Hack Windows XP

Basic System Administration
ESX Server 3.0.1 and Virtual Center 2.0.1

This document supports the version of each product listed and
supports all subsequent versions until the document is replaced
by a new edition. To check for more recent editions of this
document, see http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs.
VI-ENG-Q306-293
VMware, Inc.
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www.vmware.com
2 VMware, Inc.

You can find the most up-to-date technical documentation on the VMware Web site at:
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VMware is a registered trademark or trademark 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, Inc. 3

Contents
Preface 11
GettingStarted
1 VMwareInfrastructureComponents 17
TwoApproachestoManagingVirtualMachines 17
ComponentsofVMwareInfrastructure 19
VirtualInfrastructureClientInterfaces 21
OptionalVirtualCenterComponents 21
ManagedComponents 22
FunctionalComponents 24
AccessPrivilegesComponents 25
2 UsingthisDocument 27
GettingStarted 27
VirtualMachineManagement 28
SystemAdministration 29
Appendixes 29
3 StartingandStoppingtheVMwareInfrastructureComponents 31
ESXServer 31
VirtualCenterServer 33
VerifyingThatVirtualCenterServerStarted 33
RestartingtheVirtualCenterServer 34
StoppingtheVirtualCenterServer 34
VIClient 34
StartingtheVIClientandLoggingOn 35
StoppingtheVIClientandLoggingOff 36
VIWebAccess 36
LoggingInandOutofVIWebAccess 36
VMwareServiceConsole 37
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UsingDHCPfortheServiceConsole 38
ConnectingtotheServiceConsole 38
UsingCommandsontheServiceConsole 38
4 UsingtheVIClient 41
VIClientOverview 41
MenuBar 43
PopUpMenus 45
ConsoleMenu 45
NavigationBar 46
InventoryViewTabs 49
Toolbar 52
StatusBar,RecentTasks,andTriggeredAlarms 53
PanelSections 53
SortingandFilteringLists 54
UsingCustomAttributes 55
SelectingandViewingObjects 57
SelectingObjects 57
MonitoringObjects 58
PerformingActionsonObjects 59
5 SystemConfiguration 61
HostConfigurationforESXServerandVirtualCenter 61
ConfiguringaHost 62
HardwareTab 62
SoftwareTab 63
ViewingNetworkConfigurationInformation 64
ViewingStorageConfigurationInformation 64
ViewingSecurityConfigurationInformation 64
ViewingESXServerCommandInformation 65
VirtualCenterConfiguration 66
ConfiguringVirtualCenterCommunication 68
ConfiguringthePortThatVirtualCenterServerUses 69
ConfiguringVirtualCenterCommunicationoveraWebConnection 69
VirtualMachineConfiguration 71
WorkingwithActiveSessions 73
SNMPConfiguration 74
UsingMIBswithYourSNMPTraps 74
UnderstandingSNMPTrapandVariableDefinitions 75
UsingSNMPtoMonitortheComputerRunningESXServer 77
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Contents

InformationAboutthePhysicalComputer 77
InformationAbouttheVirtualMachines 78
SNMPTraps 78
SettingUpESXServerSNMP 79
InstallingtheESXServerSNMPModule 79
InstallingtheESXServerMIBModule 79
ConfiguringtheESXServerAgentfromtheServiceConsole 79
ConfiguringSNMPTrapDestinations 80
ConfiguringSNMPManagementClientSoftware 80
ConfiguringSNMPSecurity 81
UsingSNMPwithGuestOperatingSystems 81
SystemLogFiles 81
ViewingSystemLogEntries 82
ExternalSystemLogs 83
ExportingDiagnosticData 86
CollectingLogFiles 87
6 ManagingtheVIClientInventory 91
UnderstandingVIClientObjects 91
AddinganInventoryObject 96
MovingObjectsintheInventory 97
RemovinganInventoryObject 98
7 ManagingHostsinVirtualCenter 99
HostsOverview 99
UnderstandingHostStates 101
AddingaHost 101
ConnectingorDisconnectingaHost 104
AutomaticallyReconnectingaHost 106
RemovingaHostfromaCluster 106
RemovingaHostfromVirtualCenter 108
HostAdvancedConfigurationOptions 110
VirtualMachineManagement
8 CreatingVirtualMachines 113
UsingtheNewVirtualMachineWizard 114
CreatingTypicalVirtualMachines 115
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CreatingCustomVirtualMachines 121
MappingaSANLUN 130
InstallingaGuestOperatingSystem 132
InstallingandUpgradingVMwareTools 133
Limitations 133
VMwareToolsPropertiesDialogBox 135
OptionsTab 135
DevicesTab 136
ScriptsTab 136
AboutTab 138
AutomatedVMwareToolsUpgrades 138
9 ManagingVirtualMachines 141
ChangingVirtualMachinePowerStates 141
UnderstandingVirtualMachinePowerStates 142
UnderstandingTransitionalPowerStates 144
ManuallyPoweringaVirtualMachineOnandOff 144
UsingSuspendandResume 145
SchedulingaPowerStateChangeforaVirtualMachine 146
AddingandRemovingVirtualMachines 150
AddingExistingVirtualMachinestoVirtualCenter 150
RemovingandReturningVirtualMachinesfromVirtualCenter 151
ReturningaVirtualMachinetoVirtualCenter 152
StartingandShuttingDownVirtualMachines 155
10 ConfiguringVirtualMachines 159
VirtualMachinePropertiesEditor 159
ChangingtheHardwareConfigurationofaVirtualMachine 160
ChangingVirtualMachineOptions 170
ChangingVirtualMachineResourceSettings 175
CPUResources 175
AdvancedCPUSettings 176
MemoryResources 178
DiskResources 179
ChangingtheAudioConfiguration 180
AddingNewHardware 181
AddingDVD/CDROMorFloppyDevices 183
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Contents

11 CustomizingGuestOperatingSystems 189
PreparingforGuestCustomization 190
CustomizingaWindowsGuestOperatingSystem 190
UsingtheCustomizationSpecificationWizard 196
UsingtheCloneVirtualMachineWizard 199
CompletingaGuestOperatingSystemCustomization 200
CompletingLinuxGuestOperatingSystemCustomization 200
CompletingWindowsGuestOperatingSystemCustomization 201
12 WorkingwithTemplatesandClones 203
UnderstandingTemplates 203
CreatingTemplates 204
EditingaTemplate 208
DeployingVirtualMachinesfromTemplates 209
DeletingaTemplate 212
RegainingTemplates 213
CloninganExistingVirtualMachine 215
CreatingaScheduledTasktoCloneaVirtualMachine 218
13 UsingSnapshots 221
UnderstandingSnapshots 221
RelationshipBetweenSnapshots 222
SnapshotsandOtherActivityintheVirtualMachine 223
TakingaSnapshot 223
ChangingDiskModetoExcludeVirtualDisksfromSnapshots 225
UsingtheSnapshotManager 226
RestoringaSnapshot 227
ParentSnapshot 228
Revert toSnapshotCommand 229
14 MigratingVirtualMachines 231
Overview 231
Migration 233
MigrationwithVMotion 233
VMotionRequirements 234
SharedStorage 234
SharedVMFSVolumeorNASStorage 234
CPUCompatibility 234
NetworkingRequirements 236
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VMotionCompatibility 237
CPUCompatibilityMasks 238
MigrationWizard 239
SystemAdministration
15 ManagingUsers,Groups,Permissions,andRoles 247
AccessElements 248
AccessRules 248
HierarchicalInheritance 249
MultiplePermissionSettings 249
TasksRequiringSettingsonMultipleObjects 250
Users 251
Groups 253
Permissions 254
Roles 254
CreatingRoles 257
CloningRoles 259
EditingRoles 260
RemovingRoles 261
RenamingRoles 262
AccessPermissions 262
AssigningAccessPermissions 263
AdjustingtheSearchListinLargeDomains 266
ChangingAccessPermissions 267
RemovingAccessPermissions 268
16 MonitoringYourVmwareInfrastructureEnvironment 269
MonitoringYourVMwareInfrastructureEnvironment 269
PerformanceCharts 270
PerformanceChartResources 270
PerformanceChartView 271
SelectingPerformanceChartOptions 271
ViewingStackedGraphs 273
SettingtheStatisticsCollectionIntervals 274
ChangingtheStatisticsCollectionLevel 276
Maps 276
GlobalMaps 277
InventoryMaps 277
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Contents

VMotionResourceMaps 277
MapElementsandIcons 279
ViewingtheMaps 280
EditingtheMaps 280
PrintingMaps 284
ExportingMaps 285
NavigatingBetweenMaps 286
DisplayingObjectMenusinMaps 286
17 ManagingTasks,Events,andAlarms 289
ManagingTasks 289
UnderstandingTasks 290
ViewingandPerformingTasks 290
ManagingScheduledTasks 293
ReschedulingaScheduledTask 300
RemovingaScheduledTask 300
CancelingaTask 301
ManagingEvents 303
ViewingAllEventMessages 303
ViewingSelectedEventMessages 305
SortingandFilteringEventMessages 306
ExportingEventMessages 307
ManagingAlarms 308
UnderstandingAlarms 309
PreparingforEmailMessageSMTPAlarmNotification 311
PreparingforSNMPAlarmNotification 312
CreatingAlarms 314
EditingAlarms 320
RemovingAlarms 321
Appendixes
A DefinedPrivileges 325
AlarmManagement 326
Datacenter 327
Datastore 327
Folders 328
Global 329
HostConfiguration 330
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HostInventory 331
HostLocalOperations 332
Network 333
Performance 333
Permissions 334
Resource 334
ScheduledTask 336
Sessions 336
VirtualMachineConfiguration 337
VirtualMachineInteraction 339
VirtualMachineInventory 340
VirtualMachineProvisioning 341
VirtualMachineState 342
B InstallingtheMicrosoftSysprepTools 345
C PerformanceChartMeasurements 349
CPU 350
Disk 350
DRS 352
Memory 352
Network 354
ResourceGroup 354
System 355
Index 357
VMware, Inc. 11

ThisprefacedescribesthecontentsofBasicSystemAdministrationandprovidespointers
toVMware
technicalandeducationalresources.
Thisprefacecontainsthefollowingtopics:
AboutThisBookonpage 11
TechnicalSupportandEducationResourcesonpage 13
About This Book
Thismanual,BasicSystemAdministration,describeshowtostartandstoptheVirtual
InfrastructureClientcomponents,buildyourVMwareInfrastructureenvironment,
monitorandmanagetheinformationgeneratedaboutthecomponents,andsetuproles
andpermissionsforusersandgroupsusingtheVMwareInfrastructureenvironment.
Thismanualalsoprovidesinformationformanaging,creating,andconfiguringvirtual
machinesinyourdatacenter.
Inaddition,thismanualprovidesbriefintroductionstothevarioustasksyoucan
performwithinthesystemaswellascrossreferencestothedocumentationthat
describesallthetasksindetail.
Revision History
Thismanualisrevisedwitheachreleaseoftheproductorwhennecessary.Arevised
versioncancontainminorormajorchanges.Table P1providesyouwiththerevision
historyofthismanual.
Preface
12 VMware, Inc.

Intended Audience
Theinformationpresentedinthismanualiswrittenforsystemadministratorswhoare
experiencedWindowsorLinuxsystemadministratorsandwhoarefamiliarwith
virtualmachinetechnologyanddatacenteroperations.
Document Feedback
Ifyouhavecommentsaboutthisdocumentation,submityourfeedbackto:
docfeedback@vmware.com
VMware Infrastructure Documentation
TheVMwareInfrastructuredocumentationconsistsofthecombinedVirtualCenterand
ESXServerdocumentationset.
Youcanaccessthemostcurrentversionsofthismanualandotherbooksbygoingto:
http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs
Conventions
Table P2illustratesthetypographicconventionsusedinthismanual.
Table P-1. Revision History
Revision Description
20060615 ESXServer3.0andVirtualCenter2.0versionofVMwareInfrastructure3
BasicSystemAdministration.Thisisthefirsteditionofthismanual.
20060921 ESXServer3.0.1andVirtualCenter2.0.1versionofVMwareInfrastructure
3BasicSystemAdministration.Thiseditionincludesminorchangesto
virtualmachinetemplate,newvirtualmachinewizard,andmigration
information.
Table P-2. Conventions Used in This Manual
Style Elements
Blue(onlineonly) Crossreferencesandemailaddresses
Blueboldface(onlineonly) Links
Blackboldface Userinterfaceelementssuchasbuttonnamesandmenuitems
Monospace Commands,filenames,directories,andpaths
Monospace bold Userinput
VMware, Inc. 13
Preface

Abbreviations Used in Graphics
ThegraphicsinthismanualusetheabbreviationslistedinTable P3.
Technical Support and Education Resources
Thefollowingsectionsdescribethetechnicalsupportresourcesavailabletoyou.
Self-Service Support
UsetheVMwareTechnologyNetwork(VMTN)forselfhelptoolsandtechnical
information:
Productinformationhttp://www.vmware.com/products/
Technologyinformationhttp://www.vmware.com/vcommunity/technology
Documentationhttp://www.vmware.com/support/pubs
VMTNKnowledgeBasehttp://www.vmware.com/support/kb
Discussionforumshttp://www.vmware.com/community
Italic Documenttitles,glossaryterms,andoccasionalemphasis
<Name> Variableandparameternames
Table P-2. Conventions Used in This Manual (Continued)
Style Elements
Table P-3. Abbreviations
Abbreviation Description
VC VirtualCenter
VI VirtualInfrastructureClient
server VirtualCenterServer
database VirtualCenterdatabase
hostn VirtualCentermanagedhosts
VM# Virtualmachinesonamanagedhost
user# Userwithaccesspermissions
dsk# Storagediskforthemanagedhost
datastore Storageforthemanagedhost
SAN Storageareanetworktypedatastoresharedbetweenmanagedhosts
tmplt Template
14 VMware, Inc.

Usergroupshttp://www.vmware.com/vcommunity/usergroups.html
FormoreinformationabouttheVMwareTechnologyNetwork,goto
http://www.vmtn.net.
Online and Telephone Support
Useonlinesupporttosubmittechnicalsupportrequests,viewyourproductand
contractinformation,andregisteryourproducts.Goto
http://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.
VMware, Inc. 15

Getting Started
16 VMware, Inc.

VMware, Inc. 17
1
ThischapterintroducesVMwareInfrastructurecomponentsandtheoperationsthat
youusewhenmanagingyourvirtualmachinesthroughESXServerorVirtualCenter
Server.
Thischaptercontainsthefollowingtopics:
TwoApproachestoManagingVirtualMachinesonpage 17
ComponentsofVMwareInfrastructureonpage 19
VirtualInfrastructureClientInterfacesonpage 21
OptionalVirtualCenterComponentsonpage 21
ManagedComponentsonpage 22
FunctionalComponentsonpage 24
AccessPrivilegesComponentsonpage 25
Two Approaches to Managing Virtual Machines
VirtualInfrastructureClient(VIClient)isaflexible,configurablesolutionformanaging
yourvirtualmachines.Therearetwoprimarymethodsformanagingyourvirtual
machines:
DirectlythroughanESXServer(asingleorstandalonehost)thatcanmanageonly
thosevirtualmachines,andtheirresources,installedonit.
ThroughaVirtualCenterServerthatmanagesmultiplevirtualmachinesandtheir
resourcesdistributedovermanyESXServerhosts.
VMware Infrastructure
Components 1
18 VMware, Inc.
ThefigurebelowillustratesthecomponentsinanESXServerVirtualInfrastructure.
Figure 1-1. VMware Infrastructure Components with an ESX Server
ThefigurebelowillustratesthecomponentsinaVirtualCenterServerVirtual
Infrastructure.
Figure 1-2. VMware Infrastructure Components with a VirtualCenter Server
datastore
VM VM VM
VI Client
Host Agent
VI Client
ESX Server host
VC
database
shared
datastore
datastore
VM VM VM
VirtualCenter
Agent
VirtualCenter
Server
VirtualCenter
License Server
VirtualCenter
Agent
VirtualCenter
Agent
VM VM VM VM VM VM
VI Client VI Client
ESX Server host ESX Server host ESX Server host
VI Client VI Client VI Client
VMware, Inc. 19
Chapter 1 VMware Infrastructure Components
Components of VMware Infrastructure
TorunyourVMwareInfrastructureenvironment,youneedthefollowingitems:
ESXServerThevirtualizationplatformusedtocreatethevirtualmachinesasa
setofconfigurationanddiskfilesthattogetherperformallthefunctionsofa
physicalmachine.
ThroughESXServer,yourunthevirtualmachines,installoperatingsystems,run
applications,andconfigurethevirtualmachines.Configurationincludes
identifyingthevirtualmachinesresources,suchasstoragedevices.
Theserverincorporatesaresourcemanagerandserviceconsolethatprovides
bootstrapping,management,andotherservicesthatmanageyourvirtual
machines.
EachESXServerhasaVIClientavailableforyourmanagementuse.IfyourESX
ServerisaregisteredhostwiththeVirtualCenterManagementServer,aVIClient
thataccommodatestheVirtualCenterfeaturesisavailable.
VirtualCenterAservicethatactsasacentraladministratorforVMwareESX
Serverhoststhatareconnectedonanetwork.VirtualCenterdirectsactionsonthe
virtualmachinesandthevirtualmachinehosts(theESXServerhosts).
VirtualCenterManagementServer(VirtualCenterServer)Theworkingcoreof
VirtualCenter.VirtualCenterServerisasingleWindowsServiceandisinstalledto
runautomatically.AsaWindowsService,theVirtualCenterServerruns
continuouslyinthebackground,performingitsmonitoringandmanaging
activitiesevenwhennoVIClientsareconnectedandevenifnobodyisloggedon
tothecomputerwhereitresides.Itmusthavenetworkaccesstoallthehostsit
managesandbeavailablefornetworkaccessfromanymachinewheretheVI
Clientisrun.
VirtualCenterdatabaseApersistentstorageareaformaintainingstatusofeach
virtualmachine,host,andusermanagedintheVirtualCenterenvironment.The
VirtualCenterdatabasecanberemoteorlocaltotheVirtualCenterServermachine.
ThedatabaseisinstalledandconfiguredduringVirtualCenterinstallation.
IfyouareaccessingyourESXServerdirectlythroughaVIClient,andnotthrough
aVirtualCenterServerandassociatedVIClient,youdonotuseaVirtualCenter
database.
DatastoreThestoragelocationsforthevirtualmachinefilesspecifiedwhen
creatingvirtualmachines.Datastoreshidetheidiosyncrasiesofvariousstorage
options(suchasVMFSvolumesonlocalSCSIdisksoftheserver,theFibreChannel
SANdiskarrays,theiSCSISANdiskarrays,orNetworkAttachedStorage(NAS)
20 VMware, Inc.
arrays)andprovideauniformmodelforvariousstorageproductsrequiredby
virtualmachines.
VirtualCenteragentOneachmanagedhost,softwarethatcollects,
communicates,andexecutestheactionsreceivedfromtheVirtualCenterServer.
TheVirtualCenteragentisinstalledthefirsttimeanyESXServerhostisaddedto
theVirtualCenterinventory.
HostagentOneachmanagedhost,softwarethatcollects,communicates,and
executestheactionsreceivedthroughtheVIClient.ItisinstalledaspartoftheESX
Serverinstallation.
VirtualCenterlicenseserverServerthatstoressoftwarelicensesrequiredfor
mostoperationsinVirtualCenterandESXServer,suchaspoweringonavirtual
machine.
VirtualCenterandESXServersupporttwomodesoflicensing:license
serverbasedandhostbased.Inhostbasedlicensingmode,thelicensefilesare
storedonindividualESXServerhosts.Inlicenseserverbasedlicensingmode,
licensesarestoredonalicenseserver,whichmakestheselicensesavailabletoone
ormorehosts.Youcanrunamixedenvironmentemployingbothhostbasedand
licenseserverbasedlicensing.
VirtualCenterandfeaturesthatrequireVirtualCenter,suchasVMotion,mustbe
licensedinlicenseserverbasedmode.ESXServerspecificfeaturescanbelicensed
ineitherlicenseserverbasedorhostbasedmode.
Forcompleteinformationoninstallingthesecomponents,refertotheInstallation
andUpgradeGuide.ForcompleteinformationonconfiguringESXServer,referto
theServerConfigurationGuide.
VMware, Inc. 21
Virtual Infrastructure Client Interfaces
VirtualInfrastructureClientinterfaceoptionsinclude:
VirtualInfrastructureClient(VIClient)Arequiredcomponentandtheprimary
interfaceforcreating,managing,andmonitoringvirtualmachines,theirresources,
andtheirhosts.Italsoprovidesconsoleaccesstovirtualmachines.
VIClientisinstalledonaWindowsmachinewithnetworkaccesstoyourESX
ServerorVirtualCenterServerinstallation.Theinterfacedisplaysslightlydifferent
optionsdependingonwhichtypeofserveryouareconnectedto.Whileall
VirtualCenteractivitiesareperformedbytheVirtualCenterServer,youmustuse
theVIClienttomonitor,manage,andcontroltheserver.AsingleVirtualCenter
ServerorESXServercansupportmultiple,simultaneouslyconnectedVIClients.
VirtualInfrastructureWebAccess(VIWebAccess)AWebinterfacethrough
whichyoucanperformbasicvirtualmachinemanagementandconfigurationand
getconsoleaccesstovirtualmachines.ItisinstalledwithyourESXServer.Similar
totheVIClient,VIWebAccessworksdirectlywithanESXServerhostorthrough
VirtualCenter.RefertotheVIWebAccessAdministratorsGuideforadditional
information.
VMwareServiceConsoleAcommandlineinterfaceforconfiguringyourESX
Server.Typically,thisisusedinconjunctionwithaVMwaretechnicalsupport
representative.
Optional VirtualCenter Components
AdditionalVirtualCenterfeaturesinclude:
VMotionAfeaturethatenablesyoutomoverunningvirtualmachinesfromone
ESXServertoanotherwithoutserviceinterruption.Itrequireslicensingonboth
thesourceandtargethost.TheVirtualCenterServercentrallycoordinatesall
VMotionactivities.
VMwareHAAfeaturethatenablesaclusterwithHighAvailability.Ifahostgoes
down,allvirtualmachinesthatwereonthehostarepromptlyrestartedon
differenthosts.
WhenyouenabletheclusterforHA,youspecifythenumberofhostsyouwould
liketobeabletorecover.Ifyouspecifythenumberofhostfailuresallowedas1,
HAmaintainsenoughcapacityacrosstheclustertotoleratethefailureofonehost.
Allrunningvirtualmachinesonthathostcanberestartedonremaininghosts.By
default,youcannotpoweronavirtualmachineifdoingsoviolatesrequired
failovercapacity.SeeResourceManagementGuide.
22 VMware, Inc.
VMwareDRSAfeaturethathelpsimproveresourceallocationacrossallhosts
andresourcepools.VMwareDRScollectsresourceusageinformationforallhosts
andvirtualmachinesintheclusterandgivesrecommendations(ormigrates
virtualmachines)inoneoftwosituations:
InitialplacementWhenyoufirstpoweronavirtualmachineinthecluster,
DRSeitherplacesthevirtualmachineormakesarecommendation.
LoadbalancingDRStriestoimproveresourceutilizationacrossthecluster
byperformingautomaticmigrationsofvirtualmachines(VMotion)orby
providingarecommendationforvirtualmachinemigrations.
VMwareInfrastructureSDKpackageAPIsformanagingvirtualinfrastructure
anddocumentationdescribingthoseAPIs.TheSDKalsoincludesthe
VirtualCenterWebServiceinterface,WebServicesDescriptionLanguage(WSDL),
andexamplefiles.Thisisavailablethroughanexternallink.TodownloadtheSDK
package,refertohttp://www.vmware.com/support/developer.
Managed Components
VirtualCentermonitorsandmanagesvariouscomponentsofyourvirtualandphysical
infrastructure.Somecomponentsareavailablefororganizingpotentiallyhundredsof
virtualmachinesandotherobjects.Theycanberenamedtorepresenttheirpurposes;
forexample,theycanbenamedaftercompanydepartmentsorlocationsorfunctions.
Themanagedcomponentsare:
VirtualMachinesandTemplatesAvirtualizedx86personalcomputer
environmentinwhichaguestoperatingsystemandassociatedapplication
softwarecanrun.Multiplevirtualmachinescanoperateonthesamemanagedhost
machineconcurrently.Templatesareadesignatedtypeofvirtualmachine.
HostsTheprimarycomponentuponwhichallvirtualmachinesreside.Ifthe
VirtualInfrastructureClientisconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,therecanbe
manyhosts.IftheVirtualInfrastructureClientisconnectedtoanESXServer,there
canbeonlyonehost.
ResourcepoolsAstructurethatallowsdelegationofcontrolovertheresources
ofahost.Resourcepoolsareusedtocompartmentalizeallresourcesinacluster.
Youcancreatemultipleresourcepoolsasdirectchildrenofahostorclusterand
NOTE WhenVirtualCenterreferstoahost,thismeansthephysicalmachineonwhichthe
virtualmachinesarerunning.AllvirtualmachineswithintheVMware
InfrastructureenvironmentarephysicallyonESXServerhosts.Thetermhostin
thismanualmeanstheESXServerhostthathasvirtualmachinesonit.
VMware, Inc. 23
configurethem.Thendelegatecontroloverthemtootherindividualsor
organizations.ThemanagedresourcesareCPUandmemoryfromahostorcluster.
Virtualmachinesexecutein,anddrawtheirresourcesfrom,resourcepools.
ClustersAcollectionofESXServerhostswithsharedresourcesandashared
managementinterface.Whenyouaddahosttoacluster,thehostsresources
becomepartoftheclustersresources.Theclustermanagestheresourcesofall
hosts.RefertotheResourceManagementGuide.
DatastoresVirtualrepresentationsofcombinationsofunderlyingphysical
storageresourcesinthedatacenter.Thesephysicalstorageresourcescancome
fromthelocalSCSIdiskoftheserver,theFibreChannelSANdiskarrays,theiSCSI
SANdiskarrays,orNetworkAttachedStorage(NAS)arrays.
NetworksNetworksthatconnectvirtualmachinestoeachotherinthevirtual
environmentortothephysicalnetworkoutside.
FoldersContainersusedtogroupobjectsandorganizethemintohierarchies.
Thisisnotonlyconvenientbutalsoprovidesanaturalstructureuponwhichto
applypermissions.
Therearethreetypesoffolders,eachofwhichcancontainotherfolders(ofthe
sametype)andexactlyoneothertypeofobject.Theseobjectsare:
Datacenters
Virtualmachines(whichincludetemplates)
Computeresources(whichincludehostsandclusters)
Thedatacenterfoldersformahierarchydirectlyundertherootnodeandallow
userstogrouptheirdatacentersinanyconvenientway.Withineachdatacenteris
onehierarchyoffolderswithvirtualmachinesand/ortemplatesandonehierarchy
offolderswithhostsandclusters.
DatacentersUnlikeafolder,whichisusedtoorganizeaspecificobjecttype,a
datacenterisanaggregationofallthedifferenttypesofobjectsneededtodowork
invirtualinfrastructure:hosts,virtualmachines,networks,anddatastores.
Withinadatacentertherearefourseparatehierarchies.Becauseitisnotpossibleto
putnetworksordatastoresintofolders,thesefourhierarchiesarealwaysflatlists:
Virtualmachines(andtemplates)
Hosts(andclusters)
Networks
Datastores
24 VMware, Inc.
Datacentersactasthenamespaceboundaryfortheseobjects.Youcannothavetwo
objects(forexample,twohosts)withthesamenameinthesamedatacenter,but
youcanhavetwoobjectswiththesamenameindifferentdatacenters.Becauseof
thenamespaceproperty,VMotionispermittedbetweenanytwocompatiblehosts
withinadatacenter,butevenpoweredoffvirtualmachinescannotbemoved
betweenhostsindifferentdatacenters.Movinganentirehostbetweentwo
datacentersispermitted.
Functional Components
Thefunctionalcomponentsmonitorandmanagetasks.Thefunctionalcomponentsare
availablethroughanavigationbuttonbarintheVIClient.Theoptionsare:
InventoryAviewofallthemonitoredobjectsinVirtualCenter.Monitored
objectsincludedatacenters,resourcepools,clusters,networks,datastores,
templates,hosts,andvirtualmachines.
ScheduledtasksAlistofactivitiesandameanstoschedulethoseactivities.This
isavailablethroughVirtualCenterServeronly.
EventsAlistofalltheeventsthatoccurintheVirtualCenterenvironment.Use
theNavigationoptiontodisplayalltheevents.Useanobjectspecificpanelto
displayonlytheeventsrelativetothatobject.
AdminAlistofenvironmentlevelconfigurationoptions.TheAdminoption
providesconfigurationaccesstoRoles,Sessions,Licenses,Diagnostics,and
SystemLogs.WhenconnectedtoanESXServer,onlytheRolesoptionappears.
MapsAvisualrepresentationofthestatusandstructureoftheVMware
Infrastructureenvironmentandtherelationshipsbetweenmanagedobjects.This
includeshosts,networks,virtualmachines,anddatastores.Thisisavailableonly
throughVirtualCenterServer.
VariousinformationlistsaregeneratedandtrackedbyyourVirtualInfrastructure
Clientactivity:
TasksTheseactivitiesarescheduledorinitiatedmanually.Tasksgenerateevent
messagesthatindicateanyissuesassociatedwiththetask.
EventsMessagesthatreportVirtualInfrastructureactivity.Eventmessagesare
predefinedintheproduct.
AlarmsSpecificnotificationsthatoccurinresponsetoselectedevents.Some
alarmsaredefinedbyproductdefault.Additionalalarmscanbecreatedand
appliedtoselectedinventoryobjectsorallinventoryobjects.
VMware, Inc. 25
LogsStoredreferenceinformationrelatedtoselectedeventmessages.Logsare
predefinedintheproduct.Youcanconfigurewhetherselectedlogsaregenerated.
Access Privileges Components
EachuserlogsontoaVirtualCenteroranESXServerthroughtheVIClient.Eachuser
isidentifiedtotheserverassomeonewhohasrightsandprivilegestoselectedobjects,
suchasdatacentersandvirtualmachines,withintheVMwareInfrastructure
environment.VirtualCenterServeritselfhasfullrightsandprivilegesonallhostsand
virtualmachineswithintheVMwareInfrastructureenvironment.Theserverpasseson
onlythoseactionsandrequestsfromauserthattheuserhaspermissiontoperform.
TheservergrantsaccesstoeachVirtualInfrastructureClientobject,datacenter,folder,
orvirtualmachine.Todothis,youassignaroleandauser(orgroup)toeachobject.
IndividualpermissionsareassignedthroughtheVIClientbypairingauserandarole
andassigningthispairtoaVirtualInfrastructureClientobject:
UsersandGroupsForVirtualCenter,usersandgroupsarecreatedand
maintainedthroughtheWindowsdomainorActiveDirectorydatabase.Usersand
groupsareregisteredwithVirtualCenter,orcreatedandregisteredwithanESX
Server,throughtheprocessthatassignsprivileges.
RolesAsetofaccessrightsandprivileges.Thereareselecteddefaultroles.You
canalsocreaterolesandassigncombinationsofprivilegestoeachrole.
26 VMware, Inc.
VMware, Inc. 27

2
BasicSystemAdministrationdescribesthetasksyoumustcompletetoconfigurethe
VirtualInfrastructureClient(VIClient)andvirtualmachines.Beforeusingthe
informationinBasicSystemAdministration,readtheIntroductiontoVMware
Infrastructureforanoverviewofsystemarchitectureandthephysicalandvirtual
devicesthatmakeupaVMwareInfrastructuresystem.
Thisintroductionsummarizesthecontentsofthisguidesothatyoucanfindthe
informationyouneed.Thisguidecoversthesesubjects:
VMwareInfrastructurecomponents
Administrationtools
Systemconfiguration
Virtualmachinemanagementandconfiguration
Accessandpermissionsmanagement
Systemadministrationandmanagement
Getting Started
Theintroductorydiscussionspanssevenchaptersanddescribesthesystem
components,systemmanagementtools,andthebasictasksyoumustcompleteto
configureyourVirtualInfrastructureClient.Theintroductorypartcontainsthe
followingchapters:
UsingthisDocumentSummarizesthecontentsofthisguidesothatyoucanfind
theinformationyouneed.
Using this Document 2
28 VMware, Inc.

VMwareInfrastructureComponentsIntroducesyoutotheVMware
Infrastructurecomponentsandoperationsyouusewhenmanagingyourvirtual
machinesthroughESXServerorVirtualCenterServer.
StartingandStoppingtheVMwareInfrastructureComponentsDescribeshowto
startandstopeachoftheVMwareInfrastructurecomponents.Thisincludesthe
ESXServer,VirtualCenterServer,VirtualInfrastructureClient,Virtual
InfrastructureWebAccess,VirtualCenterhostagent,VirtualCenterlicenseserver,
andtheVMwareServiceConsole.
UsingtheVIClientDescribesthespecificlayoutandnavigationoftheVIClient.
SystemConfigurationContainsinformationforconfiguringadministration
options,VirtualCenterServersettings,andmanaginghostconfigurationoptions.
Italsoincludessomebasicsystemconfigurationinformation,suchashowto
accessandconfigurelogfilesandsetupSNMP.
ManagingtheVIClientInventoryDescribeshowtoperformtaskswithobjectsin
yourVMwareInfrastructureenvironment.Thisincludesfolders,datacenters,
clusters,resourcepools,networks,anddatastores.Theseobjectsareusedto
manageororganizethemonitoredandmanagedhostsandvirtualmachines.
ManagingHostsinVirtualCenterDescribeshowtoperformmanaged
hostrelatedtasks.
Virtual Machine Management
Thevirtualmachinemanagementdiscussionconsistsofsevenchaptersthatprovidea
basicunderstandingofvirtualmachinesandhowtomanage,configure,andcustomize
them.Thevirtualmachinemanagementpartcontainsthefollowingchapters:
CreatingVirtualMachinesDescribeshowtocreatevirtualmachinesbyusingthe
NewVirtualMachinewizardandbycloningexistingvirtualmachines.
ManagingVirtualMachinesDescribesvirtualmachinetasks,includingaddinga
virtualmachinetoandremovingitfromtheVIClientandpoweringonandoff
virtualmachines.
ConfiguringVirtualMachinesDescribeshowtoeditandconfigureyourexisting
virtualmachines.Italsodiscussesadvancedvirtualmachineconfiguration
options.
UsingSnapshotsExplainshowtocapturetheentirestateofthevirtualmachine
usingthesnapshotsfeature.
WorkingwithTemplatesandClonesDescribescreatingtemplatesandusing
virtualmachinetemplatestocreateandprovisionnewvirtualmachines.
VMware, Inc. 29
Chapter 2 Using this Document

MigratingVirtualMachinesDescribestheprocessofmigratingormovinga
virtualmachinefromonehosttoanother.
CustomizingGuestOperatingSystemsExplainshowtocustomizetheidentity
andnetworksettingsofyourvirtualmachinesguestoperatingsystemsothatitis
readytobeginworkimmediatelyinyourtargetenvironment.
System Administration
Thesystemadministrationpartcontainsthefollowingchapters:
ManagingUsers,Groups,Permissions,andRolesDescribeshowtomanage
accesstoVMwareInfrastructureinventoryobjects.Itexplainshowtoconfigure
users,groups,roles,andpermissions.
MonitoringYourVmwareInfrastructureEnvironmentDescribesthe
performancemonitoringpiecesoftheVirtualInfrastructureClientdatapresented
intheVIClient.ItalsodescribestheVirtualInfrastructureClientMapsfeature.
ManagingTasks,Events,andAlarmsDescribeshowtocreate,configure,anduse
tasks,events,andalarms.
Appendixes
BasicSystemAdministrationprovidesthesefourappendixeswithspecialized
informationyoumightfindusefulwhenconfiguringyourVMwareInfrastructure
environment:
DefinedPrivilegesIncludestableswiththepermissionsandrolesthatare
availablewiththeVMwareInfrastructuresystem.
InstallingtheMicrosoftSysprepToolsDescribeshowtoinstalltheMicrosoft
SyspreptoolsonyourVirtualCenterServermachine.InstallingtheSyspreptools
isarequirementifyouplantocustomizeaWindowsguestoperatingsystem.
PerformanceChartMeasurementsIncludestableswiththemeasurementoptions
foreachresourcemonitoredonahost.
30 VMware, Inc.

VMware, Inc. 31

3
Thischapterincludesinformationonhowtostartandstopeachoneofthemajor
VMwareInfrastructurecomponents,ESXServerandVirtualCenterServer.
ESXServeronpage 31
VirtualCenterServeronpage 33
VIClientonpage 34
VIWebAccessonpage 36
VMwareServiceConsoleonpage 37
ESX Server
WhenyouinstallESXServer,itstartsitselfthroughtheinstallationrebootprocess.If
yourESXServerisshutdown,youmustmanuallyrestartit.
To start your ESX Server
OnthephysicalboxwheretheESXServerisinstalled,pressthepowerbuttonuntilthe
poweronsequencebegins.
TheESXServerboots,discoversitsvirtualmachines,andproceedswithitsnormalESX
Serverfunctions.
Youhavetheoptiontopowerofforrestart(reboot)anyESXServerhostmanagedby
VirtualCenter.PoweringoffamanagedhostdisconnectsitfromtheVirtualCenter
Serverbutdoesnotremoveitfromtheinventory.
Starting and Stopping the
VMware Infrastructure
Components 3
32 VMware, Inc.

To reboot or shut down your ESX Server
1 StartaVirtualInfrastructureClient.
RefertoConfiguringVirtualCenterCommunicationonpage 68forinformation.
2 DisplaytheinventorypanelandtheappropriateESXServerhosts.
3 IfconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,displaytheinventorys:Hosts&Clusters
panel.Selecttheappropriaterootfolder(bydefaultlabeledHosts&Clusters)or
subfolder.
4 SelecttheappropriateESXServerintheinventorypanel.
5 Fromthemainorrightclickpopupmenu,chooseRebootorShutDown,as
appropriate.
IfRebootisselected,theESXServershutsdownandreboots.
IfShutDownisselected,theESXServershutsdown.Youmustmanually
powerthesystembackon.
6 Provideareasonfortheshutdown.
Thisinformationisaddedtothelog.
To manually stop your ESX Server
1 LogontoyourESXServerserviceconsole.
RefertoConnectingtotheServiceConsoleonpage 38forinformationon
accessingtheserviceconsole.
2 Executetheshutdowncommand.
Forexample:
: shutdown -h now
ESXServergracefullyshutsdown.Whenitisfinished,amessageindicatesthatit
issafetopoweroffyoursystem.
3 Pressthepowerbuttonuntilthemachinepowersoff.
VMware, Inc. 33
Chapter 3 Starting and Stopping the VMware Infrastructure Components

VirtualCenter Server
VirtualCentermanagesmultiplehoststhatcancontainmultiplevirtualmachines.To
performanyactivitieswiththeVirtualCenter,youmustusetheVirtualInfrastructure
Client.
TheVirtualCenterServerstartswhenyoustarttheWindowsmachineonwhichitis
installed.Italsorestartswhenthismachineisrebooted.
ThefollowingsectionsdiscussstartingandstoppingelementsrelatedtoVirtualCenter:
VerifyingThatVirtualCenterServerStartedonpage 33
RestartingtheVirtualCenterServeronpage 34
StoppingtheVirtualCenterServeronpage 34
Verifying That VirtualCenter Server Started
VirtualCenterisaservice,soproceedtoyourWindowsserviceslistandverifythatthe
servicestarted.
To verify that the VirtualCenter Server is running
1 GototheServicesdisplayforyourversionofWindows.
Forexample,selectControlPanel>AdministrativeTools>Services.Click
VMwareInfrastructureServer.
TheStatuscolumnindicateswhethertheservicestarted.
2 RightclicktheVMwareInfrastructureServerandchooseProperties.Inthe
VMwareVirtualCenterServicesPropertiesdialogbox,clicktheGeneraltaband
viewtheservicestatus.
NOTE WhenVirtualCenterisinstalled,allusersinthelocalmachinesAdministratorsgroup
areassignedtheAdministratorrolewithfullprivilegesintheVirtualCenter
environment.AVirtualCenterAdministratormustsetpermissionsforallother
VirtualCenterusers.RefertoAssigningAccessPermissionsonpage 263for
additionalinformation.
34 VMware, Inc.

Restarting the VirtualCenter Server
TheVirtualCenterServerservicestartswhenthemachineonwhichitisinstalledis
booted.IfyouhavemanuallystoppedtheVirtualCenterServerserviceormuststartit
foranyreason,performthestepsbelow.
To restart the VirtualCenter Server through Windows Services
Forexample,selectControlPanel>AdministrativeTools>Services.Click
VMwareInfrastructureServer.
2 RightclickVMwareInfrastructureServer,chooseStart,andwaitforstartupto
complete.
3 ClosethePropertiesdialogbox.
Stopping the VirtualCenter Server
TheVirtualCenterServerisaWindowsservice.YoucanusetheWindowsinterfaceto
selecttheserviceandstopit.
YoushouldnothavetostoptheVirtualCenterServer.ItisbestfortheVirtualCenter
Servertohavecontinuousoperation.Continuousoperationensuresthatallmonitoring
andtaskactivitiesareperformedasexpected.
To stop the VirtualCenter Server
Forexample,selectStart>ControlPanel>AdministrativeTools>Services.Click
VMwareVirtualCenterService.
2 RightclicktheVMwareVirtualCenterServer,chooseStop,andwaitforittostop.
3 ClosethePropertiesdialogbox.
VI Client
TheVirtualInfrastructureClientisusedtologontoeitheraVirtualCenterServeroran
ESXServer.EachserversupportsmultipleVIClientlogons.TheVIClientcanbe
installedonanymachinethathasnetworkaccesstotheVirtualCenterServeroranESX
server.
Bydefault,administratorsareallowedtologontoaVirtualCenterServer.
Administratorsherearedefinedtobeeither:
VMware, Inc. 35

MembersofthelocalAdministratorsgroupiftheVirtualCenterServerisnota
domaincontroller.
MembersofthedomainAdministratorsgroupiftheVirtualCenterServerisa
domaincontroller.
Starting the VI Client and Logging On
TheVIClientistheinterfacetoboththeESXServerandtheVirtualCenterServer.When
youstarttheVIClient,ithasasingleopeningpage.Whenyoulogon,theVIClient
displaysonlythefeaturesandfunctionsthatareappropriatetothetypeofserveryou
loggedonto.
To start a VI Client session
1 LogontoyourWindowssystem.
2 ThefirsttimeyoustarttheVIClient,logonastheadministrator.
a Ifthemanagedhostisnotadomaincontroller,logonaseither<local host
name>\<user>or<user>,where<user>isamemberofthelocal
Administratorsgroup.
b Ifthemanagedhostisadomaincontroller,youmustlogonas
<domain>\<user>,where<domain>isthedomainnameforwhichthe
managedhostisacontrollerand<user> isamemberofthatdomains
DomainAdministratorsgroup.Thispracticeofrunningonadomain
controllerisnotrecommended.
3 LaunchtheVIClient.
4 DoubleclickashortcutorchoosetheapplicationthroughStart>Programs>
VMware>VMwareVirtualInfrastructureClient2.
5 Logontothedesiredserver.
6 Enterorchoosetheservername,yourusername,andyourpasswordforthat
server.ClickLogIntocontinue.
IfthisisthefirsttimeyouhaveloggedontotheVirtualCenterServer,anempty
Inventoryscreenappears.Addadatacenterandhosttobeginmonitoringand
managingyourvirtualmachinesthroughtheVirtualInfrastructureClient.Referto
ManagingtheVIClientInventoryonpage 91foradditionalinformation.
NOTE OnlypreviouslytypedserversappearintheServerpulldownlist.
36 VMware, Inc.

Stopping the VI Client and Logging Off
WhenyounolongermustvieworaltertheactivitiesthatVirtualCenterisperforming,
logoffoftheVIClient.
To stop a VI Client session
1 Clicktheclosebox(X)inthecorneroftheVIClientwindow,orchooseFile>Exit.
TheVIClientshutsdown.TheVIClientisloggedofftheserver.Theserver
continuestorunallitsnormalactivitiesinthebackground.Anyscheduledtasks
aresavedandperformedbytheVirtualCenterServer.
VI Web Access
VI WebAccessistheWebinterfacethroughwhichyoucanmanageyourvirtual
machines.VI WebAccessisinstalledwhenyouinstallESXServer.AswiththeVI
Client,VIWebAccesscaneitherbeusedtoconnectdirectlytoanESXServerorto
VirtualCenter.ThefunctionalityofVI WebAccessisasubsetofVIClientfunctionality.
TheVI WebAccessconsoleprovidesaremotemousekeyboardscreen(MKS)forthe
virtualmachines.Youcaninteractwithaguestoperatingsystemrunninginavirtual
machineandconnectremotelytothevirtualmachinesmouse,keyboard,andscreen.
ForinformationonhowtouseVI WebAccesstoconfigurevirtualmachinesforESX
ServerandVirtualCenter,seetheVirtualInfrastructureWebAccessAdministratorsGuide.
Logging In and Out of VI Web Access
VIWebAccessusesaWebinterfaceandaninternetconnectiontoaccessyourESX
ServerorVirtualCenterServer.
To log in to VI Web Access
1 LaunchyourWebbrowser.
2 EntertheURLofyourESXServeroryourVirtualCenterServerinstallation:
https://<host or server name>/ui
NOTE ClosingaVIClientdoesnotstoptheserver.
VMware, Inc. 37

TheVIWebAccessloginpageappears.
Theloginpagecontainsfieldsforyourusernameandpassword.Thisusername
andpasswordarethesamecredentialsyouwoulduseifyouconnectedusingthe
VIClient.Also,thesamepermissionsareusedtodetermineifausercanviewand
manipulateobjects.VI WebAccessdoesnothaveitsownconceptofusersor
permissions.
3 Typeyourusernameandpassword,andclickLogIn.
TheVI WebAccesshomepageappears.
AfteryourusernameandpasswordareauthorizedbyVI WebAccess,theVI Web
Accesshomepageappears.TheVI WebAccesshomepagecontains:
Detailsaboutvirtualmachinesontheservertowhichyouareconnected.
Theoptiontoaccessthedetailspageforavirtualmachinewhereyoufind
informationaboutvirtualdevices,configurationoptions,andasummaryof
recentevents.
To log out of VI Web Access
ClicktheLogOutlinkfoundatthecornerofeverypage.Youarepromptedtoconfirm
thatyouwanttologout.
VMware Service Console
InpreviousversionsofESXServer,theserviceconsolewasoneoftheinterfacestoESX
Serverhosts.StartingwithESXServer3,manyofthecommandsaredeprecated.
ServiceconsoleistypicallyusedonlyinconjunctionwithaVMwaretechnicalsupport
representative.
TheVMwareInfrastructureSDKisusedforscriptedmanipulationofyourVMware
Infrastructureinstead.TheVirtualInfrastructureClientistheprimaryinterfacetoall
NOTE IfyouareusinganyremoteclientdevicesthroughVI WebAccess,theyare
disconnectedwhenyoulogout.
38 VMware, Inc.

nonscriptedactivities,includingconfiguring,monitoring,andmanagingyourvirtual
machinesandresources.
Using DHCP for the Service Console
TherecommendedsetupistousestaticIPaddressesfortheserviceconsole.Youcanset
uptheserviceconsoletouseDHCP,ifyourDNSserveriscapableofmappingthe
serviceconsoleshostnametothedynamicallygeneratedIPaddress.
IfyourDNSservercannotmapthehostsnametoitsDHCPgeneratedIPaddress,you
mustdeterminetheserviceconsolesnumericIPaddressyourself.Anothercaution
againstusingDHCPisthatthenumericIPaddressmightchangeasDHCPleasesrun
outorwhenthesystemisrebooted.Forthisreason,VMwaredoesnotrecommend
usingDHCPfortheserviceconsoleunlessyourDNSservercanhandlethehostname
translation.
Connecting to the Service Console
Whetheryouusetheserviceconsolelocallyorthrougharemoteconnection,youmust
logonusingavalidusernameandpassword.
IfyouhavedirectaccesstothecomputerwhereESXServerisrunning,youcanlogon
tothephysicalconsoleonthatcomputer.
To log on to the ESX Server service console
PressAltF2togettothelogonscreen.
DependingonthesecuritysettingsforyourESXServercomputer,youmightbeableto
connectremotelytotheserviceconsoleusingsshorTelnet.Formoreinformationonthe
securitysettings,refertotheServerConfigurationGuide.
Using Commands on the Service Console
TheserviceconsolerunsamodifiedversionofLinux,andmanyofthecommands
availableonLinuxorUNIXarealsoavailableontheserviceconsole.Detailedusage
notesformostserviceconsolecommandsareavailableasmanualormanfiles.
To view the man page for a particular command
Attheserviceconsolecommandline,typethemancommandfollowedbythenameof
thecommandforwhichyouwanttorefertoinformation,forexample:
CAUTION Donotusedynamic(DHCP)addressingwhensharingthenetworkadapter
assignedtotheserviceconsolewithvirtualmachines.ESXServerrequiresa
staticIPaddressfortheserviceconsolewhensharinganetworkadapter.
VMware, Inc. 39

: man <command>
Foradditionalinformationoncommands,refertothefollowingresources:
FormoredetailedinformationonESXServerrelatedcommands,seetheServer
ConfigurationGuide.
FormoreinformationonLinuxcommands,consultaLinuxreferencebook.
40 VMware, Inc.

