orSP2ForWindows2000andWindowsXP,applyMDAC2.8SP1totheclient.UseSQLnativeclientdriverfortheclient.

MicrosoftSQLServer2005ExpressSP2 ForWindows2000andWindowsXP,applyMDAC2.8SP1totheclient.UseSQLnativeclientdriverfortheclient.

Oracle9irelease2Standard

Oracle9irelease2Enterprise

Applypatch9.2.0.8.0totheserverandclient.

Oracle10gStandardRelease1(10.1.0.3.0)

Oracle10gEnterpriseRelease1(10.1.0.3.0)

None

Oracle10gStandardRelease2(10.2.0.1.0)

Oracle10gEnterpriseRelease2(10.2.0.1.0)

Firstapplypatch10.2.0.3.0totheclientandserver.Then applypatch5699495totheclient.(SEEUPDATE)


End of Support Life for Microsoft Access and MSDE Databases

SupportforMicrosoftAccesswasdiscontinuedwithVMware VirtualCenter

version 2 0 Support for MSDE is discontinued with VMware VirtualCenter version 2 5

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version 2.0.SupportforMSDEisdiscontinuedwithVMware VirtualCenterversion 2.5.

VirtualCenter 2.5includesabundledversionofMicrosoftSQLServer2005Express,foruseinsmalldeploymentsofupto5hostsand50virtualmachines.

VI Client Hardware Requirements

TheVI Clienthardwaremustmeetthefollowingrequirements:

Processor266MHzorfasterIntelorAMDx86processor(500MHz

recommended).

Memory256MBRAMminimum,512MBrecommended.

DiskStorage150MBfreediskspacerequiredforbasicinstallation.Youmust

have55MBfreeonthedestinationdriveforinstallationoftheprogram,andyou

musthave100MBfreeonthedrivethatcontainsyour%temp% directory.

NetworkingGigabitrecommended.

VI Client Software Requirements

TheVI Clientisdesignedfortheseoperatingsystems:(SEEUPDATE) Windows2000ProSP4

Windows2000ServerSP4withUpdateRollup1(DownloadUpdateRollup1at

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/news/bulletins/rollup.mspx)

WindowsXPProSP2

Windows2003SP1andSP2(allreleasesexcept64bit)

Windows2003ServerR2

WindowsVistaBusiness(including64biteditions)

WindowsVistaEnterprise(including64biteditions)

TheVI ClientrequirestheMicrosoft.NETFramework.Ifyoursystemdoesnthaveit

installed,theVI Clientinstallerinstallsit.

Chapter 6 VMware Infrastructure System Requirements

License Server Requirements

Thissectiondescribesthelicenseserverrequirements.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/news/bulletins/rollup.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/news/bulletins/rollup.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/news/bulletins/rollup.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/news/bulletins/rollup.mspx

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Thelicense

server

hardware

must

meet

the

following

requirements:

Processor266MHzorfasterIntelorAMDx86processor.

Memory256M

vi3_35_25_u2_3i_i_setup

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