VMware, Inc. 41

4
ThischapterdescribesthespecificlayoutandnavigationoftheVIClient.Italso
containsinformationforconfiguringadminoptions,VirtualCenterServersettings,and
managinghostconfigurationoptions.
Thischaptercontainsthefollowingsections:
VIClientOverviewonpage 41
SortingandFilteringListsonpage 54
UsingCustomAttributesonpage 55
SelectingandViewingObjectsonpage 57
VI Client Overview
TheVirtualInfrastructureClientadaptstotheserveritisconnectedto.WhentheVI
ClientisconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,theVIClientdisplaysalltheoptions
availabletotheVMwareVirtualInfrastructureenvironment,basedonthelicensingyou
haveconfiguredandthepermissionsoftheuser.WhentheVIClientisconnectedtoan
ESXServer,theVIClientdisplaysonlytheoptionsappropriatetosinglehost
management.
ThedefaultVirtualInfrastructureClientlayoutisasinglewindowwithamenubar,a
navigationbar,atoolbar,astatusbar,apanelsection,andpopupmenus.
Using the VI Client 4
42 VMware, Inc.

Figure 4-1. Virtual Infrastructure Client Layout
TheVIClientareasarecoveredinthefollowingsections:
MenuBaronpage 43
PopUpMenusonpage 45
ConsoleMenuonpage 45
NavigationBaronpage 46
InventoryViewTabsonpage 49
Toolbaronpage 52
StatusBar,RecentTasks,andTriggeredAlarmsonpage 53
PanelSectionsonpage 53
Menus
Navigation
bar Toolbar Inventory tabs
Status Information panel Status bar Inventory panel
Pop-up menu
Console button
VMware, Inc. 43
Chapter 4 Using the VI Client

Menu Bar
Themenubarprovidesaccesstoallcommandsandoperatesinamannerconsistent
withotherWindowsapplications.Thetablesbelowlistallthemenuitemsavailable
fromthesefivemenus.ThemenuitemsavailablevarydependinguponwhethertheVI
ClientisconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServeroranESXServer.Themenubaroptions
are:
FileMenuSimilartotheFilemenuinmostapplicationswithtwoexceptions:
AprintmenuitemisnotavailableontheFilemenu.Toprint,usethePrint
ScreenmechanisminWindowstotakeacopyoftheVIClientwindowor
exporttheVirtualCenterdatatoanotherformatandprintfromanother
application.
Asavemenuitemisnotavailable.TheVIClientissimilartoabrowser.Most
usermanipulationsarepersistentinthedisplayoftheVirtualCenterdata.
InTable 41,anasterisk(*)indicatesitemsthatareavailableonlywhenconnected
toVirtualCenterServer.
EditMenuDisplaysmenuitemsrelevanttotheselectedobject.
ViewMenuControlswhichpanelsarevisible.Thisprovidesamenuitemfor
selectingoneofthenavigationbuttons.
Table 4-1. File Menu Items
File> New> VirtualMachine|AddHost*|Cluster*|ResourcePool|Folder*
|Datacenter*|Alarm*|ScheduledTask*|AddPermission
File> Export> ExportEvents*|ExportList|Licenses|ExportMaps*
File> Report> HostSummary|Performance
File> Exit
Table 4-2. Edit Menu Items
Edit> Rename|Remove|CustomizationSpecifications|VIClientSettings
Table 4-3. View Menu Items
View> Toolbar|StatusBar|Inventory|ScheduledTasks*|Events|Administration
|Maps*|Filtering
44 VMware, Inc.

WhenconnectedtotheVirtualCenterServer,theView>Inventorymenuparsesthe
inventoryobjectviewsintogroups.
InventoryMenuDisplaysmenuitemsrelevanttotheselectedobjectinthe
inventorypanel.
Table 4-4. View Menu > Inventory Items
View> Inventory> Hosts&Clusters|VirtualMachines&Templates|Networks|
Datastores
Table 4-5. Inventory Menu Items
Inventory> Datacenter> NewFolder|NewCluster|AddHost|Remove|
Rename
Inventory> VirtualMachine> PowerOn|PowerOff|Suspend|Reset|Shut
DownGuest|StandbyGuest|RestartGuest|
Snapshot|Migrate|Clone|ClonetoTemplate|
ConverttoTemplate|OpenConsole|Sent
Ctrl+Alt+Del|AnswerQuestion|Report
Performance|InstallVMwareTools|EditSettings
|Rename|RemovefromInventory|Deletefrom
Disk
Inventory> Templates*> PowerOn|PowerOff|Suspend|Reset|Shut
DownGuest|RestartGuest|Snapshot|Migrate
|Clone|ClonetoTemplate|ConverttoTemplate
|OpenConsole|SentCtrl+Alt+Del|Answer
Question|ReportPerformance|InstallVMware
Tools|EditSettings|Rename|Removefrom
Inventory|DeletefromDisk
Inventory> Host> NewVirtualMachine|Connect*|Disconnect*|
EnterMaintenanceMode|ShutDown|Reboot|
ReportSummary|ReportPerformance|
AdvancedSettings|Remove*|RelocateVMFiles
Inventory> Cluster*> AddHost|NewVirtualMachine|NewResource
Pool|EditSettings|Remove|Rename
Inventory> ResourcePool> NewVirtualMachine|NewResourcePool|
ReportPerformance*|Remove|Rename
Inventory> Datastore*> BrowseDatastore|Rename|Remove|Refresh
Inventory> Network*> Remove
Inventory> Permission> Add|Delete|Properties
VMware, Inc. 45

AdministrationMenuDisplaysconfigurationoptionsthatapplyacrossthe
VirtualInfrastructureenvironment.
HelpMenuDisplaystheonlinehelpoptions,linkstotheVMwareWebsite,and
productversioninformation.
Pop-Up Menus
Popupmenusprovidedirectaccesstomanyofthemenuitems.Popupmenusare
availablefrommostobjectsinboththeinventorypanelandtheinformationpanel.
To view a pop-up menu
RightclicktheselectedobjectorpressShift+F10.
Console Menu
Theconsoleofapoweredonvirtualmachineisavailablethroughaconnectedserver.
To view the virtual machine console
ClicktheInventoryNavigationbutton,clickapoweredonvirtualmachineinthe
Inventorypanel,andclicktheConsoletabintheInformationpanel.
To pop out the virtual machine console
Clickthepopouticoninthenavigationbar.
AcopyoftheConsolewindowseparatesfromtheVIClient.Additionalmenusappear.
Inventory> Alarm*> Properties|Remove
Inventory> ScheduledTask*> Run|Remove|Properties
Table 4-6. Administration Menu Items
Administration> CustomAttributes*|VMwareVirtualCenterSettings*|Role|
Session*|EditMessageoftheDay*|CollectDiagnostic
Information*|LegacyTemplates*
Table 4-5. Inventory Menu Items (Continued)
46 VMware, Inc.

AdditionalmenuitemsareavailablefromthepopoutConsolewindow.
Allconnectionstothevirtualmachineseethesamedisplayinformation.Themessage
lineindicatesifothersareviewingthevirtualmachine.
ThepopoutvirtualmachineConsolehasthefollowingmenuitems.Theembedded
ConsolehassimilarmenuitemsbutdoesnotincludealloftheexternalConsolemenu
items.
Navigation Bar
Thenavigationbarprovidesshortcutbuttonsthatloadthematchingtoolbarandpanel
intotheVIClientwindow.Thenavigationbarcombinesanddisplaysassociatedtasks
andinformation.Whenabuttonhasbeenselected,itremainsselectedtoindicatethe
currentview.ThebuttonsrepresenttheVIClientfunctionalareas.Dependingupon
whethertheVIClientisconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServeroranESXServer,thelisted
buttonsvary.
Eachnavigationbarbuttonhasaprimaryinformationpanelandassociatedtabs.The
Inventorybuttonhasaninventorypanelfromwhichyoucanselectobjects.Each
Table 4-7. Virtual Machine Pop-Out Console Menu Items
File> Exit
View> Autofit|Fit|FitGuesttoWindow
VM> PowerOn|PowerOff|Suspend|Reset|ShutDownGuest|RestartGuest|
Snapshot|Migrate|Clone|ClonetoTemplate|ConverttoTemplate|Open
Console|SentCtrl+Alt+Del|AnswerQuestion|ReportPerformance|Install
VMwareTools|EditSettings|Rename|RemovefromInventory|Deletefrom
Disk
The message line indicates
the number of active
connections to this virtual
machine.
Additional Console menu
VMware, Inc. 47

selectedobjecthasitsownsetofassociatedinformationpaneltabs.Thisinformationis
inoneofthefollowingtwosetsofpanels:
Navigationbarprovidesshortcutstogeneralizedareasofrelatedactivities.Theoptions
areInventoryandAdmin,whentheVIClientisconnectedtoeitheranESXServerora
VirtualCenterServer.WhentheVIClientisconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer
additionaloptionsareavailable:ScheduledTasks,Events,andMapsandInventory
buttonpulldownmenuitems(Hosts&Clusters,VirtualMachines&Templates,
Networks,andDatastores).
Figure 4-2. Navigation bar shortcuts
To view the Inventory button options
ClickthearrowontheInventorynavigationbarbuttontorefertotheinventorygroup
options.ChooseView>Inventory>HostsandClusters(orVirtualMachinesand
Templates,Networks,orDatastores.
RefertoManagingtheVIClientInventoryonpage 91forinformationonthe
differencesbetweentheInventorybuttonviews.
InventorybuttonAviewofallthemonitoredobjectsinVirtualCenter.
Monitoredobjectsincludedatacenters,resourcepools,clusters,networks,
datastores,templates,hosts,andvirtualmachines.
TheInventorybuttondisplaysaninventorypanelandaninformationpanel.The
informationpanelcontainsseveraltabs.Thesetoftabsthatisdisplayedvaries
dependingupontheinventoryobjectselectedintheinventorypanel.
TherearefourdifferentInventorybuttonviews:
HostsandClustersdisplaystheinventoryhierarchyofallinventoryobjects
excepttemplates,networks,anddatastores.
VirtualMachinesandTemplatesdisplaysthelistofvirtualmachinesand
templates.
Networksdisplaysthelistofnetworks.
Datastoresdisplaysthelistofdatastores.
48 VMware, Inc.

AllfouroftheInventoryoptionsaredividedintotwosubpanels,theinventory
panelandtheinformationpanel.ThisInventoryoptiondisplaysalltheobjects
containedwithinVirtualCenter,suchasfolders,datacenters,hosts,clusters,
resourcepoolsandvirtualmachines.WhenconnectedtoanESXServerthe
inventoryoptiondisplaysalltheobjectscontainedwithintheESXServer,suchas
host,resourcepools,andvirtualmachines.Throughselectingobjectsineitherof
thetwosubpanels,youperformandspecifyactions.
Therearefourdifferentinventoryviews.Eachrelatestosomeoftheeightdifferent
inventoryobjects:hosts,clusters,folders,datacenters,virtualmachinesand
templates,resourcepools,networks,anddatastores.
Allfourviewshavethe(single)rootnode,allowanyfoldersbelowtherootnode
(thatcanonlycontainotherfoldersanddatacenters)anddatacenters.Below
datacentersthehierarchyissplitupintonetworks,datastores,virtualmachineand
templates,andhosts,clusters,andresourcepools.
ScheduledTasksbuttonAlistofactivitiesandameanstoschedulethose
activities.ThisisavailablethroughVirtualCenterServeronly.
TheScheduledTasksandEventsbuttons,availableonlywhenconnectedtoa
VirtualCenterServer,displayasingleinformationpanel.
EventsbuttonAlistofalltheeventsthatoccurintheVirtualCenterenvironment.
UsetheNavigationoptiontodisplayalltheevents.Useanobjectspecificpanelto
displayonlytheeventsrelativetothatobject.
AdminbuttonAlistofenvironmentlevelconfigurationoptions.TheAdmin
optionprovidesconfigurationaccesstoRoles,Sessions,Licenses,Diagnostics,and
SystemLogs.WhenconnectedtoanESXServeronly,theRolesoptionappears.
TheAdminbuttondisplaysasetoftabbedinformationpanels.Selected
configurationoptionsareavailablethroughthesetabs.
MapsbuttonAvisualrepresentationofthestatusandstructureoftheVirtual
Infrastructureenvironment.Thisincludeshosts,networks,virtualmachines,and
datastores.ThisisavailablethroughVirtualCenterServeronly.
TheMapsbutton,availableonlywhenconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,
displaysaninventorypanelandatopologypanel.
To change the look of the navigation bar
Rightclickthenavigationbarandchoosetheappropriateoption.
VMware, Inc. 49

Inventory View Tabs
Youcanaccessthegeneraldisplayofdataandactivitythroughtheinformationpanel
oftheVIClientwindow.Theinformationpanelisthevisualcenterofyourmonitoring
activities.Throughtheinformationpanel,youcanviewstatus,resourceusage,and
performanceinformationaboutyourhosts,virtualmachines,anddatacenters.Inthe
informationpanel,youcanalsoviewscheduledtasks,availabletemplates,andalistof
events.
WhentheVIClientisconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServeraMapsoptionisalso
available.RefertoMonitoringYourVmwareInfrastructureEnvironmenton
page 269forinformationontheMapsfeature.
Whenanobjectisremovedfromtheinventory,itslogandeventhistoryremainsuntil
purgedthroughtheagingprocesses.Dataiskeptforaspecifiedwindowoftime.Asthe
timewindowshifts,olderdataispurged.
AdmintabsAsubsetoftheAdminbutton.TheAdmintabsareasetofpanels
thatdisplayconfigurationorientedinformationpertainingtotheservethattheVI
Clientisconnectedto.ThetaboptionsareRolesandSystemLogs.WhentheVI
ClientisconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,aSessionsandLicensestabisalso
available.
InventorytabsAsubsetoftheInventorybutton.TheInventorytabsareasetof
panelsthatdisplaytaskorientedinformationpertainingtotheselectedinventory
object.Eachinventoryobjecthasitsownsetoftabs.Thetaboptionsare:Summary,
Datacenters,VirtualMachines,Hosts,Migrations,ResourceAllocation,
Performance,Configuration,Tasks&Events,Alarms,Console,Permissions,and
Maps.
WhenyouclicktheInventorybuttoninthenavigationbar,aninformationpanel
appearsontherightsideofthescreen.Whenyouselectanobject(host,virtual
machine,folder,datacenter,cluster,resourcepool)fromtheinventorypanel,the
informationpaneldisplaystabscorrespondingtotheselectedobject.Thisdata
remainsuntilyouclickanotherInventorybutton.
NOTE Youcanuseeitherthenavigationbarortheinformationpaneltabstoviewevents
information.
50 VMware, Inc.

Table 48liststheavailablepanelsandtheirsourcemapping.
Table 4-8. Inventory View Tabs
Panel Name
ESX Server or
VirtualCenter
Server
Button, Tab, or
Toggle Description
Admin both navigationbar
button
Listsselectedconfigurationoptionsand
information.
Alarms VirtualCenter inventorypanel
tab
Liststheconfiguredalarmsforthe
selectedobject.
Alarms VirtualCenter togglebutton Liststhetriggeredalarmsfortheselected
object.
Configuration both inventorypanel
tab
Providesaccesstoconfiguringthe
selectedhost.
Console both inventorypanel
tab
Displaysaremoteconsoletointeract
directlywiththevirtualmachine.
Throughtheremoteconsoleyoucantake
selectedactionsuponthevirtualmachine.
Datacenters VirtualCenter inventorypanel
tab
Liststhedatacentersorganizedunderthe
selectedfolder.
Datastores VirtualCenter navigationbar
button:Datastores
Providesaccessformanagingdatastores.
Events ESXServer inventorypanel
tab
Liststheeventmessagesthatreportonthe
statusoftheselectedobject.
Hosts both inventorypanel
tab
Liststhehostsassignedtotheselected
inventoryobject.
Inventory both navigationbar
button:Hosts&
Clusters
Providesaccessformanagingallthe
inventoryobjects.
Licenses VirtualCenter adminpaneltab Liststhelicensesconfiguredinthelicense
server.
Maps VirtualCenter navigationbar
button
Displaysrelationshipsbetweenthe
selectedinventoryobjects.
Migrations VirtualCenter inventorypanel
tab
Liststhemigrationssuggestedor
completedfortheselectedcluster.
Networks VirtualCenter navigationbar
button:Networks
Providesaccessformanagingnetworks.
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Performance both inventorypanel
tab
Displaystheperformancechartsforthe
selectedhostorvirtualmachineresources.
Thechartsfordatacentersandhosts
displaycombinedchartsthatshowthe
usageofeachresource.
Permissions both inventorypanel
tab
Liststheusersandgroupsthathave
permissionsontheselectedobjectandat
whatlevelthepermissionwasassigned.
Resource
Allocation
VirtualCenter inventorypanel
tab
Liststhedistributionoftheselectedhosts
resources:CPU,memory.
Roles both adminpaneltab Providesaccessforconfiguringuserroles.
ScheduledTasks VirtualCenter navigationbar
button
Providesaccessforcreatingand
managingscheduledtasks.
Sessions VirtualCenter adminpaneltab ListstheVIClientsessionsconnectedto
theVirtualCenterServer.
Summary both inventorypanel
tab
Displaysacollectionofdataforthe
selectedobject.
SystemLogs both adminpaneltab Listsselectedlogfilesfortheservers.
Tasks VirtualCenter togglebutton Liststherecenttasksfortheselected
object.
Tasks&Events VirtualCenter inventorypanel
tab
Liststhetaskscompletedandtheevent
messagesthatreportonthestatusofthe
selectedobject.
Templates VirtualCenter navigationbar
button:Virtual
Machines&
Templates
Providesaccessformanagingtemplates.
Virtual
Machines
both inventorypanel
tab
Liststhevirtualmachinesassignedtothe
selecteddatacenterorhostandgroup.To
access,clicktheVirtualMachinestaband
thevirtualmachinesinthegroupare
displayed.
Table 4-8. Inventory View Tabs (Continued)
Panel Name
ESX Server or
VirtualCenter
Server
Button, Tab, or
Toggle Description
52 VMware, Inc.

Toolbar
Thetoolbarprovidesbuttonsforthemostcommonlyusedactions.
To view or hide a toolbar
ChooseView>Toolbars.
Differenttoolbarbuttonsaredisplayeddependingonthenavigationtaskand
inventoryobjectselected.Sometoolbaroptionsmightbedimmeddependingonthe
objectselected.
To change the look of the toolbar
Rightclickthetoolbarandchoosetheappropriateoption.
VMware, Inc. 53

Status Bar, Recent Tasks, and Triggered Alarms
Thestatusbarappearsatthebottomofthewindow.Itcontainsiconstoviewtriggered
alarmsorrecenttasks.TheTasksbuttondisplaysanycurrentlyrunningorrecently
completedactivetasks.Includedisaprogressbarindicatingthepercentagecomplete
ofeachtask.Therecenttasksandthetriggeredalarmpanelsdisplayacrossthebottom
oftheVIClientwindow.
To hide or view the status bar
ChooseView>Statusbar.
To hide or view recent tasks or triggered alarms
ClicktheTasksorAlarmsiconsinthestatusbar.
Panel Sections
InthebodyoftheVIClientpageisapanelsection.Inmostviews,thereisarightand
aleftpanel:theinventorypanelandtheinformationpanel.Thesepanelscanberesized.
InventorypanelDisplaysahierarchicallistofVirtualInfrastructureobjects
whentheInventoryorMapsbuttonisselectedfromthenavigationbar.
InformationpanelsDisplaylistsandcharts.Dependingonthenavigation
buttonorInventorybuttonitemselected,theinformationpanelisdividedinto
tabbedelements.
To select an object
Singleclicktheappropriateobjectineithertheinventorypanelorontheinformation
panel.
54 VMware, Inc.

To close or open a panel
Clickthearrowinthepanelmenubar.
Whenthepanelishidden,thepanelmenubarisastripalongthesideoftheVIClient
window.
To resize a panel
Clickaresizingpanelsideanddragittoanappropriatesize.
YourchoicesforthepanelsarepersistentacrossVIClientsessions.Ifyourunmultiple
VIClientsessionsusingdifferentusernames,thesettingsfromthelastsessiontoquit
determinethevaluesforthenextVIClientsession.
Sorting and Filtering Lists
SortanylistintheVIClientbyclickingthecolumnlabelheading.Atriangleinthe
columnheadshowsthesortorderasascendingordescending.
Youcanalsofilteralist,sortingandincludingonlyselecteditems.Afilterissortedby
akeyword.Choosethecolumnsyouwanttoincludeinthesearchforthekeyword.
To sort a list
Clickacolumnheadingtosortthelistbyentriesinthatcolumn.Thecurrentselection
doesnotchange.
To change between ascending and descending order
Clickthetriangleinthecolumnheading.
To choose items in a list
Clickanindividualitem.PressShiftclickorCtrlclicktochoosemultipleitems.All
listscanbesorted.
To view or remove columns in a list
Rightclickthecolumnheaderandchoosethecolumnnamefromthelist.
To filter the list view
1 Clickthearrowtoviewalistofattributesfromwhichtochoose.Typetextdirectly
intothefilteringfieldtospecifysearchcriteria.
TheFilterfielddoesnotsupportbooleanexpressionsorspecialcharactersandis
notcasesensitive.
VMware, Inc. 55

2 ClickOKtodisplayonlythosevirtualmachinesthatmatchthecriteria.ClickClear
tochangethefilter.
Thelistisupdatedbasedonwhetherfilteringisonoroff.Forexample,ifyouareinthe
VirtualMachinestab,youhavefilteredthelist,andthefilteredtextispoweredon,
youonlyrefertoalistofvirtualmachineswhosestateissettopoweredon.Ifthestate
ofanyofthesevirtualmachineschangestosomethingelse,theyareremovedfromthe
list.Newvirtualmachinesthatareaddedarealsobeingfiltered.Filteringispersistent
fortheusersession.
To remove a filter
ClickClear,ordeletetheentryinofthefilteringfieldandclickOK.
TheVIClientdisplaysthefulllistofavailableitems.
To choose columns to search for the filtering keyword
Rightclickinthecontainsfield,andselectordeselecttheappropriatecolumnnames.
Filteringisinclusive,notexclusive.Ifthekeywordisfoundinanyoftheselected
columns,thelineitemisincludedinthelist.
To export a list
1 Selectthelisttoexport.
2 ChooseFile>Export>ExportList.
3 Typeafilename,selectafiletypeinthedialogbox,andclickSave.
Afileisstoredinthespecifiedfilename,filetype,andlocation.
Using Custom Attributes
Attributesaretheresourcesthataremonitoredandmanagedforallthemanagedhosts
andvirtualmachinesinyourVirtualInfrastructureenvironment.Attributesstatusand
statesappearonthevariousinventorypanels.
Customattributescanbeusedtoassociateuserspecificmetainformationwithvirtual
machinesandmanagedhosts.Afteryoucreatetheattributes,setthevalueforthe
attributeoneachvirtualmachineormanagedhost,asappropriate.Thisvalueisstored
withVirtualCenterandnotwiththevirtualmachineormanagedhost.Thenusethe
newattributetofilterinformationaboutyourvirtualmachinesandmanagedhosts.If
NOTE Thereisaonesecondintervalbetweenkeystrokes.Ifyoutypeinthetextandwaitfor
onesecond,thesearchstartsautomatically.YoudonthavetoclickOKorEnter.
56 VMware, Inc.

younolongerneedthecustomattribute,removeit.Acustomattributeisalwaysa
string.
Forexample,supposeyouhaveasetofproductsandyouwanttosortthembysales
representative.Createacustomattributeforsalespersonname,Name.Addthecustom
attribute,Name,columntooneofthelistviews.Addtheappropriatenametoeach
productentry.ClickthecolumntitleNametosortalphabetically.
ThecustomattributesfeatureisavailableonlywhenconnectedtoaVirtualCenter
Server.
To add a custom attribute
1 ChooseAdministration>CustomAttributes.
ThisoptionisnotavailablewhenconnectedonlytoanESXServer.
2 AddacustomattributeandclickAdd.
Theattributeisaddedtothelistofvirtualmachinecharacteristics.
3 Tochangetheattributename,clickintheNamefieldandtypethenameyouwant
toassigntotheattribute.
4 Enterthevaluesforthecustomattribute.
a Selecttheobject(onelevelupthehierarchy)thatcontainstheobjectstowhich
youwanttoapplytheattribute.
VMware, Inc. 57

Forexample,ifyouwanttoenterattributevaluesformanagedhosts,selectthe
datacenterandtheHoststabforalistofhosts.
b Foreachmanagedhostorvirtualmachine,clickthenewattributescolumn.
Intheinformationpanel,thenewattributeisaddedtotheheader.
c Typetheattributevaluethatisappropriateforeachmanagedhostorvirtual
machine.
Selecting and Viewing Objects
ThissectiondescribescommonWindowsproceduresthataffecttheVirtual
InfrastructureClient.Navigationtopicsarediscussedinthefollowingsections:
SelectingObjectsonpage 57
MonitoringObjectsonpage 58
PerformingActionsonObjectsonpage 59
Selecting Objects
VirtualCenterobjectsaredatacenters,networks,datastores,resourcepools,clusters,
hosts,andvirtualmachines.Selectinganobjectdoesthefollowing:
Allowsyoutoviewthestatusoftheobject.
Enablesthemenussoyoucanchooseactionstotakeontheobject.
To select an object
1 ClicktheappropriatenavigationbaroptionsuchasInventory,ScheduledTasks,
Events,Admin,orMaps.
2 IfyouselectInventory,browsethroughthehierarchyintheinventorypaneluntil
youseetheiconforanobject.Clickit.
Whenanobjectisselected,theobjectlabelintheinventorypanelbackfillsandthe
informationpanelupdatesitsdisplaytoreflectthedatafortheselectedobject.
To view an object menu
Selecttheappropriateobjectandchoosetheappropriateactionfromthemenubar.
Alternatively,rightclicktheobject.
Apopupmenuwiththeobjectsavailableactionsappears.
Foreachtypeofobject,suchasdatacenter,host,orvirtualmachine,acorrespondingset
oftabsappearsintheinformationpanel.Forexample:
58 VMware, Inc.

Ifyouselectamanagedhostintheinventorypanelwhileconnectedto
VirtualCenter,theinformationpaneldisplaysSummary,VirtualMachines,
ResourceAllocation,Performance,Configuration,Tasks&Events,Alarms,
Permissions,andMapstabs.
IfyouselecttheinventorypanelwhileconnectedtoanESXServer,theinformation
paneldisplaysSummary,VirtualMachines,ResourceAllocation,Performance,
Configuration,Users&Groups,SystemLogs,EventsandPermissionstabs.
Ifyouselectadatacenter,theinformationpaneldisplaysVirtualMachines,Hosts,
Tasks&Events,Alarms,Permissions,andMapstabs.
Theinventorypanelandinformationpanelshareasingleselectionlist.Selectingan
objectinonepaneldeselectsanyotherobjectintheotherpanel.
Menuactions,fromeitherthemenubarorapopupmenu,applytothecurrently
selectedobject.Ifnoobjectisselected,nomenuactionsareavailable.Apopupmenu
canappearonlyforaselectedobject.RefertoPopUpMenusonpage 45for
additionalinformationonthepopupmenuoptions.
To change the name of an object
SelectanitemandpressF2orclickthetextoftheselecteditem.Typethenewname.
Monitoring Objects
VIClientmonitorsVirtualCenterorESXServeractivities.Forahosttobemonitoredby
VirtualCenter,itmustberegisteredwiththeVirtualCenterServer.RefertoAddinga
Hostonpage 101forinformationonaddingobjectstoyourVirtualCenterServer.Ifan
ESXServerhostisnotregisteredwithaVirtualCenterServer,youcanconnecttothe
ESXServerdirectly,alsousingtheVIClient.
To check the status of an object
1 StarttheVIClient.
2 Clicktheappropriatebuttoninthenavigationbar.
IfyouclicktheInventoryorMapsbutton,drillthroughtheinventorypanel
liststoviewindividualobjectssuchashosts,datacenters,andvirtual
machines.
IfyouclicktheScheduledTasks,Events,orAdminbutton,theinformation
paneldisplaysthescheduledtasks,events,oradministrativewizard
appropriatetothechoice.
3 Clicktheobjecttoviewit.
VMware, Inc. 59

Whenyouselectanobject,theobjectlabelintheinventorypanelisshowninblue
andtheinformationpanelupdatesitsdisplaytoreflecttheobjectsdata.
4 Clicktheappropriatetabintheinformationpanel.
Thedatacorrespondingtotheobjectandtabselectedisshown.Clickthroughthe
tabstoviewtheinformationabouttheobject,asneeded.
Performing Actions on Objects
ThissectiondescribesonlythebasicprocessforperformingtasksintheVirtual
InfrastructureClient.Thissectiondoesnotdescribespecificsettingsandconditions.
Refertothechapterorbookspecifictothetaskyouwanttoperformforadditional
information.
Toviewanobject,youmusthavethenecessarypermissionassignedforthatobject.The
typeofactionyoucantakeonanobjectdependsuponthespecificprivilegesassigned
toyourusernameandgroup.
TherearethreemethodsfortakingactionsuponobjectsinVirtualCenter:
SelectingtheactionfromthemenubaratthetopoftheVirtualCenterwindow.
RefertoMenuBaronpage 43.
Selectingtheactionfromtheobjectspopupmenuorbutton.Theprocedurelisted
belowdescribeshowtochoosetheactionfromtheobjectmenuorbutton.
SchedulingtheactionthroughtheScheduledTaskspanel.RefertoManaging
ScheduledTasksonpage 293toinformationonschedulingtasks.
To perform an action on a Virtual Infrastructure object
1 StarttheVirtualInfrastructureClient.
2 Connecttotheappropriateserver.
3 Toselectanobjectyouwanttovieworuponwhichyouwanttoperformanaction,
selecttheappropriateinventoryview,browsethroughthehierarchyinthe
inventorypaneluntilyouseeitsicon,andclickit.
Anobjectcanbeselectedintheinventorypanelortheinformationpanel.
Iftheobjectisnotintheview:
Verifyyouareloggedontothecorrectserver.
AddthehosttoVirtualCentercontrol,ifneeded.RefertoManagingHostsin
VirtualCenteronpage 99forinformation.
4 Onceanobjectisselected:
60 VMware, Inc.

Chooseamenuitemfromthemainmenu.
Rightclicktheobjectandchoosefromthepopupmenu.
5 Followtheprompts.
Dependingontheactionyouselected,eithertheviewintheinformationpanelchanges
orawizardpromptsyouforinformationtocompletethetransaction.
VMware, Inc. 61

5
Thischapterincludesbasicsystemconfigurationinformation,suchashowtoaccess
andconfigurelogfiles,configurefirewalls,andsetupSNMP.Sometopicshave
extensiveinformationdiscussedinseparatechaptersorbooks.Wherethisoccurs,
referencesareprovided.
Someofthetopicsinthischapteraretypicallyonetimeconfigurationtasks,though
certainlythesettingscanbealteredwhenneeded.
HostConfigurationforESXServerandVirtualCenteronpage 61
VirtualCenterConfigurationonpage 66
ConfiguringVirtualCenterCommunicationonpage 68
VirtualMachineConfigurationonpage 71
WorkingwithActiveSessionsonpage 73
SNMPConfigurationonpage 74
SystemLogFilesonpage 81
Host Configuration for ESX Server and VirtualCenter
ESXServerhostsareconfiguredandmanagedthroughtheVirtualInfrastructure
Client.SomehostrelatedconfigurationisspecifictoVirtualCenter.Otherhost
configurationappliestostandalonehostsaswellasVirtualCenterregisteredhost
scenarios.
System Configuration 5
62 VMware, Inc.

TheServerConfigurationGuidedescribesthetasksyoumustcompletetoconfigureESX
Serverhostnetworking,storage,andsecurity.Inaddition,itprovidesoverviews,
recommendations,andconceptualdiscussionstohelpyouunderstandthesetasks.It
explainshowtodeployanESXServerhosttomeetyourneeds.Beforeusingthe
informationintheServerConfigurationGuide,readtheIntroductiontoVirtual
Infrastructureforanoverviewofsystemarchitectureandthephysicalandvirtual
devicesthatmakeupaVirtualInfrastructuresystem.
ThissectionsummarizesthehostconfigurationoptionsandthecontentsoftheServer
ConfigurationGuidesothatyoucanfindtheinformationyouneed.
Configuring a Host
SelectahostandtheConfigurationtabforthehost.Theconfigurationtabdisplaysall
oftheconfigurationoptionsavailable.
Hardware Tab
Thehardwaretabdisplaysthefollowingconfigurationoptions:
ProcessorsDisplaysthehostsprocessorinformationsuchastype,speed,
manufacturer.Thepropertiesdialogboxallowsyoutoenableordisable
Hyperthreading.
MemoryDisplaysthehostsmemoryconfiguration,includingtotalmemory
available,amountsforthehostssystem,amountsforthevirtualmachines,and
amountsfortheESXServerServiceConsole.Thepropertiesdialogboxallowsyou
tosettheamountdedicatedtotheESXServerServiceConsole.
Storage(SCSI,SAN,NFS)Displaysthestoragevolumesconfiguredforthehost
anddetailsabouteachstoragedevice.Thisincludesvolumelabels,filesystem
type,blocksize,extents,andcapacity.TheRefresh,Remove,AddStorage,and
Propertiesdialogboxesallowyoutochangevolumeproperties,addextents,
managepaths,adddiskorLUNdatastores,andaddnetworkfilesystem(NFS)
datastores.
NetworkingDisplayscurrentnetworksattachedtothehost.TheRefresh,Add
Networking,Remove,andPropertiesdialogboxesallowyoutoconfigureports
andnetworkadapters,anddefineconnectiontypestothehostsvirtualmachine,
VMkernel,andserviceconsole.
StorageAdaptersDisplaysstorageadapterconfiguration,suchasdevicetype,
SANidentification,LUNidentification,path,andcapacity.TheRescan,Hide
LUNs,andPropertiesdialogboxesallowyoutoscanfornewstoragedevicesor
VMFSvolumes,hidetheLUNinformationforeachselectedstorageadapter,and
viewVMotionconfigurationstatus.
VMware, Inc. 63
Chapter 5 System Configuration

NetworkAdaptersDisplaysnetworkadapterinformation,includingdevice
type,speed,vSwitch,andnetworkidentification.
Software Tab
Thesoftwaretabdisplaysthefollowingconfigurationoptions:
LicensedFeatureDisplaysthecurrentstatusoflicensinginyourVirtual
Infrastructureenvironment.Thisincludeslicensesources,licenseserver,orlicense
file;licensetype;andaddonlicensing,suchasVMotionorHA.TheEditdialog
boxesallowyoutospecifylicensesource,licensetypes,andlicensingfor
additionalfeatures.
DNSandRoutingDisplaysDNSandroutinginformation.Thisincludeshost
nameanddomain,DNSserversconnectedtothehost,searchdomains,anddefault
gateways.ThePropertiesdialogboxallowsyoutospecifytheseidentification
items.
VirtualMachineStartup/ShutdownDisplaysalistofvirtualmachinesonthe
hostandtheirstartuporshutdownstatus.ThePropertiesdialogboxallowsyouto
configurewhentopoweronandpoweroffeachresidentvirtualmachine.Options
includestartingorstoppingatselectedtimesrelativetothehostpoweringoffor
poweringon.
SecurityProfileDisplaysthefirewallinformationforincomingandoutgoing
connections.ThePropertiesdialogboxallowsyoutodefineremoteaccess
conditions.ThisincludesShelltype,SNMP,andseveralassociatedclients,servers,
andagentincomingandoutgoingcommunicationportsandprotocols.
SystemResourceAllocationDisplaysthehostsresourceallocationsettings.This
includesmemoryandCPUusage.TheEditdialogboxesallowyoutoconfigure
amountsofCPUsharesandmemorysharesarereservedforhostuse.The
Simple/Advancedtoggleddialogboxallowsyoutoconfigurethehostsresource
poolsCPUandmemoryreservedsharesforselectedhostfunctions.
RefertotheResourceManagementGuideforcompleteinformationonconfiguring
andusingyourvirtualmachineresources.
AdvancedSettingsDisplaysalistofsettingsthatVMwarerecommendsyouuse
onlywhendirectedtobyVMwaretechnicalsupport.
NOTE RefertotheServerConfigurationGuideforconfigurationinformationonconfiguring
networking,storage,andsecurity.
64 VMware, Inc.

Viewing Network Configuration Information
TheESXServernetworkingchaptersprovideyouwithaconceptualunderstandingof
physicalandvirtualnetworkconcepts,adescriptionofthebasictasksyoumust
completetoconfigureyourESXServerhostsnetworkconnections,andadiscussionof
advancednetworkingtopicsandtasks.Thenetworkingsectioncontainsthefollowing
chapters:
NetworkingIntroducesyoutonetworkconceptsandguidesyouthroughthe
mostcommontasksyoumustcompletewhensettingupthenetworkfortheESX
Serverhost.
AdvancedNetworkingCoversadvancednetworkingtaskssuchassettingup
MACaddresses,editingvirtualswitchesandports,andDNSrouting.Inaddition,
itprovidestipsonmakingyournetworkconfigurationmoreefficient.
NetworkingScenariosandTroubleshootingDescribescommonnetworking
configurationandtroubleshootingscenarios.
Viewing Storage Configuration Information
TheESXServerstoragechaptersprovideyouwithabasicunderstandingofstorage,a
descriptionofthebasictasksyouperformtoconfigureandmanageyourESXServer
hostsstorage,andadiscussionofhowtosetuprawdevicemapping.Thestorage
sectioncontainsthefollowingchapters:
IntroductiontoStorageIntroducesyoutothetypesofstorageyoucanconfigure
fortheESXServerhost.
ConfiguringStorageExplainshowtoconfigurelocalSCSIstorage,Fibre
Channelstorage,andiSCSIstorage.ItalsoaddressesVMFSstorageand
networkattachedstorage.
ManagingStorageExplainshowtomanageexistingdatastoresandthefile
systemsthatcomprisedatastores.
RawDeviceMappingDiscussesrawdevicemapping,howtoconfigurethistype
ofstorage,andhowtomanagerawdevicemappingsbysettingupmultipathing,
failover,andsoforth.
Viewing Security Configuration Information
TheESXServersecuritychaptersdiscusssafeguardsVMwarehasbuiltintoESXServer
andmeasuresyoucantaketoprotectyourESXServerhostfromsecuritythreats.These
measuresincludeusingfirewalls,leveragingthesecurityfeaturesofvirtualswitches,
andsettingupuserauthenticationandpermissions.Thesecuritysectioncontainsthe
followingchapters:
VMware, Inc. 65

SecurityforESXServerSystemsIntroducesyoutotheESXServerfeaturesthat
helpyouensureasecureenvironmentforyourdataandgivesyouanoverviewof
systemdesignasitrelatestosecurity.
SecuringanESXServerConfigurationExplainshowtoconfigurefirewallports
forESXServerhostsandVMwareVirtualCenter,howtousevirtualswitchesand
VLANstoensurenetworkisolationforvirtualmachines,andhowtosecureiSCSI
storage.
AuthenticationandUserManagementDiscusseshowtosetupusers,groups,
permissions,androlestocontrolaccesstoESXServerhostsandVirtualCenter.It
alsodiscussesencryptionanddelegateusers.
ServiceConsoleSecurityDiscussesthesecurityfeaturesbuiltintotheservice
consoleandshowsyouhowtoconfigurethesefeatures.
SecurityDeploymentsandRecommendationsProvidessomesample
deploymentstogiveyouanideaoftheissuesyoumustconsiderwhensettingup
yourownESXServerdeployment.Thischapteralsotellsyouaboutactionsyou
cantaketofurthersecurevirtualmachines.
Viewing ESX Server Command Information
TheServerConfigurationGuideincludesappendixesthatprovidespecialized
informationyoumightfindusefulwhenconfiguringanESXServerhost:
ESXServerTechnicalSupportCommandsCoverstheESXServerconfiguration
commandsthatcanbeissuedthroughacommandlineshellsuchasSSH.While
thesecommandsareavailableforyouruse,youshouldnotconsiderthemanAPI
uponwhichyoucanbuildscripts.Thesecommandsaresubjecttochangeand
VMwaredoesnotsupportapplicationsandscriptsthatrelyonESXServer
configurationcommands.ThisappendixprovidesyouwithVMwareVirtual
InfrastructureClientequivalentsforthesecommands.
UsingvmkfstoolsCoversthevmkfstoolsutility,whichyoucanusetoperform
managementandmigrationtasksforiSCSIdisks.
66 VMware, Inc.

VirtualCenter Configuration
Setsofpropertiesandsettingsdialogboxesmakeadjustmentstothecorresponding
VirtualCenterenvironment.
To view the VMware VirtualCenter Configuration
SelectAdministration>ServerSettings.
ChangestothissettingapplytothecurrentVirtualCenterServeronly.Ifyoulogout
andlogontoanotherVirtualCenterServer,thesettingsarespecifictothat
VirtualCenterServer.
Thedialogboxtabsdisplayandallowyoutoconfigure:
LicenseServerSpecifythelicenseserverandwhetherahostlicenseserveris
supersededwhenthehostisaddedtotheVirtualCenterinventory.
RefertotheInstallationandUpgradeGuide.
StatisticsSpecifythecollectionintervals,statisticscollectionthreadlimit,and
statisticscollectionlevel.Specifiesthenumberofthreadsusedforcollecting
performancestatisticsfrommanagedhosts.
Specifiesthelevelofdetailforperformancestatisticscollection.Legalvaluesare
minimal,typical,andfull.Thedefaultisfull.
Specifieshowoften,inseconds,VirtualCenterchecksifanyscheduledtasksare
readytobeexecutedoralarmsshouldbetriggered.Thedefaultis5seconds.
VerifiesthatallusersandgroupsknowntoVirtualCentercurrentlyexistin
Windows.Forexample,ifuserSmithisassignedpermissionsandinthedomain
theusersnameissubsequentlychangedtoSmith2,VirtualCenterconcludesthat
Smithnolongerexistsandremovespermissionsforthatuser.
RefertoSettingtheStatisticsCollectionIntervalsonpage 274.
RuntimeSettingsViewtheuniqueruntimesettingsfortheVirtualCenter
installation.ThisincludestheVirtualCenteruniqueIDnumberandthe
VirtualCenterTCP/IPportnumber.
GeneratesuniqueMACaddressesandUUIDsforvirtualmachines.Insomecases,
itispossibletohavemorethanoneVirtualCenterrunninginthesamecompany.
EachoftheseVirtualCenterServersmusthaveitsownuniqueidentification.By
default,anIDvalueisgeneratedrandomly.However,thisvalueiseditable.The
onlyrequirementisthatitbeauniquenumberfrom0to63.
SpecifiestheportthroughwhichaVirtualCenterclientsendsdatatothe
VirtualCenterServer.
VMware, Inc. 67

RefertoConfiguringVirtualCenterCommunicationonpage 68.
ActiveDirectorySpecifytheactivedirectorytimeout,maximumnumberofusers
andgroupstodisplayintheAddPermissionsdialogbox,andthefrequencyfor
performingasynchronizationandvalidationofVirtualCentersknownusersand
groups.
SpecifiesthemaximumnumberofusersandgroupstheVirtualCenterstoresfrom
theselecteddomain.Tospecifynomaximumlimit,enterzero(0).
Specifies,inseconds,themaximumtimeVirtualCenterallowsthesearchtorunon
theselecteddomain.Searchingverylargedomainscantakeaverylongtime.This
valuemustbegreaterthanzero(0).
RefertoChapter 15,ManagingUsers,Groups,Permissions,andRoles,on
page 247.
MailSpecifytheSMTPserverandmailaccount.
RefertoManagingEventsonpage 303.
SNMPSpecifytheSNMPreceiverURLs,ports,andcommunitystrings.
RefertoSNMPConfigurationonpage 74.
WebServiceSpecifytheHTTPandHTTPSportsfortheWebServicetouse.
RefertoConfiguringVirtualCenterCommunicationonpage 68.
TimeoutSettingsSpecifytheVIClientconnectiontimeoutvaluesfornormal
operationsandlongoperations.Timeoutnormalspecifieshowlong,inseconds,
theVirtualCenterclientwaitsforaresponsefromtheVirtualCenterServerbefore
timingout.Thedefaultis30seconds.Timeoutlongspecifieshowlong,inseconds,
theVirtualCenterclientwaitsforaresponsefromtheVirtualCenterServerforlong
operations.Thedefaultis120seconds.
RefertoStartingtheVIClientandLoggingOnonpage 35.
LoggingOptionsSpecifythedegreeofdetailandextentoflogscollectedduring
normalVirtualCenteroperations.Specifiesverboseloggingwhensetto1.Usedfor
advanceddebuggingandtroubleshooting.Usethisfieldonlywhendirectedby
VMwaretechnicalsupport.
RefertoSystemLogFilesonpage 81.
DatabaseSpecifythepasswordrequiredtoaccesstheVirtualCenterdatabase
andthemaximumnumberofdatabaseconnectionstobecreated.
RefertoUsingMIBswithYourSNMPTrapsonpage 74.
68 VMware, Inc.

Configuring VirtualCenter Communication
TheVirtualCenterServerandESXServerreceivesdatatransmissionsfromtheVIClient
onport902.EnsurethisisproperlyconfiguredpriortoconnectingyourVIClientto
yourVirtualCenterServerorESXServer.
IfafirewallispreventingtheVIClientfromconnectingtotheVirtualCenterServer,you
havethreeoptionsforcorrectingthis:
ReconfigureyourfirewalltoallowtheVIClienttocommunicatethroughport902
ontheVirtualCenterServerorESXServer.Refertotheinstructionsforyour
firewall.
Usesomeportotherthan902(andifnecessary,configureyourfirewalltoopenthis
otherport).TheVIClientandtheVirtualCenterServermustbothbeconfiguredto
usethesameport.
RefertoConfiguringthePortThatVirtualCenterServerUsesonpage 69for
informationonchangingthisportnumberinyourVirtualCenterServer.
IfneitheroftheprecedingoptionsispossibleandyourfirewallallowsWebtraffic
topasstotheserver,youcanconnecttheVIClienttotheVirtualCenterServer
usingastandardWebconnection.
RefertoConfiguringVirtualCenterCommunicationoveraWebConnectionon
page 69forinformationonsettinguptheWebsiteport.
NOTE TheproceduresdescribedherearenotavailableforcommunicationwithanESXServer.
ESXServeronlyusesport902.YoucannotchangetheportnumberESXServerusesto
communicatewitheitheraVIClientortheVirtualCenterServer.RefertotheServer
ConfigurationGuideforcompleteinformationonsecurity,communication,andport
configurationwithanESXServerdirectly.
CAUTION Ifyouusethisoptiontoopenacommunicationchannelbetweenyour
VirtualCenterServerandVIClient,theVirtualCenterconsoledoesnot
work.
VMware, Inc. 69

Configuring the Port That VirtualCenter Server Uses
Thereisadefaultportnumberassigned,902.Thisprocedureappliesonlyto
communicationbetweenaVIClientandaVirtualCenterServer.Donotusethisto
attempttochangetheportnumberforcommunicationbetweenaVIClientandanESX
Server.
To change the default port number
1 StarttheVIClientandlogontotheVirtualCenterServer.
RefertoUsingtheVIClientonpage 41.
2 ChooseAdministration>ServerSettings.
3 ClicktheRuntimeSettingsoption.
4 EntertheportnumberyourVIClientisusingtocommunicatewiththe
VirtualCenterServer.ClicktheFinishoption.ClicktheFinishbutton.
Theportmustbelessthan64000.
5 Toacceptthechanges,restarttheVirtualCenterServer.
RefertoVirtualCenterServeronpage 33.
Configuring VirtualCenter Communication over a Web
Connection
OnealternativetoconnectingtheVirtualCenterServerandVIClientonoppositesides
ofafirewallisthroughastandardWebconnection.
ToenableyourVIClienttoconnectwiththeVirtualCenterServeracrossafirewall
usingaWebtunnel,changetheWebsiteportaddressonyourVirtualCenterServer.
To open a Web port between the VirtualCenter Server and the VI Client using IIS
1 OntheVirtualCenterServer,installInternetInformationServices(IIS)Manager.
Typically,thisisinstalledbydefaultwiththeMicrosoftWindowsoperating
system.
NOTE Changingtheportnumberisaveryrareoperation.
CAUTION Ifyouusethisoptiontoopenacommunicationchannelbetweenyour
VirtualCenterServerandVIClient,theVirtualCenterconsoledoesnot
work.
70 VMware, Inc.

2 EnableIIS.
Forexample,chooseStart>ControlPanel>AdministrativeTools>Internet
ServicesManager.SelectInternetInformationServices.
3 FromtheIISmanager,opentheWindowsdialogbox.
4 Expandthe<server_name>.RightclickonDefaultWebSite.ChooseProperties>
WebSitetab.
5 SettheportvaluefortheVirtualCenterservice.
6 IntheWebSiteDescriptionblock,enterthevalueoftheTCPPortor,ifallowed,the
SSLport.
Avalueof80isthedefaultnonsecureTCPWebsiteport.Avalueof443isthe
defaultsecureSSLWebsiteport.
7 Setthedlldirectory.
a Ifneeded,createthedirectory:
C:\inetpub\wwwroot\vpx\
b Setthepermissionsforthisdirectorytoallowexecution.
c CopythefileVmdbHttpProxy.dlltothisdirectory.
Thefileisin\ProgramFiles\VMware\VMwareVirtualCenter.
8 Verifythatthechangehasbeenapplied.
9 StopandrestartthedefaultWebsite.
10 EachtimeyouupdatetheVirtualCenterversion,repeatthisprocess.
WhenyoustarttheVIClient,entertheVirtualCenterServerWebsiteaddressas
listedintheServerfield.
IfyouareusingthesecureWebportoranyothernondefaultport,usethefull
name:http:<server name>:<port>.
Forexample,http:vcserver:443.
IfyouareusingthedefaultnonsecureWebsiteport,anyofthefollowing
combinationswork:http:<server name>,<server name>80,orhttp:<server
name>:80.
VMware, Inc. 71

Virtual Machine Configuration
Setsofpropertiesandsettingsdialogboxesmakeadjustmentstothecorresponding
virtualmachineelement.
To view the resources of a virtual machine
Selectavirtualmachine.ClicktheSummarytab.RefertotheResourcessectionofthe
Summarytab.
ListedarethecurrentCPUandmemoryusage,inadditiontothedatastoresand
networksassociatedwiththeselectedvirtualmachine.
RefertotheResourceManagementGuideforcompleteinformationonconfiguringand
usingyourvirtualmachineresources.
To view the virtual machines on a host
Selectahost.ClicktheVirtualMachinestab.
Thisisalistofallthevirtualmachinesrunningontheselectedmanagedhostandthe
percentageofresourcesallocatedtothevirtualmachine.
To view the configuration of a virtual machine
RefertothechaptersinVirtualMachineManagementonpage 111forcomplete
informationaboutcreatingvirtualmachinesandeditingtheconfigurationofvirtual
machines.
SelectavirtualmachineandchooseEditSettings.
ThisdisplaystheVirtualMachinePropertiesdialogbox.Fromthisdialogboxyoucan
editthefollowingvirtualmachineconfigurationitems:
HardwareAddsorremovesthehardwareelementstoyourvirtualmachine:
Memory
CPU
Floppydrive
CD/DVDdrive
Networkadapter
SCSIcontroller
Harddisk
Serialport
Parallelport
Ethernetadapter
72 VMware, Inc.

SCSIdevice
OptionsListssomegeneralvirtualmachinesettings,actionstotakeduringa
powerstatechange,andactionstakenfordebuggingduringaprocess.
GeneralContainsvirtualmachinename,virtualmachineconfigurationfile
pathandname,virtualmachineworkinglocation,guestoperatingsystem,
andversionoftheguestoperatingsysteminstalled.
VMwareToolsContainspowercontrolsettingsforthevirtualmachines
toolbarpowericonsandarunscriptsoptionspecifyingifandwhentoruna
VMwareToolsscript.
PowerManagementAllowsyoutospecifythevirtualmachinesresponse
whentheguestoperatingsystemisonstandby.
AdvancedContainssettingsforlogging,maskingtheCPUandmaskusage,
andadditionalconfigurationparameters,whichareusedonlywhenindicated
byVMwaretechnicalsupport.
ResourcesModifiestheresourcesharesonthemanagedhostofavirtual
machine.
CPUAllowsyoutospecifytheCPUresourceallocationshares,reservation,
andlimitfortheselectedvirtualmachine.
MemoryAllowsyoutospecifythememoryresourceallocationshares,
reservation,andlimitfortheselectedvirtualmachine.
DiskAllowsyoutospecifythediskresourceallocationsharesandshares
valuefortheselectedvirtualmachine.
AdvancedCPUAllowsyoutospecifythehyperthreadingandscheduling
affinityfortheCPUrunningtheselectedvirtualmachine.
VMware, Inc. 73

Working with Active Sessions
WhenyourVIClientisconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,youcanviewthelistof
usersloggedontotheserver.ThisisnotavailablewhenyourVIClientisconnectedto
anESXServerhost.
To view the users that are currently logged on to a VirtualCenter Server
FromtheVIClientconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,clicktheAdminbuttoninthe
navigationbar.ThenclicktheSessionstab.
To terminate an active session
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,clicktheAdminbuttonin
thenavigationbar.ThenclicktheSessionstab.
2 Rightclickthesessiontoclose.ChooseTerminate.
3 Toconfirmthetermination,clickOK.
To send a message to all users logged on to an active session
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,clicktheAdminbuttonin
thenavigationbar.ThenclicktheSessionstab.
2 TypeintotheMessageofthedayfield.
3 ClicktheChangebutton.
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Thetextissentasanoticemessagetoallactivesessionusersandtonewusers
whentheylogin.
SNMP Configuration
TheSNMPagentcontrolsadatabasecalledtheSNMPManagementInformationBase
(MIB),astandardsetofstatisticalandcontrolvalues.
ThefollowingsectionsdiscussSNMPconfiguration:
UsingMIBswithYourSNMPTrapsonpage 74
UnderstandingSNMPTrapandVariableDefinitionsonpage 75
UsingSNMPtoMonitortheComputerRunningESXServeronpage 77
SettingUpESXServerSNMPonpage 79
ConfiguringSNMPTrapDestinationsonpage 80
ConfiguringSNMPManagementClientSoftwareonpage 80
ConfiguringSNMPSecurityonpage 81
UsingSNMPwithGuestOperatingSystemsonpage 81
Using MIBs with Your SNMP Traps
VirtualCenterallowsyoutoconfigureSNMPversion1trapsforalarmnotificationof
eventsoccurringinVirtualCenter.However,continuetouseyourESXServerMIBsfor
hostrelatedalarms.
Thetrapsdefinedherearesenttypicallytoothermanagementprograms.These
managementprogramsmustknowhowtointerprettheSNMPtrapssentby
VirtualCenter.
To configure your management program to interpret VirtualCenter SNMP traps
1 Downloadthemanagementinformationbase(MIB)definitions:
VMWAREROOTMIB.mib
VMWARETRAPSMIB.mib
TheMIBdefinitionfilescanbefoundatC:\Program Files\VMware\VMware
VirtualCenter\MIBSwhenthedefaultinstallationdirectoryisused.
2 ModifyyourmanagementprogramtoincludeandinterprettheVMwareMIBs.
Refertoyourmanagementprogramdocumentationforinformationonadding
MIBdefinitionstoyourprogram.
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AtechnicalnotedescribingtheMIBdefinitionscanbefoundat
www.vmware.com/pdf/vc_dbviews_11.pdf.
Understanding SNMP Trap and Variable Definitions
YoucandownloadtwogroupsofSNMPMIBdefinitions.TheSNMPtraptreeforVI
Clientislocatedat:
.iso.dod.org.internet.private.enterprise.vmware.vmwTraps.
(.1.3.6.1.4.1.6876.50.).
TheSNMPtraptypeforVMwareVirtualCenteris201.
Table 51liststheidentificationmappingforeachVirtualCenterMIBgroup.
ThefollowingtablesdescribetheVMwareSNMPMIBrootandprimarysubtrees.
CurrentlyeachsubtreehasitsownMIBfile.Thetableslistthevariablesusedinthe
SNMPTrapgroups.
Table 52liststhedefinitionmappingfromVMWAREROOTMIB.mib.
Table 5-1. Identification Mapping
Identification Map Label
1.3.6.1.4.1.6876.50.301 vpxdTrapType
1.3.6.1.4.1.6876.50.302 vpxdHostName
1.3.6.1.4.1.6876.50.303 vpxdVMName
1.3.6.1.4.1.6876.50.304 vpxdOldStatus
1.3.6.1.4.1.6876.50.305 vpxdNewStatus
1.3.6.1.4.1.6876.50.306 vpxObjValue
Table 5-2. Definition Mapping
Label Identification Mapping
vmware enterprises6876
vmwSystem vmware1
vmwVirtMachines vmware2
vmwResources vmware3
vmwProductSpecific vmware4
vmwTraps vmware50
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Table 53liststhetraptypesfromVMWARETRAPSMIB.mib.Thefirstfivetrapsare
generatedfromtheESXServer,andthelastonefromtheVirtualCenterServer.
Table 54describesthevariablesandparametersusedintheVMwareVirtual
InfrastructureClientdefinedSNMPtraps.Allvariablesarereadonly.Thedatatype
fieldreferstotheSNMPversion1typedescribedbythestructureofmanagement
information(SMI).Andallvariablesandparametersaremandatory.
vmwOID vmware60
vmwExperimental vmware700
Table 5-3. Trap Types
Trap Label Description Variables
vmPoweredOn Sentwhenavirtualmachineis
poweredonfromasuspendedora
poweredoffstate.
vmID,vmConfigFile
vmPoweredOff Sentwhenavirtualmachineis
poweredoff.
vmID,vmConfigFile
vmHBLost Sentwhenavirtualmachinedetectsa
lossinguestheartbeat.
vmID,vmConfigFile
vmHBDetected Sentwhenavirtualmachinedetectsor
regainstheguestheartbeat.
vmID,vmConfigFile
vmSuspended Sentwhenavirtualmachineis
suspended.
vmID,vmConfigFile
vpxdTrap Sentwhenentitystatuschanged. vpxdTrapType,vpxdHostName,
vpxdVMName,vpxdOldStatus,
vpxdNewStatus,vpxdObjValue
Table 5-4. Variables and Parameters
Variable Description Syntax
vmID TheIDoftheaffectedvirtualmachinegeneratingthe
trap.IfthevirtualmachineIDisnonexistent,(suchasfor
apowerofftrap)1isreturned.
INTEGER
vmConfigFile Theconfigurationfileoftheaffectedvirtualmachine
generatingthetrap.
DisplayString
vpxdTrapType Thetraptypeintheprecedingtraps. DisplayString
vpxdHostName Thenameofthehostintheprecedingtraps. DisplayString
Table 5-2. Definition Mapping
Label Identification Mapping
VMware, Inc. 77

Using SNMP to Monitor the Computer Running ESX Server
ESXServershipswithanSNMPagentthatallowsyoutomonitorthehealthofthe
physicalmachinewhereESXServerisrunningandofvirtualmachinesrunningonit.
ThisagentisbasedonNetSNMPwithenhancementstosupportdataspecifictoESX
Server.BackgroundinformationonNetSNMPisavailableat
netsnmp.sourceforge.net.
TheESXServerSNMPagentcanbeusedwithanymanagementsoftwarethatcanload
andcompileamanagementinformationbase(MIB)inSMIv1formatandcan
understandSNMPv1trapmessages.
ThelocationoftheVMwaresubtreeintheSNMPhierarchyis:
.iso.org.dod.internet.private.enterprises.vmware (.1.3.6.1.4.1.6876).
YoucanchoosetouseSNMPwithorwithoutanyESXServerMIBitems.
Information About the Physical Computer
SNMPgetvariablesallowyoutomonitorawidevarietyofitemsaboutthephysical
computerandhowvirtualmachinesareusingitsresources.Someofthekeytypesof
informationavailableare:
NumberofCPUsonthephysicalcomputer
CPUresourcesonthephysicalcomputerbeingusedbyparticularvirtualmachines
AmountofRAMinstalledonthephysicalcomputer
Physicalmemoryusedbytheserviceconsole
Physicalmemoryusedbyparticularvirtualmachines
Physicalmemorythatisnotbeingused
Usagedatafordisksonthephysicalcomputer,includingnumberofreadsand
writesandamountofdatareadandwritten
vpxdVMName Thenameofthevirtualmachineintheprecedingtraps. DisplayString
vpxdOldStatus Theoldstatusintheprecedingtraps. DisplayString
vpxdNewStatus Thenewstatusintheprecedingtraps. DisplayString
vpxdObjValue Thecurrentobjectvalueintheprecedingtraps. DisplayString
Table 5-4. Variables and Parameters
Variable Description Syntax
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Usagedataonthephysicalcomputersnetworkadapters,includingpacketssent
andreceivedandkilobytessentandreceived
StateoftheVMkernel(loadedornotloaded)
Information About the Virtual Machines
SNMPgetvariablesallowyoutomonitoranumberofitemsaboutparticularvirtual
machinesrunningonthecomputer.Someofthekeytypesofinformationavailableare:
Pathtothevirtualmachinesconfigurationfile
Guestoperatingsystemrunningonthevirtualmachine
Amountofmemorythevirtualmachineisconfiguredtouse
Stateofthevirtualmachinespowerswitch:onoroff
Stateoftheguestoperatingsystem:onoroff(runningornotrunning)
Diskadaptersseenbythevirtualmachine
Networkadaptersseenbythevirtualmachine
Floppydiskdrivesseenbythevirtualmachine
Stateofthefloppydrive:connectedordisconnected
CDROMdrivesseenbythevirtualmachine
StateoftheCDROMdrive:connectedordisconnected
SNMP Traps
FiveSNMPtrapsnotifyyouofcriticaleventsinparticularvirtualmachines.The
affectedvirtualmachineisidentifiedbyIDnumberandconfigurationfilepath.The
trapsnotifyyou:
Whenavirtualmachineispoweredonorresumedfromasuspendedstate.
Whenavirtualmachineispoweredoff.
Whenthevirtualmachinedetectsalossofheartbeatintheguestoperatingsystem.
Whenavirtualmachineissuspended.
Whenthevirtualmachinedetectsthattheguestoperatingsystemsheartbeathas
startedorresumed.
NOTE IfthevariableshowingwhethertheVMkernelisloadedsaysno,anyvaluesreported
foranyothervariableshouldberegardedasinvalid.
VMware, Inc. 79

Setting Up ESX Server SNMP
ESXServerSNMPsupportisamoduleyoucanloadintoadaemonbasedonthe
netsnmppackage.Itiscompiledforversion5.0.9.2.30E.19ofthatpackage.That
versionofnetsnmpisinstalledintheVMwareserviceconsolebydefault.
Installing the ESX Server SNMP Module
TheVMwarespecificSNMPmodulesareautomaticallyinstalledwhenyouinstall
ESX Server.Bydefaultonafreshinstall,ESXServercomponentsareenabledinSNMP,
andVMwaretrapsarealwayson.
Installing the ESX Server MIB Module
YoumustmakemanualchangesafterupgradingESXServerbecausetheMIBmodule
isnotpresentinupgrades,onlyfreshinstalls.Youmightalsohavetomakechanges
afterinstallingthirdpartymanagementagentsbecausethestateoftheconfigurationis
unknown.
Configuring the ESX Server Agent from the Service Console
Thefollowingproceduresmustbeperformedafterinstallingorupgradingthirdparty
managementapplications.
To enable or disable ESX Server MIB
1 Logontotheserviceconsoleastherootuser.
2 Editthe /etc/snmp/snmpd.confconfigurationfile.
3 AddorremovethefollowinglinetoenableordisableVMwareMIBitems:
dlmod SNMPESX /usr/lib/vmware/snmp/libSNMPESX.so
To start the SNMP agents automatically
YoucansettheSNMPdaemontostartwheneverESXServerbootsbyloggingonasthe
rootuserontheserviceconsoleandrunningthechkconfigcommand:
chkconfig snmpd on
To start the SNMP agents manually
IfyoumuststarttheSNMPagentmanually,logonasrootintheserviceconsoleand
runthefollowingcommand:
NOTE VMwareToolsmustbeinstalledintheguestoperatingsystemtosupportthetrapsthat
detectlossandresumptionoftheguestsheartbeat.
80 VMware, Inc.

/etc/rc.d/init.d/snmpd start
Bydefault,theagentstartsandrunsasbackgroundprocesses.
To enable and disable traps
1 Edittheconfig.xmlfile.
Theconfigurationparametersnmp/generateTrapsinthe
/etc/vmware/host/config.xmlfiledetermineswhethertogenerateatrap.By
default,atrapisgenerated.
2 Restartvmware_hostdtoseethechangetakeeffect.
Configuring SNMP Trap Destinations
VMwaretrapsaregeneratedtothedestinationsspecifiedintheconfigurationfile.
To configure traps (SEE UPDATE)
1 Logontotheserviceconsoleastherootuser.
2 Modifythe/etc/snmp/snmpd.conffile.
3 Usingatexteditor,addthefollowingline,replacingmercury.solar.comwiththe
nameofthehostonyournetworkthatwillreceivetraps.
trapsink mercury.solar.com
Repeatthislinetospecifymorethanonedestination.
4 Addthefollowingline,replacingpublicwithacommunitynameofyourchoice:
trapcommunity public.
Onlyoneinstanceofthislineisallowed.
5 Saveyourchanges.
Configuring SNMP Management Client Software
TouseyourSNMPmanagementsoftwarewiththeESXServeragent,takethesteps
neededtoaccomplishthefollowing:
Inyourmanagementsoftware,specifytheESXServermachineasanSNMPbased
manageddevice.
Setupappropriatecommunitynamesinthemanagementsoftware.Thesemust
correspondtothevaluessetinthemasterSNMPagentsconfigurationfile,for
example,rocommunity,trapcommunity,andtrapsink.
VMware, Inc. 81

LoadtheESXServerMIBsintothemanagementsoftwaresoyoucanviewthe
symbolicnamesfortheESXServervariables.YoucanfindtheMIBfileson
ESX Server,inthe/usr/lib/vmware/snmp/mibsdirectory.
Configuring SNMP Security
TheESXServerSNMPpackagetakesthesimplestapproachtoSNMPsecurityinthe
defaultconfiguration.Itsetsupasinglecommunitywithreadonlyaccess.Thisis
denotedbytherocommunityconfigurationparameterintheconfigurationfileforthe
snmpd daemon,snmpd.conf.Youshouldchangethisfile.
OtherenhancementstotheSNMPsecuritymechanismallowanadministratortosetup
amoreelaboratepermissionsscheme.Seethesnmpd.conf(5)manpagefordetails.
Using SNMP with Guest Operating Systems
TouseSNMPtomonitorguestoperatingsystemsorapplicationsrunninginvirtual
machines,installtheSNMPagentsyounormallywoulduseforthatpurposeinthe
guestoperatingsystems.NospecialconfigurationisrequiredonESXServer.
Thevirtualmachineusesitsownvirtualhardwaredevices.Youshouldnotinstall
agentsintendedtomonitorhardwareonthephysicalcomputerinthevirtualmachine.
System Log Files
Inadditiontolistsofeventsandalarms,VirtualInfrastructureClientgenerates
assortedlogs.Theselogscontainadditionalinformationaboutactivitiesinyour
VMwareInfrastructureenvironment.
Thefollowingsectionsdiscusssystemlogfiles:
ViewingSystemLogEntriesonpage 82
ExternalSystemLogsonpage 83
ExportingDiagnosticDataonpage 86
CollectingLogFilesonpage 87
82 VMware, Inc.

Viewing System Log Entries
Thefollowingtwoproceduresdescribehowtoaccessandviewsystemlogs.
To view system log entries
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoeitheraVirtualCenterServeroranESXServer,
displaytheadministrationpanelandviewthesystemlogtab.
2 ClicktheAdminbuttoninthenavigationbar.ClicktheSystemLogstab.
3 Fromthedropdownlist,choosethelogandentryyouwanttoview.
VMware, Inc. 83

To search and list selected items
1 Withthelogyouwanttofilterdisplayed,chooseView>Filteringtorefertothe
filteringoptions.
2 Entertextintothedatafield.ClickCleartoemptythedatafield.
External System Logs
VMwaretechnicalsupportmightrequestseveralfilestohelpresolveanyissuesyou
havewiththeproduct.Thefollowingtabledescribesadditionallogfilesyoumight
need
.
Table 5-5. External System Logs
Component
Operating
System File Name Location
ESXServer2.x
Servicelog
ESXServer vmware-serverd.log /var/log/vmware/
ESXServer3.x
Servicelog
ESXServer hostd.log /var/log/vmware/
VIClient
Agentlog
ESXServer vpxa.log /var/log/vmware/vpx/
VIClient
Installationlog
Windows Virtual Infrastructure
Client host.
VIClient
Servicelog
Windows temp_dir\viclient-x.log
x(=0, 1, ... 9)
Tempdirectory
84 VMware, Inc.

Virtual
Machine
Consolelogs
Windows vmware-<username>-<PID>.log Tempdirectory
Example:
C:\Documents and
Settings\<username>\Local
Settings\Temp
Thepathtothisfileappearsinthe
Aboutdialogbox.Inaconsole,
chooseHelp>AboutVMware
VirtualInfrastructureClient,
andlookunderAdditional
Information.
Linux ui-<PID>.log Tempdirectory
Example:
/tmp/vmware-<username>/
Thepathtothisfileappearsinthe
terminalwhenyoustartthe
console.
IfyouencounterproblemswiththeVMwareVirtualMachineconsoleonaremoteVI
Client,pleasesubmitasupportrequestandthislogfile.
Virtual
Machine
Console
Installationlog
Windows VMInst.log Tempdirectory
Example:
C:\Documents and
Settings\<username>\Local
Settings\Temp.
TheLocalSettingsfolderis
hiddenbydefault.Torefertoits
contents,openMyComputer,
chooseTools>FolderOptions,
clicktheViewtab,andchoose
ShowHiddenFilesandFolders.
Linux VMInst.log /etc/vmware/
Table 5-5. External System Logs (Continued)
Component
Operating
VMware, Inc. 85

Virtual
Machinelog
Windows vmware.log Inthesamedirectoryasthe
configurationfile(.vmx)ofthe
virtualmachinethathad
problems.
Thepathtothelogfileofthe
activevirtualmachineappearsin
theAboutdialogbox.Ina
console,chooseHelp>About
VMwareVirtualInfrastructure
Client,andlookunder
Additionalinformation.
Linux vmware.log Inthesamedirectoryasthe
configurationfile(.vmx)ofthe
virtualmachinethathad
problems.
Runthesupportscriptorsavethelogfilebeforeyoulaunchthefailedvirtualmachine
again.
Virtual
Machines
Eventlog
Windows event-<path_to_
configuration_file>
.vmx.log
Onthevirtualmachinemanaged
host.
C:\Program
Files\VMware\VMware
Virtual Infrastructure\
vmserverdRoot\eventlog
Linux /var/log/vmware
Virtual
Machine
KernelCore
file
ESXServer vmkernel-core.<date>and
vmkernel-log.<date>
/rootdirectoryafteryoureboot
yourmachine.
Virtual
Machine
Configuration
file
Windows
andLinux
.vmx Onthevirtualmachinemanaged
host.
Service
Consolelog
ESXServer /var/log/messages
Service
Console
Availability
report
ESXServer
VMkernel
Messages
ESXServer /var/log/vmkernelinthe
serviceconsole
Component
Operating
86 VMware, Inc.

Exporting Diagnostic Data
Thereisanoptionforexportingallorpartofyourlogfiledata.
To export diagnostic data
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServerorESXServer,openthe
SaveDiagnosticDatadialogbox.
2 ClicktheAdminbutton,clicktheSystemLogstab,choosethelogtoexportfrom
thepulldownlist,andclicktheExportDiagnosticDatabuttonontheAdmintask
bar.
3 IftheVIClientisconnectedtoVirtualCenterServer,specifythehostwhoselogyou
wanttoexportandthelocationforstoringthelogfiles.
VMkernel
Alertsand
Availability
report
ESXServer /var/log/vmkernelinthe
serviceconsole
VMkernel
Warning
ESXServer /var/log/vmkwarninginthe
serviceconsole
Component
Operating
VMware, Inc. 87

4 IftheVIClientisconnectedtoanESXServer,specifythelocationforthelogfiles.
5 ClickOK.
Afileiscreatedoftheselecteddataandstoredatthespecifiedlocation,usingthe
vm-supportscript.Ifnofileextensionisprovided,thedefaultisatextfile.Thefile
containsType,Time,andDescription.
Collecting Log Files
VMwaretechnicalsupportmightrequestseveralfilestohelpresolveyourproblem.
Thefollowingdescribesscriptprocessesforgeneratingandcollectingsomeofthese
files.
To set VirtualCenter verbose logging in the Virtual Infrastructure Client
1 ChooseAdministration.ClickServerSettings>LoggingOptions.
2 ChooseVerbosefromthepopupmenu.
3 ClickOK.
To collect Virtual Infrastructure log files
Choosefromtheoptions:
Toviewtheviclient-*.logfiles,changetothedirectory,%temp%.
IfyouarerunningtheVIClientontheVirtualCenterServermachine,download
thelogbundle.
88 VMware, Inc.

To collect ESX Server VMkernel files
IftheVMkernelfails,normallyanerrormessageappearsforaperiodoftimeand
thenthevirtualmachinereboots.
IfyouspecifiedaVMwarecoredumppartitionwhenyouconfiguredyourvirtual
machine,theVMkernelalsogeneratesacoredumpanderrorlog.
MoreseriousproblemsintheVMkernelcanfreezethemachinewithoutanerror
messageorcoredump.
To collect ESX Server Service Console files
1 Runthefollowingscriptontheserviceconsole:
/usr/bin/vm-support
ThisscriptcollectsandpackagesallrelevantESXServersystemandconfiguration
informationandESXServerlogfiles.Thisinformationcanbeusedtoanalyzethe
problemyouareencountering.
2 Savetheresultingfile:
esx-<date>-<unique-xnumber>.tgz
To collect ESX Server Service log files
1 Inatexteditor,openthefollowingfile:
OnaWindowshost,editconfig.ini,locatedinC:\Documents and
Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware Virtual
Infrastructure\.
OnaLinuxhost,edit/etc/vmware/config.
2 Addthefollowinglinestothefile:
vmauthd.logEnabled = TRUE
log.vmauthdFileName = "vmauthd.log"
Thiscreatesafilecalledvmauthd.log.OnaWindowshost,thisfileappearsby
defaultinC:\Windows\system32 or C:\WINNT\system32. OnaLinuxhost,
thisfileappearsbydefaultin /var/log/vmware.
3 Saveandclosetheconfigurationfile.
ThelogisenabledonaLinuxhost.YoucanenableloggingfortheVMware
AuthorizationService(knownasvmware-authdonLinuxhosts)manually.
VMware, Inc. 89

4 OnaWindowshost,chooseStart>AdministrativeTools>Services.Rightclick
VMwareAuthorizationServiceandchooseRestart.
ThisenablesloggingontheWindowshost.
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VMware, Inc. 91

6
ThischapterdescribeshowtomanagetheobjectsinyourVMwareInfrastructure
environment.Thisincludesfolders,datacenters,clusters,resourcepools,networks,
anddatastores.Theseobjectsareusedtohelpmanageororganizethemonitoredand
managedhostsandvirtualmachines.
Thischapterdescribeshowtoaddorremoveinventoryobjects.Includedisareference
tothedocumentationthatdescribestheseitemsandrelatedactivitiesindetail.
EachobjectintheVirtualInfrastructureClienthasitsplaceintheoverallhierarchy.An
objectspositionisdeterminedbytheobjectsfunctionality.
Thischapterpresentsthefollowingtopics:
UnderstandingVIClientObjectsonpage 91
AddinganInventoryObjectonpage 96
MovingObjectsintheInventoryonpage 97
RemovinganInventoryObjectonpage 98
Understanding VI Client Objects
Thereareseveralwaystogetinsightintotherelationshipsbetweendifferentobjects:
ViewingthroughtheMapsfeatureshowstheinventoryobjectrelationshipsin
graphicalform.
Managing the VI Client
Inventory 6
NOTE TheviewsandcapabilitiesdisplayedvarydependingonwhethertheVIClientis
connectedtoaVirtualCenterServeroranESXServer.Unlessindicated,theprocess,
task,ordescriptionappliestobothkindsofVIClientconnections.
92 VMware, Inc.

Clickinganobjectintheinventoryprovidesalistoftabbedcontentthatlists
relatedobjects.
Forexample,adatastorehasavirtualmachinetabthatliststhevirtualmachines
thatusethedatastore.Thereisalsoahosttabthatlistthehoststhatcanaccessthe
datastore.
ViewingInventory>HostsandClustersprovidesaviewofthesetofvirtual
machinesthatrunonaparticularhost,cluster,orresourcepool.Eachobjecthasa
tabthatdisplaysallthevirtualmachinesassociatedorcontainedwithinin.
However,theHostsandClustersviewisnotacompletelistofavailablevirtual
machinesandtemplates.OnlytheInventory>VirtualMachinesandTemplates
optiondisplaysallthevirtualmachineandtemplates.Throughthisviewyoucan
organizevirtualmachinesintoarbitraryfolderhierarchies.
TheVirtualInfrastructureClientisusedtoconnectdirectlytoanESXServeror
indirectlytoanESXServerthroughaVirtualCenterServer.TheVIClientdisplaysonly
thosefunctionsthatareappropriatetothetypeofserverconnectedtoit.Forexample,
iftheVIClientisconnectedtoanESXServer,theclustersfunctionalityisnotdisplayed.
ThefigurebelowliststheobjectsofaVMwareInfrastructureenvironment.Theobjects
areinhierarchicalorder.Templates,networks,anddatacentersaredisplayedontheir
owninventorypanel.AllotherobjectsappearintheHosts&Clustersinventorypanel.
Allfourpanelsarelinkedtotherootfolder.
VMware, Inc. 93
Chapter 6 Managing the VI Client Inventory

Figure 6-1. Virtual Infrastructure Client Hierarchy
Hosts and Clusters
root folder
folder
folder
datacenter
folder
host
datacenter
cluster
folder
host
cluster
host
resource pool
resource pool
host
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
resource pool
VM
Virtual Machines and Templates
folder
datacenter
VM
VM
template
VM
template
template
folder
datacenter
network
network
network
network
network
Networks
Datastores
folder
datacenter
datastore
datastore
datastore
datastore
datastore
94 VMware, Inc.

WhentheVIClientisconnectedtoanESXServer,therootisthehostitself.Contained
objectsincludethehostrootresourcepool,childresourcepools,andvirtualmachines.
Clusters,folders,datacenters,networks,anddatastoresdonotappearintheinventory
whentheVIClientisconnectedonlytoanESXServer.
Someobjectsserveonlyasorganizationalstructures.Theseprovideameansforyouto
organizeyourobjectsbydepartment,group,companyfunction,location,andsoon.
Otherobjectslimitagroupofcontainedobjects.Forexample,aVMotionfailovercan
occuronlywithinacluster,notbetweenclusters.SimilarlyaVMotionfailovercanoccur
onlywithinadatacenter,notbetweendatacenters.
TheVirtualInfrastructureClientobjectsareasfollows:
RootfolderInVirtualCenterServeronly.Childobjectsaredatacentersor
subfolders.TherootfolderissetasadefaultforeveryVirtualCenterServer.You
canchangethename,butnotaddorremoveit.
FoldersInVirtualCenterServeronly.Childobjectsaredatacenters,hosts,
clusters,virtualmachines,orsubfolders.
DatacentersInVirtualCenterServeronly.Childobjectsarefolders,clusters,or
hosts.
Adatacentercontainsclusters,hosts,andvirtualmachines.Allactionstakenupon
managedhostsandvirtualmachinesareappliedwithintheirdatacenter.Withina
datacenter,youcanmonitorandmanagevirtualmachinesseparatelyfromtheir
hostsanduseVMotion.Youcannotperformmigrationbetweendatacenters.
ClustersInVirtualCenterServeronly.Childobjectsarehosts,virtualmachines,
orresourcepools.
Ifyoursystemislicensed,youcanenablethefollowingclusterfeatures:
VMwareHAAllowsVirtualCentertomigrateandrestartavirtualmachine
whenahostfails.VMwareHAisnotlistedasaninventoryobjectitself,butit
allowstheclusterobjecttobeseen.
VMwareDRSMonitorstheVirtualCenterenvironment,makesinitialplacement
recommendations,makesvirtualmachinemigrationrecommendations,and
enablesVirtualCentertoautomaticallyplaceandmigratevirtualmachineson
hoststoattainthebestuseofclusterresources.VMwareDRSisnotlistedasan
inventoryobjectitself,butitallowstheclusterobjecttobeseen.
RefertotheResourceManagementGuideforcomprehensiveinformationonusing
VirtualInfrastructureClientclusters.
VMware, Inc. 95

HostsChildobjectsarevirtualmachinesorresourcepools.HostsareESXServer
systems.Thetermhostreferstothevirtualizationplatformthatisthehosttothe
virtualmachines.HostisthedefaulttopstructureforastandaloneESXServer.
WhentheVirtualCenterServerisconnectedtotheVirtualInfrastructureClient,all
ESXServersystemsregisteredwithVirtualCenteraresimplyreferredtoashosts.
ESXServersystemsdirectlyconnectedtotheVirtualInfrastructureClientare
referredtoasstandalonehosts.
RefertotheServerConfigurationGuideforcomprehensiveinformationon
configuringyourESXServer.
ResourcepoolsChildobjectsarevirtualmachinesorresourcepools.Theyare
availableonESXServerhostsaswellasthroughVirtualCenterServers.
AVirtualInfrastructureClientresourcepoolisusedtoallocatehostprovidedCPU
andmemorytothevirtualmachinesresidenttothehost.
RefertotheResourceManagementGuideforcomprehensiveinformationonusing
VirtualInfrastructureClientresourcepools.
VirtualmachinesLocatedwithinahost,virtualdisksonadatastore,associated
withinaclusterorresourcepool.Canbelistedasachildobjecttohosts,clusters,
orresourcepools.Canbemovedbetweenhostsorclusters.Whenaddingtoa
clusterorresourcepool,youmustspecifyorhaveintheclusterorresourcepoola
designatedtargethost.
NetworksInVirtualCenterServeronly.Childobjecttodatacenters.Networksare
discoveredwhenhostsareaddedtotheVMwareInfrastructureenvironment.
DatastoresInVirtualCenterServeronly.Childobjecttodatacenters.Datastores
arediscoveredwhenhostsareaddedtotheVMwareInfrastructureenvironment.
Thisincludesthediscoveryofdatastoresthatarelocaltothemanagedhostaswell
asdatastoresontheSANorNAS.
96 VMware, Inc.

Adding an Inventory Object
Eachinventoryobjectcanbeaddedonlytoitscorrespondinghierarchicalparent.Only
permissibleobjectsarelistedontheparentmenus.Thesepairingsareasfollows:
To add an inventory object
1 FromaVIClient,displaytheappropriateinventoryview.
2 Selecttheappropriateparenticonintheinventorypanel.Fromthepopupmenu,
chooseNew <Object>where<Object>isafolder,datacenter,cluster,resource
pool,host,orvirtualmachine.
Ifthenewobjectisafolderordatacenter,anewiconisaddedtotheinventory.
Forexample,anewdatacenterisaddedtothehierarchy.Typeinausefulname.
Iftheobjectisacluster,resourcepool,host,orvirtualmachine,awizardappears.
AnswerthepromptsandclickFinish.
Foradditionalinformation,refertotheappropriatemanual:
ClusterRefertotheResourceManagementGuide.
ResourcepoolRefertotheResourceManagementGuide.
HostRefertoManagingHostsinVirtualCenteronpage 99.
VirtualmachineRefertoManagingVirtualMachinesonpage 141.
VMware, Inc. 97

Moving Objects in the Inventory
Someobjectscanbemanuallymovedbetweenfolders,datacenters,resourcepools,and
hosts.
To move an object using drag-and-drop
2 Selecttheobjecttobemovedfromtheappropriateinventoryviewbyclickingit.
Aboxisdisplayedaroundit.Thisindicatestheobjectisselected.
3 Dragthemovingobjecttothetargetobject.
Ifthemovingobjectisallowedtomovetothetarget,thetargetobjectis
displayedwithaboxaroundit,indicatingitisselected.
Ifthemovingobjectisnotallowedtomovetothetarget,anaughtsign(zero
withaslash)appears,andtheobjectisnotmoved.
Theinventoryobjectscanbemovedasfollows:
Rootfolder,roothost(ESXServer),networks,anddatastoresCannotbe
moved.
FoldersCanbemovedwithinadatacenter.
DatacenterCanbemovedtofoldersatasiblingorparentlevel.
ClusterCanbemovedbetweenfoldersandwithindatacentersatasibling
orparentlevel.
HostWhenmanagedbyaVirtualCenterServer,ifahostisinacluster,all
virtualmachinesonthehostmustbeshutdownandthehostmustbeplaced
intomaintenancemodebeforeitcanbemovedfromthecluster.Ahostcanbe
movedbetweenclustersanddatacenters.
ResourcepoolsCanbemovedtootherresourcepoolsandfolders.
VirtualmachinesCanbemovedtootherresourcepools,clusters,folders,
datacenters,orhosts.Whenaddingtoanythingotherthanahost,youmust
specifyatargethost.
4 Correcttheconditionalsituation,ifneeded.
Whenyoureleasethemousebuttonafterdraggingtheobjectmovestothenew
locationoranerrormessageindicateswhatneedstobedonetopermitthemove.
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Removing an Inventory Object
Whenyouremoveanobject(suchasafolder,datacenter,cluster,orresourcepool),
VirtualCenterremovesallchildinventoryobjects(suchasdatacenters,clusters,hosts,
andvirtualmachinescontainedwithintheobject).Alltheassociatedtasksandalarms
arealsoremoved.Assignedprocessorandmigrationlicensesarereturnedtoavailable
status.Virtualmachinesthatwereonamanagedhostremainonthehost,butareno
longermanagedbyVirtualCenter.
To remove an inventory object
2 Selecttheobject.Fromthepopupmenu,chooseRemove.
3 Toconfirmthatyouwanttoremovetheobject,clickYesandfollowtheprompts,
asneeded.
Onceconfirmed,VirtualCenterremovesallclusters,hosts,andvirtualmachines
withinthedatacenterfromthemanagedinventory.Inaddition,alltheassociated
tasks,alarms,andeventsarealsoremoved.Assignedprocessorandmigration
licensesarereturnedtoavailablestatus.Virtualmachinesthatwereonthe
managedhostremainonthehost.Therootfoldercannotberemoved.
NOTE Theremoveoptiondoesnotdeletevirtualmachinesfromitsdatastore.
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7
ThischapterdescribeshowtohavehostsmanagedbyVirtualCenter.Forinformation
onconfigurationmanagementofhosts,refertotheServerConfigurationGuide.
Thissectioncontainsthefollowing:
HostsOverviewonpage 99
UnderstandingHostStatesonpage 101
AddingaHostonpage 101
ConnectingorDisconnectingaHostonpage 104
AutomaticallyReconnectingaHostonpage 106
RemovingaHostfromaClusteronpage 106
RemovingaHostfromVirtualCenteronpage 108
HostAdvancedConfigurationOptionsonpage 110
Hosts Overview
Ahostisavirtualizationplatform,anESXServer,thatsupportsvirtualmachines.A
VirtualCentermanagedhostisanESXServerhostthatisregisteredwithVirtualCenter.
ThetaskofmanagingahostisaccomplishedthroughtheVirtualInfrastructureClient.
Managing Hosts in
VirtualCenter 7
100 VMware, Inc.

ThisVIClientcanbeconnectedeitherdirectlytoanESXServerhostorindirectlytoESX
ServerhoststhroughaconnectiontoaVirtualCenterServer.
WhenESXServerhostsareconnectedtotheVIClientdirectly,youmanagethem
individuallyasstandalonehosts.Mostofthehostconfigurationandvirtualmachine
configurationfeaturesstillapply.Featuresthatrequiremultiplehosts,suchas
migrationwithVMotionofavirtualmachinefromonehosttoanother,arenotavailable
throughthestandalonehostconnection.
WhenESXServerhostsaremanagedbyVirtualCenter,theyareaddedtotheVMware
InfrastructureenvironmentthroughaVIClientconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer.
Managedhostsarehierarchicallyplacedindatacenters,folders,orclustersunderthe
rootnodefolder.
Allvirtualmachinesonmanagedhostsareautomaticallydiscoveredandimportedinto
VirtualCenter.Whenyouaddmultiplemanagedhosts,theVirtualCenterServer
identifiesanynamingconflictsthatexistbetweenvirtualmachinesandalertsthe
systemadministrator,whocanthenrenamevirtualmachinesasnecessary.Configure
thevirtualmachinedisplaynames.Thenamecanbeupto80characterslongandmay
containalphanumericcharactersandtheunderscore(_)andhyphen()characters.The
namemustalsobeuniqueacrossallvirtualmachineswithinavirtualmachinegroup.
WhentheVirtualCenterServerconnectstoamanagedhost,itdoessoasaprivileged
user.TheindividualVirtualInfrastructureClientuserdoesnotnecessarilyneedtobe
anadministrativeuseronthemanagedhost.RefertoAssigningAccessPermissions
onpage 263forinformationonsettingupVirtualInfrastructureClientusers.
NOTE ESXServersupportsamaximumoffivedirect,concurrentVIClientconnections.
CAUTION IfanESXServerhostisconnectedwithaVirtualCenterServerandyou
attachedaVIClienttomanagetheESXServerhostdirectly,youreceivean
errormessagebutareallowedtoproceed.Thismightresultinconflictson
thehost,especiallyifthehostispartofacluster.Thisactionisstrongly
discouraged.
VMware, Inc. 101
Chapter 7 Managing Hosts in VirtualCenter

Understanding Host States
Actionstakenuponamanagedhostrequirethatthemanagedhostbeinaspecificstate.
Wheneveranoperationisperformedonamanagedhost,thehoststatechanges.While
thestateisintransition,thestatefielddisplaysatermthatdescribesthetransition.
Adding a Host
Virtualmachinesexistonmanagedhostswithinthenetwork.Hostsareaddedtothe
VMwareInfrastructureenvironment.TheVirtualCenterServerdiscoversandaddsall
thevirtualmachinescontainedwithinthatmanagedhosttotheVMwareInfrastructure
environment.
IfyouareconnectingyourVIClienttoanESXServerdirectly,theproceduresinthis
sectiondonotapply.
To add a host to the VirtualCenter Server
1 Ensureacommunicationchannelthroughafirewall,ifneeded.
IfanymanagedhostintheVirtualCenterenvironmentisbehindafirewall,ensure
thatthemanagedhostcancommunicatewiththeVirtualCenterServerandwith
allotherhostsonport902oranotherconfiguredport.RefertoInstallationand
UpgradeGuideandtheServerConfigurationGuideforadditionalinformation.
2 ClicktheInventorybuttoninthenavigationbar.Expandtheinventoryasneeded,
andclicktheappropriatedatacenter,folder,orcluster.
3 Selecttheappropriatedatacenterorcluster,andchooseNewHostfromthemain
orpopupmenu.
NOTE Disconnectingamanagedhostdiffersfromremovingthemanagedhostfromthe
VirtualCenterServer.Disconnectingamanagedhostdoesnotremoveitfromthe
VirtualCenterServer;ittemporarilysuspendsallVirtualCenterServermonitoring
activities.Themanagedhostanditsassociatedvirtualmachinesremaininthe
VirtualCenterServerinventory.Removingamanagedhostremovesthemanagedhost
andallitsassociatedvirtualmachinesfromtheVirtualCenterServerinventory.
NOTE Whenaddingorremovinghosts,makesureNFSmountsareactive.IfNFSmountsare
unresponsive,theoperationfails.
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4 Enterthemanagedhostconnectionsettings.
a TypethenameofthemanagedhostintheHostnamefield.
b EntertheUsernameandPasswordforauseraccountthathasadministrative
privilegesontheselectedmanagedhost.
VirtualCenterusestherootaccounttologontothesystemandthencreatesa
specialuseraccount.VirtualCenterthenusesthisaccountforallfuture
authentication.
5 ToconfirmtheHostSummaryinformation,clickNext.
6 Ifyouareaddingthehosttoacluster:
VMware, Inc. 103

a Specifywhatshouldhappentotheresourcepoolsonthehost.
Theoptionsare:
Putallthehostsvirtualmachinesintotheclustersrootresourcepool.
Createnewresourcepoolforthehostsvirtualmachines.Thedefault
resourcepoolnameisderivedfromthehostsname.Typeoverthetextto
supplyyourownname.
b ClickNext.
c RefertotheResourceManagementGuide.
7 Ifyouareaddingthehosttoadatacenter:
a Identifythelocationofthehostsvirtualmachines.
b SelectfromthelistofinventoryobjectsdisplayedintheSelectionbox.
8 ToconfirmcompletingtheAddHostwizard,clickFinish.
WhenthedialogboxiscompleteandyouclickNext,VirtualCenterdoesthe
following:
Searchesthenetworkforthespecifiedmanagedhostandidentifiesallthe
virtualmachinesonthemanagedhost.IfyouclickCancel,thehostisremoved
fromtheVirtualCenterinventory.
Connectstothemanagedhost.Ifthewizardcannotconnecttothemanaged
host,themanagedhostisnotaddedtotheinventory.
Verifiesthatthemanagedhostisnotalreadybeingmanaged.Ifitisalready
beingmanagedbyanotherVirtualCenterServer,VirtualCenterdisplaysa
message.Ifthewizardcanconnecttothemanagedhostbutforsomereason
cannotremainconnectedtotheVirtualCenterServer,thehostisadded,butis
inadisconnectedstate.Thisoccurs,forexample,ifthehostisalreadybeing
managedbyanotherVirtualCenterServer.
Readsthenumberofprocessorsonthemanagedhostandallocatesthe
appropriatenumberoflicenses.Thenumberofprocessorsisstoredinthe
VirtualCenterdatabaseandisverifieduponeachmanagedhostreconnection
andVirtualCenterstartup.
NOTE NewerprocessorshavetwoCPUcoresineachprocessorpackage.Systems
withdualcoreprocessorsmustuseESXServer2.5.2orlater.VirtualCenter
licensesareissuedbypairsofprocessorpackages,notbyprocessorcores.
Therefore,ifthesystemisusingtwodualcoreprocessorsortwosinglecore
processors,thesystemrequiresasingle2processorVirtualCenterlicense.
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Verifiesthatthemanagedhostversionissupported.Ifitisnot,andthe
managedhostversioncanbeupgraded,VirtualCenterpromptsyouto
performanupgrade.
Importsexistingvirtualmachines.
Connecting or Disconnecting a Host
Youhavetheoptiontodisconnectandreconnectamanagedhostthatisbeingmanaged
byaparticularVirtualCenterServer.Thissectiondescribeshowtoreconnecta
managedhost.
To connect or disconnect a managed host
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,clicktheInventorybutton
inthenavigationbar.Expandtheinventoryasneeded,andclicktheappropriate
managedhost.
2 Selecttheappropriatemanagedhosticonintheinventorypanel,andchoose
ConnectorDisconnectfromthepopupmenu.
3 Whendisconnecting,confirmtheaction.ClickYes.
WhenthemanagedhostsconnectionstatustoVirtualCenterischanged,the
statusesofthevirtualmachinesonthatmanagedhostareupdatedtoreflectthe
change.
NOTE Disconnectingamanagedhostdiffersfromremovingthemanagedhostfrom
VirtualCenter.DisconnectingamanagedhostdoesnotremoveitfromVirtualCenter;it
temporarilysuspendsallVirtualCentermonitoringactivities.Themanagedhostandits
associatedvirtualmachinesremainintheVirtualCenterinventory.Removinga
managedhostremovesthemanagedhostandallitsassociatedvirtualmachinesfrom
theVirtualCenterinventory.
VMware, Inc. 105

Ifthemanagedhostisdisconnected,theworddisconnectedisappendedtothe
objectnameinparentheses,andtheobjectisdimmed.Allassociatedvirtual
machinesaresimilarlydimmedandlabeled.
Ifthemanagedhostisconnected,thedisconnecteddesignationisremovedandthe
objectnameisinfullblackprint.Allassociatedvirtualmachinesaresimilarly
labeled.
106 VMware, Inc.

Automatically Reconnecting a Host
TheVirtualCenterServertriestoreconnecttoamanagedhostiftheconnectionislost.
YoucandefinehowlongVirtualCentertriestoreestablishtheconnection.Thisfeature
isnotavailablewhentheVIClientisconnecteddirectlytoanESXServer.
To configure automatic managed host reconnection
1 FromtheVIClient,displaytheinventory.
2 ChooseAdministration>ServerSettings.Whenthewizardopens,choosethe
ConnectionOptionslistitem.
3 EnteravalueinminutesintheHostReconnectThresholdbox.
4 Toexitthewizard,clicktheFinishlistitem.ThenclickFinishagain.
Removing a Host from a Cluster
Hostscanberemovedfromaclusterbyselectingthemfromeithertheinventoryorlist
viewsanddraggingthemtoanewlocationwithintheinventory(eithertoafolderasa
standalonehostortoanothercluster).Whenahostisremovedfromacluster,the
resourcesitprovidesaredeductedfromthetotalclusterresources.Thevirtual
machinesdeployedonthehostareeithermigratedtootherhostswithintheclusteror
remainwiththehostandareremovedfromthecluster,dependingontheircurrent
state.Hostscanberemovedfromaclusteronlyifallofthevirtualmachinesonitare
poweredoff,andthehostisplacedintomaintenancemode.
VMware, Inc. 107

RefertotheResourceManagementGuideforcompleteclusterinformation.
To remove a host from a cluster
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,displaytheinventory.
2 ToremovetheVirtualCenteragentfromthemanagedhost,ensurethatthe
managedhostisinaconnectedstate.
3 Poweroffallvirtualmachinesonthehost.
4 Selecttheappropriatemanagedhosticonintheinventorypanel,andchooseEnter
MaintenanceModefromthepopupmenu.ClickYes.
Thehosticonchangesandthetermmaintenancemodeisaddedtothenamein
parentheses.
5 Movethehost:
a Selectthehosticonintheinventorypanel,anddragittothenewlocation.
Thehostcanbemovedtoanotherclusteroranotherdatacenter.Whenthenew
locationisselected,ablueboxsurroundstheclusterordatacentername.
b Releasethemousebutton.
VirtualCentermovesthehosttothenewlocation.
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6 Selectthehost,andfromthepopupmenuchooseExitMaintenanceMode.
7 Restartanyvirtualmachines,asneeded.
Removing a Host from VirtualCenter
RemovingamanagedhostfromVirtualCenterbreakstheconnectionandstopsall
monitoringandmanagingfunctionsofthatmanagedhostandofallthevirtual
machinesonthatmanagedhost.Themanagedhostanditsassociatedvirtualmachines
areremovedfromtheinventory.HistoricaldataremainsintheVirtualCenterdatabase.
Removingamanagedhostdiffersfromdisconnectingthemanagedhostfrom
VirtualCenter.DisconnectingamanagedhostdoesnotremoveitfromVirtualCenter;it
temporarilysuspendsallVirtualCentermonitoringactivities.Themanagedhostandits
associatedvirtualmachinesremainintheVirtualCenterinventory.
RemovingamanagedhostfromVirtualCenterdoesnotremovethevirtualmachines
fromthemanagedhostordatastore.ItremovesonlyVirtualCentersaccesstothe
managedhostandvirtualmachinesonthatmanagedhost.
Thefigurebelowillustratestheprocessforremovingamanagedhostfrom
VirtualCenter.Intheexamplehere,noticethelostlinkbetweentheVirtualCenter
Serverandtheremovedmanagedhost,whilethemanagedhostfilesremainonthe
datastore.
NOTE Ifatallpossible,removemanagedhostswhiletheyareconnected.Removinga
disconnectedmanagedhostdoesnotremovetheVirtualCenteragentfromthe
managedhost.
VMware, Inc. 109

Figure 7-1. Removing a Host
To remove a managed host
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,displaytheinventory.
2 ToremovetheVirtualCenteragentfromthemanagedhost,ensurethatthe
managedhostisinaconnectedstate.
Themanagedhostcanbeinaconnectedordisconnectedstatewhenyouremove
it.However,removingamanagedhostwhileitisdisconnecteddoesnotremove
theVirtualCenteragentfromthemanagedhost.
3 Poweroffallvirtualmachinesonthehost.
4 Ifthehostispartofacluster,selecttheappropriatemanagedhosticoninthe
inventorypanelandchooseEnterMaintenanceModefromthepopupmenu.
Confirmplacement.ClickYes.
1. Registered host and virtual machines
shared datastore
VirtualCenter
VM1.dsk
VM2.dsk
VM3.dsk
VM4.dsk
host A
VM1
VM2
host B
VM3
VM4
shared datastore
VirtualCenter
VM1.dsk
VM2.dsk
VM3.dsk
VM4.dsk
host A
VM1
VM2
host B
VM3
VM4
2. Remove host. Virtual machines stay on the hosts datastore.
110 VMware, Inc.

5 Selecttheappropriatemanagedhosticonintheinventorypanel,andchoose
Removefromthepopupmenu.
6 ClickYestoremovethemanagedhost.ClickNotokeepthemanagedhost.
IfyouclickYes,VirtualCenterremovesthemanagedhostandassociatedvirtual
machinesfromtheVirtualCenterenvironment.VirtualCenterthenreturnsall
associatedprocessorandmigrationlicensestoavailablestatus.
Host Advanced Configuration Options
RefertotheResourceManagementGuideforcompleteinformationonconfiguringand
usingtheresourceallocationfeatures,whichincludeVMwareHAandVMwareDRS.
RefertotheServerConfigurationGuideforcompleteinformationonconfiguringhosts.
VMware, Inc. 111

Virtual Machine Management
112 VMware, Inc.

VMware, Inc. 113

8
TheVirtualInfrastructureClient(VIClient)providesyouwiththeabilitytodeployand
managevirtualmachinesasquicklyandsimplyaspossible.TheVIClientprovidesa
simpleandflexibleuserinterfacefromwhichyoucancreatenewvirtualmachines
throughmanualconfiguration,fromtemplates,orbycloningexistingvirtualmachines.
Allvirtualmachinesarecreatedinplaceusingawizardthatguidesyouthroughthe
stepstoproduceacompleteandworkingvirtualmachine.
Theprocessofcreatingavirtualmachineincludesselectingthespecifictypeofvirtual
machinecreationthatyouwantfromeitherthemainorpopupmenus.
ThischapterdescribeshowtocreatevirtualmachinesusingtheNewVirtualMachine
wizardandbycloninganexistingvirtualmachine.Thewizardwalksyouthroughthe
stepsrequiredtodefineavirtualmachine.Thischapterincludesinformationonsetting
parametersbasedontheguestoperatingsystemusedandtheresourcesallocated.After
youcreatethevirtualmachine,youmustinstalltheguestoperatingsystemand
VMwareTools.
UsingtheNewVirtualMachineWizardonpage 114
InstallingaGuestOperatingSystemonpage 132
InstallingandUpgradingVMwareToolsonpage 133
Toperformtheactivitiesdescribedinthischapter,youmusthaveappropriate
privilegesonthehostmachine.
Creating Virtual Machines 8
114 VMware, Inc.

Using the New Virtual Machine Wizard
Thereareanumberofwaysinwhichyoucanstartthevirtualmachinecreationprocess.
FromtheFile>Newmenu,youcanchoosetocreateanewvirtualmachine,deploya
virtualmachinefromatemplate,orcloneavirtualmachinefromanexistingvirtual
machine.Intheinventorypanel,youcanselectanobjectanduseitspopupmenuto
completethetaskslistedintableTable 81.
Dependingontheselection,youseeaslightlydifferentsetofscreenstailoredforthe
particularprocessyouchose.Anychoicesthatarenotapplicablearedisabled.For
example,Cloneisdisablediftherearenovirtualmachinesinyourinventory.Inall
cases,however,thewidestrangeofchoicesisavailableforoptimalflexibility.
.
Table 8-1. Inventory Object Options
Inventory Object Item on Pop-Up menu
Virtualmachine CloneThisVirtualMachine
Virtualmachinefolder CreateNewVirtualMachine
DeployVirtualMachinefromTemplate
CloneanExistingVirtualMachine
Host CreateNewVirtualMachine
Cluster CreateNewVirtualMachine
Resourcepool CreateNewVirtualMachine
Datastore CreateNewVirtualMachine
DeployVirtualMachine
Template DeployVirtualMachinefromthisTemplate
NOTE Beforeyoucreatethevirtualmachine,checktheinstallationnotesfortheguest
operatingsystemyouintendtoinstallinit.YoucanfindthisinformationintheGuest
OperatingSystemInstallationGuide,availablefromtheHelpmenuorfromtheVMware
Websiteat:http://www.vmware.com/support/guestnotes/doc/index.html
VMware, Inc. 115
Chapter 8 Creating Virtual Machines

Creating Typical Virtual Machines
NewvirtualmachinescanbeaddedtoclustersorhostsusingtheNewVirtualMachine
Wizard.Thetypicalpathisabbreviatedbecausesomeassumptionsaremadeaboutthe
virtualmachineconfiguration.Ifyouwanttofullycustomizeyourvirtualmachine,see
CreatingCustomVirtualMachinesonpage 121.
To create a new virtual machine through the typical path
1 FromtheVirtualCenterclient,clickInventoryinthenavigationbarandexpandthe
inventoryasneeded.
2 Intheinventorylist,selectthemanagedhosttowhichyouwanttoaddthenew
virtualmachine.
TheSummarytabforthehostappears.
3 ChooseFile>New>VirtualMachine.
TheNewVirtualMachinewizardappears.
4 SelectTypical,andclickNext.
TheTypicalchoiceshortenstheprocessbyskippingsomechoicesthatrarelyneed
changingfromtheirdefaults.Thefollowingstepsguideyouthroughthetypical
path.Thenextsectionguidesyouthroughthecustompath.
5 Typeavirtualmachinename,andclickNext.
116 VMware, Inc.

ThenameyouenterintheVirtualMachineNamefieldisthenamethatislisted
intheVirtualCenterclientinventory.Itisalsousedasthenameofthevirtual
machinesfiles.Thenamecanbeupto80characterslongandmaycontain
alphanumericcharactersandtheunderscore(_)andhyphen()characters.This
nameshouldbeuniqueacrosstheentiredatacenterandmustbeuniquewithinthe
folder.
6 Selectafolderortherootofadatacenter,andclickNext.
7 Iftheresourcepooloptionisavailable,selecttheresourcepoolinwhichyouwant
torunthevirtualmachine,expandthetreeuntilyoulocatetheproperresource
pool,highlightit,andclickNext.
Resourcepoolsallowyoutomanageyourcomputingresourceswithinahostor
hostsbysettingthemupinameaningfulhierarchy.Virtualmachinesandchild
resourcepoolssharetheresourcesoftheparentresourcepool.Formore
informationonresourcepools,seetheResourceManagementGuide.
8 Selectadatastoreinwhichtostorethevirtualmachinefiles,andclickNext.
VMware, Inc. 117

Youshouldchooseadatastorelargeenoughtoholdthevirtualmachineandallof
itsvirtualdiskfiles.ForESXServerhosts,theDatastoreisconfiguredonthathost,
includingVMFS,NAS,andiSCSIvolumes.
9 UnderGuestOperatingSystem,selecttheoperatingsystemfamily(Microsoft
Windows,Linux,NovellNetWare,Solaris,orOther),selecttheversionfromthe
pulldownmenu,andclickNext.
Thisistheoperatingsystemforyourvirtualmachine.Yourchoiceshouldbebased
onyourplanneduseofthevirtualmachine.
RefertotheGuestOperatingSystemInstallationGuidefordetails.
NOTE IfyouareinstallingaLinuxoperatingsystem,usetheLSILogicadapter.
118 VMware, Inc.

Thewizarddoesnotinstalltheguestoperatingsystemforyou.TheNewVirtual
MachineWizardusesthisinformationtoselectappropriatedefaultvalues,suchas
theamountofmemoryneeded.
10 Selectthenumberofvirtualprocessorsinthevirtualmachinefromthepulldown
list,andclickNext.
LicensingisrequiredtopoweronSMP.SeetheInstallationandUpgradeGuidefor
moreinformationonlicensing.
11 Configurethevirtualmachinesmemorysizebyselectingthenumberof
megabytes.
NOTE TheVirtualCPUspagedoesnotappearifthehostissingleprocessorortheguest
operatingsystemdoesnotsupportSMP(forexample,NetWareandWindowsNT
4.0).
VMware, Inc. 119

Theminimum,recommended,andmaximumsizesarebasedontheguest
operatingsystem.Regardlessoftheguestoperatingsystem,theminimum
memorysizeis4MB.Themaximumdependsonthehost,butforESXServer3.0it
is16384MB(16GB).Thememorysizemustbeamultipleof4MB.
Thecoloredtrianglesalongthesliderrepresentthesethreeamountsasindicated
bythekeyonthewizard.Youcanalsodragthesliderorselectthenumberusing
theupanddownarrows.
12 ClickNext.
120 VMware, Inc.

13 Choosethenetworkstoconnecttoandtheiroptionsbyselectinghowmany
networkadapters(NICs)youwanttoconnectto,thenamesofthenetworks,and
whetheryouwanttoconnecttothematpoweron.
Ifyoudonotwantthevirtualnetworkadaptertoconnectwhenthevirtual
machineispoweredon,deselecttheConnectatPowerOncheckbox.
TheNetworkpulldownmenuliststheportgroupsthatareconfiguredforvirtual
machineuseonthehost.Ifnovirtualmachineportgroupsareconfigured,a
warningdialogboxappears,andyouarenotallowedtoconfigureanyvirtual
networkcards.
14 ClickNext.
15 Specifythesizeofthevirtualdisk.
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Enterthedisksizeinmegabytes(MB)orgigabytes(GB).Thedefaultis4GB.The
availablespaceontheselectedVMFSvolumeislisted.Youcanconfigureadisk
fromassmallas1MBtoaslargeas2TB(2048GB),usingawholenumberofMBor
GB.
Thevirtualdiskshouldbelargeenoughtoholdtheguestoperatingsystemandall
ofthesoftwarethatyouintendtoinstallwithroomfordataandgrowth.
Youcannotchangethevirtualdisksmaximumcapacitylater,butyoucaninstall
additionalvirtualdiskslaterbyusingtheVirtualMachinePropertiesdialogbox.
Forexample,youneedabout1GBofactualfreespaceonthefilesystemcontaining
thevirtualdisktoinstallWindowsServer2003andapplications,suchasMicrosoft
Office,insidethevirtualmachine.
16 ClickNext.
17 OntheReadytoCompletepage,reviewyouroptions,andclickFinish.
Beforeyoucanuseyournewvirtualmachine,youmustpartitionandformatthe
virtualdiskandtheninstallaguestoperatingsystemandVMwareTools.The
operatingsystemsinstallationprogramcanhandlethepartitioningand
formattingstepsforyou.
Creating Custom Virtual Machines
ThissectiondescribesthestepstakenwhenyouselectthecustompathintheNew
VirtualMachinewizard.Thecustompathprovidesmoreflexibilityandoptions.
To create a new virtual machine through the custom path
1 FromtheVirtualCenterclient,clickInventoryinthenavigationbar,andexpand
theinventoryasneeded.
2 Intheinventorylist,selectthemanagedhosttowhichyouwanttoaddthenew
virtualmachine.
3 ChooseFile>New>VirtualMachine.
TheNewVirtualMachinewizardappears.Themenuintheleftpaneldiffersfrom
themenuofferedinthetypicalvirtualmachineconfigurationwizard.
4 SelectCustom,andclickNext.
Thefollowingstepsguideyouthroughthecustompath.
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5 Typeavirtualmachinename,andclickNext.
ThenameyouenterintheVirtualMachineNamefieldisthenamethatislisted
intheVirtualCenterclientinventory.Itisalsousedasthenameofthevirtual
machinesfiles.Thenamecanbeupto80characterslongandmaycontain
alphanumericcharactersandtheunderscore(_)andhyphen()characters.This
nameshouldbeuniqueacrosstheentiredatacenterandmustbeuniquewithinthe
folder.
6 Selectafolderortherootofadatacenter,andclickNext.
7 Toselecttheresourcepoolinwhichyouwanttorunthevirtualmachine,expand
thetreeuntilyoulocatetheproperresourcepool,highlightit,andclickNext.
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Resourcepoolsallowyoutomanageyourcomputingresourceswithinahostor
hostbysettingthemupinameaningfulhierarchy.Virtualmachinesandchild
resourcepoolssharetheresourcesoftheparentresourcepool.
8 Selectadatastoreinwhichtostorethevirtualmachinefiles,andclickNext.
Chooseadatastorelargeenoughtoholdthevirtualmachineandallofitsvirtual
diskfiles.ForESXServerhosts,theDatastoreisconfiguredonthathost,including
VMFS,NAS,andiSCSIvolumes.
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9 UnderGuestoperatingsystem,selecttheoperatingsystemfamily(Microsoft
Windows,Linux,NovellNetWare,Solaris,orOther).
10 Choosetheversionfromthepulldownmenu.
Thewizarddoesnotinstalltheguestoperatingsystemforyou.TheNewVirtual
Machinewizardusesthisinformationtoselectappropriatedefaultvalues,suchas
theamountofmemoryneeded.
11 ClickNext.
12 Selectthenumberofvirtualprocessorsinthevirtualmachinefromthepulldown
list,andclickNext.
13 Configurethevirtualmachinesmemorysizebyselectingthenumberof
megabytes.
Theminimum,recommended,andmaximumsizesarebasedontheguest
operatingsystem.Regardlessoftheguestoperatingsystem,theminimum
NOTE TheNumberofVirtualCPUspagedoesnotappearifthehostissingleprocessor
ortheguestoperatingsystemdoesnotsupportSMP(forexample,Netwareand
WindowsNT4.0).
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memorysizeis4MB.Themaximumdependsonthehost,butforESXServer3.0it
is16384MB(16GB).Thememorysizemustbeamultipleof4MB.
14 ClickNext.
15 ChoosethenetworkstoconnecttoandtheiroptionsbyselectinghowmanyNICs
youwanttoconnectto,thenamesofthenetworks,andwhetheryouwantto
connecttothematpoweron.
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Ifyoudonotwantthevirtualnetworkadaptertoconnectwhenthevirtual
machineispoweredon,deselecttheConnectatPowerOncheckbox.
TheNetworkpulldownmenuliststheportgroupsthatareconfiguredforvirtual
machineuseonthehost.Ifnovirtualmachineportgroupsareconfigured,a
warningdialogboxappears,andyouarenotallowedtoconfigureanyvirtual
networkcards.
16 ClickNext.
17 ChoosethetypeofSCSIadapteryouwanttousewiththevirtualmachine.
TwoIDEadaptersandaSCSIadapterareinstalledinthevirtualmachine.TheIDE
adapterisalwaysATAPI.FortheSCSIadapter,youcanchoosebetweenaBusLogic
orLSILogicSCSIadapter.
IntheSelectI/OAdapterTypespage,thedefaultforyourguestoperatingsystem
isalreadyselected.OlderguestoperatingsystemsdefaulttotheBusLogicadapter.
TheLSILogicadapterhasimprovedperformance,worksbetterwithnondisk
SCSIdevices,andisincludedwithWindowsServer2003.
YoucandownloadthedriverfromtheLSILogicWebsite.SeetheGuestOperating
InstallationGuidefordetailsaboutthedriverandtheguestoperatingsystemyou
plantoinstallinthisvirtualmachine.
18 Selectthetypeofdisk,andclickNext.
Youcanstorevirtualmachinedatainanewvirtualdisk,anexistingvirtualdisk,
oramappedstorageareanetwork(SAN)logicalunitnumber(LUN).
Avirtualdiskcomprisesoneormorefilesonthefilesystemthatappearasasingle
harddisktotheguestoperatingsystem.Thesedisksareportableamonghosts.
MappingaSANLUNgivesyourvirtualmachinedirectaccesstothatSAN,
allowingyoutouseexistingSANcommandstomanagestorageforthedisk.
NOTE IfyoucreateanLSILogicvirtualmachineandaddavirtualdiskthatusesBusLogic
adapters,thevirtualmachinebootsfromtheadditionaldisk.
NOTE ThechoiceofSCSIadapterdoesnotaffectwhetheryourvirtualdiskisanIDEor
SCSIdisk.
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SeetheSANConfigurationGuidefordetailsaboutSANLUNconfiguration.
Ifyouchoosetocreateanewvirtualdisk,gotoStep 19.
Ifyouchoosetouseanexistingvirtualdisk,gotoStep 23.
IfyouchoosetocreateamappedSANLUN,gotoMappingaSANLUNon
page 130.
19 Ifyouchosetocreateanewvirtualdisk,youmustselectthesizeofthevirtual
disk,specifyadatastorelocationforthedisk,andclickNext.(SEEUPDATE)
Enterthedisksizeinmegabytes(MB)orgigabytes(GB).Thedefaultis4GB.The
availablespaceontheselectedVMFSvolumeislisted.Youcanconfigureadisk
fromassmallas1MBtoaslargeas2TB(2048GB),usingawholenumberofMBor
GB.
Thevirtualdiskshouldbelargeenoughtoholdtheguestoperatingsystemandall
ofthesoftwarethatyouintendtoinstallwithroomfordataandgrowth.
Youcannotchangethevirtualdisksmaximumcapacitylater,butyoucaninstall
additionalvirtualdiskslaterbyusingtheVirtualMachinePropertiesdialogbox.
Forexample,youneedabout1GBofactualfreespaceonthefilesystemcontaining
thevirtualdisktoinstallWindowsServer2003andapplications,suchasMicrosoft
Office,insidethevirtualmachine.
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Youcanlocatethevirtualdiskonthesamedatastoreasthevirtualmachineor
selectadatastoreinanotherlocation.UsetheBrowsebuttontolocateadatastore.
TheBrowseforDatastoredialogboxappears.
20 Selectthevirtualdevicenodeanddiskmodeforthevirtualdisk.
21 IfyouselectIndependentdiskmode,chooseoneofthefollowing:
a PersistentChangesareimmediatelyandpermanentlywrittentothedisk.
b NonpersistentChangestothediskarediscardedwhenyoupoweroffor
reverttothesnapshot.
22 ClickNext,andclickFinish.
Youhavefinishedcreatingavirtualmachinethatusesanewvirtualdisk.
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Beforeyoucanuseyournewvirtualmachine,youmustpartitionandformatthe
virtualdiskandinstallaguestoperatingsystemandVMwareTools.Theoperating
systemsinstallationprogrammighthandlethepartitioningandformattingsteps
foryou.SeetheGuestOperatingSystemInstallationGuide.
23 Ifyouchosetouseanexistingvirtualdisk,clickBrowseandnavigatetothe
virtualdiskyouwanttouse.ClickNext.
24 Selectwhichvirtualdevicenodeshouldbeusedbyyourvirtualdisk.
25 IfyouselectIndependentmode,chooseoneofthefollowing:
a PersistentChangesareimmediatelyandpermanentlywrittentothedisk.
b NonpersistentChangestothediskarediscardedwhenyoupoweroffor
reverttothesnapshot.
26 ClickNext.
TheReadytoCompleteNewVirtualMachinewindowappears.
27 ReviewtheoptionsforyournewvirtualmachineandclickFinish.
Youhavefinishedcreatingavirtualmachinethatusesanexistingvirtualdisk.
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Mapping a SAN LUN
Insteadofstoringvirtualmachinedatainavirtualdiskfile,youcanstorethedata
directlyonaSANLUN.Thisisusefulifyouarerunningapplicationsinyourvirtual
machinesthatmustknowthephysicalcharacteristicsofthestoragedevice.
WhenyoumapaLUNtoaVMFSvolume,VirtualCentercreatesafilethatpointstothe
rawLUN.EncapsulatingdiskinformationinafileallowsVirtualCentertolockthe
LUNsothatonlyonevirtualmachinecanwritetoit.
UsingVirtualCenter,youcannotdeployavirtualmachinefromatemplateandstoreits
dataonaLUN.Whenyoudeployavirtualmachinefromatemplate,youcanstoreits
datainavirtualdiskfile.
To map a SAN LUN
1 FromtheSelectaDiskpage,selectMappedSANLUN.
2 ClickNext.
3 SelectaLUNfortherawdisk.
4 ClickNext.
NOTE Thisfilehasa.vmdkextension,butthefilecontainsonlydiskinformationdescribing
themappingtotheLUNontheESXServersystem.Theactualdataisstoredonthe
LUN.
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5 SelectadatastoreontowhichtomaptheLUN.
6 ClickNext.
7 Selectacompatibilitymode,eitherphysicalorvirtual.
Physicalcompatibilitymodeallowstheguestoperatingsystemtoaccessthe
hardwaredirectly.PhysicalcompatibilityisusefulifyouareusingSANaware
applicationsinthevirtualmachine.However,aLUNconfiguredforphysical
compatibilitycannotbecloned,madeintoatemplate,ormigratedifthe
migrationinvolvescopyingthedisk.
VirtualcompatibilitymodeallowsthevirtualmachinetouseVMware
snapshotsandotheradvancedfunctionality.Virtualcompatibilityallowsthe
LUNtobehaveasifitwereavirtualdisk,soyoucanusefeatureslikedisk
modes.Whenyouclonethedisk,makeatemplateoutofit,ormigrateit(ifthe
migrationinvolvescopyingthedisk),thecontentsoftheLUNarecopiedinto
avirtualdisk(.vmdk)file.
Subsequentscreensofferdifferentoptions,dependingonyourchoice.
8 OntheSpecifyAdvancedOptionspage,youcanchangethevirtualdevicenode
andclickNext.
TheReadytoCompleteNewVirtualMachinepageappears.
9 Reviewtheoptionsforyournewvirtualmachine,andclickFinish.
Youhavefinishedcreatingavirtualmachinewithavirtualdiskthatismappedto
aLUN.
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Installing a Guest Operating System
Anewvirtualmachineislikeaphysicalcomputerwithablankharddisk.Beforeyou
canuseit,youmustpartitionandformatthevirtualdiskandinstallanoperating
system.Theoperatingsystemsinstallationprogrammighthandlethepartitioningand
formattingstepsforyou.
Installingaguestoperatingsysteminsideyourvirtualmachineisessentiallythesame
asinstallingitonaphysicalcomputer.Thebasicstepsforatypicaloperatingsystem
are:
1 StartVMwareVirtualCenter.
2 InserttheinstallationCDROMforyourguestoperatingsystem,orcreateanISO
imagefilefromtheinstallationCDROM.UsetheVirtualMachineSettingseditor
toconnectthevirtualmachinesCDROMdrivetotheISOimagefileandpoweron
thevirtualmachine.
UsinganISOimageisfasterthanusingaCDROM.
3 Topoweronyourvirtualmachine,clickthePowerOnbutton.
Whenavirtualmachineispoweredon,agreenrightarrowisdisplayednexttothe
virtualmachineiconintheinventorylist,andtheoptionsintheCommandspanel
changeasshowninthefollowingimage:
4 Followtheinstructionsprovidedbytheoperatingsystemvendor.
Tocustomizeaguestoperatingsystem,seeCustomizingGuestOperating
Systemsonpage 189.
NOTE YoumightneedtochangethebootorderinthevirtualmachineBIOSsothatthe
virtualmachineattemptstobootfromtheCD/DVDdevicebeforetryingotherboot
devices.Todoso,pressF2whenpromptedduringvirtualmachinestartup.
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Installing and Upgrading VMware Tools
VMwareToolsisasuiteofutilitiesthatenhancestheperformanceofthevirtual
machinesguestoperatingsystemandimprovesmanagementofthevirtualmachine.
InstallingVMwareToolsintheguestoperatingsystemisvital.Althoughtheguest
operatingsystemcanrunwithoutVMwareTools,youloseimportantfunctionalityand
convenience.
WhenyouinstallVMwareTools,youinstall:
TheVMwareToolsservice(orvmware-guestdonLinuxguests).
AsetofVMwaredevicedrivers,includinganSVGAdisplaydriver,thevmxnet
networkingdriverforsomeguestoperatingsystems,theBusLogicSCSIdriverfor
someguestoperatingsystems,thememorycontroldriverforefficientmemory
allocationbetweenvirtualmachines,thesyncdrivertoquiesceI/Ofor
ConsolidatedBackup,andtheVMwaremousedriver.
TheVMwareToolscontrolpanelthatletsyoumodifysettings,shrinkvirtualdisks,
andconnectanddisconnectvirtualdevices.
Asetofscriptsthathelpsyoutoautomateguestoperatingsystemoperations.The
scriptsrunwhenthevirtualmachinespowerstatechanges.
Acomponentthatsupportscopyingandpastingtextbetweentheguestand
managedhostoperatingsystemsinMicrosoftWindowsguestoperatingsystems.
ThecopyandpasteoptionisnotsupportedinLinuxguestoperatingsystems.
ConfiguretheguestoperatingsystembeforeinstallingorreinstallingVMwareTools.
ThisenablesVMwaretoolstodeterminethecorrectmouseconfigurationandmodule
configuration.
Limitations
ThefollowingareVMwareToolslimitations:
Shrinkdiskisnotsupported.
ForMicrosoftWindowsNT,thedefaultscriptsforsuspendandresumedonot
work.
ThemousedriverinstallationfailsinXwindowsversionsearlierthan4.2.0.
NOTE Iftheguestoperatingsystemisinstalledbutnotcorrectlyconfiguredwhenyouinstall
VMwareTools,theVMwareToolsinstallationdoesnotworkcorrectly.Thiscancause
theguestoperatingsystemtocrash.
134 VMware, Inc.

Thissectionincludesthefollowinginformation:
VMwareToolsPropertiesDialogBoxonpage 135
AutomatedVMwareToolsUpgradesonpage 138
TheinstallersforVMwareToolsforWindows,Linux,andNetWareguestoperating
systemsarebuiltintoESXServerasISOimagefiles.AnISOimagefilelookslikea
CDROMtoyourguestoperatingsystemandevenappearsasaCDROMdiscin
WindowsExplorer.YoudonotuseanactualCDROMdisctoinstallVMwareTools,nor
doyouneedtodownloadtheCDROMimageorburnaphysicalCDROMofthis
imagefile.
WhenyouchooseVirtualMachine>InstallVMwareToolsfromtheVMware
VirtualCentermenu,VMwareVirtualCentertemporarilyconnectsthevirtual
machinesfirstvirtualCDROMdiskdrivetotheISOimagefilethatcontainsthe
VMwareToolsinstallerforyourguestoperatingsystem.Youarereadytobeginthe
installationprocess.
To install or upgrade VMware Tools (SEE UPDATE)
1 FromVirtualCenter,poweronthevirtualmachine.
2 Whentheguestoperatingsystemstarts,chooseVirtualMachines>Install
VMwareTools.
3 Frominsidethevirtualmachine,clickYestolaunchtheInstallShieldWizard.
Ifyouhaveautorunenabledinyourguestoperatingsystem(thedefault
settingforWindowsoperatingsystems),adialogboxappears.
Ifautorunisnotenabled,runtheVMwareToolsinstaller.ClickStart>Run
andenterD:\setup.exe,whereD:isyourfirstvirtualCDROMdrive.
4 Followtheonscreeninstructions.
OnWindowsServer2003,theSVGAdriverisinstalledautomatically,andthe
guestoperatingsystemusesitafteritreboots.
AfteryouinstallVMwareTools,Windows2000andWindowsXPguest
operatingsystemsmustberebootedtousethenewdriver.
NOTE IfyoudonothaveVMwareToolsinstalledinyourvirtualmachine,youcannotusethe
shutdownorrestartoptions.YoucanuseonlythePoweroptions.Ifyouwanttoshut
downtheguestoperatingsystem,shutitdownfromwithinthevirtualmachineconsole
beforeyoupoweroffthevirtualmachine.
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VMware Tools Properties Dialog Box
WhenVMwareToolsisinstalledinyourvirtualmachine,aVMwareToolsiconis
displayedinthevirtualmachinessystemtray.
To display the VMware Tools Properties dialog box
DoubleclicktheVMwareToolsiconinthesystemtrayfrominsidetheguestoperating
system.
TheVMwareToolsPropertiesdialogboxappearswiththeOptionstabdisplayed.
Options Tab
Fromthistabyoucansynchronizethetimebetweentheguestandserviceconsoleand
showVMwareToolsinthetaskbar.
To synchronize the time between the guest and service console
Theguestservicecansynchronizethedateandtimeintheguestoperatingsystemwith
thetimeintheserviceconsoleonceeveryminute.
1 IntheVMwareToolscontrolpanel,selecttheOthertab(OptionsinaLinuxguest),
andselectTimesynchronizationbetweenthevirtualmachineandthehost
operatingsystem.
Inaddition,theguestservicecansynchronizethedateandtimeintheguestwith
theserviceconsoleinresponsetovarioussystemevents,(forexample,whenyou
resumefromdisk).Youcandisablethisintheconfigurationfilebysetting:
time.synchronize.resume.disk = FALSE
136 VMware, Inc.

2 ClickApply.
3 ToshowVMwareToolsinthetaskbar,selectthecheckboxandclickApply.
4 ClickOKtoexitthePropertiesdialogbox.
Devices Tab
OntheDevicestabyoucanviewalistofallremovabledevices(suchasfloppyand
CDROMdrives)availabletothevirtualmachineandwhethertheyareconnectedor
disconnected.Youcanalsoconnectordisconnectanyofthelisteddevices.
To connect a device to the virtual machine
1 SelecttheDevicestab.
2 Selectthecheckboxbythedeviceyouwanttoconnect.
3 ClickApply.
4 ClickOKtoexitthePropertiesdialogbox.
Scripts Tab
ThroughVMwareToolsyoucanrunscriptsthatexecutewhenyouchangethepower
stateofyourvirtualmachine(thatis,whenyoupoweron,poweroff,suspend,or
resumethevirtualmachine).
AdefaultscriptforeachpowerstateisincludedinVMwareTools.Thesescriptsare
locatedintheguestoperatingsysteminC:\Program Files\VMware
VMware, Inc. 137

.
To run a script event
1 ClicktheScriptstab.
2 ChooseapoweroperationfromtheScriptEventpulldownmenu.
3 Selectascripttoassociatewiththisevent.Toselectascriptotherthanthedefault,
clickCustomScript,clickBrowse,andselectthenewscript.
Onceyouhaveselectedascript,youcanedititorrunittotestit.
4 Toeditascript,clickEdit.
Thescriptopensinyourdefaulteditor.Makeyourchangesthere.
5 Totestthescript,clickRunNow.
6 Todisabletherunningofascript,cleartheUseScriptcheckbox.
7 ClickApplytosaveyoursettings.
8 ClickOKtoexitthepropertiesdialogbox.
Table 8-2. VMware Tools Scripts
Task Default Script
Suspendtheguestoperatingsystem suspend-vm-default.bat
Resumetheguestoperatingsystem resume-vm-default.bat
Shutdowntheguestoperatingsystem poweroff-vm-default.bat
Powerontheguestoperatingsystem poweron-vm-default.bat
138 VMware, Inc.

About Tab
TheAbouttabcontainsinformationaboutVMwareTools,suchasthebuildnumber.
Automated VMware Tools Upgrades
InESXServer3,VMwareToolsandvirtualhardwarecanbeupgradedsimultaneously
formultiplevirtualmachineswithoutinteractingwiththevirtualmachinefromthe
virtualmachineconsole.ThisnewfeatureallowsyoutoupgradeVMwareToolsand
virtualhardwareforoneormorevirtualmachinefromearlierreleases.Theuser
performingtheupgrademusthavepermissiontodoso.
ThefollowingarelimitationsonVMwareToolsmassupgrades:
OnlyvirtualmachinesmanagedbyVirtualCenter2canbeupgraded.
MassupgradesareavailableonlyforLinuxandMicrosoftWindows2000andlater.
FreeBSD,NetWare,andWindowsNTarenotsupported.
ThevirtualdiskmustbeonaVMFS3volume.
Virtualmachinesmustbepoweredoff.
Becausethemassupgradescommandlinetoolisinstalledaspartofthe
VirtualCenter2serverinstallationandrunsonVirtualCenterServer,theupgrader
runsonMicrosoftWindowsonly.
To mass upgrade tools and virtual hardware on multiple virtual machines
Thistool,availablefromtheVirtualCenterinstallationdirectory,canbeusedonlyfrom
thecommandlinewiththefollowingoptions:
vmware-vmupgrade.exe -u user [-p password] [-n vmname] [-h host]
[-m maxpowerons] [-s] [-q]
Table 8-3. Command-Line Options
Option Description
-u user Specifiesauserwithsufficientprivilegesonthetargetvirtualmachine,
includingVirtualMachine.Config.*,VirtualMachine.Interact.*,and
VirtualMachine.Provisioning.*
-p password Specifiesapasswordonthecommandline.Ifthisisomitted,thetool
immediatelypromptsforapassword.
-n vmname Thenameofthevirtualmachinetoupgrade.Thisnamecorresponds
tothedisplaynameofavirtualmachine.Specifymultiplevirtual
machinesusingmultiplenparameters.Thenoptionisignoredifh
isspecified.
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-h host Attemptstoupgradeallthevirtualmachinesonaparticularhost.Fails
ifthespecifiedhostifnotversionESX3.0orgreater.
-m maxpowerons Onaparticularhost,powerononlythisnumberofvirtualmachines
atatime.
-o port SpecifiestheVirtualCenterServerport,ifoneotherthanthedefault
port902hasbeenconfigured.
-t maxpowerontime Afterthetoolsupgradeisscheduledonavirtualmachine,thevirtual
machineispoweredonandallowedtorunthroughthetools
installationprocess.Inmostcases,theguestpowersdownthemachine
automaticallywhentheprocesscompletes.Thisparameterallowsa
usertosetthemaximumamountoftimeforavirtualmachinetobe
poweredonincasetheguestisunabletoshutdownthemachineitself.
-s Skipsthetoolsandonlydoesthevirtualhardwareupgrade.
-q Worksquietly.Doesntproducestatusorcompletionmessageson
shutdown.
Table 8-3. Command-Line Options (Continued)
Option Description
140 VMware, Inc.

VMware, Inc. 141

9
Thischapterdescribesvirtualmachinetasks,includingaddingandremovingvirtual
machinesandpoweringvirtualmachinesonandoff.
ChangingVirtualMachinePowerStatesonpage 141
AddingandRemovingVirtualMachinesonpage 150
StartingandShuttingDownVirtualMachinesonpage 155
Changing Virtual Machine Power States
Thepowerstateofavirtualmachineindicateswhetherthevirtualmachineisactiveand
functional.Therearethreebasicstates:on,off,andsuspend.Toachievetheonstate,
youcanpoweronthemachine,resetthemachine,orresumeactivityfromasuspended
state.Toachievetheoffstate,youcanpoweroffthemachineorsuspendallvirtual
machineactivity.Eachvirtualmachinepowerstatechangehasadifferenteffectonthe
guestoperatingsysteminthevirtualmachine.
Therearealsoseveralaccesspointsformakingchangestothesepowerstates.Youcan
changeapowerstatechangeby:
SelectingthevirtualmachineandthepoweroptionfromtheInventory>Virtual
Machinemenu.
Managing Virtual Machines 9
142 VMware, Inc.

SelectingPoweronfromtheCommandsarea.
Selectingthepoweroptionfromthepopupmenu.
SchedulingapowerstatechangethroughtheScheduledTasksbuttoninthe
navigationbar.
Thepowerstatetopicsarecoveredinthefollowingsections:
UnderstandingVirtualMachinePowerStatesonpage 142
UnderstandingTransitionalPowerStatesonpage 144
ManuallyPoweringaVirtualMachineOnandOffonpage 144
UsingSuspendandResumeonpage 145
SchedulingaPowerStateChangeforaVirtualMachineonpage 146
Understanding Virtual Machine Power States
Thebasicpowerstateoptionsinclude:
PoweronPowersonthevirtualmachineandbootstheguestoperatingsystemif
theguestoperatingsystemisinstalled.
PoweroffPowersoffthevirtualmachine.Thevirtualmachinedoesnotattempt
toshutdowntheguestoperatingsystemgracefully.
SuspendPausesthevirtualmachineactivity.Alltransactionsarefrozenuntilyou
issuearesumecommand.
ResumeAllowsvirtualmachineactivitytocontinueandreleasestheSuspended
state.
ResetShutsdowntheguestoperatingsystemandrestartsit.Thisoperation
dependsontheoperatingsystembeingshutdown.Ifshutdownisnotautomatic
forthatoperatingsystem,VMwareToolsmustbeinstalled.
Thefollowingpoweroptionsperformextrafunctionsinadditiontothebasicvirtual
machinepoweroperations.VMwareToolsmustbeinstalledinthevirtualmachineto
performthesefunctions:
ShutdownguestShutsdowntheguestoperatingsystemgracefully.
StandbyguestSuspendstheguestoperatingsystemandrunVMwaretools
suspendscripts.
RestartguestShutsdownandrestartstheguestoperatingsystemwithout
poweringoffthevirtualmachine.
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Chapter 9 Managing Virtual Machines

Toolbarpowerbuttonsperformasfollows:
PoweroffPowersoffthevirtualmachine.Apoweroffoperationdisplaysa
confirmationdialogboxindicatingthattheguestoperatingsystemmightnotshut
downproperly.
PoweronPowersonavirtualmachinewhenavirtualmachineisstopped,or
resumesthevirtualmachineandrunsascriptwhenitissuspendedandVMware
Toolsisinstalledandavailable.Resumesthevirtualmachineanddoesnotruna
scriptwhenVMwareToolsisnotinstalled.
SuspendSuspendsthevirtualmachinewithoutrunningascriptwhenVMware
Toolsisnotinstalled,orrunsascript,andsuspendsthevirtualmachinewhen
VMwareToolsisinstalledandavailable.
ResetResetsthevirtualmachinewhenVMwareToolsisnotinstalled,and
restartstheguestoperatingsystemwhenVMwareToolsisinstalledandavailable.
Aresetoperationdisplaysaconfirmationdialogboxindicatingthattheguest
operatingsystemisnotshutdownproperly.
NOTE Thespecificformofthepowerstateactioncanbemodifiedtoincludeguest
operatingsystemshutdownsornotandtoincluderunningscriptsornot.To
configurepoweroperationsettingschoosehost>Configuration>Virtual
Machinestartup/shutdown.
144 VMware, Inc.

Understanding Transitional Power States
Actionstakenonavirtualmachinerequirethatthevirtualmachinebeinspecificpower
states.Wheneverapoweroperationisperformedonavirtualmachine,thevirtual
machinepowerstatechangesandallothercommandsarelockedoutuntilthefirst
commandiscompleted.
Thefigurebelowillustratesstates,transitions,andstatechangingcommandsfor
virtualmachines.
Figure 9-1. Virtual Machine Power State Changes
Manually Powering a Virtual Machine On and Off
Beforechanginganypowerstateonavirtualmachine,youmusthaveaddedthevirtual
machinetoyourVirtualInfrastructureenvironment.RefertoAddingandRemoving
VirtualMachinesonpage 150.
To manually change the power state of a virtual machine
1 ClicktheInventorybuttoninthenavigationbar.
2 Expandtheinventoryasneeded,andclicktheappropriatevirtualmachine.
3 Choosefromthefollowingoptions:
Clickthepoweroptionfromthetoolbar.
suspend resume
powered off
powered on
suspended
power on power off
remove
state
command
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Rightclickthevirtualmachineandchooseapoweroption.
Ifanoptionisnotcurrentlyavailable,itisdimmedandunselectable.
Afterthepoweroptionisselected,VirtualInfrastructureClientdisplaysmessages
inRecentTasksindicatingthetransitionmodes.
Using Suspend and Resume
Thesuspendandresumefeatureismostusefulwhenyouwanttosavethecurrentstate
ofyourvirtualmachineandpickupworklaterwiththevirtualmachineinthesame
state.
Onceyouresumeanddoadditionalworkinthevirtualmachine,youcannotreturnto
thestatethevirtualmachinewasinatthetimeyoususpended.Topreservethestateof
thevirtualmachinesoyoucanreturntothesamestaterepeatedly,takeasnapshot.
RefertoUsingSnapshotsonpage 221formoreinformation.
Thespeedofthesuspendandresumeoperationsdependsonhowmuchdatachanged
whilethevirtualmachinewasrunning.Ingeneral,thefirstsuspendoperationtakesa
bitlongerthanlatersuspendoperationsdo.
Whenyoususpendavirtualmachine,afilewitha.vmssextensioniscreated.Thisfile
containstheentirestateofthevirtualmachine.Whenyouresumethevirtualmachine,
itsstateisrestoredfromthe.vmssfile.
NOTE ThePowerOffbuttononthetoolbar,bydefault,performsahardpoweroff.
Toperformagracefulshutdownofaguestoperatingsystem,usethe
rightclickoptionorshutdowntheoperatingsystemdirectlyfrominsidethe
guest.Alternatively,thebehaviorofthepowerbuttoncanbechangedona
pervirtualmachine.
NOTE Thepopupmenuonavirtualmachinedisplaystwooptions:PowerOffand
ShutDown.PowerOff,sometimescalledhardpoweroff,isanalogousto
pullingthepowercableonaphysicalmachine,andalwaysworks.Shut
Down,orsoftpoweroff,leveragesVMwaretoolstoperformagraceful
shutdownofaguestoperatingsystem.Incertainsituations,suchaswhen
VMwareToolsisnotinstalledortheguestoperatingsystemishung,
shutdownmightnotsucceed.
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To suspend a virtual machine
1 Ifyourvirtualmachineisrunninginfullscreenmode,returntowindowmodeby
pressingtheCtrlAltkeycombination.
2 ClickSuspendontheVMwareVirtualInfrastructureClienttoolbar.
WhenVMwareVirtualInfrastructureClientcompletesthesuspendoperation,itis
safetoexitVMwareVirtualInfrastructureClient.
3 ChooseFile>Exit.
To resume a virtual machine that you have suspended
1 StartVMwareVirtualInfrastructureClient,andselectavirtualmachinethatyou
havesuspended.
2 ClickthePowerOnbuttonontheVMwareVirtualInfrastructureClienttoolbar,or
choosethePowerOnoptionfromthepopupmenuortheCommandswindow.
Scheduling a Power State Change for a Virtual Machine
Dependinguponyourpermissions,youcancreateascheduledtasktochangethe
powerstateofthevirtualmachineintheVIClient.
To create a scheduled task that changes the power state
1 ClicktheScheduledTasksbuttoninthenavigationbar.
Thelistofscheduledtasksappears.
2 RightclickandchooseNewScheduledTask,orchooseFile>New>Scheduled
Task.
TheSelectaTasktoSchedulewindowappears.
3 SelectChangethepowerstateofavirtualmachine,andclickOK.
NOTE Applicationsyouwererunningatthetimeyoususpendedthevirtualmachineare
running,andthecontentisthesameasitwaswhenyoususpendedthevirtual
machine.
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TheChangeaVirtualMachinesPowerStatewizardappearsanddisplaysthe
SelectanEntitypage.
4 Selectthevirtualmachinewhosestateyouwanttochange.
TheSelectaPowerOperationscreenappears.
5 ClickaPowerOperationoption.
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6 ClickNext.
7 Selectthevirtualmachinewhosepowerstatechanges.
8 ClickNext.
TheScheduletheTaskscreenappears.
9 Namethetask,giveadescription,andspecifythetimingofthetask.
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Torefertothecalendar,clickLater,andclickthedropdownarrowtochooseadate
fromthedisplayedcalendar.Aredcircleindicatestodaysdateandadarkcircle
indicatesthescheduleddate.
10 ClickNext.
11 ClickFinish.(SEEUPDATE)
VirtualInfrastructureClientaddsthenewtasktothescheduledtasklistand
completesitatthedesignatedtime.Whenitistimetoperformthetask,Virtual
InfrastructureClientfirstverifiesthattheuserwhocreatedthetaskstillhas
permissiontocompletethetask.Ifthepermissionlevelsarenotacceptable,a
messageisgeneratedandthetaskisnotperformed.
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Adding and Removing Virtual Machines
VirtualmachinescanbeaddedtoVirtualInfrastructureClientthroughtheirmanaged
hosts.TheycanberemovedfromVirtualInfrastructureClientcontrolandoptionally
fromtheirmanagedhostsstorage.
Thefollowingsectionsdiscussaddingandremovingvirtualmachines:
AddingExistingVirtualMachinestoVirtualCenteronpage 150
RemovingandReturningVirtualMachinesfromVirtualCenteronpage 151
ReturningaVirtualMachinetoVirtualCenteronpage 152
Adding Existing Virtual Machines to VirtualCenter
WhenyouaddamanagedhosttoVirtualInfrastructureClient,VirtualInfrastructure
Clientdiscoversallthevirtualmachinesonthatmanagedhostandaddsthemtothe
VirtualInfrastructureClientinventory.Ifamanagedhostisdisconnected,thealready
discoveredvirtualmachinescontinuetobelistedaspartofVirtualInfrastructure
Client.
Ifamanagedhostisdisconnectedandreconnected,anychangestothevirtual
machinesonthatmanagedhostareidentified,andVirtualInfrastructureClient
updatesthelistofvirtualmachines.Forexample,ifnode3isremovedandnode4is
added,thenewlistofvirtualmachinesaddsnode4andshowsnode3asorphaned.
Figure 9-2. An Orphaned Virtual Machine
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Removing and Returning Virtual Machines from VirtualCenter
RemovingVirtualMachinesfrominventoryunregistersthemfromthehostand
VirtualCenter.Virtualmachinefilesremainatthesamestoragelocationandthevirtual
machinecanbereregisteredusingthedatastorebrowser.
RemovingVirtualMachinesfromdisk,ontheotherhand,deletesthemcompletely.
To remove a virtual machine from VirtualCenter but not the datastore
1 FromtheVirtualInfrastructureClient,clicktheInventorybuttoninthenavigation
bar.
3 Makesurethatthevirtualmachineispoweredoff.
4 Selectthevirtualmachineintheinventorypanel.
5 ChooseInventory>VirtualMachine>RemovefromInventory.
6 ToconfirmthatyouwanttoremovethevirtualmachinefromVirtual
InfrastructureClient,clickOK.
VirtualInfrastructureClientremovesreferencestothevirtualmachineandno
longertracksitscondition.
CAUTION TheEdit>Removemenucommandremovesyourvirtualmachine
fromthedisk.
NOTE TheRemovefromInventorycommandremovesthevirtualmachineonlyfrom
VirtualInfrastructureClient.Itdoesnotremovethevirtualmachinefromits
datastore.
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Returning a Virtual Machine to VirtualCenter
IfyouhaveremovedavirtualmachinefromaVirtualInfrastructureClientserverbut
didnotremoveitfromthemanagedhostsdatastoreandyouwanttoreturnittoVirtual
InfrastructureClient,usetheNewVirtualMachineWizard.
To return a virtual machine to VirtualCenter
1 ClicktheInventorybutton.
2 ClicktheSummarytab.
3 Selectahost,andstarttheNewVirtualMachinewizard.
4 ChooseCustom,andclickNext.
5 Proceedthroughthewizardasthoughyouarecreatinganewvirtualmachine.
6 WhentheSelectaDiskpageappears,clicktheUseanexistingvirtualdiskradio
button,andclickNext.
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7 Browsetotheexistingvirtualdisk,andclickNext.
8 Browseforadatastore.
9 Whenyouhavelocatedacompatiblevirtualdisk,selectitandclickOpen.
CAUTION Usecarewhenattachingvirtualdiskstovirtualmachines.Attaching
thewrongvirtualdisktoavirtualmachineyieldsunpredictable
results.Thefirstvirtualdiskshouldbeasystemdiskthatthevirtual
machinecanbootfrom.
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10 Proceedthroughtherestofthewizardasthoughyouwerecreatinganewvirtual
machine.
11 ClickFinishtoexitthewizard.
To remove a virtual machine from Virtual Infrastructure Client and the datastore
1 FromtheVirtualInfrastructureClient,clicktheInventorybuttoninthenavigation
bar.
3 Makesurethatthevirtualmachineispoweredoff.
4 ChooseDeleteFromDiskfromthevirtualmachinespopupmenu.
5 ToconfirmremovingthevirtualmachinefromVirtualInfrastructureClientand
thedatastore,clickOK.
VirtualInfrastructureClientremovesthevirtualmachinefromitsdatastore
entirely.
NOTE Thisremovesallthefilesfortheselectedvirtualmachine,includingthe
configurationfileandthevirtualdiskfiles.
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Starting and Shutting Down Virtual Machines
Youcanconfigureyourvirtualmachinetostartupandshutdownautomatically,oryou
candisablethisfunction.Youcanalsosetthedefaulttimingaswellasthestartuporder
forspecifiedvirtualmachineswhenthesystemhoststarts.
To configure virtual machine startup and shutdown
1 SelecttheInventorybutton.
2 Selectahostmachine.
3 ClicktheConfigurationtab.
Configurationinformationforthehostappears.
4 ClicktheVirtualMachineStartup/Shutdownlink.
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Thevirtualmachinestartupandshutdowninformationappears.
5 ClickProperties.
TheVirtualMachineStartupandShutdowndialogboxappears.
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6 Ifyouwanttoallowvirtualmachinestostartandstopautomatically,clickthe
checkboxatthetopofthedialogboxandenteratimeinsecondsforthedefault
startupdelayandthedefaultshutdowndelay.
7 Ifyouwanttheoperatingsystemtostartafterabriefdelay,specifyadelaytimein
theDefaultStartupDelaybox.
ThisallowstimeforVMwareToolsorthebootingsystemtorunscripts.
8 Clickthecheckboxifyouwanttheoperatingsystemtobootimmediatelyafter
VMwareToolsstarts.
9 Next,specifytheorderinwhichthevirtualmachinesstartwhenthesystemstarts.
UsetheMoveUp,MoveDown,andEditbuttonstorearrangethevirtual
machinesinthedisplay.(SEEUPDATE)
Thevirtualmachinesarestoppedinreverseorder.
10 ClickOKtoexitthedialogboxwhenyouarethroughchangingthesystem
settings.
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10
ThischapterdescribestheVirtualMachinePropertieseditorandtheAddHardware
wizard.Theseallowyoutoeditandconfigureyourexistingvirtualmachines.Italso
discussesadvancedvirtualmachineconfigurationoptions.Theseactivitiesare
performedafteryoucreatethevirtualmachineandinstalltheguestoperatingsystem.
Youmusthavesufficientpermissiontoperformtheactivitiesdescribedinthischapter.
VirtualMachinePropertiesEditoronpage 159
AddingNewHardwareonpage 181
Virtual Machine Properties Editor
TheVirtualMachinePropertiesEditorallowsyoutochangenearlyeverycharacteristic
thatyouchoosewhenyoucreatedthevirtualmachine.Thissectiondescribeshowto
usethispowerfuleditor.
To edit an existing virtual machine configuration
1 FromtheVIClient,clickInventoryinthenavigationbar.
2 Expandtheinventoryasneeded,andselectthevirtualmachineyouwanttoedit.
3 (Optional)Poweroffthevirtualmachine.
Changingmostofthepropertiesofavirtualmachineispossiblewhileitis
poweredoff,butyoucanopenthepropertieseditorregardlessofthepowerstate.
Manyofthecontrolsarereadonlyifthevirtualmachineisnotpoweredoff.
4 TodisplaytheVirtualMachinePropertiesdialogbox,clicktheEditSettingslinkin
theCommandspanel.
Configuring Virtual
Machines 10
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TheVirtualMachinePropertiesdialogboxisdisplayed.Therearethreetabs:
Hardware,Options,andResources.
5 Selectatabandproceedtooneofthefollowingsections:
ChangingtheHardwareConfigurationofaVirtualMachineonpage 160
ChangingVirtualMachineOptionsonpage 170
ChangingVirtualMachineResourceSettingsonpage 175
ChangingtheAudioConfigurationonpage 180
Changing the Hardware Configuration of a Virtual Machine
Thissectiondescribeshowtochangetheconfigurationofexistingvirtualhardware
devicesinavirtualmachine.
Youcanadd,edit,orremovehardwarefromyourvirtualmachineusingthiswizard.
Thestatusofthedevice,suchaseditedoradding,isdisplayedinparenthesesnextto
thehardwarelisting.Thedevicesthatcanbeaddedare:
Serialport
Parallelport
Floppydrive
DVD/CDROMdrive
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Ethernetadapter
Harddisk
SCSIdevice
To change the DVD/CD-ROM drive configuration
1 ClicktheHardwaretab.
2 ClicktheDVD/CDROMdriveintheHardwarelist.
3 Makechangesasneededtothedevicestatus,connection,orvirtualdevicenodefor
thevirtualmachinetouse.
4 IfyoudonotwanttheCDROMdriveconnectedwhenthevirtualmachinestarts,
deselectConnectatpoweron.
5 SelecttheUsephysicaldriveradiobuttontoconnectthevirtualmachinesdriveto
aphysicaldriveonthehostcomputer.
YoucanaccessaclientCDROMdeviceorhostCDROMdevice.Therearetwo
typesofDVD/CDROMaccess:
a UsePassthrough(raw)modeonlyforremoteclientdeviceaccess.
b UseATAPIemulationtoaccessahostCDROMdevice.
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ThelocalorhostCDROMdeviceisaccessedthroughemulationmode.
PassthroughmodeisnotfunctionalforlocalhostCDROMaccess.Youcan
writeorburnaremoteCDonlythroughpassthroughmodeaccess,butin
emulationmodeyoucanonlyreadaCDROMfromahostCDROMdevice.
6 Ifyouelectedtouseaphysicaldrive,choosethedrivetousefromthedropdown
list.
7 Alternatively,selectUseISOImagetoconnectthevirtualmachinesdrivetoan
ISOimagefile.
8 IfyouselectedUseISOImage,clickBrowsetonavigatetothefile.
9 UnderVirtualdevicenode,usethepulldownmenutochoosethedevicenodethe
driveusesinthevirtualmachine.
10 ClickOKtosaveyourchanges.
TheVirtualMachinePropertiesdialogboxcloses.
To change the floppy drive configuration
2 ClickthefloppydriveintheDevicelist.
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3 UnderDeviceStatus,selectConnectatpowerontoconnectthisvirtualmachine
tothefloppydrivewhenthevirtualmachineispoweredon.
4 UnderConnection,selectUsephysicaldrivetouseaphysicaldrive,chooseClient
orHost,andchoosethedrivefromthelist.
5 Touseafloppyimage,selectUseexistingfloppyImageorCreateanewfloppy
image,andbrowsetothedesiredfloppyimage.
To change the SCSI device configuration
2 SelecttheSCSIdeviceinthehardwarelist.
3 ToconnectthisvirtualmachinetotheserversSCSIdevicewhenthevirtual
machineispoweredon,selectConnectatpoweron.
4 UnderConnection,selectthephysicaldeviceyouwanttouse.
UnderVirtualdevicenode,selectthevirtualdevicenodewhereyouwantthis
devicetoappearinthevirtualmachine.
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To change the virtual disk configuration
2 ClicktheappropriateHardDiskintheHardwarelist.
3 Usethepulldownmenutochangethevirtualdevicenode.
4 Forindependentmode,whichisunaffectedbysnapshots,selectthecheckbox.
ThenchoosePersistentorNonpersistentmodetodeterminethepersistenceof
changes.
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To change the memory configuration
2 ClickMemoryintheHardwarelist.
3 Adjusttheamountofmemoryallocatedtothevirtualmachine.
Therangeofmemorysupportedis128MBto16384MBandisnotlimitedtothe
physicalmemoryofthehostwherethevirtualmachineresides.
To change the virtual Ethernet adapter (NIC) configuration
2 ClicktheappropriateNICintheHardwarelist.
3 ToconnectthevirtualNICwhenthevirtualmachineispoweredon,selectConnect
atpoweron.
4 UnderNetworkconnection,usethepulldownmenutochoosethenetworklabel
youwantthevirtualmachinetouse.
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To change the parallel port configuration
2 ClicktheappropriateParallelportintheHardwarelist.
3 DeselecttheConnectatpoweroncheckboxifyoudonotwanttheparallelport
devicetobeconnectedwhenthevirtualmachinepowerson.
ThedefaultsettingisConnectatpoweron.
4 UnderConnection,selectaradiobuttontoindicateaphysicalparallelportorto
connectthevirtualparallelporttoafile.
a IfyouselectUsephysicalparallelport,choosetheportfromthepulldown
menu.
b IfyouselectUseoutputfile,browsetothefilelocation.
To change the SCSI controller configuration
YoucanchangetheSCSIcontrollerconfigurationforavirtualmachineonanESX
Serverhostonly.
CAUTION ChangingtheSCSIcontrollertypemightresultinavirtualmachineboot
failure.
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YoucanalsospecifywhethertheSCSIbusisshared.Dependingonthetypeofsharing,
virtualmachinescanaccessthesamevirtualdisksimultaneouslyonthesameserveror
anyserver.
2 ClicktheappropriateSCSIControllerintheDevicelist.
3 SelecttheSCSIcontrollertypeinthelist.
4 SelectthetypeofsharingintheSCSIBusSharinglist:
NoneVirtualdiskscannotbesharedbyothervirtualmachines.
VirtualVirtualdiskscanbesharedbyvirtualmachinesonsameserver.
PhysicalVirtualdiskscanbesharedbyvirtualmachinesonanyserver.
CAUTION ChangingtheSCSIcontrollertypemightresultinavirtualmachine
bootfailure.
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To change the serial port configuration
2 ClicktheappropriateSerialportintheHardwarelist.
3 IfyouselectedUsephysicalserialport,usethepulldownmenutochoosetheport
onthehostcomputerthatyouwanttouseforthisserialconnection.
4 IfyouselectedUseoutputfile,browsetothelocationofthefileonthehostthat
youwanttousetostoretheoutputofthevirtualserialport.
5 IfyouselectedUsenamedpipe,usethedefaultpipenameorenteranotherpipe
nameofyourchoiceinthePipeNamelist.
ForaserialpipeforavirtualmachineonanESXServerhostforLinuxhost,enter
/tmp/<socket>oranotherUNIXsocketnameofyourchoice.
Thendecidewhetheryouareconnectingtwovirtualmachinesorconnectinga
virtualmachinetoanapplicationonthehost.
6 Ifyouareconnectingtwovirtualmachines,youmustconfigureaserialportasa
namedpipeintwovirtualmachines:aservervirtualmachineandaclientvirtual
machine.
a Fortheservervirtualmachine,selectServerintheNearendlist.
b Fortheclientvirtualmachine,selectClientintheNearendlist.
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c SelectAvirtualmachineintheFarendlist.
7 Ifyouareconnectingtoanapplicationonthehost,selectServerorClientinthe
Nearendlist.Ingeneral,selectServerifyouplantostartthisendoftheconnection
first.
a SelectAnapplicationintheFarendlist.
Bydefault,theserialportisconnectedwhenyoupoweronthevirtualmachine.
YoumightdeselecttheConnectatpoweroncheckbox(optional).
8 UnderI/OMode,decidewhethertoconfigurethisserialporttouseinterrupt
modeorpolledmode.
Polledmodeisofinterestprimarilytodeveloperswhoareusingdebuggingtools
thatcommunicateoveraserialconnection.
Polledmodecausesthevirtualmachinetoconsumeadisproportionateshareof
processor(orCPU)time.Thismakesthehostandotherguestsrunsluggishly.To
maintainbestperformanceforapplicationsonthehost,selecttheYieldCPUon
pollcheckbox.Thisforcestheaffectedvirtualmachinetouseinterruptmode,
whichyieldsprocessor(orCPU)timeiftheonlytaskitistryingtodoispollthe
virtualserialport.
To change the virtual processor or CPU configuration
IfthevirtualmachineisonanESXServerhostandyouhaveVMwareVirtualSMPfor
ESXServer,whichsupportssymetricmultiprocessors(SMP),youcanconfigurea
virtualmachinetohaveuptofourvirtualprocessorsorCPUs.VirtualSMPcanuse
twowayorfourwaySMP.
CAUTION NotallguestoperatingsystemssupportSMP,andmostthatdorequire
reinstallationifthenumberofprocessorsorCPUschanges.
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2 ClickVirtualProcessororCPUintheHardwarelist.
3 Selectthenumberofvirtualprocessorsforthevirtualmachine.
YoumusthaveVMwareVirtualSMPforESXServerifyouwantmorethanone
virtualprocessororCPUforthevirtualmachine.IfyoudonothaveVMware
VirtualSMPforESXServer,thevirtualmachinecanhaveonlyonevirtual
processororCPU.
Changing Virtual Machine Options
OntheOptionstab,youcanchangetheGeneral,Power,PowerManagement,and
Advancedsettings.Thevirtualmachinesettingsallowyoutodefineactionsthatoccur
invariousvirtualmachinepowerstates.
To change general settings
1 ClicktheOptionstab.
2 Toviewthegeneraloptions,clickGeneralintheSettingslist.
ThevirtualmachinenameisdisplayedintheVirtualmachinenamefield.
Changingthenamedoesnotchangethenameofanyvirtualmachinefilesorthe
associateddirectory.
3 Selectthevirtualmachinesworkinglocation.
4 SelecttheoperatingsystemfromtheGuestoperatingsystemlist.Usethe
pulldownmenutochoosetheversion.
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To change power state options
2 Viewthepoweroptions.
3 ClickPowerintheSettingslist.
Thestopbuttononthetoolbarcanbeconfiguredtopoweroffthevirtualmachine
orshutdowntheguestoperatingsystem.Theresetbuttononthetoolbarcanbe
configuredtoresetthevirtualmachineorrestarttheguestoperatingsystem.
4 ChoosethedesiredactionsinthelistsunderPowerControls.
5 (Optional)ConfigureVMwareToolsscriptstorunautomaticallywhenyouchange
thevirtualmachinespowerstatebycheckingtheappropriateoptionsunderRun
VMwareToolsscripts.
NOTE ForESXServervirtualmachines,therearenoscriptsforresumingandsuspending
virtualmachines.
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To change power management options
2 Viewthepowermanagementoptions.
3 ClickPowerManagementintheSettingslist.
GuestPowerManagementallowsyoutodeterminehowthevirtualmachine
respondswhentheguestoperatingsystem(OS)isplacedonstandby.
4 UnderGuestPowerManagement,selecteitherSuspendtheVirtualMachineor
StandbytheguestOS,andleavethevirtualmachinepoweredon.
5 (Optional)Ifyouelectedtoleavethevirtualmachineon,selectWakeonLANfor
virtualmachinetrafficonyourvirtualmachinenetworkbyselectingthecheckbox.
To change advanced virtual machine settings
2 Viewtheadvancedoptions.
3 ClickAdvancedintheSettingslist.
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TheAdvancedpaneappearswiththefollowingoptions:
a Toenabledebuggingmode,selecttheEnabledebugginginformationcheck
box.
Youcanrunavirtualmachinesoitcollectsadditionaldebugginginformation
thatishelpfultoVMwaretechnicalsupportinresolvingissues.
b Todisableacceleration,selecttheDisableaccelerationcheckbox.
Youcanenableanddisableaccelerationwhilethevirtualmachineisrunning.
Inrareinstances,youmightfindthatwhenyouinstallorrunsoftwareinside
avirtualmachine,thevirtualmachineappearstohang.Generally,the
problemoccursearlyintheprogramsexecution.Inmanycases,youcanget
pasttheproblembytemporarilydisablingaccelerationinthevirtualmachine.
Thissettingslowsdownvirtualmachineperformance,souseitonlyfor
gettingpasttheproblemwithrunningtheprogram.Aftertheprogramstops
encounteringproblems,deselectDisableacceleration.Youmightthenbeable
toruntheprogramwithacceleration.
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c Toenablelogging,selecttheEnableloggingcheckbox.
Thisoptionstartslogstocollectdata.
4 ClicktheAdvancedtoviewthemask,whichspecifiestheCPUcapabilitiesthat
thisvirtualmachinerequires.
ThismaskandtheguestOSmaskareusedbyVirtualCentertodeterminewhether
adestinationhostisviableformigrationormigrationwithVMotion.
RefertoMigrationwithVMotiononpage 233formoreinformationonVMotion
compatibilityandCPUmasks.
5 ClicktheLegendbuttontoviewthelegendforthedialogbox.
6 Clicktheclosebuttontoexitthelegend.
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7 Tomodifyoraddconfigurationparametersasneededforexperimentalfeaturesor
asinstructedbytechnicalsupport,clicktheConfigurationParametersbutton.
TheConfigurationParametersdialogboxappears.
8 Whenyouarethrough,clickOKtoexitthedialogbox.
Changing Virtual Machine Resource Settings
IntheVirtualMachinePropertiesdialogbox,youcanadjustthehostresource
allocationfortheselectedvirtualmachine.YoucanchangeCPU,memory,disk,and
advancedCPUresourcesfromthistab.
Formoreinformationonresources,refertotheResourceManagementGuide.
CPU Resources
TheCPUResourcespanelletsyouallocateprocessorresourcesforavirtualmachine,
specifyingreservations,limits,andshares.Youcaneditsomeofthesameinformation
ontheResourcePoolstabofthemainVIClientwindow,whichyoumightdotoedit
resourcesettingsatthesametimeyoueditedothervirtualmachinesettings.
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To change CPU settings
1 ClicktheResourcestab.
2 SelectCPUintheSettingslist.
3 Selectasharesvalue,whichrepresentsarelativemetricforallocatingCPU
capacity.
SharesThevaluesLow,Normal,High,andCustomarecomparedtothe
sumofallsharesofallvirtualmachinesontheserverandtheserviceconsole.
Shareallocationsymbolicvaluescanbeusedtoconfiguretheirconversion
intonumericvalues.
ReservationGuaranteedCPUallocationforthisvirtualmachine.
LimitUpperlimitforthisvirtualmachinesCPUallocation.Select
Unlimitedtospecifynoupperlimit.
Formoreinformationonsharevalues,refertotheResourceManagementGuide.
Advanced CPU Settings
TheAdvancedCPUResourcespanelletsyousetlowleveloptionsthatinvolve
schedulingthevirtualmachineprocessingtophysicalprocessorcoresand
hyperthreads.ThispaneldoesnotappearforvirtualmachinesinaDRSclusterorwhen
thehosthasonlyoneprocessorcoreandnohyperthreading.
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VMwareESXServergenerallymanagesprocessorschedulingwell,evenwhen
hyperthreadingisenabled.Thesettingsonthispageareusefulonlyforfinegrained
tweakingofcriticalvirtualmachines.
TheHyperthreadingSharingoptionprovidesdetailedcontroloverwhetheravirtual
machineshouldbescheduledtoshareaphysicalprocessorcore(assuming
hyperthreadingisenabledonthehostatall).
TheSchedulingAffinityoptionallowsfinegrainedcontroloverhowvirtualmachine
CPUsaredistributedacrossthehostsphysicalcores(andhyperthreadsif
hyperthreadingisenabled).
To change Advanced CPU settings
2 SelectAdvancedCPUintheSettingslist.
NOTE Hyperthreadingtechnologyallowsasinglephysicalprocessortobehaveliketwo
logicalprocessors.Theprocessorcanruntwoindependentapplicationsatthesame
time.Whilehyperthreadingdoesnotdoubletheperformanceofasystem,itcan
increaseperformancebybetterutilizingidleresources.Fordetailedinformationabout
hyperthreadinganditsuseinVMwareInfrastructure,seetheResourceManagement
Guide(chooseHelp>Manuals).
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3 ChooseHyperthreadingSharingModefromthepulldownmenu.Theoptionsare:
Any(default)ThevirtualCPUsofthisvirtualmachinecanfreelysharecores
withothervirtualCPUsofthisorothervirtualmachines.
NoneThevirtualCPUsofthisvirtualmachinehaveexclusiveuseofa
processorcorewhenevertheyarescheduledtoit.Theotherhyperthreadof
thecoreishaltedwhilethisvirtualmachineisusingthecore.
InternalOnavirtualmachinewithexactlytwovirtualprocessors,thetwo
virtualprocessorsareallowedtoshareonephysicalcore(atthediscretionof
theESXServerscheduler),butthisvirtualmachineneversharesacorewith
anyothervirtualmachine.Ifthisvirtualmachinehasanyothernumberof
processorsotherthantwo,thissettingisthesameastheNonesetting.
4 ChoosetoscheduleaffinitybyselectingtheRunonprocessor(s)radiobutton.
Thecheckboxesfortheindividualprocessorsrepresentphysicalcoresif
hyperthreadingisdisabledorlogicalcores(twoperphysicalcore)if
hyperthreadingisenabled.Checkingalltheboxesisthesameasnotapplyingany
affinity.Youmustprovideatleastasmanyprocessoraffinitiesasthenumberof
virtualCPUsinthevirtualmachine.
Memory Resources
TheMemoryResourcespanelletsyouallocatememoryresourcesforavirtualmachine
andspecifyreservations,limits,andshares.Youcaneditsomeofthesameinformation
ontheResourcePoolstabofthemainVIClientwindow,whichyoumightdotoedit
resourcesettingsatthesametimeasothervirtualmachinesettings.
NOTE ThisoptionisnotallowedwhenthevirtualmachineresidesonaDRScluster,and
itsvaluesareclearedwhenavirtualmachineismigratedtoanewhost.Thevalue
oftheoptionisonlyintuningtheperformanceofaprecisesetofvirtualmachines
onthesamehost.
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To change memory settings
2 SelectMemoryintheSettingslist.
3 FromthepulldownmenuintheResourceallocationpanel,choosearelative
metricforallocatingmemorytoallvirtualmachines.
SymbolicvaluesLow,Normal,High,andCustomarecomparedtothesumofall
sharesofallvirtualmachinesontheserverandtheserviceconsole.Share
allocationsymbolicvaluescanbeusedtoconfiguretheirconversionintonumeric
values.
4 IntheResourceallocationpanel,usetheslidertoselecttheamountofreserved
memoryandthememorylimit,orusetheupanddownarrowstoenterthe
numberofMBsallocated.
Formoreinformationonmemoryvalues,refertothememmanpage.
Disk Resources
TheDiskResourcespanelletsyouallocatehostdiskI/Obandwidthtothevirtualhard
disksofthisvirtualmachine.DiskI/Oisahostcentricresourceandcannotbepooled
acrossacluster.However,CPUandmemoryresourcesaremuchmorelikelyto
constrainvirtualmachineperformancethandiskresources.
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To change disk settings
2 SelectDiskintheSettingslist.
Onthisdialogbox,youcanadjustthehostdiskallocationforthisvirtualmachine.
3 IntheResourceAllocationpanel,selectthevirtualharddiskfromthelist.
4 ClickintheSharesfield.Usethepulldownmenutochangethevaluetoallocate
anumberofsharesofitsdiskbandwidthtothevirtualmachine.
Sharesisavaluethatrepresentstherelativemetricforcontrollingdiskbandwidth
toallvirtualmachines.ThevaluesLow,Normal,High,andCustomarecompared
tothesumofallsharesofallvirtualmachinesontheserverandtheserviceconsole.
Shareallocationsymbolicvaluescanbeusedtoconfiguretheirconversioninto
numericvalues.
Changing the Audio Configuration
(SEEUPDATE)Whetheryouhavesoundonyourvirtualmachinedependsonyourguest
operatingsystem(guestOS).IfthevirtualmachineislocatedonESXServerandyou
areusingWindowsXP,soundisavailable.However,ifyourguestOSisWindows2000
or2003,soundisnotavailabletoyou.
To change the audio configuration
1 FromtheVirtualCenterclient,clickInventoryinthenavigationbar.
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3 TodisplaytheVirtualMachinePropertiesdialogbox,intheSummarytab,click
EditPropertiesorchooseEdit>Properties.
5 ClickAudiointheDevicelist.
UnderDevicestatus,thedefaultsettingisConnectatpoweron.
6 Deselectthecheckboxifyoudonotwantthesoundadaptertobeconnectedwhen
thevirtualmachinepowerson.
7 SelectUsedefaulthostsoundadaptertousethedefaulthostsoundadapter,or
selectSpecifyhostsoundadapterandselectaspecificadapterfromthelist.
Adding New Hardware
YoucanaddvirtualhardwaretoavirtualmachineusingtheAddHardwarewizard.
ThevirtualhardwarethatyouaddappearsinthehardwarelistdisplayedintheVirtual
MachinePropertieswizard.
To start the wizard
1 FromtheVirtualCenterclient,clickInventoryinthenavigationbar.Expandthe
inventoryasneeded,andclicktheappropriatevirtualmachine.
2 TodisplaytheVirtualMachinePropertiesdialogbox,clicktheEditSettingslinkin
theCommandspanel.
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4 ClickAddtostarttheAddHardwarewizard.
Followthestepsinthefollowingsectionstoaddvarioustypesofvirtualhardware
toyourvirtualmachine.
To add a serial port
1 StarttheAddHardwarewizard.
2 SelectSerialPort,andclickNext.
3 Selectthetypeofmediayouwantthevirtualporttoaccess:useaphysicalserial
portonthehost,outputtoafile,orconnecttoanamedpipe.
4 ClickNext.
5 IfyouselectedUsephysicalserialportonthehost,usethepulldownlistto
choosetheportonthehostcomputerthatyouwanttouseforthisserial
connection.
6 IfyouselectedOutputtofile,browsetothefileonthehostthatyouwanttouseto
storetheoutputofthevirtualserialport.
7 IfyouselectedConnecttonamedpipe,enterapipenameinthePipeNamefield
andusethepulldownmenustochoosethenearandfarendsofthepipe.
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Theoptionsforthenearendareclientorserver.Theoptionsforthefarendarea
processoravirtualmachine.
Bydefault,theserialportisconnectedwhenyoupoweronthevirtualmachine.
8 (Optional)YoumaydeselecttheConnectatpoweroncheckbox.
9 (Optional)DeselecttheI/OmodeYieldCPUonpollcheckboxifyouwantto
configurethisserialporttouseinterruptmodeasopposedtopolledmode.
Polledmodeisofinterestprimarilytodeveloperswhoareusingdebuggingtools
thatcommunicateoveraserialconnection.Polledmodecausesthevirtualmachine
toconsumeadisproportionateshareofCPUtime.Thismakesthehostandother
guestsrunsluggishly.
10 (Optional)Tomaintainbestperformanceforapplicationsonthehost,selectthe
YieldCPUonpollcheckbox.
Thisforcestheaffectedvirtualmachinetouseinterruptmode,whichyieldsCPU
timeiftheonlytaskitistryingtodoispollthevirtualserialport.
11 ReviewtheinformationontheReadytoCompletewindow,andclickFinish.
To add a parallel port
2 SelectParallelPort,andclickNext.
3 SelectphysicalparallelportonthehostorOutputtofile.
4 ClickNext.
5 IfyouselectedUsephysicalparallelportonthehost,choosetheportfromthe
pulldownlist.IfyouselectedOutputtofile,browsetothelocationofthefile.
6 UnderDevicestatus,deselecttheConnectatpoweroncheckboxifyoudonot
wanttheparallelportdevicetobeconnectedwhenthevirtualmachinepowerson.
7 ClickNext.
Adding DVD/CD-ROM or Floppy Devices
UsingtheVIClient,youcangiveavirtualmachineaccesstoaCDorfloppydevicefrom
theclientsmachine.Thismeans,forexample,thatyoucouldinstallaprogramina
virtualmachinerunningonaremoteESXServerbyputtingaCDinadriveona
desktoporlaptopmachine.
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To add a DVD/CD-ROM drive
2 SelectDVD/CDROMDrive,andclickNext.
3 SelecteitherUsephysicaldriveorUseISOimage.
a IfyouselectedUsephysicaldrive,selecteitherclientorhostasthedevice
location.Choosethedriveyouwanttousefromthepulldownlist.
Selectpassthroughandusethecheckboxtoindicatewhethertoconnect
exclusivelytothevirtualmachine,orselectATAPIemulation.
b IfyouselectedUseISOImage,enterthepathandfilenamefortheimagefile,
orclickBrowsetonavigatetothefile.
4 IfyoudonotwanttheCDROMdriveconnectedwhenthevirtualmachinestarts,
deselectConnectatpoweron.
5 ClickNext.
6 Specifythevirtualdevicenodethedriveusesinthevirtualmachine,andclick
Next.
7 ReviewtheinformationontheReadytoCompletewindow,andclickFinishor
Backifyouwanttochangeanyinformation.
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To add a floppy drive
2 SelectFloppyDrive,andclickNext.
3 Selectthetypeoffloppymediatouse:
Aphysicalfloppydrivetogivetheguestaccesstothefloppyonthehost.
Afloppyimage,whichisafileonthehostthatstoresdatainthesameformat
asaphysicalfloppydisk.
Ablankfloppyimagetocreateanduseablankfloppyimage.
4 ClickNext.
5 IfyouselectedUseaphysicalfloppydrive,selecteitherclientorhostasthedevice
locationandchoosethedrivefromthepulldownlist.
a IfyouselectedUseafloppyimage,browsetothefloppyimage.
b IfyouselectedCreateablankfloppyimage,browsetothefloppyimage.
6 Tohavethefloppydriveconnectedtothevirtualmachinewhenyoupoweriton,
selectConnectatpoweron.
7 ClickNext.
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To add an Ethernet adapter (NIC)
2 SelectEthernetAdapter,andclickNext.
3 IntheNetworkconnectionpanel,chooseeitheranamednetworkwithaspecified
labeloralegacynetwork.
4 ToconnectthevirtualNICwhenthevirtualmachineispoweredon,selectConnect
atpoweron.
5 Tocompletethewizard,clickFinish.
To add a hard disk
2 SelectHardDisk,andclickNext.
3 Selectthetypeofstorageforthevirtualmachinesdisk,andclickNext.
Youcanstorevirtualmachinedatainanewvirtualdisk,anexistingvirtualdisk,
oraMappedSANLUN.Avirtualdisk,whichappearsasasingleharddisktothe
guestoperatingsystem,iscomposedofoneormorefilesonthehostfilesystem.
Virtualdiskscaneasilybecopiedormovedonthesamehostorbetweenhosts.
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4 IfyouselectedCreateanewvirtualdisk,enterthediskcapacityandselectthe
locationaseitherStorewiththevirtualmachineorSpecifyadatastore.
5 Browseforthedatastorelocation,andclickNext.
6 Ifyouselectedanexistingdisk,browseforthediskfilepathandclickNext.
7 IfyouchoseMappedSANLUN:
a SelecttheLUNthatyouwanttousefortherawdisk,andclickNext.
b SelectadatastoreandclickNext.
c Selectthecompatibilitymode:physicaltoallowtheguestoperatingsystemto
accessthehardwaredirectlyorvirtualtoallowthevirtualmachinetouse
VMwaresnapshotsandotheradvancedfunctions.
8 ClickNext.
9 Specifythevirtualdevicenode,andclickNext.
10 Reviewtheinformation,andclickFinish.
To add a SCSI device
2 SelectSCSIDevice,andclickNext.
3 UnderConnection,usethepulldownmenutochoosethephysicaldeviceyou
wanttouse.
4 ToconnectthisvirtualmachinetotheserversSCSIdevicewhenthevirtual
machineispoweredon,selectConnectatpoweron.
5 UnderVirtualdevicenode,selectthevirtualdevicenodewhereyouwantthis
devicetoappearinthevirtualmachine.
Youcanalsoselectthecheckboxtoindicatethatthevirtualdeviceissetupinthe
samewayasthephysicalunit.
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VMware, Inc. 189

11
Nowthatyouhavecreatedandconfiguredavirtualmachine,youhavetheoptionto
customizetheidentityandnetworksettingsofyourvirtualmachinesguestoperating
systemsothatitisreadytobeginworkimmediatelyinyourtargetenvironment.
Youcansaveyourvirtualmachinesettingsinaspecificationthatyoucanrecalllater
andreuse.Youdothisusingthecustomizationwizard.Therearetwowaystoaccess
thecustomizationwizard:usingthecustomizationspecificationmanager,whichlets
youcreatespecificationsandstoretheminthedatabaseforlateruse,andusingthe
wizardwhenyourecloninganewvirtualmachine.
ThischapterdescribeshowtousetheCustomizationSpecificationManagerto
customizeyourguestoperatingsystems.
PreparingforGuestCustomization(SEEUPDATE)onpage 190
CustomizingaWindowsGuestOperatingSystemonpage 190
UsingtheCustomizationSpecificationWizardonpage 196
UsingtheCloneVirtualMachineWizardonpage 199
CompletingaGuestOperatingSystemCustomizationonpage 200
(SEEUPDATE)
Formoredetailsoninstallingaguestoperatingsystem,seetheGuestOperatingSystem
InstallationGuide.
Customizing Guest
Operating Systems 11
NOTE Customizingtheguestoperatingsystemisanoptionalstepinthecloningprocess.
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Preparing for Guest Customization (SEE UPDATE)
Whenyoudeployanewvirtualmachinefromatemplateorcloneanexistingvirtual
machine,youhavetheopportunitytocustomizethenewguestoperatingsystem.The
GuestCustomizationwizardguidesyouthroughtheconfigurationoptions.
BeforeyouruntheGuestCustomizationwizard,ifyouintendtoperformaguest
customization,dothefollowing:
Verifythatyoursystemmeetstheguestcustomizationrequirements.Ifyouplanto
customizeaWindowsguestoperatingsystem,youmustinstallthecomponents
requiredtosupportaWindowsguestoperatingsystemcustomization.Thisis
describedinAppendix B,InstallingtheMicrosoftSysprepTools,onpage 345.
InstalltherequiredcomponentsontheWindowsmachinewheretheVirtualCenter
serverisinstalled.
Customizing a Windows Guest Operating System
Thecustomizingprocessvaries,dependingupontheguestoperatingsystemtobeused
inthenewvirtualmachine.TocustomizeaWindows2000,WindowsXPProfessional,
orWindowsServer2003guestoperatingsystemwhiledeployingatemplateorcloning
avirtualmachine,performthefollowingsteps.
To customize a Windows guest operating system
YoucannotstarttheGuestCustomizationwizardfromamenuortoolbaroption.The
GuestCustomizationwizardstartsindirectlyfromtheDeployTemplateWizardor
CloneVirtualMachineWizard.
1 StarttheGuestCustomizationwizard.
NOTE AfterdeployingandcustomizingnonvolumelicensedversionsofWindows XPor
Windows 2003,youmightneedtoreactivateyourMicrosoftoperatingsystemon
thenewvirtualmachine.
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Chapter 11 Customizing Guest Operating Systems

2 OntheRegistrationInformationpage,enterthevirtualmachineownersname
andorganization.ClickNext.
Thisinformationisforreferencepurposes.Itdoesnotaffecthowthevirtual
machinefunctions.IntheNamefield,youcanenterthenameofaperson,user,or
group.
3 OntheComputerNamepage,specifytheComputerNameforthevirtual
machine.ClickNext.
Thecomputernameisthenamegiventotheparticularinstanceofaguest
operatingsystem.Theoperatingsystemusesthisnametoidentifyitselfonthe
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network.OnWindowssystems,itiscalledthecomputername.Onmostother
operatingsystems,itiscalledthehostname.Thisisnotthesameasthevirtual
machinenamethatwasdeclaredearlierintheDeployTemplateWizardorClone
VirtualMachineWizard.Youcanspecifythecomputernameintheseways:
ByassigningaspecificnameThenamecancontainalphanumeric
charactersandtheunderscore(_)andhyphen()characters.Itcannotcontain
periods(.)orblankspacesandcannotbemadeupofdigitsonly.Ifyouwant
toensurethatthenameisuniquesothatyoudonotincurconflicts,select
Appendanumericvaluetoensureuniqueness.
ByusingthevirtualmachinesnameThecomputernamethat
VirtualCentercreatesisidenticaltothenameofthevirtualmachineonwhich
theguestoperatingsystemisrunning.
ByrespondingtopromptsforanameTheVIClientpopulatestheDeploy
VirtualMachineWizardwithapromptforthecomputernameafteryou
completeallthestepsinthewizard.
ByusingacustomapplicationtogenerateanameTheVIClientcallsa
customapplicationstoredontheVirtualCenterServertogenerateaname.If
youselectthisoption,entertheabsolutepathtothecustomapplicationinthe
associatedtextfield.
4 OntheWindowsLicensepage,specifytheWindowslicensekeyforthenewguest
operatingsystem.ClickNext.
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IfyouarecustomizingaWindowsServeroperatingsystem,selecttheappropriate
licensemode,PerseatorPerserver.IfyouselectPerserver,specifythemaximum
numberofsimultaneousconnectionsyouwanttheservertoaccept.
5 OntheAdministratorPasswordpage,typeandconfirmtheadministrator
passwordforthevirtualmachine.ClickNext.
Ifyouleavethepasswordblank,theVIClientasksyoutoconfirmthat
Administratorusersarentrequiredtoprovideapassword.
Ifyouwanttoautomaticallylogonasadministratorwhenthevirtualmachine
boots,selectAutomaticallylogonastheadministratorandspecifyhowmany
timesautomaticlogonistobeperformed.Thisisusefulifyouknowyouwillhave
aseriesofrebootsbeforethevirtualmachineisreadyfornormallogonusers.
6 OntheTimeZonepage,choosethetimezoneforthevirtualmachine.ClickNext.
7 OntheRunOncepage,typeanycommandsyouwanttorunaspartofthefirst
startupforthenewvirtualmachine.Afteryoutypeeachcommand,clickAdd.Use
theDeleteandMoveoptionstocreatetherunorderforthecommands.Whenyou
aredonewiththecommandlist,clickNext.
8 IfyouwantVirtualCentertoautomaticallyconfigureallnetworkinterfacesfroma
DHCPserver,selectTypicalsettingsontheNetworkpage.ClickNext.
NOTE IfyouspecifyanewadministratorpasswordandthesourceWindowsvirtual
machineortemplatealreadyhasone,youmustselectDeletealluseraccountsin
Step 11.Otherwise,theoldadministratorpassworddoesnotchange.
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9 IfVirtualCenterconfigurationisnotappropriateforyourenvironment,select
Customsettings,selectthenetworkinterfacecard(NIC)tocustomizeandclick
Customizetomakeadditionalspecifications.
TheNetworkPropertiesdialogboxopens.
UsetheNetworkPropertiesdialogboxtoperformthesesteps:
a OntheGeneraltab,selectwhetheryouwanttouseDHCPtoobtainanIP
addressautomaticallyorentertheIPaddressesmanually.Alsoselectwhether
youwanttouseDHCPtoobtainanDNSserveraddressautomaticallyorenter
theDNSserveraddressesmanually.
b OntheDNStab,specifytheDNSconnectionsbyenteringDNSsuffixes.For
eachDNSsuffixyouenter,clickAdd.IfyouareaddingmultipleDNS
connections,useMoveUpandMoveDowntospecifytheorderinwhicha
virtualmachineistousetheconnections.
c OntheWINStab,specifytheprimaryandsecondaryWINSaddressesby
typingtheIPaddressesintheentryboxes.
d ClickOKtoreturntothepreviousdialogbox.ClickNextontheNetwork
GuestCustomizationsdialogbox.
10 OntheWorkgrouporDomainpage,completeoneofthesesteps:
Tojoinaworkgroup,selectWorkgroup,typetheworkgroupname,andclick
Next.
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Tojoinadomain,selectWindowsServerDomain,specifytheusernameofa
userwhocanaddcomputerstotheWindowsdomain,andspecifytheusers
password.ClickNext.
11 OntheOperatingSystemOptionspage,selecttheguestoperatingsystemoptions
asfollows:
GenerateNewSecurityID(SID)GeneratesanewsecurityIDforthevirtual
machine.
DeletealluseraccountsDeletesanyolduseraccountsfoundonthesystem.
IfyouspecifiedanewadministratorpasswordinStep 5andthesource
Windowsvirtualmachineortemplatealreadyhasone,thenyoumustselect
theDeletealluseraccountsoptionhere.Otherwise,theoldadministrator
passworddoesnotchanged.
ClickNext.
12 (Optional)OntheSaveSpecificationpage,savethecustomizedoptionsasan
.xmlfilebycompletingthesesteps:
a SelectSavethiscustomizationspecificationforlateruse.
b Specifythepathandfilenameforthespecification,andclickNext.
VirtualCentersavesthecustomizedconfigurationparametersinan.xmlfile.
Later,youcanimportthesepredefinedcustomizedparameterswhendeployinga
templateorcloninganexistingvirtualmachine.Ifthecustomizationsettingsare
savedtoafile,theadministratorpasswordoftheWindowsvirtualmachineand
thedomainadministratorspassword,asapplicable,arestoredinencrypted
formatinthe.xmlfile.SavedcustomizationfilesareuniquetoeachVirtualCenter
ServerandtoeachversionofVirtualCenterduetoencryption.Youmustrecreate
thecustomizationfilesforeachVirtualCenterServer.Encryptionispreserved
betweenupgradeversionsonthesameVirtualCenterServer.Thismeansyoucan
usethesamefilesbetweenupgradesofVirtualCenter.
13 ClickFinish.
VirtualCenterclosestheGuestCustomizationwizardandreturnsyoutothe
DeployTemplateWizardorCloneVirtualMachineWizard.
14 ClickFinishtodeploythevirtualmachinefromthetemplateorcreatetheclone.
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Using the Customization Specification Wizard
Thefollowingprocedurehelpsyousetupacustomizationspecificationthatcanbe
usedlatertocustomizeaguestoperatingsystem.
To start the Guest Customization wizard
1 ChooseEdit>CustomizationSpecifications.
TheCustomizationSpecificationManagerwindowappears.Fromhere,youcan
viewthepropertiesofaspecificationandcreate,edit,copy,delete,import,or
exportspecifications.UsetheRefreshbuttontorefreshthedisplay.
2 Tocreateanewspecification,clicktheNewicon.
TheGuestCustomizationwizardappears.
3 Choosethetargetvirtualmachineoperatingsystemfromthepulldownmenu.
4 SelectthecheckboxifyouwanttouseacustomSysprepanswerfile.
5 Typeanameforthenewcustomizationspecificationandanoptionaldescription.
ClickNext.
6 Typetheownersnameandorganizationtoregisterthiscopyoftheguest
operatingsystem.ClickNext.
TheComputerNamepageappears.Inthispageyouspecifyacomputernameto
identifythisvirtualmachineonanetwork.
7 Tospecifyanameforthecomputer,selecttheradiobuttonforoneofthefollowing:
Useaspecificname
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Withthisoption,youmusttypeanameinthetextfield.Selectthecheckbox
ifyouwanttoappendanumericvaluetothespecificcomputernameto
ensureuniquenessofname.
UsetheVirtualMachineName
PrompttheuserforanameintheDeploywizard
UseacustomapplicationconfiguredwiththeVirtualCenterserverto
generateaname
Withthisselection,yousupplyanargument.
8 ClickNext.
TheoperatingsystemLicensepageappears.
9 IntheLicensepage,typetheproductIDifthevirtualmachinerequireslicensing
information.
Somevirtualmachinesmightnotrequirelicensinginformation.Inthatcase,leave
thesefieldsblank.
10 SelectthecheckboxforIncludeServerLicenseInformationifyouare
customizingaserverguestoperatingsystem.
11 Selecteitherperseatorperserveroperatingsystem,enterthemaximum
connectionsforserverlicensemode,andclickNext.
12 OntheAdministratorPasswordpanel,typeapasswordandconfirmitforthe
administratoraccount.
Ifyoudonotenterapassword,awarningdialogboxappears.
13 Selectthecheckboxifyouwanttoautomaticallylogonastheadministrator,and
choosethenumberoftimestologon.
14 ClickNext.
15 Usethepulldownmenutochooseatimezone,andclickNext.
16 IntheRunOncepage,specifycommandstoberunthefirsttimeauserlogson.
Usethenavigationbuttonstoadd,delete,andmovecommandsupordown.
17 ClickNext.
18 Specifythenetworkinterfacesettingsifyouwanttocustomizethesoftware
settingsforeachnetworkinterface.Selecttheradiobuttonfortypicalsettingsto
enableDHCPforallnetworkinterfacesortheradiobuttonforcustomsettingsto
manuallyconfigureeachnetworkinterface.
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19 ClickNext.
20 IntheWorkgrouporDomainpage,selectthewayinwhichthevirtualmachine
participatesinthenetwork,selecttheradiobuttonforworkgroupandentera
workgroupname,orselecttheradiobuttonforWindowsserverdomainandenter
thedomain.
Inthelattercase,youmustalsoenterausernameandpasswordforauseraccount
thathaspermissiontoaddacomputertothespecifieddomain.
21 ClickNext.
22 IntheOperatingSystemOptionspage,selectGenerateNewSecurityID(SID)to
generateanewsecurityidentifieroryoucandeletealluseraccountstoremoveall
useraccounts,includingAdministrator.
SelectthesecondoptionifyouarechangingtheAdministratorpasswordandthe
templatevirtualmachinehasanonemptyAdministratorpassword.
23 ClickNext.
24 Reviewtheinformationyouhaveentered,andclickFinish.
ThespecificationappearsintheCustomizationSpecificationManagerpageand
canbeusedtocustomizeaguestoperatingsystem.
SavedcustomizationfilesareuniquetoeachVirtualCenterServerandtoeach
versionofVirtualCenterduetoencryption.Youhavetorecreatethecustomization
filesforeachVirtualCenterServer.Encryptionispreservedbetweenupgrade
versionsonthesameVirtualCenterServer.Thismeansyoucanusethesamefiles
betweenupgradesofVirtualCenter.However,ifyouuninstallVirtualCenterand
laterdoafreshinstallation,theabilitytodecryptpasswordsfromtheearlier
installationislost.
25 Toviewthepropertiesofaspecification,clickthePropertiesicon.
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TheCustomizationSpecificationPropertiesdialogboxappears.
26 ClickOKtoclosethedialogbox.
27 ClicktheEditicontoredisplaytheGuestCustomizationwizard,andchangethe
informationforthespecification.
28 ClicktheCopyicontocreateacopyofthespecificationlabeledCopyof<spec
name>,whichisdisplayedinthespecificationmanager.
29 Todeleteaspecification,selectitandclicktheDeleteicon.
Thespecificationisdeletedfromthespecificationmanager.
30 Toimportanexistingspecificationintothemanager,clicktheImporticonand
selectthespecificationintheBrowsedialogbox.
31 Toexportaspecification,clicktheExporticonandchooseaSaveAslocation.
32 Usethemaximize,minimize,andclosebuttonstomaximize,minimize,orexitthe
specificationmanager.
Using the Clone Virtual Machine Wizard
YouhaveasecondopportunitytoaccesstheGuestCustomizationwizardattheendof
thedeploymentwizard.Here,youhavetheabilitytoloadasavedcustomization
specification.Youcanchoosetogetthespecificationfromthelocaldiskorfromthe
server.Ifyouchoosenottoloadasavedspecification,thewizardopenswithblank
fields.
Usethefollowingprocedurewhenyouaresettingupyournewvirtualmachine.You
usethespecificationthatyousetupintheprevioussectionasyousetupavirtual
machineinthefollowingprocedure.
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Formoreinformationonusingthecustomizationwizard,seeCustomizinga
WindowsGuestOperatingSystemonpage 190.
To load a saved customization specification using the Clone Virtual Machine
wizard
1 ChooseInventory>VirtualMachine>Clone.
TheCloneVirtualMachinewizardappears.
2 MovethroughthewizarduntilyoureachtheSelectGuestCustomizationOption
pagefromwhichyoucancustomizeusingtheCustomizationwizardorcustomize
usinganexistingcustomizationspecificationselectedfromthespecification
managerslist.
Completing a Guest Operating System Customization
Thefinalcustomizationstepsoccurwhenthenewvirtualmachinebootsforthefirst
time.Aspartofthisprocess,themachinemightrebootanumberoftimes.The
customizationprocessdoesnotcompleteuntiltheguestoperatingsystemboots,runs
thefinalizationscripts,andreachesthelogonpage.
Ifthenewvirtualmachineencounterscustomizationerrorswhileitisbooting,the
errorsarereportedusingtheguestssystemloggingmechanism.InLinux,theseerrors
areloggedto/var/log/vmware/customization.log.InWindows,theyarewritten
totheapplicationeventlog.
Thestepsrequiredtofinalizeguestoperatingsystemcustomizationarecoveredinthe
followingsections:
CompletingLinuxGuestOperatingSystemCustomizationonpage 200
CompletingWindowsGuestOperatingSystemCustomizationonpage 201
Completing Linux Guest Operating System Customization
AcustomizedLinuxvirtualmachinedoesnotneedanyadditionalrebootingandis
operationalassoonasthelogonpageappearsafterthefirstboot.Ifconfigurationerrors
occur,theyaredisplayedonthevirtualmachinesconsolewindowwhiletheguest
operatingsystemisbooting.
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Completing Windows Guest Operating System Customization
Whenacustomizedvirtualmachineispoweredonforthefirsttime,itsguestoperating
systemrunsasetofscriptsthatfinalizesthecustomizationandconfigurationprocess.
Dependingontheguestoperatingsystemtype,thisprocessmightrequireadditional
rebooting,whichisautomaticallyperformedbythescripts.
Thecustomizationprocessinstallsscriptsthatrunonceinthetargetvirtualmachine
whenitpowersonorbootsforthefirsttimeafterbeingcreatedorcloned.Thosescripts
completethecustomizationprocessbyperformingfinalconfigurationoperationson
theguestoperatingsystem.
Afterpoweringonforthefirsttime,acustomizedWindowsvirtualmachine
automaticallyrebootstwicetofinalizetheconfigurationprocess.Itbecomes
operationalwhenthelogonpageappearsafterthesecondreboot.Thisprocesscantake
severalminutes,dependingonthespeedandloadofthehost.Ifanyerrorsoccur
duringthefinalconfigurationprocess,eventsareloggedtotheguestoperating
systemseventdatabase.Toviewtheseerrors,chooseStart>Program>Administrative
Tools>EventViewerfromtheWindowsStartmenu.
Ifanyoftheinformationrequiredintheconfigurationfinalizationprocessisnot
correct,theguestoperatingsystempauseswhenthenewvirtualmachinebootsand
waitsforyoutoenterthecorrectinformation.Incorrectinformationmightinclude:
Thecomputernameisnotunique.Thecomputernamemustbeuniqueforthe
networkonwhichthemachineisdeployed.
Theproductkeyisincorrect.
Theuserspecifiedtojoinadomainthatdoesnotexist.
TheDHCPserverforthenetworkisnotfunctioningproperly.
To determine if the system is waiting for information
Openthevirtualmachinesconsoletoseeifthesystemiswaitingforinformation.
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VMware, Inc. 203

12
Thischapterdescribescreatingtemplatesandcloningvirtualmachines.
UnderstandingTemplatesonpage 203
CreatingTemplatesonpage 204
EditingaTemplateonpage 208
DeployingVirtualMachinesfromTemplatesonpage 209
DeletingaTemplateonpage 212
RegainingTemplatesonpage 213
CreatingaScheduledTasktoCloneaVirtualMachineonpage 218
Understanding Templates
Atemplateisagoldenimageofavirtualmachinethatcanbeusedasamastercopyto
createandprovisionnewvirtualmachines.Thisimagetypicallyincludesaspecified
operatingsystemandconfigurationthatprovidesvirtualcounterpartstohardware
components.Typically,atemplateincludesaninstalledguestoperatingsystemanda
setofapplications.
Templatescoexistwithvirtualmachinesatanylevelwithinthetemplateandvirtual
machinedomain.Youcanordercollectionsofvirtualmachinesandtemplatesinto
arbitraryfoldersandapplyavarietyofpermissionstobothvirtualmachinesand
templates.Virtualmachinescanbetransformedintotemplateswithoutrequiringafull
copyofthevirtualmachinefilesandthecreationofanewobject.
Working with Templates and
Clones 12
204 VMware, Inc.

Youcanusetemplatestocreatenewvirtualmachinesbydeployingthetemplateasa
virtualmachine.Whencomplete,thedeployedvirtualmachineisaddedtothefolder
chosenbytheuserwhenthetemplatewascreated.
Toviewtemplates,selectthedatacenterandselecttheVirtualMachinestab.Allvirtual
machinesandtemplatesforthedatacenterarevisiblefromhere.Virtualmachinesand
templateshavedifferenticons.
Creating Templates
Therearethreewaystocreateatemplate:
Usinganexistingvirtualmachineinplace.Thisprocessconvertstheoriginal
virtualmachine.
Cloningavirtualmachinetoatemplate.
Cloninganexistingtemplate.
To create a template in place from a virtual machine
1 StarttheVIClientandlogontotheVirtualCenterServer.
virtual machine icon template icon
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Chapter 12 Working with Templates and Clones

Theinventorypanelandtheinformationpaneldisplayinformationabout
manageddatacenters,hosts,resourcepools,andvirtualmachines.Theinventory
toolbarappears.
3 Expandtheinventoryasneeded,andselectavirtualmachine.
4 Poweroffthevirtualmachine.
5 FromtheCommandsareaorthepopupmenu,clickConverttoTemplate.
VirtualCentermarksthatvirtualmachineasatemplateanddisplaysthetaskinthe
RecentTaskspane.
To clone a virtual machine to a template
1 StarttheVIclient,andlogontotheVirtualCenterServer.
2 ClickInventoryinthenavigationbartodisplaytheinventorypanel.
3 Ifthevirtualmachineyouwanttocloneispoweredon,rightclickitandclick
PowerOff.
4 RightclickthevirtualmachineandclickClonetoTemplate.
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TheCloneVirtualMachinetoTemplatewizardappears.
5 Givethenewtemplateanameanddescription,andclickNext.
Enterausefulnamethatdescribesthetemplate.Descriptioninformationcan
include,forexample,theoperatingsystem,applications,versions,andintended
usesforthetemplate.Thenamecanbeupto80characterslongandcancontain
alphanumericcharactersandtheunderscore(_)andhyphen()characters.It
shouldalsobeuniqueacrossalltemplatesandvirtualmachinesinthedatacenter.
6 Passthroughthetargetlocationpage.ClickNext.
7 ClickFinish.
VirtualCenterdisplaystheTasksinventorypanelforreferenceandaddsthecloned
templatetothelistintheinformationpanel.
To clone an existing template
1 StarttheVIclient,andlogontotheVirtualCenterServer.
3 Selectthedatacenterthatcontainsthetemplate.
Thevirtualmachinesandtemplatesassociatedwiththedatacenterappearinthe
datacenterpanel.
4 RightclickthetemplateandchooseClone.
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TheCloneTemplatewizardappears.
5 Givethenewtemplateanameanddescription,andclickNext.
Enterausefulnameandabriefdescriptionofthetemplate.Description
informationcaninclude,forexample,theoperatingsystem,applications,versions,
andintendedusesforthetemplate.Thenamecanbeupto80characterslong,and
cancontainalphanumericcharactersandtheunderscore
(_)andhyphen()characters.Itshouldalsobeuniqueacrossalltemplatesand
virtualmachinesinthedatacenter.
6 Selectthehostorcluster,andclickNext.
7 Chooseadatastoreforthetemplate.ClickNext.
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8 SelectaradiobuttontoeitherleavethevirtualdisksintheirNormalvirtual
machineformatortoCompactthevirtualdiskstominimizestorage.ClickNext.
9 OntheReadytoCompletewindow,reviewtheinformationforyournewvirtual
machine,andclickFinish.
Youcannotusethenewtemplateuntilthecloningtaskcompletes.VirtualCenter
addstheclonedtemplatetothelistintheVirtualMachinestab.
Editing a Template
Youmightwanttoedityourtemplate(toupgradeanapplication,forexample).
However,templatescannotbeeditedastemplates.Youmustconvertthetemplatetoa
virtualmachine,editit,andconverttheeditedvirtualmachinetoatemplate.
To edit the template
1 Ifyouwanttoeditthepropertiesofatemplate,convertthetemplatetoavirtual
machine.
2 Editthevirtualmachine.
3 Convertthevirtualmachinetoatemplate.
Youcandirectlychangethenameofatemplateusingtheprocedurebelow.
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To change the name of a template
1 FromtheVirtualCenterclient,clicktheInventorybutton.
3 SelecttheVirtualMachinestab.
4 Clickonthetemplate.Clickthetemplateagain.
5 Thenameofthevirtualmachineisnowaneditablefield.
6 Changethename,andclickoutsidethefield.
Deploying Virtual Machines from Templates
Thisproceduredeploysavirtualmachinefromanexistingtemplate.
To deploy a virtual machine from a template
1 StarttheVIClient,andlogontotheVirtualCenterServer.
toolbarappears.
3 Selectthedatacenterthatcontainsthetemplate,andclicktheVirtualMachines
tab.
datacenterpanel.
4 Rightclickthetemplate,andchooseDeployVirtualMachinefromthis
Template.
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TheDeployTemplatewizardappears.
5 Givethenewvirtualmachineaname,selectalocation,andclickNext.
Thenamecanbeupto80characterslongandcancontainalphanumericcharacters
andtheunderscore(_)andhyphen()characters.Itshouldalsobeuniqueacross
alltemplatesandvirtualmachinesinthedatacenter.
6 OntheHost/Clusterpage,selectthehostonwhichyouwanttostorethetemplate
andclickNext.
7 Selectaresourcepool(ifapplicable)inwhichyouwanttorunthevirtualmachine,
andclickNext.
Resourcepoolsallowhierarchicalmanagementofresourceswithinahostor
cluster.Virtualmachinesandchildpoolssharetheresourcesoftheirparentpool.
8 Chooseadatastoreforthevirtualmachine,andclickNext.
Youarechoosingthedatastoreinwhichtostorethefilesforthevirtualmachine.
Youshouldchooseonethatislargeenoughtoaccommodatethevirtualmachine
andallofitsvirtualdiskfilessothattheycanallresideinthesameplace.
TheAdvancedbuttonallowsyoutostoreindividualfilesinseparatelocations.To
returntothedatastoreselectionpage,clicktheBasicbutton.
9 OntheSelectGuestCustomizationOptionpage,performoneoftheseactions:
Ifyoudonotwanttocustomizeyourguestoperatingsystem,selectDonot
customizeandclickNext.
Ifyouwanttocustomizeyourguestoperatingsystem,clickoneoftheother
selectionsasappropriate.Youcustomizeguestoperatingsystemsthroughthe
GuestCustomizationWizardorbyusinganexistingcustomization
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specificationthatyoucreate.Forinstructions,seeCustomizingGuest
OperatingSystemsonpage 189.
TheVIClientmightdisplayerrormessagesonthispageofthewizardiftheguest
isnotcustomizable.
10 OntheReadytoCompletewindow,reviewtheinformationforyournewvirtual
machine,selectthePoweronthenewVirtualMachineaftercreationcheckboxif
youwanttopoweronthevirtualmachineimmediately,andclickFinish.
AfteryouclickFinish,youcannotuseoreditthevirtualmachineuntilthetask
completes.Thismighttakeseveralminutes.Thevirtualmachineisaddedtothe
datastore.
To convert a template to a virtual machine
1 StartVirtualCenterclient,andlogontotheVirtualCenterServer.
toolbarappears.
datacenterpanel.
4 ClicktheVirtualMachinestab.
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5 Fromthepopupmenu,chooseConverttoVirtualMachine.
Thetemplateisconvertedtoavirtualmachine.
Deleting a Template
Thisprocedureunregistersanddeletesthetemplate.
To delete an existing template
1 ClicktheInventorybutton.
2 Selecttheappropriatetemplate.
3 Rightclickthetemplate,andchooseRemovefromInventory.
4 ConfirmremovingthetemplatefromtheVirtualCenterdatabase.ClickOK.
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AllnondatastoretemplatefilesareremovedfromtheVirtualCenterinventory.
To delete a template from disk
2 ClicktheInventorybuttoninthenavigationbar,andselectthehostthatcontains
thetemplate.
3 RightclickthedatastorethatcontainsthetemplateandselectBrowseDatastore.
4 Browsethroughthedatastorefolderstofindthe.vmtxfile.
5 Rightclickthe.vmtxfileandselectDeletefromDisk.
Thetemplateisdeletedfromthediskandcannotberecovered.
Regaining Templates
Templatesareassociatedwithhosts,andtheonlywaytoregainorregistertemplates
afterremovingandaddingahostistousethedatastorebrowsertolocatethetemplate.
Thenusetheinventorywizardtonameandregisterthe.vmtxfileasatemplateback
intoVirtualCenter.
To regain a template:
2 ClicktheInventorybuttoninthenavigationbar,andselectthehostthatcontains
thetemplate.
3 RightclickthedatastorethatcontainsthetemplateandselectBrowseDatastore.
4 Browsethroughthedatastorefolderstofindthe.vmtxfile.
CAUTION Afteratemplateisdeletedfromahost,thereisnowaytorecoverit.
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5 Rightclickthe.vmtxfileandselectAddtoInventory.
TheAddtoInventorywizardappears.
6 Enteratemplatemachinename,selectalocation,andclickNext.
Selectahostorclusteronwhichtostorethetemplate,andclickNext.
7 Reviewyourselections,andclickFinish.
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8 ThetemplateisregisteredtothehostandcanbeviewedfromthehostsVirtual
Machinetab.
Cloning an Existing Virtual Machine
Acloneisacopypluscustomizationofavirtualmachine.Whenyoucreateaclone,
VirtualCenterprovidesanoptiontocustomizetheguestoperatingsystemofthat
virtualmachine.Youcanplacethenewcloneonanyhostwithinthesamedatacenter
astheoriginalvirtualmachine.
To clone a virtual machine
1 StartVirtualCenterandlogontotheVirtualCenterServer.
2 Fromtheinventorypanel,clicktheInventorybuttoninthenavigationbar.
Theinventorypanelandtheinformationpaneldisplaythedatastores,resource
pools,hosts,andvirtualmachineinformation.Theinventorytoolbarappears.
3 Expandtheinventoryasneeded,andclickthesourcevirtualmachine.
4 Poweroffthevirtualmachine.
5 TostarttheCloneaVirtualMachinewizard,clicktheClonetoNewVirtual
MachinelinkintheCommandsarea,orchooseClonefromthepopupmenu.
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6 Enteravirtualmachinename,selectalocation,andclickNext.
7 Selectahostorclusteronwhichtoruntheclone,andclickNext.
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8 Ifyouchooseacluster,youmustchooseaspecifichostwithinthecluster,andclick
Next.
9 Selectaresourcepoolinwhichtoruntheclone,andclickNext.
10 Selectthedatastorelocationwhereyouwanttostorethevirtualmachinefiles,and
clickNext.
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11 ClicktheAdvancedbuttonformoreoptions,andclickNext.
TheSelectGuestCustomizationOptionpageappears.Youcanchooseto
customizetheguestoperatingsystemusingthewizardorusinganexisting
customizationspecification.Youcanalsochoosenottocustomize.
Formoreinformation,seeCustomizingGuestOperatingSystemsonpage 189.
12 Selecttheappropriateradiobutton,andclickNext.
13 Reviewyourselections,andclickFinish.
OntheReadytoCompleteNewVirtualMachinepage,youcanselectthecheckbox
topoweronthenewvirtualmachineaftercreation.AfteryouclickFinish,you
cannotuseoreditthevirtualmachineuntilthetaskcompletes.Ifthetaskinvolves
thecreationofavirtualdisk,itcouldtakeseveralminutestocomplete.
Creating a Scheduled Task to Clone a Virtual Machine
Thisprocedurecreatesascheduledtasktocloneavirtualmachine.
To create a scheduled task to clone a virtual machine
1 ClicktheScheduledTasksbuttoninthenavigationbar.
2 ChooseFile>New>ScheduledTask,orclicktheNewbutton.
TheSelectaTasktoScheduledialogboxappears.
3 UsethepulldownmenutochooseCloneavirtualmachine,andclickOK.
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4 Selectthevirtualmachinetoclone,andclickNext.
5 Followthewizardthroughthesamestepsasthoseintheprevioustaskinwhich
youclonedavirtualmachine.ThepageafterGuestCustomizationistheSchedule
theTaskpage.
6 Enteranameandataskdescriptioninthetextbox.
7 Selecttheradiobuttonforthefrequencyofthetask.
8 SelecttheradiobuttonforNoworLater.Iflater,enterthetimeanddatewhenyou
wantthevirtualmachinetobedeployed,andclickNext.
Toseethecalendar,clickLater,andclickthedropdownarrowtoselectadatefrom
thedisplayedcalendar.Aredcircleindicatestodaysdate,andadarkcircle
indicatesthescheduleddate.
9 ReviewtheinformationontheReadytoCompleteNewVirtualMachinepage,
andclickFinish.
Optionally,youcanselectthecheckboxtopoweronthenewvirtualmachineafter
itiscreated.
VirtualCenteraddsthenewtasktothescheduledtasklistandcompletesitatthe
designatedtime.Whenitistimetoperformthetask,VirtualCenterfirstverifies
thattheuserwhocreatedthetaskstillhaspermissiontocompletethetask.Ifthe
permissionlevelsarenotacceptable,VirtualCentersendsamessagetothelogand
thetaskisnotperformed.
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VMware, Inc. 221

13
VMwareVirtualCentersnapshotsallowyoutopreservethestateofthevirtualmachine
soyoucanreturntothesamestaterepeatedly.SnapshotsareanewfeatureforESX
Server3.
Thefollowingsectionsareincludedinthischapter:
UnderstandingSnapshotsonpage 221
UsingtheSnapshotManageronpage 226
RestoringaSnapshotonpage 227
Understanding Snapshots
Asnapshotcapturestheentirestateofthevirtualmachineatthetimeyoutakethe
snapshot.Thisincludes:
MemorystateThecontentsofthevirtualmachinesmemory.
SettingsstateThevirtualmachinesettings.
DiskstateThestateofallthevirtualmachinesvirtualdisks.
Snapshotsoperateonindividualvirtualmachines.Inateamofvirtualmachines,taking
asnapshotpreservesthestateofonlytheactivevirtualmachine.
Whenyoureverttoasnapshot,youreturnalltheseitemstothestatetheywereinatthe
timeyoutookthatsnapshot.Ifyouwantthevirtualmachinetobesuspended,powered
on,orpoweredoffwhenyoulaunchit,besureitisinthedesiredstatewhenyoutake
thatsnapshot.
Using Snapshots 13
222 VMware, Inc.

Snapshotsareusefulwhenyouneedtorevertrepeatedlytothesamestatebutyoudont
wanttocreatemultiplevirtualmachines.Withsnapshots,youcreatebackupand
restorepositionsinalinearprocess.Youcanalsopreserveabaselinebeforediverging
avirtualmachineinaprocesstree.
Snapshotscanbeusedasrestorationpointsduringalinearoriterativeprocess,suchas
installingupdatepackages,orduringabranchingprocess,suchasinstallingdifferent
versionsofaprogram.Takingsnapshotsensuresthateachinstallationbeginsfroman
identicalbaseline.
Multiplesnapshotsreferstotheabilitytocreatemorethanonesnapshotofthesame
virtualmachine.Totakesnapshotsofmultiplevirtualmachines,(forexample,
snapshotsforallmembersofateam)requiresthatyoutakeaseparatesnapshotofeach
teammember.
Multiplesnapshotsarenotsimplyanewwayofsavingyourvirtualmachines.With
multiplesnapshots,youcansavemanypositionstoaccommodatemanykindsofwork
processes.
Althoughyoucantakesnapshotsupto32levels,theamountoftimeittakestocommit
ordeletethosesnapshotsincreasesasthelevelsgetdeeper.Therequiredtimeisdirectly
proportionaltotheamountofdata(committedordeleted)andthevirtualmachines
RAMsize.
Relationship Between Snapshots
Therelationshipbetweensnapshotsislikethatofaparenttoachild:
Inthelinearprocess,eachsnapshothasoneparentandonechild,exceptforthe
lastsnapshot,whichhasnochildren.
Intheprocesstree,eachsnapshothasoneparent,butonesnapshotmayhave
morethanonechild.Manysnapshotshavenochildren.
Youcanreverttoaparentorachild.
NOTE Snapshotsofrawdisks,RDMphysicalmodedisks,orindependentdisksarenot
supported.
VMware, Inc. 223
Chapter 13 Using Snapshots

Snapshots and Other Activity in the Virtual Machine
Whenyoutakeasnapshot,beawareofotheractivitygoingoninthevirtualmachine
andthelikelyeffectofrevertingtothatsnapshot.Ingeneral,itisbesttotakeasnapshot
whennoapplicationsinthevirtualmachinearecommunicatingwithothercomputers.
Thepotentialforproblemsisgreatestifthevirtualmachineiscommunicatingwith
anothercomputer,especiallyinaproductionenvironment.
Forexample,ifyoutakeasnapshotwhilethevirtualmachineisdownloadingafile
fromaserveronthenetwork,thevirtualmachinecontinuesdownloadingthefile,
communicatingitsprogresstotheserver.Ifyoureverttothesnapshot,communications
betweenthevirtualmachineandtheserverareconfusedandthefiletransferfails.
Anotherexampleistakingasnapshotwhileanapplicationinthevirtualmachineis
sendingatransactiontoadatabaseonaseparatemachine.Ifyoureverttothat
snapshotespeciallyifyourevertafterthetransactionstartsbutbeforeithasbeen
committedthedatabaseislikelytobeconfused.
Taking a Snapshot
Takingasnapshotisasynchronousoperation.Alluseroperationstothevirtual
machineduringthisperiodareblockedforsnapshotanddataconsistency.Thetime
takentodevelopasnapshotdependsontheamountofdataandtheloadontheserver.
Onaverage,thetimerangesfrom30to40secondsforminimalsnapshotcreation.
Youcantakeasnapshotwhileavirtualmachineispoweredon,poweredoff,or
suspended.Ifyouaresuspendingavirtualmachine,waituntilthesuspendoperation
hasfinishedbeforetakingasnapshot.
Youmustpoweroffthevirtualmachinebeforetakingasnapshotifthevirtualmachine
hasmultipledisksindifferentdiskmodes.Forexample,ifyouhaveaspecialpurpose
configurationthatrequiresyoutouseanindependentdisk,youmustpoweroffthe
virtualmachinebeforetakingasnapshot.
To take a snapshot
1 ChooseInventory>VirtualMachine>Snapshot>TakeSnapshot.
YoucanalsoclicktheTakeasnapshotofthisvirtualmachinebutton,orrightclick
thevirtualmachineandchooseSnapshot>TakeSnapshot.
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TheTakeVirtualMachineSnapshotwindowappears.
2 Typeanameforyoursnapshot.
3 (Optional)Typeadescriptionforyoursnapshot.
Descriptionsareusefultoidentifydifferencesbetweensimilarlynamedsnapshots.
DescriptionsappearintheSnapshot Manager.
4 ClickOK.
Aprogresspopupmenuboxappears.Whenthesnapshothasbeensuccessfully
taken,itislistedintheRecentTasksfieldatthebottomofVirtualCenter.
5 Clickthetargetvirtualmachinetodisplaytasksandeventsforthismachineor,
whilethevirtualmachineisstillselected,clicktheTasks&Eventstab.
VMware, Inc. 225

Changing Disk Mode to Exclude Virtual Disks from Snapshots
Youmustpoweroffanddeleteanyexistingsnapshotsbeforeyouattempttochangethe
diskmode.Deletingasnapshotinvolvescommittingtheexistingdataonthesnapshot
disktotheparentdisk.
To exclude a disk from a snapshot
1 ChooseInventory>VirtualMachine>EditSettings.
2 ClicktheHardwaretab,andselecttheharddiskyouwanttoexclude.
3 UnderMode,selectIndependent.Independentdisksarenotaffectedby
snapshots.
Youhavethefollowingpersistenceoptionsforanindependentdisk:
PersistentChangesareimmediatelyandpermanentlywrittentothedisk.
Allchangestoanindependentdiskinpersistentmoderemain,evenwhenyou
reverttothatsnapshot.
NonpersistentChangestothediskarediscardedwhenyoupoweroffor
reverttothatsnapshot.
4 ClickOK.
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Using the Snapshot Manager
TheSnapshotManagerletsyoureviewallsnapshotsfortheactivevirtualmachineand
actonthemdirectly.
TheSnapshotManagerwindowcontainsthefollowingareas:Snapshottree,Details
region,Commandbuttons,Navigationregion,andaYouarehereicon.
Figure 13-1. Snapshot Manager
SnapshottreeDisplaysallsnapshotsforthevirtualmachine.
YouarehereiconRepresentsthecurrentoperationalstateofthevirtualmachine.
TheYouarehereiconisalwaysselectedandvisiblewhenyouopentheSnapshot
Manager.
TheYouarehereiconrepresentsastatethatisneverasnapshotitselfbutrather
thevirtualmachinestateaftertheparentsnapshot.Asnapshotisalwaysastatic
recordofavirtualmachinestate.TheYouareherestatecanbeoperationaland
changing.Evenwhenyoucreateasnapshotofapoweredofforsuspendedvirtual
machine,theYouareherestateisnotidenticaltothesnapshot.
YoucannotgotoorselecttheYouareherestate.Youareherealwaysrepresents
thecurrentandactivestate.
CommandButtonsTheSnapshotManagerhasthreecommandbuttonsintheleft
pane:Goto,Delete,andDeleteAll.
VMware, Inc. 227

DetailsDisplaysthenameanddescriptionoftheselectedsnapshot.Thesefields
areblankifyouhavenotselectedasnapshot.
NavigationRegionContainsbuttonsfornavigatingoutofthedialogbox:
CloseClosestheSnapshotManager.
HelpOpensthehelpsystem.
To use the Snapshot Manager
1 ChooseInventory>VirtualMachine>Snapshot>SnapshotManager.
2 IntheSnapshotManager,selectasnapshotbyclickingit.
3 Togotoasnapshot,clicktheGotobuttontorestorethevirtualmachinetoany
arbitrarysnapshot.
TheGotocommandallowsyoutorestorethestateofanysnapshot.
4 ClickYesintheconfirmationdialogbox.
5 Todeleteasnapshot,clicktheDeletebuttontopermanentlyremoveasnapshot
fromVirtualCenteruse.
7 Todeleteallsnapshots,clicktheDeleteAllbuttontopermanentlyremoveall
snapshotsfromVirtualCenteruse.
9 ClickClosetoexittheSnapshotManager.
Restoring a Snapshot
VMwareVirtualCenterincludesthefollowingsnapshotmethodstoallowyoutoreturn
totheoriginalvirtualmachine:
TheInventory>VirtualMachine>SnapshotmenucontainsthecommandRevert
toSnapshot.
TheSnapshotManagerhasaGotobutton.
NOTE Deletecommitsthesnapshotdatatotheparentandthenremovestheselected
snapshot.DeleteAllcommitsalltheimmediatesnapshotsbeforetheYouarehere
currentstatetothebasediskandremovesallexistingsnapshotsforthatvirtual
machine.
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Parent Snapshot
TodiscernbetweentheReverttoSnapshotandGotocommands,youmust
understandwhatismeantbytheparentsnapshot.
Theparentsnapshotisthemostrecentlysavedversionofthecurrentstateofthevirtual
machine.Ifyouhavejusttakenasnapshot,thatstoredstateistheparentsnapshotof
thecurrentstate.Ifyourevertorgotoasnapshot,thatsnapshotbecomestheparentof
thecurrentstate.
TheparentsnapshotisalwaysthesnapshotappearingimmediatelyabovetheYouare
hereiconintheSnapshotManager.
Figure 13-2. Parent Snapshot
Parent Snapshot
NOTE Theparentsnapshotisnotalwaysthesnapshotyoutookmostrecently.Forexample,if
youtakeasnapshottodayandthenGotoasnapshotyoutookyesterday,thesnapshot
youtooktodayisnolongertheparentofthecurrentstateofthevirtualmachine.The
parentsnapshothasbecomethesnapshotyoutookyesterday.
VMware, Inc. 229

Revert to Snapshot Command
ReverttoSnapshotisessentiallyashortcuttotheparentsnapshotofYouarehere.This
commandimmediatelyactivatestheparentsnapshotofthecurrentstateofthevirtual
machine.
Thecurrentdiskandmemorystatesarediscardedandrestoredastheywerewhenyou
tookthatsnapshot.Ifyourparentsnapshotwastakenwhenthevirtualmachinewas
poweredoff,choosingSnapshot>ReverttoSnapshotmovesthepoweredonvirtual
machinetothatparentstate,thatis,toapoweredoffstate.
Figure 13-3. Revert to Snapshot
take a
snapshot
Virtual machine with no snapshots.
take a
snapshot
go to
snapshot_a
The new snapshot (snapshot_a)
is now the parent of the
You are here state. The parent
snapshot of the You are here state
is the parent snapshot of the
virtual machine.
When you take a snapshot from
the snapshot_a state, snapshot_a
becomes the parent of the new
shapshot (snapshot_b) and
snapshot_b is the parent shapshot
of the You are here state.
If you take a snapshot now, the
new snapshot will be based on
the snapshot_b state.
When you revert a virtual machine, the virtual machine returns to the parent snapshot
of the virtual machine (that is, the parent of the current You are here state).
When you go to snapshot_a,
snapshot_a becomes the parent
of the You are here state.
If you take a snapshot now, the
new snapshot will be based on
the snapshot_a state.
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Therearethreewaystoreverttotheparentsnapshot:
ChooseInventory>VirtualMachine>Snapshot>ReverttoSnapshot.
ClicktheReverttosnapshotbuttononthetoolbar.
Rightclickthevirtualmachine,andchooseSnapshot>ReverttoSnapshot.
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14
Thischapterdescribestheprocessofmigratingmovingavirtualmachinefromone
hosttoanother.Thischaptercontainsthefollowingsections:
Overviewonpage 231
Migrationonpage 233
MigrationwithVMotiononpage 233
MigrationWizardonpage 239
Theuserinitiatingthemigrationmusthaveappropriatepermissiontoperform
migrationwithVMotiononbothmachines.
RefertoManagingUsers,Groups,Permissions,andRolesonpage 247for
informationonpermissions.
Overview
Inthisrelease,youcanmigrateavirtualmachineonanESXServerhostinasuspended
stateusingthemigrationAPI.Migratingapoweredoffvirtualmachineiscalled
migration.MigratingapoweredonvirtualmachineiscalledmigrationwithVMotion.
MigrationwithVMotion,designedtobeusedbetweencompatiblesystems,allowsyou
tomigratevirtualmachineswithnodowntimebutrequiresVMotionlicensingand
specificconfiguration.
InVirtualCenter2,youhavetwomigrationoptions:
Migrating Virtual Machines 14
NOTE Copyingavirtualmachineiscreatinganewvirtualmachine.Itisnotaformof
migration.
232 VMware, Inc.

MigrationMovingapoweredofforsuspendedvirtualmachine(configuration
filesbutnodiskmovement).Optionally,duringmigration,youcanrelocate
configurationanddiskfiles.
MigrationwithVMotionMovingavirtualmachinethatispoweredon.
Virtualmachinescanbemovedbetweenhostswithinthesamedatacenter.Virtual
machinescannotbemovedbetweendatacenters.
ThefollowingtableliststheVMotioncapabilitiesfor32and64bitguestvirtual
machines.
NOTE MigratingsuspendedvirtualmachinesissupportedinESXServer3.0only.Virtual
machinescreatedusingESXServer2.xmustbepoweredoffbeforemigration.
NOTE Virtualmachinesdonotneedtobeavailableonsharedstorage.
NOTE Virtualmachinesmustbeavailableanyfromanyformofsharedstorage,suchas
SAN,iSCSI,orNAS.
Table 14-1. VMotion Support
32-bit Guest Virtual Machines 64-bit Guest Virtual Machines
VMotion
(poweredon)
Fullysupportedwithin
VMotioncompatible32bitCPUs
AND64bitCPUs(InteltoIntelor
AMDtoAMD).
(InteltoIntelorAMDtoAMD).
Cold
Migration
(poweredoff)
Fullysupportedwithinsupported
32bitCPUsand64bitCPUsand
abletopoweronirrespectiveofany
CPUincompatibilities
(InteltoAMDOK).
(InteltoAMDOK).
NOTE MigrationwithVMotioncannotbeusedtomigratevirtualmachinesusingrawdisks
forclusteringpurposes.
VMware, Inc. 233
Chapter 14 Migrating Virtual Machines

Migration
Thevirtualmachineyouwanttomigratemustbepoweredofforsuspendedpriorto
beginningthemigrationprocess.Withamigration,youalsohavetheoptionofmoving
theassociateddisksfromonehosttoanother.Amigrationconsistsofthefollowing
steps:
1 Theconfigurationfiles,includingtheNVRAMfile(BIOSsettings),logfiles,and
thesuspendfileforsuspendedvirtualmachinesaswellasthedisksofthevirtual
machinearemovedfromthesourcehosttothedestinationhostsassociated
storagearea.
2 Thevirtualmachineisassociated(registered)withthenewhost.
3 Afterthemigrationiscompleted,theoldversionofthevirtualmachineisdeleted
fromthesourcehost.
Ifanyerroroccursduringmigration,thevirtualmachinesreverttotheiroriginalstates
andlocations.
Youcanmovevirtualmachinesmanuallyorsetupascheduledtasktoperformthe
migration.RefertoManagingTasks,Events,andAlarmsonpage 289forinformation
onschedulingtasks.
Migration with VMotion
VMotionallowsworkingprocessestocontinuethroughoutamigrationwithVMotion.
Theentirestateofthevirtualmachineaswellasitsconfigurationfile,ifnecessary,are
movedtothenewhostevenwhilethedatastorageremainsinthesamelocationonthe
SAN.TheassociatedvirtualdiskremainsinthesamelocationontheSANstoragethat
issharedbetweenthetwohosts.Oncetheconfigurationfileismigratedtothealternate
host,thevirtualmachinerunsonthenewhost.
Thestateinformationincludesthecurrentmemorycontentandalltheinformationthat
definesandidentifiesthevirtualmachine.Thememorycontentincludestransaction
dataandwhateverbitsoftheoperatingsystemandapplicationsareinthememory.The
definingandidentificationinformationstoredinthestateincludesallthedatathat
mapstothevirtualmachinehardwareelements,suchasBIOS,devices,CPU,MAC
addressesfortheEthernetcards,chipsetstates,registers,andsoforth.
MigrationwithVMotionhappensinthreestages:
1 WhenthemigrationwithVMotionisrequested,VirtualCenterverifiesthatthe
existingvirtualmachineisinastablestatewithitscurrenthost.
2 Thevirtualmachinestateinformation(thatis,memory,registers,andnetwork
connections)iscopiedtothetargethost.
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3 Thevirtualmachineresumesitsactivitiesonthenewhost.
Ifanyerroroccursduringmigration,thevirtualmachinesreverttotheiroriginalstates
andlocations.
VMotion Requirements
TobeconfiguredforVMotion,eachhostintheclustermustmeetthefollowing
requirements.
Shared Storage
Ensurethatthemanagedhostsusesharedstorage.Sharedstorageistypicallyona
storageareanetwork(SAN),butcanalsobeimplementedusingiSCSIandNASshared
storage.SeetheVMwareSANConfigurationGuideforadditionalinformationonSAN
andtheServerConfigurationGuideforinformationonothersharedstorage.
Shared VMFS Volume or NAS Storage
ConfigureallmanagedhoststousesharedVMFSvolumesortobelocatedonNAS
storage.IfusingsharedVMFSvolumes:
PlacethedisksofallvirtualmachinesonVMFSvolumesthatareaccessiblebyboth
sourceandtargethosts.
EnsurethattheVMFSvolumeissufficientlylargetostoreallvirtualdisksforyour
virtualmachines.
CPU Compatibility
Makesurethatthesourceanddestinationhostshaveacompatiblesetofprocessors.
VMotiontransferstherunningarchitecturalstateofavirtualmachinebetween
underlyingVMwareESXServersystems.VMotioncompatibilityrequiresthatthe
processorsofthetargethostbeabletoresumeexecutionusingtheequivalent
instructionsthattheprocessorsofthesourcehostwereusingwhensuspended.
Processorclockspeedsandcachesizes,andthenumberofprocessorcoresmayvary,
butprocessorsmustcomefromthesamevendorclass(IntelorAMD)andsame
processorfamily(P3,P4,orIntelcore)tobecompatibleformigrationwithVMotion.
ProcessorfamiliessuchasIntelXeonandAMDOpteronaredefinedbytheprocessor
vendors.
Youcandistinguishdifferentprocessorversionswithinthesamefamilybycomparing
theprocessorsmodel,steppinglevel,andextendedfeatures:
Inmostcases,differentprocessorversionswithinthesamefamilyaresimilar
enoughtomaintaincompatibility.
VMware, Inc. 235

Insomecases,processorvendorshaveintroducedsignificantarchitectural
changeswithinthesameprocessorfamily,suchastheSSE3andSSE4instructions,
andNx/XDCPUsecurityfeatures.Bydefault,VMwareidentifiesmismatcheson
SSE3,SSE4,andNx/XDasincompatibletoguaranteethestabilityofvirtual
machinesaftermigrationswithVMotion.
ServerhardwaresCPUspecificationswillusuallyindicatewhetherornottheCPUs
containtheSSE3,SSE4,andNx/XDfeaturesthataffectVMotioncompatibility.Ifthe
specificationsofaserveroritsCPUfeaturesareunknown,VMwaresbootableCPU
identificationutility(availablefordownloadwithESXServer)canbeusedtoboota
serveranddeterminewhetheritsCPUscontainfeaturessuchasSSE3,SSE4,and
NX/XD.
Nx/XD Considerations
AMDsNoeXecute(NX)andIntelseXecuteDisable(XD)technologyservethe
samesecuritypurpose:tomarkmemorypagesasdataonlytopreventmalicious
softwareexploitsandbufferoverflowattacks.
ThefollowingoperatingsystemssupportNXandXD:
WindowsServer2003(SP1),Windows*XP(SP2),WindowsVista,RHEL4,RHEL3
(Update3),SUSE10,SUSELinux9.2,Solaris10,Linuxkernels2.6.6orlater(or2.4
kernelswithapatch).
InESXServer3.0,NXandXDtechnologyisexposedbydefaultforallguest
operatingsystemsthatcanuseit(tradingoffsomecompatibilityforsecurityby
default).HostspreviouslycompatibleinESXServer2.xmaybecomeincompatible
afterupgradingtoESXServer3.0ifNXmismatched,butperVMCPU
compatibilitymasksspecifiedintheVMotionCPUCompatibilityMatrixcanbe
usedtorestorecompatibility.
SSE3 Considerations
WithintheIntelP4andAMDOpteronprocessorfamilies,VMwareplacesa
restrictionbetweenprocessorsthatdosupporttheSSE3instructionsand
processorsthatdonotsupporttheSSE3instructionsbecausetheyareapplication
levelinstructionsthatbypassthevirtualizationlayer,andcouldcauseapplication
instabilityifmismatchedafteramigrationwithVMotion.
NOTE VMware,inpartnershipwithCPUandhardwarevendors,isworkingtomaintain
VMotioncompatibilityacrossthewidestrangeofprocessors.Foradditional
information,checktheVMwareKnowledgeBase.
236 VMware, Inc.

SSE4 Considerations
WithintheIntelP4andIntelCoreprocessorfamilies,VMwareplacesarestriction
betweenprocessorsthatdosupporttheSSE4instructionsandprocessorsthatdo
notsupporttheSSE4instructionsbecausetheyareapplicationlevelinstructions
thatbypassthevirtualizationlayer,andcouldcauseapplicationinstabilityif
mismatchedafteramigrationwithVMotion.
Networking Requirements
1 VMotionrequiresaGigabitEthernetnetworktoensurerapidmigration:
Adedicatednetworkisrecommendedtokeepvirtualmachinememorystate
secure.
VMotionrequiresaprivateGigabitEthernetmigrationnetworkbetweenallof
theVMotionenabledmanagedhosts.WhenVMotionisenabledona
managedhost,configureauniquenetworkidentityobjectforthemanaged
hostandconnectittotheprivatemigrationnetwork.
TwohostswithcrossconnectedGigEcardscanbeusedfordemopurposes.
2 Virtualmachinesmusthaveaccesstothesamesubnetsonthesourceand
destinationESXServerhosts.
3 NetworklabelsforeachvirtualNICmustbecreatedthroughtheESXServer
configurationsettings:
Networklabelsareglobalacrossdatacenters.
VMotionautomaticallymapsvirtualmachinestoappropriatevirtualNICs
basedonnetworklabels.
ForESXServer2.xhosts,networklabelscanbeconfiguredthroughthe
WebbasedVMwareManagementInterface.
Minimum Network Requirements
TwoNICswithatleastoneGigENICdedicatedtoVMotion.
Forbestsecurity,dedicatetheGigENICtoVMotionanduseVLANstodividethe
VirtualmachineandmanagementtrafficontheotherNIC.
NOTE VMwareisworkingonmaintainingVMotioncompatibilityacrossthewidestrangeof
processorsthroughpartnershipswithprocessorandhardwarevendors.Foradditional
information,checktheVMwareKnowledgeBase.
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Forbestavailability,combinebothNICsintoabond,anduseVLANStodivide
trafficintoatleastthreenetworks(Oneormoreforvirtualmachines,oneforthe
serviceconsole,andoneforVMotion).
Network Best Practices
OnededicatedNICfortheserviceconsole(10/100orGigE).
OnededicatedNICforVMotion(GigE).
OneormoreNICsforvirtualmachines(10/100orGigE).
VMotion Compatibility
VMotioncompatibilityrequiresthatbothsourceanddestinationhostsmatchincertain
criteria.PossibledestinationhostsincludehostsandfullyautomatedDRSclusters.A
nonautomatedclustercanalsobeselectedasadestination.
Whenyouselectahost,theCompatibilitypanelatthebottomoftheMigrationwizard
displaysinformationaboutthecompatibilityoftheselectedhostorclusterwiththe
virtualmachinesconfiguration.
Ifthevirtualmachineiscompatible,thepanelisblank.Ifthevirtualmachineisnot
compatiblewitheitherthehostsorclustersconfigurednetworksordatastores,the
compatibilitywindowcandisplaybothwarningsanderrors:
Warningmessagesdonotdisablemigration.Oftenthemigrationisjustifiedand
youcancontinuewiththemigrationdespitethewarnings.
Warning messages
Compatibility panel
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Errorscandisablemigrationiftherearenoerrorfreedestinationhostsamongthe
selecteddestinationhosts.Inthiscase,theNextbuttonisdisabled.
Forclusters,thenetworkanddatastoreconfigurationsaretakenintoaccountwhen
checkingcompatibilityissues.Forhosts,theindividualhostsconfigurationisused.A
possibleproblemmightbethatVMotionisnotenabledononeorbothhosts.
AspecifichostfeatureseffectsoncompatibilityaredependentonwhetherornotESX
Serverexposesorhidesthemfromvirtualmachines:
Featuresthatareexposedtovirtualmachinesarenotcompatiblewhentheyare
mismatched.
Featuresthatarenotexposedtovirtualmachinesarecompatibleregardlessof
mismatches.
CPU Compatibility Masks
VirtualCentercomparestheCPUfeaturesoftwohoststodeterminewhethertoallow
ordisallowmigrationswithVMotion.AnewcapabilityinVirtualCenter2.0calledCPU
compatibilitymasksallowspervirtualmachine,advancedcustomizationoftheCPU
featuresthatavirtualmachineshouldrequireforCPUcompatibilityduringa
migrationwithVMotion.
DefaultvaluesfortheCPUcompatibilitymasksaresetbyVMwaretoguarantee
thestabilityofvirtualmachinesafteramigrationwithVMotion.Changestothese
defaultmasksaremadeveryconservativelybyVMware,andonlywhennewCPU
Error message
NOTE EditingavirtualmachinesCPUcompatibilitymaskissupportedinESXServer3.0only.
VMware, Inc. 239

featuresareintroducedandversionsofESXServerareupdatedtoexposeorhide
themfromvirtualmachines.
Insomecases,whereachoicebetweenCPUcompatibilityorguestoperating
systemfeatures(suchasNX/XD)exists,VMwareprovidescheckboxoptionsto
configureindividualvirtualmachinesthroughthevirtualmachinesAdvanced
Settingsoption.Advancedvirtualmachinevirtualhostmodificationscanbeused
bydevelopers.
Forothercases,andadvancedpurposes(intendedtobeusedusingspecific
instructionsfromVMwareorbyCPUandoperatingsystemdeveloperswhomay
needtocontrolthecharacteristicsofvirtualCPUs).VMwarealsoprovidesa
mechanismtomanuallyedittheCPUcompatibilitymasksusedbyavirtual
machine.ManualeditoftheCPUcompatibilitymaskswithouttheappropriate
documentationandtestingisNOTrecommendedandmayleadtoanunsupported
configuration.
Migration Wizard
TheMigrationwizardtakesyouthroughtheprocessofmigratingavirtualmachine
fromonehosttoanother.BothsourceanddestinationhostsmusthaveVMotion
enabledonthem.Ifthedestinationisacluster,theremustbeatleastonevalid
destinationhostinthecluster,soatleastonehostintheclustermusthaveVMotion
enabled.PreferablyallhostsinaclusterwillhaveVMotionenabled,especiallyforDRS
clusters.
Themenuoptionsdifferslightly,dependingonwhetheryouareperformingmigration
ormigrationwithVMotion.
To migrate a powered-off or suspended virtual machine
1 FromtheVirtualCenterclient,clicktheInventorybuttoninthenavigationbar.
2 ChooseMigratefromthepopupmenu.
Choose between Nx/xD
Security features or Broadest
VMotion Compatibility
For future CPU features, edit
mask at the bit level
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TheMigrateVirtualMachinewizardstarts.
3 Selectthedestinationhostorclusterforthisvirtualmachinemigration.
AnycompatibilityproblemisdisplayedintheCompatibilitypanel.Fixthe
problem,orchooseanotherhostorcluster.
PossibletargetsincludehostsandDRSclusterswithanylevelofautomation.Ifa
clusterhasnoDRSenabled,selectaspecifichostintheclusterratherthanselecting
theclusteritself.
Ifthewizardisinvokedthroughdraganddrop,theSelectDestinationhostor
clusterwindowisskippedifthedraganddroptargetisastandalonehostora
poolassignedtoastandalonehost.Ifaclusteroraclusterspoolisthe
draganddroptarget,theSelectDestinationhostorclusterwindowappears.
4 ClickNext.
5 Selectthedestinationresourcepoolforthevirtualmachinemigration,andclick
Next.
NOTE Movingavirtualmachinefromthehostwhereitssnapshotsarelocatedmight
renderthosesnapshotsinaccessible.
NOTE Theresourcepoolselectionpaneofthewizardperformsacompatibilitycheckthat
candisplaywarningsorerrors.
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TheResourcePoolSelectionpagedoesnotappearifavirtualmachinewas
droppedonaresourcepool.
6 Selectthedestinationdatastore.
Thedatastoresthatareaccessiblefromthenewdestinationarelisted.
7 Selecttheradiobuttontokeepthevirtualmachineconfigurationfilesandvirtual
disksintheircurrentlocationsortheradiobuttontomovethevirtualmachine
configurationfilesandtheirvirtualdisks.
VirtualCentermovesthevirtualmachine,includingthevirtualdisks,tothenew
host.EventmessagesappearintheEventstab.ThedatadisplayedontheSummary
tabshowsthestatusandstatethroughoutthemigration.
8 ClickNext.
9 Reviewthesummary,andclickFinish.
NOTE Youcanrelocateonlypoweredoffandsuspendedvirtualmachines.Youcannot
relocatevirtualmachinesthatarebeingmigratedwithVMotion.
242 VMware, Inc.

To migrate a powered-on virtual machine
1 FromtheVIClient,clicktheInventorybuttoninthenavigationbar.Expandthe
inventoryasneeded,andclicktheappropriatevirtualmachine.
2 MakesurethatboththesourceandtargethostsareVMotionenabledandusing
thesameshareddatastore.
3 Selecteachhost.
4 SelecttheSummarytab.
5 ChecktheVMotionEnabledfieldandtheDatastoresection.
TheVMotionEnabledfieldshouldsayYes.Datastoresonbothhostsshouldlistthe
samename.
InmigrationwithVMotion,ahostmusthaveVMotionenabledonittomigratea
poweredonvirtualmachinetoorfromthehost.VMotioninterfacesare
configuredandenabledusingthenetworkconfigurationoptionsforthehost.
NOTE Beforeyoubegin,disconnectanyperipheraldevicesconnectedtothevirtualmachine.
Ifthevirtualmachineisusingaphysicaldeviceonthesourcehost,thatdevicewillnot
beaccessibleonthedestinationhost.Thisisanincompatibilitythatwillpreventuseof
VMotion.Forexample,ifthevirtualmachineisreadingfromaCDROMdriveonthe
sourcehost,itcannotaccessthatdrivefromthedestinationhost.
VMware, Inc. 243

6 Displaytheinventorypanel,andselecttheappropriatedatacenter.
7 ClicktheInventoryoptioninthenavigationbar.Expandtheinventory,asneeded,
andclicktheappropriatevirtualmachine.
8 StarttheMigrateVirtualMachinewizard.
Intheinventorypanel,selectthedesiredvirtualmachine.Thendooneofthe
following:
Fromthepopupmenu,choosetheMigrateoption.
FromtheinformationpanelSummarytab,clicktheMigratetoNewHost
button.
Dragthevirtualmachineontothetargetstandalonehost,cluster,orresource
pool.
ThemigrationwithVMotionwizardstarts.
Virtualmachinescanalsobedroppedintoresourcepoolsforanyhostorcluster,
inwhichcasethewizardskipstheResourcePoolSelectionpage.
Intheeventthatthevirtualmachinesaredroppedontoaresourcepoolonthe
samehostorcluster,theMigrationwizardisnotinvoked.Instead,thevirtual
machinesarereassignedtothenewresourcepool,pendingadmissioncontrolto
thenewpool.
9 ClickNext.
10 Selectadestinationhostorclusterforthevirtualmachine.
PossibletargetsincludehostsandfullyautomatedDRSclusters.Anonautomated
clustercanalsobeselectedasatarget.Youarepromptedtoselectahostwithinthe
nonautomatedcluster.
Whenyouselectahost,theCompatibilitysectionatthebottomofthewizard
displaysinformationaboutthecompatibilityoftheselectedhostorclusterwiththe
virtualmachinesconfiguration.Ifthevirtualmachineiscompatible,thepanelis
blank.Ifthevirtualmachineisnotcompatiblewitheitherthehostsorclusters
NOTE Ifmultiplevirtualmachinesareselectedandthewizardisinvokedthrough
draganddrop,thevirtualmachinesmustallbeinthesamepowerstate.
Otherwise,anerrormessageisdisplayed,andthewizardstops.
NOTE Ifthewizardisinvokedthroughdraganddrop,theSelectdestinationhostor
clusterwindowisskippedunlessthedroptargetisanonautomatedcluster.
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configurednetworksordatastores,awarningmessageappears.Apossible
problemmightbethatVMotionisnotenabledononeorbothhosts.
11 Selectaresourcepool,andclickNext.
TheResourcePoolSelectionpagedoesnotappearifavirtualmachinewas
droppedonaresourcepool.
12 Selectthemigrationprioritylevel.
13 SetthepriorityofthemigrationtoensurethatsufficientCPUresourcesare
availableonboththesourceandtargethoststoperformthemigration.
14 Clicktheappropriatebutton,andclickNext.
Oncealloptionshavebeenselected,aReadytoCompletepageappearsthatshows
asummaryoftheselectedchoices.
15 Reviewthepage,andclicktheFinishbutton.
WhenyouclicktheFinishbutton,ataskiscreatedthatbeginsthevirtualmachine
migrationprocess.Whilethevirtualmachineisintheprocessofbeingmigrated,
youhaveonlylimitedaccesstoitsfunctions.
Ifyouwanttochangeanyoptions,clicktheBackbuttontostepbackthroughthe
wizardorclickanyofthelinksintheleftpanetogobacktoaspecificpage.Ifyou
clickalink,thesubsequentlinksthatfollowitreverttounseenpageentries,and
youmustmovesequentiallythroughthewizardusingtheNextbutton.
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System Administration
246 VMware, Inc.

VMware, Inc. 247

15
Thischapterdescribesusers,groups,permissionsandroles.VirtualCenterandESX
Serverhostsdeterminethelevelofaccessfortheuserbasedonthepermissions
assignedtotheuser.Thecombinationofusername,password,andpermissionsisthe
mechanismbywhichVirtualCenterandESXServerhostsauthenticateauserforaccess
andauthorizetheusertoperformactivities.TheVirtualCenterandESXServerhost
maintainlistsofauthorizedusersandthepermissionsassignedtoeachuser.
Privilegesdefinebasicindividualrightsrequiredtoperformactionsandread
properties.ESXServerandVirtualCenterusesetsofprivileges,orroles,tocontrol
whichindividualusersorgroupscanaccessparticularVmwareInfrastructureobjects.
ESXServerandVirtualCenterprovideasetofpreestablishedroles.Youcanalsocreate
newroles.
TheprivilegesandrolesassignedonanESXServerareseparatefromtheprivilegesand
rolesassignedonaVirtualCenterServer.Ifyouhaveprivilegesandrolesassignedon
anESXServerandthenaddthatESXServertotheVirtualCenterServerinventory,only
theprivilegesandrolesassignedthroughtheVirtualCenterServerarerecognized.If
youthenremovetheESXServerfromtheVirtualCenterServerinventory,the
previouslysetESXServerprivilegesandrolesareused.
Foracompletelistofprivilegesavailable,refertoAppendix A,DefinedPrivileges,
onpage 325.
AccessElementsonpage 248
AccessRulesonpage 248
Usersonpage 251
Managing Users, Groups,
Permissions, and Roles 15
248 VMware, Inc.

Groupsonpage 253
Permissionsonpage 254
Rolesonpage 254
AccessPermissionsonpage 262
Access Elements
AccesstoVMwareInfrastructureobjectsandactivitiesisestablishedthroughthe
combinationof:
LogoninformationUsernameandpassword.
GroupsAmethodforgroupingindividualusers.
Youcanmanageusersmoreeasilybyassigningthemtogroups.Ifyoucreate
groups,youcanapplyaroletothegroup,andthisroleisinheritedbyalltheusers
inthegroup.
RolesAdefinedcollectionofprivileges.
Rolesareacollectionofdefinedprivilegesthatcontrolindividualuserorgroup
accesstoparticularVMwareInfrastructureobjects.ESXServerandVirtualCenter
Serverprovideasetofdefaultroles.Youcanalsocreatenewroles.
PrivilegesAparticularrightcorrespondingtoasetofoperationsormethodson
aclassofobjects.
PermissionsThecombinationoftheroleplususerorgroupnameassignedtoa
VMwareInfrastructureinventoryobject.
Theroleandauserorgroupnamemakeapair.ThispairisassignedtoaVMware
Infrastructureobject.Typically,thisroleanduserpairingispropagatedtothe
childrenintheinventoryhierarchy.Thepairiscalledapermission.
Access Rules
Thefollowingisalistofgeneralrulestoconsiderwhenconfiguringyourusersand
groupspermissions.
Usersdonotneedtologoffandlogonforchangestotakeeffect.Allchangestakeeffect
immediately.
NOTE YoumustbeinAdminviewfortheAdmin>Rolesmenuitemtobeenabled.
VMware, Inc. 249
Chapter 15 Managing Users, Groups, Permissions, and Roles

Hierarchical Inheritance
Propagationissetperpermissionrule,notuniversallyapplied.Permissionsdefinedfor
asubobjectalwaysoverridethosepropagatedfromparentobjects.
Withrespecttopermissions,therearethreetypesofelementsinthehierarchy.Theyare:
ManagedentityThesecanhavepermissionsdefinedonthem.
Virtualmachines
Folders
Datacenters
Clusters
Hosts
ResourcePools
Templates
RelatedtoamanagedentityThesecannothavepermissionsdefinedonthem,
butinheritaccessfromtheobjecttheyarerelatedto.Examplesinclude:
Networks
Datastores
GlobalentityThesealwaysgettheirpermissionsfromtherootnode.Examples
include:
Customfields
Licenses
Statisticsintervals
Roles
Sessions
Multiple Permission Settings
Objectsmighthavemultiplepermissions,butatmostoneforeachuserorgroup.
Ifyouapplypermissions,theyoverrideeachotherdownthehierarchy.Ifpermissions
aredefinedonthesameentity,acoupleofsituationsarepossible:
Ifauserisamemberofmultiplegroupswithdifferentpermissions.Foreach
objectthegrouphaspermissionson,thesamepermissionsapplyasifgrantedto
theuserdirectly.
Ifmultiplegrouppermissionsaredefinedonthesameobjectandtheuser
belongstotwoormoreofthosegroups:
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Ifthereisnopermissiondefinedexplicitlyfortheuseronthatobject,theuser
isassignedtheunionofprivilegesassignedtothegroupsforthatobject.
Ifthereisapermissiondefinedexplicitlyfortheuseronthatobject,that
permissiontakesprecedenceoverallgrouppermissions.
Example1:Expandingauserspermissions
Role1canpoweronvirtualmachines.
Role2cantakesnapshotsofvirtualmachines.
GroupAisgrantedRole1onvirtualmachine.
GroupBisgrantedRole2onvirtualmachine.
User1isnotassignedspecificpermission:
User1,whobelongstogroupsAandB,logson.
User1canbothpoweronandtakesnapshotsofvirtualmachine.
Example2:Limitingauserspermissions
Role1canpoweronvirtualmachines.
Role2cantakesnapshotsofvirtualmachines.
GroupAisgrantedRole1onvirtualmachineparentfolder.
GroupBisgrantedRole2onvirtualmachine.
User1ReadOnlypermissionisremovedonvirtualmachine:
User1cantakesnapshotsbutnotpoweron.
Tasks Requiring Settings on Multiple Objects
Whensettingpermissions,verifythatalltheobjecttypesaresetwithappropriate
privilegesforeachparticularaction.Someoperationsrequireaccesspermissionatthe
rootfolderinadditiontoaccesspermissionsontheobjectbeingmanipulated.Some
operationsrequireaccessorperformancepermissionataparentfolderandarelated
object.
RefertoAppendix A,DefinedPrivileges,onpage 325foralistofpredefinedroles
andassociatedprivileges.Usethesepredefinedrolestohelpdeterminetherole+object
pairingrequiredtoperformyourchosentask.
Example3:Addingavirtualmachine
Role3canaddvirtualmachines.
VMware, Inc. 251

Role4isreadonly.
GroupCisgrantedRole3onHost1.
GroupCisalsograntedRole4ontheparentfolderordatacenterforHost1s
associateddatastoresandnetworks.
Theseobjectsinherittheirpermissionsfromtheirparentfolderordatacenter.
SettingbothpermissionsallowsGroupCuserstoaddavirtualmachinetothe
host.
Example4:Delegatingresources
UsingdefaultrolesforResourcePoolAdministrator,VirtualMachineUser,
andReadOnly
GrantUser1theroleofResourcePoolAdministratoronResourcePoolA.
GrantUser1theroleofVirtualMachineUseronallthevirtualmachinesin
ResourcePoolA.
GrantUser1therole,ReadOnlyonthefolderordatacentercontainingthe
datastoresandnetworksassociatedwithResourcePoolA.
Becauseresourcepoolsaffectmultipleinventoryobjectsyoumustassignvarious
privilegesonselectedobjectstoeffectivelyperformtasks(inthiscase,delegating
resourceswithinaresourcepoolontothevirtualmachinesinthatresourcepool).
Users
AuserisanindividualauthorizedtologontoeitheranESXServerhostorto
VirtualCenter.ESXServerusersfallintotwocategories:thosewhocanaccesstheESX
ServerhostthroughVirtualCenterandthosewhocanaccesstheESXServerhostby
directlyloggingontothehostfromVIClient,VIWebAccess,athirdpartyclient,ora
commandshell.Thesetwocategoriesdrawusersfromdifferentsources:
VirtualCenterusersAuthorizedusersforVirtualCenterarethoseincludedinthe
WindowsdomainlistreferencedbyVirtualCenterorlocalWindowsusersonthe
VirtualCenterhost.
YoucannotuseVirtualCentertomanuallycreate,remove,orotherwisechange
users.Ifyouneedtomanipulatetheuserlistorchangeuserpasswords,youmust
dosothroughthetoolsyounormallyusetomanageyourWindowsdomain.
AnychangesyoumaketotheWindowsdomainarereflectedinVirtualCenter.
BecauseyoucannotdirectlymanageusersinVirtualCenter,theuserinterface
doesntprovideauserlistforyoutoreview.Youseethesechangesonlywhenyou
selectuserstoconfigurepermissions.
252 VMware, Inc.

DirectaccessusersUsersauthorizedtoworkdirectlyonanESXServerhostare
thoseaddedtotheinternaluserlistbydefaultwhenESXServerisinstalledorby
asystemadministratorafterinstallation.
Ifyoulogontothehostasroot,youcanperformavarietyofmanagementactivities
fortheseusers,suchaschangingpasswords,groupmemberships,permissions,
andsoforth.Youcanalsoaddandremoveusers.
EvenifthelistsmaintainedbyanESXServerhostandVirtualCenterappeartohave
commonusers(forinstance,ausercalleddevuser),theseusersshouldbetreatedas
separateuserswhohavethesamename.TheattributesofdevuserinVirtualCenter,
includingpermissions,passwords,andsoforth,areseparatefromtheattributesof
devuserontheESXServerhost.IfyoulogontoVirtualCenterasdevuser,youmighthave
permissiontoviewanddeletefilesfromadatastore.IfyoulogontoanESXServerhost
asdevuser,youmightnot.
UsersandgroupsintheVMwareInfrastructureenvironmentarecreatedusingtwo
methods:
WhentheVIClientisconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,usersandgroupsare
definedthroughthestandardmethodsforWindowsdomainsorActiveDirectory.
YoudonotcreateusersandgroupsforaccesstotheVirtualCenterServerthrough
theVIClient.
WhentheVIClientisconnectedtoanESXServer,usersandgroupsaredefined
throughtheUsersandGroupstab.
UsersandgroupsdefinedwhenconnectedtoanESXServerareapplicabletothatESX
Serveronly.TheyarenotinthelistofavailableusersforaVirtualCenterServer
connectioneveniftheESXServerisregisteredwiththeVirtualCenterServer.
EachESXServerhastwodefaultusers:
Therootuserhasfulladministrativeprivileges.Administratorsusethislogonand
itsassociatedpasswordtologontoanESXServerthroughtheVIClient.Root
usershaveacompleterangeofcontrolactivitiesonthespecificESXServerhost
thattheyareloggedonto,includingmanipulatingpermissions,creatinggroups
andusers,workingwithevents,andsoforth.
ThevpxuseruserisaVirtualCenterentitywithrootrightsontheESXServerhost,
allowingittomanageactivitiesforthathost.Thevpxuseriscreatedatthetimethat
WARNING RefertotheAuthenticationandUserManagementchapteroftheServer
ConfigurationGuideforinformationaboutrootusersandyourESXServer
beforeyoumakeanychangestotherootuser.Mistakesherecanhaveserious
accessconsequences.
VMware, Inc. 253

anESXServerhostisattachedtoVirtualCenter.ItisnotpresentontheESX Server
hostunlessthehostisbeingmanagedthroughVirtualCenter.
ForinformationoncreatingusersandgroupsforusewithyourVirtualCenterServer,
refertoyourMicrosoftdocumentation.
ForinformationaboutcreatingusersandgroupforusewithyourESXServer,referto
theSecuritysectionoftheServerConfigurationGuide.
Groups
Youcanefficientlymanagesomeuserattributesbycreatinggroups.Agroupisasetof
usersthatyouwanttomanagethroughacommonsetofrulesandpermissions.When
youassignpermissionstoagroup,theyareinheritedbyallusersinthegroup.Using
groupscansignificantlyreducethetimeittakestosetupyourpermissionsmodel.
ThegrouplistsinVirtualCenterandanESXServerhostaredrawnfromthesame
sourcesastheuserlists.IfyouareworkingthroughVirtualCenter,thegrouplistis
calledfromtheWindowsdomain.IfyouareloggedontoanESXServerhostdirectly,
thegrouplistiscalledfromatablemaintainedbythehost.
TheVirtualCenterServergrantsaccesstoeachinventoryobjectbyassigningarolewith
definedprivilegesandauserorgrouptoeachobject.Rolesareadefinedsetofaccess
privileges.
IndividualpermissionsareassignedthroughtheVirtualCenterServerortheESX
Serverbypairingauserandaroleandassigningthispairtoaninventoryobject:
UsersandgroupsarecreatedfortheVirtualCenterServerthroughtheWindows
domainorActiveDirectorydatabase.
UsersandgroupsarecreatedfortheESXServerthroughtheUsersandGroupstab
whenconnecteddirectlytotheESXServer.VirtualCenterServercannotviewany
usersandgroupsthatarecreatedforandontheESXServer.RefertotheServer
ConfigurationGuide.
CAUTION Donotchangevpxuseranddonotchangeitspermissions.Ifyoudoso,you
mightexperienceproblemsworkingwiththeESXServerhostthrough
VirtualCenter.
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Permissions
ForESXServerandVirtualCenter,apermissionisdefinedasanaccessrolethatconsists
ofauserandtheusersassignedroleforanobject,suchasavirtualmachineorESX
Serverhost.Permissionsgrantuserstherighttoperformspecificactivitiesandmanage
specificobjectsonanESXServerhostor,ifusersareworkingfromVirtualCenter,all
VirtualCentermanagedobjects.Forexample,toconfigurememoryforanESXServer
host,youmusthavehostconfigurationpermissions.
MostVirtualCenterandESXServerusershavelimitedabilitytomanipulatetheobjects
associatedwiththehost.However,ESXServerprovidesfullaccessrightsand
permissionsonallvirtualobjects,suchasdatastores,hosts,virtualmachines,and
resourcepools,totwousers:rootandvpxuser.
Asroot,youcangrantpermissionsonanESXServerhosttoindividualusersor
groups.TheseusersandgroupsareaddedtotheESXServeruserlistandgroup
listintwoways.TheycanbeaddedbydefaultwhenESXServerisinstalled.They
canalsobemanuallyaddedtothehostafterinstallation.
ThroughVirtualCenter,youcangrantpermissionstoanyuserorgroupincluded
intheWindowsdomainlistreferencedbyVirtualCenter.
ThemethodyouusetoconfigurepermissionsdirectlyonanESXServerhostisidentical
tothemethodyouusetoconfigurepermissionsinVirtualCenter.Thelistofprivileges
isthesameforbothESXServerandVirtualCenter.
ThetableinAppendix Aliststheaccesspermissions.
Roles
VirtualCenterandESXServergrantaccesstoobjectsonlytouserswhohavebeen
assignedpermissionsfortheobject.Whenyouassignauserorgrouppermissionsfor
theobject,youdosobypairingtheuserorgroupwitharole.Aroleisapredefinedset
ofprivileges.
VirtualCenterandESXServerhostsprovidedefaultroles:
NOTE VirtualCenterregistersanyselectedWindowsdomainuserorgroupthroughthe
processofassigningpermissions.Bydefault,alluserswhoaremembersofthe
WindowsAdministratorsgroupontheVirtualCenterServeraregrantedthesame
accessrightsasanyuserassignedtotheAdministratorrole.Userswhoare
membersoftheAdministratorsgroupcanlogonasindividualsandhavefull
access.
VMware, Inc. 255

SystemrolesSystemrolesarepermanentandtheprivilegesassociatedwith
theserolescannotbechanged.
SamplerolesSamplerolesareprovidedforconvenienceasguidelinesand
suggestions.Theserolescanbemodifiedorremoved.
Youcanalsocreatecompletelynewroles.Table 151liststhedefaultrolesthatcanbe
pairedwithauserandassignedtoanobject.
Table 15-1. Default Roles
Role Role Type Description User Capabilities
NoAccessUser system Cannotvieworchangetheassignedobject.
VIClienttabsassociatedwithanobjectdisplay
withoutcontent.
Thisisthedefaultroleforallusersexceptthoseusers
intheAdministratorsgroup.
ReadOnlyUser system Viewthestateanddetailsabouttheobject.
ViewallthetabpanelsintheVIClientexceptthe
consoletab.Cannotperformanyactionsthroughthe
menusandtoolbars.
Administrator system Allprivilegesforallobjects.
Add,remove,andsetaccessrightsandprivilegesfor
alltheVirtualCenterusersandallthevirtualobjectsin
theVMwareInfrastructureenvironment.
Thisisthedefaultroleforallmembersofthe
Administratorsgroup.
VirtualMachine
User
sample Performactionsonvirtualmachinesonly.
Interactwithvirtualmachines,butnotchangethe
virtualmachineconfiguration.Thisincludes:
Allprivilegesforthescheduledtasksprivileges
group.
Selectedprivilegesfortheglobalitemsandvirtual
machineprivilegesgroups.
Noprivilegesforthefolder,datacenter,datastore,
network,host,resource,alarms,sessions,
performance,andpermissionsprivilegesgroups.
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Allrolespermittheusertoscheduletasksbydefault.Userscanscheduleonlytasks
theyhavepermissiontoperformatthetimethetasksarecreated.Usetheroleediting
VirtualMachine
PowerUser
sample Performactionsonthevirtualmachineandresource
objects.
Interactandchangemostvirtualmachine
configurationsettings,takesnapshots,andschedule
tasks.Thisincludes:
Allprivilegesforscheduledtaskprivilegesgroup.
Selectedprivilegesforglobalitems,datastore,and
virtualmachineprivilegesgroups.
Noprivilegesforfolder,datacenter,network,host,
resource,alarms,sessions,performance,and
permissionsprivilegesgroups.
ResourcePool
Administrator
sample Performactionsondatastores,hosts,virtualmachines,
resources,andalarms.
Providesresourcedelegationandisassignedto
resourcepoolinventoryobjects.Thisincludes:
Allprivilegesforfolder,virtualmachine,alarms,
andscheduledtaskprivilegesgroups.
Selectedprivilegesforglobalitems,datastore,
resource,andpermissionsprivilegesgroups.
Noprivilegesfordatacenter,network,host,
sessions,orperformanceprivilegesgroups.
Datacenter
Administrator
sample Performactionsonglobalitems,folders,datacenters,
datastores,hosts,virtualmachines,resources,and
alarms.
Setupdatacenters,butwithlimitedabilitytointeract
withvirtualmachines.Thisincludes:
Allprivilegesforfolder,datacenter,datastore,
network,resource,alarms,andscheduledtask
privilegesgroups.
Selectedprivilegesforglobalitems,host,and
virtualmachineprivilegesgroups.
Noprivilegesforsession,performance,and
permissionprivilegesgroups.
VirtualMachine
Administrator
sample Performactionsonglobalitems,folders,datacenters,
datastores,hosts,virtualmachines,resources,alarms,
andsessions.Thisincludes:
Allprivilegesforallprivilegegroups,except
permissions.
Table 15-1. Default Roles (Continued)
Role Role Type Description User Capabilities
VMware, Inc. 257

facilitiesintheVIClienttocreateprivilegesetsthatmatchyouruserneeds.Ifyouuse
theVIClientconnectedtoVirtualCentertomanageyourESXServerhosts,youhave
additionalrolestochoosefromVirtualCenter.TherolesyoucreatedirectlyonanESX
ServerhostarenotaccessiblewithinVirtualCenter.Youcanworkwiththeserolesonly
ifyoulogontothehostdirectlyfromtheVIClient.
Thereareseveralactivitiesyoucanperformwithroles.
Theactivityoptionswithrolesaredescribedinthefollowingsections:
CreatingRolesonpage 257
CloningRolesonpage 259
EditingRolesonpage 260
RemovingRolesonpage 261
RenamingRolesonpage 262
Creating Roles
Someofthedefaultrolesarepreconfiguredandcannotbechanged.Ifyouhave
situationsthatrequireadifferentcombinationofaccessprivileges,createanadditional
roleormodifytheprovidedsamplerolestosuityourneeds.
To create a role
1 LogontotheVIClientconnectedtoeitheraVirtualCenterServeroranESXServer
asauserwithAdministratorprivileges.
2 FromtheVIClient,clicktheAdminbuttoninthenavigationbar.ClicktheRoles
tab.
NOTE Changestopermissionsandrolesareimplementedimmediately,eveniftheusers
involvedareloggedon.
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3 RightclickintheRolestabinformationpanel.ChooseAdd.
TheAddRoledialogboxappears.
4 Typeanameforthenewrole.
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5 Selecttheprivilegesyouwantthenewroletohave,andclicktheitemsdesired.
Clicktheplus(+)signstoexpandthelists,asneeded.ClickOKtocompletethe
process.
Cloning Roles
Youcanmakeacopyofanexistingrole,renameit,andlatereditit.Whenyoumakea
copy,thenewroleisnotautomaticallyappliedtothesameuserorgroupsandobjects.
To clone a role
tab.
2 Toselecttheroletoduplicate,clicktheobjectinthelistofRoles.
3 Toclonetheselectedrole,chooseAdministration>Role>Clone.
Aduplicateoftheroleisaddedtothelistofroles.ThenameisCopy of
<rolename>.
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Editing Roles
Whenyoueditarole,youhavetheoptiontochangeanyoralloftheprivilegesselected
forthatrole.Oncecompleted,thesenewprivilegesareappliedtoanyuserorgroup
assignedtheeditedrole.
To edit a permissions role
tab.
2 Toselecttheroletoedit,clicktheobjectinthelistofRoles.
3 ChooseAdministration>Role>EditRole.
4 Selecttheprivilegesyouwantthenewroletohave.Clicktheplus(+)signsto
expandthelists,asneeded.
5 ClickOKtocompletetheprocess.
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Removing Roles
Whenyouremovearole,ifitisnotassignedtoanyusersorgroups,thedefinitionis
removedfromthelistofpossibleroles.Whenyouremovearolethatisassignedtoa
userorgroupyoucanremoveallassignmentsorreplacethemwithanassignmentto
anotherrole.
To remove an existing role
tab.
2 Toselecttheroletoremove,clicktheobjectinthelistofroles.
YoucanselectmultiplerolesusingtheCtrlorShiftkeys.
3 ChooseAdministration>Role>Remove.
4 Toconfirmthatyouwanttodeletetheselectedrole,clickOK.
Theroleisremovedfromthelistandisnolongeravailableforassigningtousers
orgroups.
Iftheroleisassignedtoauserorgroup,awarningmessageappears.
5 SelectoneoftheradiobuttonoptionsandclickOK.
Theoptionsare:
CAUTION Besurethatyouunderstandhowuserswillbeaffectedbeforeremovingall
assignmentsorreplacingthem.
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RemoveRoleAssignmentsThisoptionremovesanyconfigureduseror
group+rolepairingsontheserver.Ifauserorgroupdoesnothaveanyother
permissionsassigned,theyloseallprivileges.
ReassignaffecteduserstoThisoptionreassignsanyconfigureduseror
group+rolepairingstotheselectednewrole.
Renaming Roles
Roles,likemostotherVMwareInfrastructureobjects,canberenamed.
To rename an existing role
tab.
2 Toselecttheroletorename,clicktheobjectinthelistofroles.
3 ChooseAdministration>Role>Rename.
4 Typethenewname.PressReturnorclickanotherobject.
Access Permissions
ForeachobjectintheVMwareInfrastructurehierarchy,determinethepermissionsfor
eachVirtualCenteruserandgroup.
IfyouremoveusersfromtheESXServer,refertotheSecuritychapterintheServer
ConfigurationGuideforprocessandconsequences.
IfyouremoveusersfromtheVirtualCenterdomain,theylosepermissionstoallobjects
intheVMwareInfrastructureandwillnotbeabletologonagain.Userswhoare
currentlyloggedonandareremovedfromthedomainretaintheirVMware
Infrastructurepermissionsonlyuntilthenextvalidationperiod(thedefaultisevery24
hours).Individualpermissions,orthosegrantedaspartofinclusioninanothergroup,
arenotaffected.
Ifyouchangeausersnameinthedomain,theexistingusernamebecomesinvalidin
theVMwareInfrastructuresystem.Thesamemethodologyappliestogroups,butthis
appliestoagrouponlyafterVirtualCenterServerhasbeenrestarted.
NOTE SeveraluserscanaccesstheVirtualCenterServerfromdifferentVirtualInfrastructure
Clientsatthesametime.VMwareInfrastructuredoesnotexplicitlyrestrictuserswith
thesameloginandpasswordfromaccessingandtakingactionwithintheVMware
Infrastructureenvironment.
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Assigning Access Permissions
Afteranyadditionalrolesaredefinedandusersandgroupsarecreated,youmust
assigntheusersandgroupstheirroles,withassociatedpermissions,totherelevant
inventoryobjects.
ForinformationoncreatingusersandgroupsforusewithyourVirtualCenterServer,
refertoyourMicrosoftdocumentation.
ForinformationoncreatingusersandgroupforusewithyourESXServer,refertothe
SecuritysectionoftheServerConfigurationGuide.
To assign a user or group permission
1 LogontotheVIClientasauserwiththeAdministratorprivileges.
inventoryasneeded,andclicktheappropriateobject.
Theobjectsthatcanhavepermissionsassignedtothemare:
InVirtualCenterFolders,datacenters,clusters,resourcepools,hosts,virtual
machines
InESXServerResourcepools,thehost,virtualmachines.
3 Withtheappropriateobjectselected,clickthePermissionstab.
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4 ChooseInventorymenu>New>AddPermission.
5 ChoosearolefromtheAssignedRolepulldownmenu.
Thismenudisplaysalltherolesthathavebeenassignedtothathost.Whentherole
isdisplayed,theprivilegesgrantedontherolearelistedinthesectionbelowthe
roletitleforreferencepurposes.
6 (Optional)SelectthePropagatetoChildObjectscheckbox.
Ifthischeckboxisselected,theroleisalsoappliedtoallchildobjectsoftheselected
inventoryobject.Mostofthetimeselectingthisboxisappropriate.
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7 OpentheSelectUsersorGroupsdialogbox.ClicktheAddbutton.
RefertoAdjustingtheSearchListinLargeDomainsonpage 266forinformation
onadjustingthelistofusersandgroupsyouselectfrom.
8 Identifytheuserorgroupthatisbeingassignedthisrole:
a ChoosethedomainwheretheuserorgroupislocatedfromtheDomain
pulldownmenu.
b TypeanameintheSearchboxorselectanamefromtheNamelist.
c ClickAdd.
ThenameisaddedtoeithertheUsersorGroupslist.
d RepeatstepathroughStep ctoaddadditionalusersorgroups.
e ClickOKwhenfinished.
Ifyouknowtheuserorgroupname,youcantypeitintheNamefieldmanually.
9 Verifytheusersandgroupsareassignedtotheappropriatepermissions,andclick
OK.
10 Tofinishthetask,clickOK.
Theserveraddsthepermissiontothelistofpermissionsfortheobject.
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Thelistofpermissionsreferencesallusersandgroupsthathaverolesassignedto
theobject,andindicateswhereintheVirtualCenterhierarchytheroleisassigned.
Adjusting the Search List in Large Domains
Ifyouhavedomainswiththousandsofusersorgroupsinthem,adjustthesearch
settingsforuseintheSelectUsersorGroupsdialogbox.
To adjust users and groups search parameters
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,chooseAdministration>
VirtualCenterManagementServerConfiguration.
TheVirtualCenterConfigurationwizardappears.
2 Whenthewizardisdisplayed,clicktheActiveDirectorylistitem.
3 Changethevaluesasneeded:
NOTE ThisprocedureappliesonlytoVirtualCenteruserlists.ESXServeruserlistscannotbe
searchedinthesameway.
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ActiveDirectoryTimeoutSpecifiesinsecondsthemaximumamountof
timeVirtualCenterallowsthesearchtorunontheselecteddomain.Searching
verylargedomainscantakeaverylongtime.
EnableQueryLimitandUsers&GroupsvalueSpecifiesthemaximum
numberofusersandgroupsVirtualCenterdisplaysfromtheselecteddomain
intheSelectUsersorGroupsdialogbox.Tospecifynomaximumlimit,
deselectthecheckbox.
EnableValidationandValidationPeriodSpecifiesthetimeinminutes
betweenpermissionschecks.VirtualCenterverifiesthatallusersandgroups
knowntoVirtualCentercurrentlyexistinWindows.
Forexample,ifuserSmithwasassignedpermissionsandinthedomainthe
usersnamewaschangedtoSmith2,VirtualCenterconcludesthatSmithno
longerexistsandremovespermissionsforthatuser.
Similarly,ifuserSmithisremovedfromthedomain,allpermissionsare
irrelevant.ThatisuntilanewuserSmithisaddedtothedomain.Thenewuser
SmithreceivesallthepermissionstheolduserSmithwasassigned,unlessyou
usethisoptiontodeleteolduserSmithfromthesystem.
Todeactivatethevalidationfunctions,deselectthecheckbox.
4 ClicktheFinishlistitem.ThenclickFinish.
Changing Access Permissions
Afterauserorgroup+rolepairissetforaninventoryobject,theonlychangeyoucan
makeistotherolepairedwiththeuserorgroupandthePropagatecheckbox.Youdo
havetheoptiontoremovethepermissionsetting.RefertoRemovingAccess
Permissionsonpage 268forinformation.
To change the permission role for a user or group
2 Withtheobjectselected,clickthePermissionstab.
3 Toselecttheuserorgroup+rolepairthatyouwanttochange,clicktheappropriate
lineitem.
4 ChooseInventory>Permissions>Properties.
NOTE Permissionsarealwaysvalidatedwhentheserverstarts.Eveniftheserveris
disabled.
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5 Toselecttheappropriaterolefortheuserorgroup,choosefromthepulldown
menu.ClickOK.
6 Topropagatetheprivilegestothechildrenoftheassignedinventoryobject,click
thePropagatecheckbox.
Removing Access Permissions
Removingapermissionforauserorgroupdoesnotremovetheuserorgroupfromthe
listofthoseavailable.Italsodoesnotremovetherolefromthelistofavailableitems.It
removestheuserorgroup+rolepairfromtheselectedinventoryobject.
To remove a permission role for a user or group
2 Withtheobjectselected,clickthePermissionstab.
3 Toselecttheuserorgroup+rolepairthatyouwanttodelete,clicktheappropriate
lineitem.
4 ChooseInventory>Permissions>Delete.
TheVMwareInfrastructureserverremovesthepermissionsetting.
NOTE Thereisnoadditionalwarningthatthepermissionisgoingtoberemoved.
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16
ThischapterdescribeshowtomonitorperformanceofthedatapresentedintheVI
Client.ItalsodescribesusingtheVIClientMapsfeature.Thischaptercontainsthe
followingtopics:
MonitoringYourVMwareInfrastructureEnvironmentonpage 269
PerformanceChartsonpage 270
Mapsonpage 276
Monitoring Your VMware Infrastructure Environment
AfteryouaddhoststoVirtualCenterandcreateandpoweronvirtualmachines,you
mustcustomizeandmonitoryourenvironment.Thissectionlooksatsomeavailable
options.
To monitor your Virtual Infrastructure environment
1 SelecttheDatacenter.
NoticethatyoucanclickeithertheTasksortheEventsbuttonbelowthelineof
tabs.Youcanthenselectindividualtasksoreventstoseeadditionalinformationin
theDetailspaneatthebottomofthewindow.
2 Toviewjustevents,clickEventsinthenavigationbar.
SelectingEventsdisplaysalarmsorinformationalmessages.Youcanexportthem
toafilebyclickingExportEvents.SeetheVIClientOnlineHelpformore
information.
Monitoring Your Vmware
Infrastructure Environment 16
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WhenyouarereadytoexpandorrestructureyourVirtualInfrastructure
environment,youmightfinditusefultoviewamapofhostsandvirtualmachines,
hostsandstoragedevices,orotherinformation.
3 SelecttheitemforwhichyouwantmoreinformationandclicktheMapstab.
TheVIClientdisplaysamap,whichyoucancustomizeasneeded.
Performance Charts
ThissectiondescribestheperformancemonitoringfeaturesoftheVirtual
InfrastructureClientdata.
ThePerformancetabisavailablewhenyouselectacluster,resourcepool,host,or
virtualmachinefromtheinventorypanel.ThePerformancetabdisplaystheselected
objectsresourceperformanceingraphandlistform.Performanceviewsshowgraphs
forresourcesspecifictotheselectedinventoryobject.
ESXServersystemsconnectedtoaVIClientdirectlyhavelimitedstatistical
informationthatisdisplayedinthePerformancetabs.Togetthefullchartfunctionality,
havetheVirtualCenterServermanagetheESXServer.
RefertoPerformanceChartMeasurementsonpage 349forareferencelistofthe
valuesmeasures.
PerformanceChartResourcesonpage 270
PerformanceChartViewonpage 271
Performance Chart Resources
Theresourcesthataremonitoredandreportedintheperformancechartsare:
CPUShowstheCPUusageinMHzoftheselectedinventoryobject.Availablefor
cluster,resourcepool,host,andvirtualmachine.
MemoryShowstheamountofmemorygrantedtotheselectedinventoryobject.
Availableforcluster,resourcepool,host,andvirtualmachine.
DiskShowstheaggregatedstorageperformancestatisticsoftheselected
inventoryobject.Availableforhostandvirtualmachine.
task,ordescriptionappliestobothkindsofVIClient.
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Chapter 16 Monitoring Your Vmware Infrastructure Environment

NetworkShowstheaggregatednetworkperformancestatisticsoftheselected
inventoryobject.Availableforhostandvirtualmachine.
SystemAvailableforhostandvirtualmachine.
DRSAvailableforclustersandhoststhathaveDRSclusters.
Performance Chart View
Allperformancechartshaveatablelistingtheresourcesandmeasurementsincluded
intheirchart.
Figure 16-1. Inventory > Virtual Machine > Performance Tab
Selecting Performance Chart Options
Severalitemsareselectableforinclusioninyourperformancechartdisplay.Youcan
specifytheresource,timerange,measuredresourceelements,andwhethertoexport
thechartasanExcelfile.
Toseethemeasurementoptionsforeachresourcemonitoredonahost,refertothe
performancechartmeasurementtablesinAppendix C.
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To select the resource whose performance is shown in the performance charts
TheresourceoptionsareCPU,memory,disk,network,system,andresourcegroup
CPU.
1 FromtheVIClient,selecttheappropriateinventoryobject.ClickthePerformance
tab.
2 Choosefromtheresourceoptionspulldownmenu.
ThetimerangeoptionsfortheperformancechartsareRealtime,PastHour,PastDay,
Week,Month,Year,andCustom.Whichoptionsareavailabledependsonthefeature
beingmeasured.Thesecanbeconfigured.Formoreinformation,seeTochange
collectionintervalsforstatisticsonpage 275.
To specify the time range for the performance charts
tab.
2 Choosefromthetimeoptionspulldownmenu.
To export an .xls file of the performance chart data
tab.
2 ClicktheExportChartlink.
AnExportPerformancedialogboxappears.
Whenyouselectmorethanonecategory,thechartsareaddedondifferent
spreadsheetsinthesamefile.
3 Selecttheoptionsdesired.Clickthecharttoexport.Specifyafilenameand
location.Specifythesizeofthefiletobeexported.
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4 Ifthechartoptionyouselecthassuboptions,clicktheAdvancedbuttonandchoose
fromthelistpresented.ClickOK.
5 Tocompletetheexport,clickOK.
Thechartoptionsincludelinegraphorstackedgraph,resourceobjectsfoundingroup,
andmeasurementsspecifictotheresourceselected.
To specify the measured elements in the display of a performance chart
tab.
2 ClicktheChangePerformanceCounterslink.
ACustomizePerformanceChartappears.
3 Clicktheitemstodisplayasneeded.ClickApplytoviewthechange.ClickOKto
acceptthechange.
Viewing Stacked Graphs
Astackedgraphisanotherwaytoviewthestatisticalinformation.Whenselectingthe
stackedgraphoption,considerthefollowing:
Onlyoneitemcanbeselectedfromthelistofmeasurements.Astackedgraph
cannotchartmorethanonemeasurementoverasetofobjects.
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Pervirtualmachinestackedgraphsareavailableonlyforhosts.Inthesegraphs,the
objectslistcontainsthehostandallthevirtualmachinescurrentlypresentonthat
host.
Notallmetricsmakesenseforvirtualmachinestackedcharts.Themeasurements
thatdonotapplyarenotincludedinthelistofselectablemeasurements.
To view the stacked graph
tab.
2 ClicktheChangePerformanceCounterslink.
3 ClickoneoftheLinegraph,Stackedgraph,orStackedgraph(perVM)options.
4 ClickApplytoseetheresults.
5 ClickOKtoaccepttheresults.
Setting the Statistics Collection Intervals
Thetimeelementsthatareusedtotrackandcollectperformanceinformationare
configurable.
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To change collection intervals for statistics
VMwareVirtualInfrastructureClientSettings.
2 ClicktheStatisticslink.
3 Removeorcreateanewcollectioninterval.
4 ClickOK.
To create a new statistic sampling period
VMwareVirtualInfrastructureClientSettings.
2 ClicktheStatisticslink.
3 FromtheStatisticslinkintheVirtualCenterConfigurationpanel,clickAdd.
TheAddCollectionIntervaldialogboxappears.
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Anewcollectionintervalrequiresthatthe:
Newsamplingperiodmustbethemultipleofapreviousone
Newsamplinglengthmustbelongerthanthepreviousone
Newsamplingnamemustbeunique
4 Enteracollectionfrequency,specifyinghowoftentocollecttheinformation.Select
theunitofmeasure.
5 Enterthecollectionsize,specifyingtheamountofdatatostoreinthelengthoftime
statisticsarecollectedbeforeolddataisreplacedwithnewdata.Selecttheunitof
measure.
6 Tocompletethenewsamplingperiod,clickOK.
Changing the Statistics Collection Level
Level1Basicmetrics,includingtheaverageusageforCPU,memory,disk,and
network;systemuptimeandheartbeat;andDRSmetrics.Statisticsfordevicesare
notincludedinlevel1.
Level2AllmetricsforCPU,memory,disk,andnetworkcounters;systemuptime
andheartbeat;DRSmetrics;anddevicestatistics.
Level3Allmetricsforallcountergroups.Maximumandminimumrolluptypes
areexcluded.
Level4AllmetricssupportedbyVirtualCenter.
Maps
TheMapsfeatureofVIClientprovidesavisualunderstandingoftherelationships
betweenthevirtualandphysicalresourcesavailableinVirtualCenter.Mapsofthe
itemswithinVirtualCenterareavailableintheInventorythroughtheMapstabsfor
hosts,virtualmachines,networks,anddatastores,(InventoryMaps)andthroughthe
Mapsbuttoninthenavigationbar(GlobalMaps).
Therearethreemaptypes:
Global
Inventory
VMotionResourceMaps
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Global Maps
Globalmapsareaccessiblefromthebuttoninthelargetoolbarandprovideahighlevel
viewoftherelationshipsbetweenallphysicalandvirtualelementsintheentire
VirtualCenterenvironment.Byselectingordeselectingtheboxesonthesideofthe
inventory,youcanseewhichclustersorhostsaremostdenselypopulated,which
networksaremostcritical,andwhichstoragedevicesarebeingutilized(ornot).
Physical,Virtual,andCustommaptypesexistforbothinventorymapsandglobal
maps.TheyconstrainandfilterinformationonaVirtualCenterwidelevelfortheglobal
maps.
Inventory Maps
Inventorymapsareaccessiblefromtheinventoryviewandshowaselecteditems
relevanthost,virtualmachine,network,andstoragerelationships.Thismakesiteasy
tounderstandwhatitemsareaffectedorattachedtotheiteminquestion.Thesemaps
appearforfolders,datacenters,clusters,resourcepools,andhosts.
Physical,Virtual,andCustommaptypesexistforbothinventorymapsandglobal
maps.TheyconstrainandfilterinformationonanitemspecificlevelfortheInventory
maps.
TheMapstabisavailablewhenyouselectfolders,datacenters,clusters,resourcepools,
hosts,orvirtualmachinesfromtheinventorypanelofthenavigationbar.
VMotion Resource Maps
VMotionresourcemapsappearonlyinthetabsforvirtualmachinesselectedinthe
inventory.Inadditiontovisualrepresentationsoftheresources(hosts,datastores,and
networks)associatedwithavirtualmachine,thesemapsdisplaywhichhostsina
virtualmachinesclusterordatacenterarecandidatehoststowhichavirtualmachine
canmigrate.ThoughtheVMotionmapisnotthelastwordonwhetherVMotionis
possible,itprovidesinformationaboutwhichhostsareheavilyloaded,whichare
connectedtoallthesameresourcesthatthetargetvirtualmachineisconnectedto,and
whichhostshavecompatibleCPUandsoftwarewiththetargetvirtualmachine.
ThemapconsidersfourcriteriawhenmarkingthehostasacandidateforVMotion
migration:
connectedtoaVirtualCenterServeroranESXServer.Mapsareavailableonlywhenthe
VIClientisconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer.
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Datastorecompatibilitythehostmustbeconnectedtoallthesamedatastoresas
thevirtualmachine.
Networkcompatibilitythehostmustbeconnectedtoallthesamenetworksas
thevirtualmachine.
Softwarecompatibilitythehostmusthavecompatiblesoftwarewiththevirtual
machine.
CPUcompatibilitythehostmusthaveacompatibilityCPUwiththevirtual
machine.
Ifanyofthefourislacking,thehostismarkedwitharedXtodenoteunsuitability.If
thecauseoftheunsuitabilityisfromnetworking/datastoreincompatibility,theusercan
discernthisfromthelackofedgesconnectingthathostandthevirtualmachines
networksanddatastores.IfthecauseoftheunsuitabilityisfromCPUorSoftware
incompatibility,theinformationappearsinatooltipwhenthepointerhoversoverthe
hostinquestion.
Ifahostiscompatibleinallfouraspects,agreencircleappearsbehindit.Thiscircle
variesinintensitybasedonthehostscurrentload.Heavilyusedhostsarepale;
lowloadhostsaresaturatedgreen.
Itmighttakeafewsecondsforthemaptoretrieveload,CPU,andsoftware
information.Thestateofthemapsinformationretrievalprocessisdisplayedinthe
lowerleftcornerofthemap.Asinformationarrives,themapisupdated.Ahostthat
lookslikeagoodVMotioncandidate(displayedasgreen)mightbecomeabad
candidate(displayedasred)asinformationfiltersin.
Iftheinformationretrievalistakingtoolong,youcancanceltheoperation.
TheVMotionmapisnotaconclusivestatementastowhetherVMotionispossible
betweenavirtualmachineandatargethost.However,itseekstoprovideinformation
astowhetherVMotionmightbepossible,andifnot,whatanadministratormightdo
toremedythesituation.
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Map Elements and Icons
Allmapshaveelementsthatareselectabledependingontheinventoryitemand
whetheryouapproachthemapthroughtheInventorytabortheNavigationbarbutton.
TheVMwareInfrastructuremapelementsaredescribedinthefollowingtable.
.
Table 16-1. Map Elements and Icons
Attribute Description
Hosticon.
AhostthatiscompatibleforVMotionmigration.
AhostthatisnotcompatibleforVMotionmigration.
Virtualmachineicon.
Networkicon.
Datastoreicon.
Overviewsection Thumbnailgraphicofthefullscalemap.
MapRelationships
section
Sectionthatisdisplayedwhenmorethanonemaptypeisavailable
fortheselectedinventoryobject.Providesselectionofthetypeof
resourcemaptodisplay.
Refreshlink Mapsdonotautorefreshbecauseaddingorremovingelements
mightbedisruptive.Toreorganizeyourmaptothecurrentstateof
theinventoryandcenterthemapviewintheinformationmappanel,
clicktheRefreshlink.
Inventorypanel WhenselectingthroughtheInventorynavigationbar,aselecteditem
stayshighlightedtoindicatemapfocus.
WhenselectingthroughtheMapsnavigationbar,allitemsinthe
inventoryarelistedwithacheckbox.Youcanselectordeselectany
inventoryitemsyoudonotwantincludedinthemap.
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Viewing the Maps
Therearetwoviewsofthemapinanymappanel.Alargerviewfillsthepanelanda
miniatureviewfitsintoafixedwindow.
To view global maps
ClicktheMapsbuttoninthenavigationbar.
To view inventory maps
ClickInventoryinthenavigationbarandselecttheInventoryHostsandClustersor
VirtualMachinesandTemplatesoptions.Selectafolder,datacenter,cluster,resource
pool,orhostinventoryobject.ClicktheMapstab.
To view VMotion maps
ClickInventoryinthenavigationbarandselecttheInventoryHostsandClustersor
VirtualMachinesandTemplatesoptions.Selectavirtualmachine.ClicktheMapstab.
Editing the Maps
Editingmapoptionsinclude:
Includingorexcludinginventoryobjects
Shiftingtheorientation,hostcentricorvirtualmachinecentric
Zoominginorout
Shiftingtheareaofthemapbeingviewed
To view or hide content of a map using Map Relationships
1 FromtheVIClient,selecttheappropriateinventoryobject.ClicktheMapstab.
Allinventoryitemsareselectedbydefault.
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2 ChooseanitemfromtheMapRelationshipspulldownmenu:Releasingthe
mousebuttonacceptsthechangeandthemapshiftstothenewconfiguration.
TheMapRelationshipspanelcomeswithtwopresetsmapsandavariableoption:
HostResourcesShowshostcentricphysicalrelationships.
VirtualMachineResourcesShowsvirtualmachinecentricrelationships.
CustomMapAllowsyoutochooseanycombinationofrelationshipsother
thanthehostandvirtualmachinecentricversions.TheCustomMapoption
comespresetwithallrelationshipsselected.
3 ClickthecheckboxesavailableunderHostOptionsorVMOptions.
ThemaplistingchangestoCustomMap.ClickApplyRelationshipstoupdatethe
mapdisplay.
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To view or hide content of a global map using inventory checkboxes
1 FromtheVIClient,clicktheMapsbuttoninthenavigationbar.
2 Selectordeselectanyinventoryitemstoindicatetheitemsyouwantincludedin
themap.
Bydefault,selectingordeselectingselectsordeselectstheitemsbelowtheobject.
Themapremovesoraddstheobjectsautomatically.
Asyouclickitems,theyappearordisappearfromthemap.
3 Refreshthemaptoorganizethenewlistofitems.ClicktheRefreshlink.
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To zoom in or out of your map view
ClickanddragintheOverviewpanel.
Whenyouzoominoroutofamap,VirtualCenterdetectsifthemapcannotfitonthe
screen.Ifthemapistoobigtofitonthescreen,youcanchangethezoomlevelby
manipulatingthesizeoftheviewingwindowinsidetheOverviewpanel.Insidethe
Overviewpanel,asubsetboxrepresentswhatpartofthetotalmapisvisible.Changing
thesizeofthissubsetboxchangesthedegreeofzoom.Youcanonlyzoomintoacertain
point,butyoucanzoomoutuntilthemapfitsentirelyintothewindow.
TheOverviewmapdisplaysanareaindicatorbox.Thelargemapshiftstodisplayonly
theareacontainedintheindicatorbox.Theimagesinthelargemapshrinkorexpand
tofittheinformation.Thisismorenoticeableinlargenetworkenvironments.
Themapdisplaysinthebackgroundoftheinformationpanel.Themaphasaspecific
scale,andsometimesthefullmapdoesnotfitinthesizetheofwindow.TheOverview
andMapRelationshipspanelsdonotmovefromtheirupperrightlocationinthe
informationpanel.
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To move the map within the information panel
Youcanmovethemaptwoways:
Clickanddraginthebodyoftheinformationpanel.
Thedefaultpointerchangesfromanarrowtoahand.Themapshiftsdirection
correspondingtothemousedrag.Scrollbarsdisplaywhenthemapextends
beyondtheinformationpanelframe.
Alternatively,clickintheOverviewmap.Thelargermapshiftsitscentertothe
locationyouclick.
Printing Maps
Youcanprintthecurrentlyvisiblemaptoanyordinaryprinter.
To print a map
Youhavetwowaystoprint:
Fromanyscreenonwhichanytypeofmapispresent,chooseFile>Export>Print
Maps.
FromtheGlobalMapstoolbar,clickthePrintbutton.
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To alter print settings or see a print preview
Fromanywindowonwhichanytypeofmapispresent,chooseFile>Export>Print
Preview.
Exporting Maps
Youcansaveorexportanymapasa.jpgfile.
To export a graphical image of the performance chart
1 FromtheVIClient,selecttheappropriateinventoryobject.
2 ClicktheGlobalMapsbuttoninthenavigationbar,andclicktheExportMap
buttonintheMapstaskbar.
ASaveAsImagedialogboxappears.
3 Selecttheoptionsdesired.Clicktheformattoexport.Specifyafilenameand
location.Selectthesizeofthefiletobeexported.
4 Completetheexport.ClickOK.
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Navigating Between Maps
DoubleclickahostorvirtualmachineiconinamapfromtheMapsbuttondisplay.The
VIClientshiftstothaticonintheinventoryanddisplaysthatelementsmapstab,if
applicable.Intheexamplebelow,fromtheMapsbuttondisplay,avirtualmachinewas
doubleclicked.TheviewshiftstothevirtualmachineMapstabinformation.
Displaying Object Menus in Maps
Mapssupportinventoryobjectpopupmenus.Thefunctionsonhosts,virtual
machines,networks,anddatastorescanbeperformedthroughanyoftheMaps
windows.
To display an inventory object menu
RightclickanyiconintheMapspanel.
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Thecorrespondingpopupmenuappears.
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17
Thischapterdescribestasks,events,andalarms.Thischaptercontainsthefollowing
topics:
ManagingTasksonpage 289
ManagingEventsonpage 303
ManagingAlarmsonpage 308
Managing Tasks
ThissectiondescribeshowtoviewandscheduleVirtualCentertasks.Tasksareplanned
activities.Theseactivitiesarescheduledorinitiatedmanually.Tasksgenerateevent
messagesthatindicateanyissuesassociatedwiththetask.Therearetwokindsoftasks:
Anunscheduledtask,whichcanresultfromperforminganoperationthatmight
takeawhile,likeaddingahost.
Ascheduledtask,whichyousetuptotriggeratadifferenttime.
Thissectioncontainsthefollowingsections:
UnderstandingTasksonpage 290
ViewingandPerformingTasksonpage 290
Managing Tasks, Events,
and Alarms 17
task,ordescriptionappliestobothkindsofVIClientconnections.TheTasks
optionisnotavailablewhentheVIClientisconnectedtoanESXServer,butitdoes
offertherecenttaskswindowatthebottomoftheVIClientwindow.
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ManagingScheduledTasksonpage 293
ReschedulingaScheduledTaskonpage 300
RemovingaScheduledTaskonpage 300
CancelingaTaskonpage 301
Understanding Tasks
ThescheduledtasksoptionallowsyoutoconfigureselectedVirtualCenteractivitiesto
occuratdesignatedtimes.Thetimingoptionsincludeimmediately,later,orona
recurringbasis.Scheduledtasksareperformedinadditiontomanuallydriven
activities.
CreateascheduledtaskthroughtheNewTaskwizard,whichdisplaystheavailable
taskoptions.Afteryouselectanoption,thewizarddisplaysthepagesthatarerelevant
tothetypeoftaskyouarescheduling.TheNewTaskwizardendswhenyousetthe
timingofthetask.Youcanrescheduletasks.
Ifthedirectionsofmanuallydrivenandscheduledactivitiesconflict,VirtualCenter
performswhicheveractivityisduefirst.Ifavirtualmachineisinanincorrectstateto
performanyactivity,manualorscheduled,VirtualCentersendsamessagetothelog
anddoesnotperformthetask.
Whenyoucreateascheduledtask,VirtualCenterverifiesthatyouhavethecorrect
permissionstoperformtheactionsontherelevantdatacenters,hosts,andvirtual
machines.Oncethetaskiscreated,thetaskisperformedevenifyounolongerhave
permissiontoperformthetask.
WhenanobjectisremovedfromVirtualCenter,allassociatedtasksarealsoremoved.
Eventsareloggedtotheeventlogatstartandcompletionofthetasks.Anyerrorsthat
occurduringthetaskarealsorecordedintheeventlog.
Viewing and Performing Tasks
Youhavetheoptiontoviewthelistoftasksassociatedwithparticularinventoryobjects
orthecompletelistoftasksassignedtotheentireVirtualCenterinventory.Tasks
includeactivitiessuchaspoweringonoroffavirtualmachine,cloningavirtual
machine,oraddingavirtualmachinetoaresourcepool.
TasksarenottrackedorscheduledonyourESXServerhostunlesstheESXServeris
registeredandconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer.
CAUTION Donotschedulemultipletaskstobeperformedatthesametimeonthe
sameobject.Theresultsareunpredictable.
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Chapter 17 Managing Tasks, Events, and Alarms

To view recent tasks
FromtheVIClientconnectedtoanESXServeroraVirtualCenterServer,clicktheTasks
togglebuttononthelowerleftsideoftheVIClientwindow.
To perform a task on an ESX Server
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoanESXServer,clicktheInventorybuttoninthe
navigationbar.Expandtheinventoryasneeded,andclicktheobjectwherethe
actionistobeperformed.
2 Choosetheactivityfromthemainorpopupmenuassociatedwiththeobject.
Forexample,selectavirtualmachine,rightclick,andchoosethePowerOnoption.
To schedule or view a list of tasks on an ESX Server
AddthehosttotheVirtualCenterinventory.
RefertoAddingaHostonpage 101formoreinformation.
ToscheduleataskonaVirtualCenterServer,refertoManagingScheduledTaskson
page 293.
To view a list of tasks completed on a VirtualCenter Server
1 FromtheVIClient,clicktheInventory,andclicktherootfolder.
2 ClicktheTask&Eventstab.ClicktheTasksbuttonontheTasks&Eventspanel.
3 Clickataskinthepanel.
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DetailedinformationappearsintheTaskDetailspane.
To sort the list of tasks
1 FromtheVIClient,displaytheinventorypanel,selecttheappropriateobjectand
viewtheTasks&Eventspanel.
2 Clickthecolumntitle.Ittogglesbetweenascendinganddescendingsort.
To filter the list of tasks
1 FromtheVIClient,expandtheinventoryasneeded,andclicktheappropriate
object.
2 ClicktheTask&Eventstab.ClicktheTasksbuttonontheTasks&Eventspanel.
3 ChooseView>Filtering,ifneeded.
4 Clickthelistarrow,andclickthecolumntoincludeinthefiltersearch.
5 Typeakeywordintothebox,andpressReturn.
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Thelistoftasksdisplaysonlythoseitemsthatcontainthekeywordyoutyped.
NoticeintheexamplebelowhowtheNameandReasoncolumnsbothhaveitems
thatcontainthefilterkeyword,power.
Managing Scheduled Tasks
Youcanscheduletaskstooccuratdesignatedtimes.Eachscheduletaskoptionrunsthe
correspondingwizardforthetaskandaddsaschedulingtimeoptionattheendofthe
wizard.ThepossibletasksthatcanbescheduledthroughtheNewTaskwizardare
listedbelow.Refertothelisteddocumentforinformationoncompletingtheindividual
taskwizards:
Changethepowerstateofavirtualmachine(refertoChangingVirtualMachine
PowerStatesonpage 141)
Createavirtualmachinetemplate(refertoCreatingTemplatesonpage 204)
MoveavirtualmachinewithVMotion(refertoMigrationwithVMotionon
page 233)
Createavirtualmachine(refertoUsingtheNewVirtualMachineWizardon
page 114)
Makeasnapshotofavirtualmachine(refertoUnderstandingSnapshotson
page 221)
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Customizeavirtualmachine(refertoPreparingforGuestCustomization(SEE
UPDATE)onpage 190)
Addahost(refertoAddingaHostonpage 101)
To create a scheduled task
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,clicktheScheduledTasks
optioninthenavigationbar.
Thecurrentlistofscheduledtasksappears.
2 ClickNewinthetoolbar,orchooseFile>New>ScheduledTask.
3 Clickthepulldownmenu,andchoosetheappropriateoption.ClickNext.
4 Completethetaskspecificinformation.
TheNewTaskwizarddisplaysaseriesofpagesthatcorrespondtothepagesyou
refertowhenyouperformthetaskstartingfromtheselectedobject.
Refertothesectionorthemanualthatisappropriateforeachoptionforspecific
informationoneachtask.Mostoftheschedulingprocessesdifferfrommanually
performedtasksonlyinthatyoumustspecifythevirtualmachine,host,or
datacentertowhichthetaskappliesandspecifythetimetoperformthetask.
NOTE AnyoperationcanbesetasascheduledtaskthroughtheVMwareInfrastructure
API.However,onlyasubsetofalloperationscanbepartofascheduledtask
throughtheVIClient.
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5 Specifythetimingofthetask.
ThedefaultfrequencyandscheduledtimeisNow.Thetaskstartswhenyoufinish
creatingthetask.
6 Toscheduleaonetimeoccurrence,settheFrequencytoOnce.SettheStartTime
toLater.TypeaclocktimeintheTimefield.
Toviewthecalendar,clicktheDatearrow.
NOTE Onlyonetimingschedulecanbesetpertask.Tosetmorethanonefrequencytype,
setupadditionaltasks.
NOTE ThetimewhenascheduledtaskoccursisrelativetotheVirtualCenterServerand
nottothelocalVIClientfromwhichyouconfigurethetask.
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7 Clicktheleftandrightarrowstoviewadditionalmonths.Clickthemonthand
choosefromthelist.Clicktheyear,andclicktheupanddownarrows.
Whenyouclickthecalendardate,thecalendaracceptsthenewdateandcloses.
8 Torunthetaskafterstartup,clickAfterStartupandentertheamountofthedelay.
NOTE ThetimesetisrelativetotheVirtualCenterServerandnottotheVIClient.
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9 Torunthetaskhourly,clickHourly.Enterthestarttimeafterthebeginningofthe
hourandtheinterval(forexample,15minutesaftereveryeighthours).
10 Torunthetaskdaily,clickDaily.Enterthestarttimeandinterval.
Forexample,enter14:30everyfourthdaytorunthetaskat2:30pmeveryfour
days.
11 Torunthetaskweekly,clickWeekly.Enterthestarttime,dayoftheweek,and
interval.
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Forexample,TuesdaysandThursday,8:00am,everysecondweek.Youcanselect
multipledaysoftheweek.
12 Torunthetaskmonthly,clickMonthly.Enterthestarttime,dayofthemonth,and
interval.
Forexample,entersecondThursdayofthemonth,11:00everythirdmonth.
Ifyouselectadayhigherthan28,awarningmessageisdisplayedbecausesome
monthsare29,30,or31days.
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13 Thelast<day>ofthemonthselectsthelastweekinthemonththatthedayoccurs.
IfyouselectthelastMondayofthemonth,andthemonthendsonaSunday,the
lastMondaywillbesixdaysbeforetheendofthemonth.
14 Tocompletethewizard,clickFinish.
VirtualCenteraddsthetasktothelistintheScheduledTaskstab.
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Rescheduling a Scheduled Task
Afterascheduledtaskiscreated,youcanchangeitstimingandfrequency,aswellas
thespecificsofthetask.
To reschedule a scheduled task
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,clicktheTasksoptionin
thenavigationbar.
2 Tochoosetheappropriatetaskfromthelist,clickPropertiesinthetoolbar.
TheChangea<task>wizard,correspondingtothetask,appears.
3 ClickthroughthewizardusingtheNextbutton,andmakechangesasneeded.
Removing a Scheduled Task
Removingascheduledtaskremovesallfutureoccurrencesofthetask.Thehistory
associatedwithallpreviousexecutionsofthetaskremainsintheVirtualCenter
database.
To remove a task that has been scheduled
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,clicktheScheduledTasks
optioninthenavigationbar.
2 Selecttheappropriatetaskfromthelist.ChooseInventory>ScheduledTask>
Remove.
VirtualCenterremovesthetaskfromthescheduledtasklist.
3 Toverifythatyouwanttoremovethetask,clickOK.
Thetaskisdeletedfromthelistoftasks.
NOTE Scheduledtaskcalculationandexecutionarebasedontimezoneandthetimeset
intheVirtualCenterServer.IftheVIClientandVirtualCenterServerarein
differenttimezones,thetaskscheduleisoffsetbythedifferenceintimezonesof
theVirtualCenterServerandVIClient.
NOTE Removingataskdiffersfromcancelingatask.Cancelingataskstopsataskcurrently
occurring,whetherstartedmanuallyorschedule.Removingataskremovesfuture
occurrencesofascheduledtask.
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Canceling a Task
Onlytasksthatareinprocesscanbecanceled.Andonlyselected(scheduledor
manuallyinitiated)taskscanbecanceledwhileinprocess.Cancelingataskwhileitis
runningrequiresthatyouhavetheappropriatepermissionsassignedtothehostwhere
thetaskisoccurring.
Cancelingataskdiffersfromremovingatask.Cancelingataskstopsataskcurrently
occurring,whetherstartedmanuallyorscheduled.Removingataskremovesfuture
occurrencesofascheduledtask.
Thetasksthatcanbecanceledaftertheystartare:
Connectingtoahost
Cloningavirtualmachine
Migratingavirtualmachine
Deployingatemplate
Creatingatemplatefromavirtualmachine
Cloningatemplate
NOTE ThecancelingoperationisnotallowedifoneorbothofthehostsinvolvedisanESX
Serverversion2.0.1.
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To cancel a task that is currently running
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,viewtheRecentTasks
panel.
2 ClickShowtoggleatthelowerrightcorneroftheinventorypanel.
3 Selecttheappropriatetaskfromthelist.
4 Rightclickthetask,andchooseCancel.
VirtualCenterstopsprogressonthetask,returnstheobjectstotheirprevious
states,anddisplaysthetaskascanceled.
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Managing Events
AneventisanyactionthatisofinteresttotheVirtualCenterServerortheESXServer.
Eacheventtriggersaneventmessage.Alleventmessagesarearchivedonthe
VirtualCenterServersdatabase.Vieweventmessagesfromtwolocations:
TheEventsoptioninthenavigationbardisplaysalleventsthathaveoccurredon
theVirtualCenterServer.
AnEventstabforanyobjectundertheInventorybutton.TheseEventstablistings
showonlytheeventsthatoccurredonortotheselecteddatacenter,host,orvirtual
machine.
Themostrecenteventsappearattheendofascrollablelist.Messagesareidentifiedby
type:Information,Error,orWarning.Messagesarealsocolorcoded.Ashortenedevent
messageappearsinthedescriptionportionofthepanel.Amoredetailedversionofa
selectedeventmessageappearsintheEventDetailsportionofthepanel.Typically,the
EventDetailentryindicatesthehostorvirtualmachineonwhichtheeventoccurred
anddescribestheactionthatoccurred.Theobjectoftheeventisalinktotheobjects
individualeventpage.
Thissectioncontainsthefollowing:
ViewingAllEventMessagesonpage 303
ViewingSelectedEventMessagesonpage 305
SortingandFilteringEventMessagesonpage 306
ExportingEventMessagesonpage 307
Viewing All Event Messages
TheEventstabisavailablewhenyouselectaresourcepool,host,orvirtualmachine
objectfromtheInventorypanel.ThisviewoftheeventsisavailablewhentheVIClient
isconnectedtoanESXServer.
NOTE WhenconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,EventsarecombinedwiththeTaskstab.
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Figure 17-1. VI Client Connected to ESX Server > Inventory > Virtual Machine >
Events Tab
To view event details
FromtheInventorypanel,clicktheEventstab.Clickanevent.
TheEventDetailsfielddisplaysadditionalinformationabouttheevent:
EventsaremessagesthatreportVirtualInfrastructureClientactivity.Event
messagesarepredefinedintheproduct.
Logsarestoredreferenceinformationrelatedtoselectedeventmessages.Logsare
predefinedintheproduct.Youcanconfigurewhetherselectedlogsaregenerated
ornot.
task,ordescriptionappliestobothkindsofconnections.
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Viewing Selected Event Messages
EachobjectintheinventorypanelhasanEventstabintheinformationpanel.Each
eventthatappearsisanobjectspecificsubsetofalltheserverevents.
To view the event messages and event detail for an object
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoeitheraVirtualCenterServeroranESXServer,
clicktheInventorybuttoninthenavigationbar.Expandtheinventoryasneeded.
2 Intheinventorypanel,selectafolder,cluster,resourcepool,host,orvirtual
machine,asappropriate.
Ifyouselectahost,theeventmessagesforallthevirtualmachinesonthathostare
includedintheEventslog.
3 ClicktheEventstab.
4 Clicktheevent.
AfulltextmessagewithlinkstorelatedobjectsappearsintheEventDetailsbox.
5 ClickanyofthebluehighlighteditemsintheEventsDetailsbox.
Theviewchangestodisplaytheselectedlinkedobject.
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Sorting and Filtering Event Messages
Sortallitemsinthelistbyclickinginthecolumnlabelheading.Atriangleinthecolumn
headshowsthesortorderasascendingordescending.
To sort a list
Clickthecolumnheadingtoresortthelistbytheentriesinthatcolumn.Thecurrent
selectiondoesnotchange.
To change ascending or descending order
Clickthecolumnheadingtotogglebetweenascendinganddescendingorder.
To choose items in a list
Clickanindividualitem.UseShiftclickorCtrlclicktochoosemultipleitemsinthe
Eventspanel.
To view selected columns only
Rightclickanycolumnhead,andchoosefromthelistofdatafieldstobedisplayed.
To search and list selected items
1 ChooseView>Filteringtoseethefilteringoptions.
2 Entertextintothedatafield.ClickCleartoemptythedatafield.
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Entriesinmultiplecolumnsthatmatchthesearchtermaredisplayed.Inthe
example,thesearchwordpowerisfoundinboththeDescriptionandtheTask
columnentries.
Exporting Event Messages
Thereisanoptionforexportingallorpartofyoureventslogfile.
To export the events file
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,chooseFile>Export>
ExportEvents.
2 Specifythetimerangeofmessagesandthetypeofmessagestoexport.
3 Specifyafilename,filetype,andlocationfortheexportedfile.ClicktheBrowse
buttontoviewtheSaveAsdialogbox.
Thefileissavedasatextfile.
4 SelecttheTyperadiobuttontoindicatethetypeoferrorstoincludeintheexported
file.
Youcanspecifywhethertoincludeusergeneratedorsystemgeneratedevents.
Youcanspecifyallusers,oryoucanspecifyTheseusersandclickBrowsetoselect
asubsetofusers.
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5 Specifythetimerangeofeventstoexport.OptionsareHours,Days,Weeks,
Months,andFrom/Todateranges.
6 Specifythenumberofeventstoexport,eitheralloraspecificnumber.
7 ClickOKtocreateafileoftheselecteddata.
VirtualCentercreatesafileoftheselecteddatabasedonthefileextensionprovidedand
storesthefileatthespecifiedlocation.Ifnofileextensionisprovided,thedefaultisa
textfile.ThefilecontainsType,Time,andDescription.
Managing Alarms
Alarmsarespecificnotificationsthatoccurinresponsetoselectedevents.Somealarms
aredefinedbyproductdefault.Additionalalarmscanbecreatedandappliedto
selectedinventoryobjectsorallinventoryobjects.
Thissectioncontainsthefollowingtopics:
UnderstandingAlarmsonpage 309
PreparingforEmailMessageSMTPAlarmNotification(SEEUPDATE)on
page 311
PreparingforSNMPAlarmNotificationonpage 312
CreatingAlarmsonpage 314
EditingAlarmsonpage 320
RemovingAlarmsonpage 321
TheAlarmstabintheinventorypaneldisplaysthelistofalarmsfortheselectedobject
thatareactivatedupondesignatedevents.Alarmscanapplytohostsandvirtual
machines,andcanbedefinedinparententitiessuchasfoldersorresourcepools.
TheAlarmstabhastwoviewsavailablethroughbuttons:
AlarmsDisplaystriggeredalarmsagainsttheselectedinventoryitem.
connectedtoaVirtualCenterServeroranESXServer.TheAlarmsoptionisnotavailable
whentheVIClientisconnectedtoanESXServer.
NOTE AlarmsareconfigurableonlythroughtheVirtualCenterServer.ESXServerhosts
connectedtoaVIClientdirectlydonothavethealarmsfunctionality.Togetthealarm
features,havetheVirtualCenterServermanagetheESXServer.
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Figure 17-2. VI Client Connected to VirtualCenter Server > Inventory: Hosts and
Clusters > Host > Alarms Tab > Alarms Button
DefinitionsDisplaysthealarmsthataremonitoringtheselectedinventoryitem.
Iftheeventconfiguredinanalarmoccurs,thealarmistriggeredandtheserver
takestheconfiguredaction(forexample,sendsanemailnotification).
Figure 17-3. VI Client Connected to VirtualCenter Server > Inventory: Hosts and
Clusters > Host > Alarms Tab > Definitions Button
Understanding Alarms
Alarmssendnotificationmessageswhenselectedeventsoccurtooronhostsorvirtual
machines.Alarmsindicatethestatuslevelsofanobjectorcollectionofobjectsinthe
hierarchy.Alarmscanbedefinedatallhierarchicallevels,includingfolders,
datacenters,clusters,resourcepools,hosts,andvirtualmachines.
Alarmsareinheritedfromparentlevelsandcannotbechangedoroverriddenatachild
level.Whenyouaddnewalarmstoanyobjectyoucontributetothecollectionofalarms
thatareinforceatanyofitschildlevels.
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Whenanalarmiscreated,VirtualCenterverifiestheuserpermissionstoperformthe
actionsontherelevantdatacenters,hosts,andvirtualmachines.Afterthealarmis
created,thealarmisperformedevenifthecreatingusernolongerhaspermissionto
createthealarm.
Alarmsareappliedtoeitherhostsorvirtualmachines.Eachalarmhasatriggering
eventandanotificationmethod.
Therearetwokindsofalarmtriggers:
PercentageMonitorshostprocessor(orCPU)usage,hostmemoryusage,
virtualmachineprocessor(orCPU)usage,virtualmachinememory,andvirtual
machineheartbeat.
ThetriggeringoptionsareIsAbove(percent)andIsBelow(percent).Thedefault
monitorforvirtualmachineheartbeatissettoIsBelow.Thedefaultmonitorforall
otherpercentageoptionsissettoIsAbove.
StateMonitorhoststateandvirtualmachinestate.
Thetriggeringoptionsare:Is(state)andIsNot(state).
Thereareseveraltypesofalarmnotificationmethods:
Sendanotificationemailmessage
SMTPsendsanemailmessage.TheSMTPmustbereadywhentheemailmessage
issent.TherearetwowaystosetSMTP:throughVirtualCenterorthrough
MicrosoftOutlookExpress.TheVirtualCentersetupisnotalwaysneededifthe
SMTPsettinginOutlookExpressiscorrect.
TheVirtualCenterServergeneratesthesubjectandbodytextoftheemailmessage.
OnlytheTolist(receiver)isrequiredfromuserinput.Specifytheemailmessage
addresswherethemessageshouldbesent.Separatethenamesofmultiple
recipientswithcommasorsemicolons.
Sendanotificationtrap
TheVirtualCenterServeristhedefaultSNMPnotificationreceiver.AnSNMPtrap
viewerisrequiredtoviewasenttrap.TheVirtualCenterServerhostmustbe
configuredtoreceiveSNMPtraps.RefertoPreparingforSNMPAlarm
Notificationonpage 312.
Runascript
Theuserscriptcommandanditsargumentsmustbeformattedintoonestring.
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TheuserscriptisrunningasseparateprocessanddoesnotblocktheVirtualCenter
Serverprocesses.Butthescriptdoesrunandconsumetheresourcesonthe
VirtualCenterServermachine,suchasprocessorandmemory.
Suspendthevirtualmachine
Poweroffthevirtualmachine
Resetthevirtualmachine
Theactionsavailablewithalarmsaredescribedinthefollowingsections:
PreparingforEmailMessageSMTPAlarmNotification(SEEUPDATE)on
page 311
PreparingforSNMPAlarmNotificationonpage 312
CreatingAlarmsonpage 314
EditingAlarmsonpage 320
RemovingAlarmsonpage 321
Preparing for Email Message SMTP Alarm Notification (SEE
UPDATE)
IfyouarewanttouseemailmessagestosendSMTPnotifications,youmust:
DefinetheSMTPandemailmessageaddressinginformation.
Specifytheemailmessageaddressforthoseintendedtoreceivethenotification
whenyoucreatethealarm.
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To define the SMTP and email message addressing information
1 FromtheVIClient,chooseAdministration>ServerSettings>Mail.
2 Foremailmessagenotification,settheSMTPserverandSMTPport:
SMTPServerTheDNSnameorIPaddressoftheSMTPgatewaytousefor
sendingemailmessages.
SenderAccountTheemailaddressofthesender,forexample,mail_server
datacenter.com.
3 ClickOK.
Preparing for SNMP Alarm Notification
TouseSNMPtraps,youmustconfigure:
TheVirtualCenterServerhost.
TheSNMPreceiverservertoacceptthetrapsfromVirtualCenter.
Whenyoucreateanalarm,onlyonetrapistriggeredandsent.Thealarmparameters
include:
TypeThestateVirtualCenterismonitoringforthealarm.OptionsincludeHost
Processor(orCPU)usage,HostMemoryusage,HostState,VirtualMachine
Processor(orCPU)usage,VirtualMachineMemoryusage,VirtualMachineState,
VirtualMachineHeartbeat.
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NameThenameofthehostorvirtualmachinethattriggersthealarm.
OldStatusThealarmstatusbeforethealarmwastriggered.
NewStatusThealarmstatuswhenthealarmistriggered.
ObjectValueTheobjectvaluewhenthealarmistriggered.
To define the SNMP information
1 FromtheVIClient,chooseFile>VirtualCenterSettings,andclicktheAdvanced
tab.
2 EntertheSNMPandmailaddressing,asappropriate.
ConfigureuptofourreceiversofSNMPtraps.Theymustbeconfiguredin
numericalorder,1,2,3,and4.EachSNMPtraprequiresacorrespondinghost
name,portandcommunity.Forexample:
ReceiverURLTheDNSnameandIPaddressoftheSNMPreceiver.
ReceiverportTheportnumberofthereceiver.
Iftheportvalueisempty,VirtualCenterusesthedefaultport.Thedefaultport
is902.
CommunityStringThecommunityidentifier.
3 ClickOK.
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Creating Alarms
IfyouplantouseemailmessageorSNMPnotification,refertoPreparingforEmail
MessageSMTPAlarmNotification(SEEUPDATE)onpage 311anddefinetheaddress
informationbeforeyoucreateyouralarm.
To create an alarm
1 FromtheVIClientconnectedtoaVirtualCenterServer,clicktheInventorybutton.
Expandtheinventoryasneeded,clicktheappropriateobject,clicktheAlarmstab,
andclicktheDefinitionsbutton.
2 ChooseFile>New>Alarm.
Ifyoustartfromafolder,datacenter,orcluster,theAlarmPropertiesdialogbox
displaystheoptiontocreateanalarmforeitherahostoravirtualmachine.Ifyou
startfromaresourcepool,host,oravirtualmachine,MonitorahostorMonitora
VMispreselectedandtheotheroptionisdimmed.
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3 Selectthealarmtype.
4 IntheGeneraltab,specifyanameforthealarm,theobjecttobemonitored(host
orvirtualmachine),thetriggerpriority,andwhethertoenablethisalarm.
TriggerprioritiescanbesettoRedorGreen:
RedThedefault,triggersthealarmsprioritizedredasfirst,thenyellow,and
greenalarmslast.
GreenTriggersthealarmsprioritizedasgreenfirst,thenyellow,andred
alarmslast.
5 Todefinethealarmbutnotmakeitactive,deselecttheEnablebox.
6 ClicktheTriggerstabandtheAddbutton.
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IntheTriggerstab,therearefourpulldownmenus:
TriggerType
Theoptionslistedapplytoeitherthehostorvirtualmachine.
Forhostalarms,theoptionsareHostProcessor(orCPU)Usage,Host
MemoryUsage,HostNetworkUsage,HostDiskUsage,andHostState.
Forvirtualmachinealarms,theoptionsareVMProcessor(orCPU)Usage,
VMMemoryUsage,VMNetworkUsage,VMDiskUsage,andVMState.
Condition
TheoptionsforpercentagetriggersareIsAbove(percent)andIsBelow
(percent).
TheoptionsforstatetriggersareIs(state)andIsNot(state).
Warning(Yellow)stateorpercentageandAlert(Red)stateorpercentage
Percentageoptionsrangefrom5percentto100percentin5percent
increments.Exitingconditionisconsideredayellowconditionatn
percentage.
Virtualmachinestateoptionscorrespondtotheseactivities:Creating,
Migrating,Connecting,Disconnecting,MigratingwithVMotion,
Reconnecting,Removing,Resetting,Resuming,Starting,Stopping,
Suspending,Disconnected,Initial,Orphaned,PoweredOff,PoweredOn,and
Suspended.Hoststateoptionscorrespondtotheseactivities:Connecting,
Disconnecting,Reconnecting,Removing,Shuttingdown,Connected,and
Disconnected.Exitingstateisconsideredayellowconditionatselectedstate.
Thecolorscorrespondingtotheexiting/fromandentering/tostatesaresetin
theActionstab.ThedefaultisFromyellowtored.
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7 (Optional)Definemultipleconditionsforthealarmtriggeringevent.ClickAdd.
Entertheparametersforeachcondition.
8 Specifythereportingfrequencywhenthealarmistriggered.Enteravaluefor
ToleranceandoneforFrequency.
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9 Specifytheactiontobetakenwhenthealarmistriggered.
10 ClicktheActionstab.ClicktheAddbutton.Clicktheappropriatecheckbox.
Therearefourdifferentlevelchanges:greentoyellow,yellowtored,redtoyellow,
andyellowtogreen.Attachanactionforeachchangefromoneleveltoanother.
11 Choosetheactiontobetakenwhentheeventistriggeredandspecifythe
associatedinformation.
Theoptionsare:
Sendanotificationemail.
ProvidetheemailaddressofthenotificationrecipientintheValuefield.
SMTPsendsanotificationemail.TheSMTPmustbereadywhentheemailis
sent.TherearetwowaystosetSMTP:throughVirtualCenterorthrough
MicrosoftOutlookExpress.VirtualCentersetupisnotalwaysneededifthe
SMTPsettinginOutlookExpressiscorrect.
VirtualCenterServergeneratestheemailmessagesubjectandbodytext.Only
thetolist(receiver)isrequiredfromuserinput.Specifytheemailaddress
towhichthemessageshouldbesent.Separatemultiplerecipientswith
commasorsemicolons.RefertoPreparingforEmailMessageSMTPAlarm
Notification(SEEUPDATE)onpage 311.
Sendanotificationtrap.
ThereisadefaultSNMPnotificationreceiver,theVirtualCenterServer.An
SNMPtrapviewerisrequiredtoviewasenttrap.TheVirtualCenterServer
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hostmustbeconfiguredtoreceiveSNMPtraps.RefertoPreparingforSNMP
AlarmNotificationonpage 312.
Runascript.(SEEUPDATE)
Providethepathtothescript.
Theuserscriptcommandanditsargumentsmustbeformattedintoone
string.
TheuserscriptrunsinotherprocessesanddoesnotblocktheVirtualCenter
Serverfromrunning.However,thescriptconsumesserverresources,suchas
processorandmemory.
{eventDescription} full formatted message for alarm triggering
event
{entityName} name of the entity name where the alarm is triggered
{alarmName} name of the alarm that is triggered
{triggeringSummary} summary info of the alarm with triggering
values
{declaringSummary} summary info of the alarm declaration
{oldStatus} alarm status before it is triggered
{newStatus} alarm status after it is triggered
{entityObject} inventory object as triggering alarm
Example scripts:
"c:\MyAlarmProcess.bat {entityName} {alarmName}"
Twoalarmtriggeringparametersarepassedtothebackfile.Thefirst
parameteristhenameoftheentity,andthesecondisthenameofthealarm.
WhentheentitynameisMyEntityandalarmnameisMyAlarm,thescript
becomes"c:\MyAlarmProcess.bat MyEntity MyAlarm".
"d:\tools\alarm.exe '{entityName}' '{alarmName}' {newStatus}"
Threealarmtriggeringparametersarepassedtotheexecutionfile.Thefirstis
theentityname,thesecondisthealarmname,andthethirdisthealarmstatus
aftertriggering.Whentheentitynameismy dummy vm,thealarmnameismy
test alarm,andthenewstatusisred,thescriptbecomes:
"d:\tools\alarm.exe my dummy vm my test alarm red
Poweron,Poweroff,Suspend,orResetthevirtualmachine.
Theseapplyonlytoavirtualmachinealarm.
12 Tocompletethealarm,clickOK.
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VirtualCenterverifiestheconfigurationofthealarmandaddsthealarmtothelist
ofalarmsfortheselectedobject.
NoticethattheDefinedIncolumnindicateswhereintheinventoryhierarchythe
alarmisdefined.
Editing Alarms
Alarmscanbemodified,butyoumusteditthematthehierarchicallevelwherethey
werecreated.Asimplechangeistoenableordisablethealarm.Ifanalarmisdisabled,
anXappearsonthealarmlistingicon.
To edit an existing alarm
inthenavigationbar.Expandtheinventoryasneeded,clicktheAlarmstab,and
clicktheDefinitionsbutton.
2 Ifthealarmyouwanttochangeisnotdefinedatthecurrentlocation,clickthe
linkedobjectintheDefinedincolumn.
VirtualCenterdisplaystheAlarmspanelfortheobjectwherethealarmwas
defined.
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3 Selectthealarmtoedit.ChooseInventory>Alarm>EditSettings.Theentryin
theDefinedincolumnforthealarmmustbeThisobject.
4 Editthealarmgeneralsettings,triggers,oractions,asneeded.ClickOK.
VirtualCenterverifiestheconfigurationofthealarmandeditsthealarmforthe
selectedobject.RefertoCreatingAlarmsonpage 314foradditionalinformation.
Removing Alarms
Removealarmsfromtheobjectinwhichtheyweredefined.Youcannotremovethem
fromachildthatinheritedthealarm.
To remove an alarm
inthenavigationbar.Expandtheinventoryasneeded,clicktheAlarmstab,and
clicktheDefinitionsbutton.
2 Ifthealarmyouwanttochangeisnotdefinedatthecurrentlocation,clickthe
linkedobjectintheDefinedincolumn.VirtualCenterdisplaystheAlarmspanel
fortheobjectwherethealarmwasdefined.
322 VMware, Inc.

3 Toremovethealarm,selectthealarm,andchooseInventory>Alarm>Remove.
Aconfirmationpopupwindowappears.
4 ClickYes.
Thealarmisremoved.
VMware, Inc. 323

Appendixes
324 VMware, Inc.

VMware, Inc. 325

A
Thefollowingtableslistthedefaultprivilegesthat,whenselectedforarole,canbe
pairedwithauserandassignedtoanobject.ThefollowingtablesuseVCtoindicate
VirtualCenterServerandHCtoindicateHostClient,astandaloneESXServer.
Whensettingpermissions,verifyalltheobjecttypesaresetwithappropriateprivileges
foreachparticularaction.Someoperationsrequireaccesspermissionattherootfolder
orparentfolderinadditiontoaccesstotheobjectbeingmanipulated.Someoperations
requireaccessorperformancepermissionataparentfolderandarelatedobject.Refer
toChapter 15,ManagingUsers,Groups,Permissions,andRoles,onpage 247for
informationonapplyingprivilegestoinventoryobjects.
RefertoTable 151,DefaultRoles,onpage 255foralistofpredefinedgrouped
privileges.
Thisappendixcontainsthesetopics:
AlarmManagementonpage 326
Datacenteronpage 327
Datastoreonpage 327
Foldersonpage 328
Globalonpage 329
HostConfigurationonpage 330
HostInventoryonpage 331
HostLocalOperationsonpage 332
Networkonpage 333
Defined Privileges A
326 VMware, Inc.

Performanceonpage 333
ScheduledTaskonpage 336
Sessionsonpage 336
VirtualMachineConfigurationonpage 337
VirtualMachineInteractiononpage 339
VirtualMachineInventoryonpage 340
VirtualMachineProvisioningonpage 341
VirtualMachineStateonpage 342
Alarm Management
Table A-1. Alarm Management Privileges
Privilege
Name Description Used
Pair with
Object
Effective
on Object
CreateAlarm
1
Createsanewalarm.
UserinterfaceelementAlarmtab
popupmenu,Filemenu
VConly Alarm
object
parent
All
inventory
items
DeleteAlarm Deletesanexistingalarm.
popupmenu,Filemenu
VConly Alarm
object
parent
All
inventory
items
ModifyAlarm Changesthepropertiesofanexisting
alarm.
popupmenu,Filemenu
VConly Alarm
object
parent
All
inventory
items
1
Whencreatingalarmswithacustomaction,privilegetoperformtheactionisverifiedwhentheuse
createsthealarm.
VMware, Inc. 327
Appendix A Defined Privileges

Datacenter
Datastore
Table A-2. Datacenter Privileges
Privilege
Name Description Affects
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
Create
Datacenter
Createsanewdatacenter.
UserinterfaceelementInventory
popupmenu,toolbarbutton,andFile>
NewDatacenter
VConly Datacenter Datacenter
folders
Delete
Datacenter
Removesadatacenter.
popupmenu,Inventory>Datacenter>
Remove,Edit>Remove
VConly Datacenter
plusparent
object
Datacenters
Move
Datacenter
Movesadatacenter.
Privilegemustbepresentatboththe
sourceanddestination.
draganddrop
VConly Datacenter,
sourceand
destination
Datacenters,
Datacenter
folders
Rename
Datacenter
Changesthenameofadatacenter.
object,inventorypopupmenu,Edit>
Rename,Inventory>Datacenter>
Rename
VConly Datacenter Datacenters
Table A-3. Datastore Privileges
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
Browse
Datastore
Browsesfilesonadatastore.
UserinterfaceelementAddexisting
disk,browseforCDROMorFloppy
media,serialorparallelportfiles
HCandVC Datastores Datastores
Delete
Datastore
Removesadatastore.
datastorepopupmenu,Edit>Remove,
Inventory>Datastore>Remove
328 VMware, Inc.

Folders
Delete
DatastoreFile
Deletesafileinthedatastore.
UserinterfaceelementDatastore
BrowsertoolbarbuttonandDatastore
popupmenu
Rename
Datastore
Renamesadatastore.
UserinterfaceelementDatastore
PropertiesdialogChangebutton,host
Summarytabpopupmenu
Table A-3. Datastore Privileges (Continued)
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
Table A-4. Folder Privileges
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
CreateFolder Createsanewfolder.
UserinterfaceelementTaskbar
button,Filemenu,popupmenu
VConly Folders Folders
DeleteFolder Deletesafolder.
UserinterfaceelementFilemenu,
popupmenu
VConly Foldersplus
parentobject
Folders
MoveFolder Movesafolder.
draganddrop
VConly Folders,
sourceand
destination
Folders
RenameFolder Changesthenameofafolder.
paneobjecttextfield,popupmenu,File
menu
VConly Folders Folders
VMware, Inc. 329

Global
Table A-5. Global Privileges
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
CancelTask Cancelsarunningorqueuedtask.
UserinterfaceelementRecenttasks
panepopupmenu,Tasks&Events
popupmenu.Cancurrentlycancel
cloneandclonetotemplate.
HCandVC Anyobject Inventory
object
relatedtothe
task
Diagnostics Getslistofdiagnosticfiles,logheader,
binaryfiles,ordiagnosticbundle.
UserinterfaceelementFile>Export>
ExportDiagnosticData,AdminSystem
Logstab
VConly Anyobject Rootfolder
Licenses Seeswhatlicensesareinstalledand
addsorremoveslicenses.
UserinterfaceelementLicensestab,
Configuration>LicensedFeatures
HCandVC Anyobject Rootfolder
LogEvent Logsauserdefinedeventagainsta
particularmanagedentity.
UserinterfaceelementShouldaskfor
areasonwhenshuttingdownor
rebootingahost.
HCandVC Allobjects All
inventory
objects
Manage
Custom
Properties
Adds,removes,renamescustomfields
foramanagedentity.
Userinterfaceelement
Administration>CustomAttributes
VConly Allobjects Rootfolder
SetCustom
Properties
Views,creates,andremovescustom
fields.
UserinterfaceelementAnylistview
showsthefieldsdefinedandallows
settingthem
VConly Allobjects All
inventory
objects
Settings ReadsandmodifiesruntimeVC
configurationsettings.
Administration>VMware
VirtualCenterSettingsfilemenu
VCServer PreparesorinitiatesaVMotionsend
operationoraVMotionreceive
operation.
NouserVIClientinterfaceelementsare
associatedwiththisprivilege.
330 VMware, Inc.

Host Configuration
Table A-6. Host Configuration Privileges
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
Advanced
Configuration
Setsadvancedoptionsinhost
configuration.
UserinterfaceelementHostConfig>
AdvancedSettings,Inventoryhierarchy
popupmenu
HCandVC Hosts Hosts
ChangeSNMP
Settings
Edits,restarts,andstopsSNMPagent.
HCandVC Hosts Hosts
Connection Changestheconnectionstatusofahost
(connectedordisconnected).
UserinterfaceelementRightclick
Host
VConly Hosts Hosts
Hyper
Threading
Enablesanddisableshyperthreadingin
thehostCPUscheduler.
Processors
HCandVC Hosts Hosts
Maintenance Putsthehostinandoutofmaintenance
mode,shutsdownandrestartsthehost.
UserinterfaceelementHostpopup
menu,Inventory>Host>Enter
MaintenanceMode
HCandVC Hosts Hosts
Memory
Configuration
Setsconfiguredserviceconsolememory
reservation.
Memory
HCandVC Hosts Hosts
Internet
Service
Enablesanddisablesinternetservices
providedbyserviceconsole,suchas
SSH,Telnet,SNMP.
SecurityProfile
HCandVC Hosts Hosts
Network
Configuration
Configuresnetwork,firewall,and
VMotionnetwork.
Networking,NetworkAdapter,DNS
andRouting
HCandVC Hosts Hosts
VMware, Inc. 331

Host Inventory
System
Resource
Settings
Updatestheconfigurationofthesystem
resourcehierarchy.
SystemResourceAllocation
HCandVC Hosts Hosts
Storage
Partition
Configuration
ManagesVMFSdatastoreand
diagnosticpartitions.Scansfornew
storagedevices.ManagesiSCSI.
Storage,StorageAdapters,Host
Configurationtabdatastorepopup
menu
HCandVC Hosts Hosts
Virtual
Machine
Autostart
Configuration
Changesautostartandautostoporder
ofvirtualmachinesonasinglehost.
VirtualMachineStartuporShutdown
HCandVC Hosts Hosts
Table A-6. Host Configuration Privileges (Continued)
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
Table A-7. Host Inventory Privileges
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
AddHostTo
Cluster
Addsahosttoanexistingcluster.
popupmenu
VConly Hosts Clusters
Add
standalone
Host
Addsastandalonehost.
UserinterfaceelementToolbar
button,inventorypopupmenu,
Inventory>Datacenter>AddHost,File
>New>AddHost,Hosttabpopup
menu
VConly Hosts Datacenters,
Hostfolders
CreateCluster Createsanewcluster.
UserinterfaceelementToolbar
button,inventorypopupmenu,
Inventory>Datacenter>NewCluster,
File>New>Cluster
VConly Clusters Datacenters,
Hostfolders
DeleteCluster Deletesaclusterorstandalonehost.
popupmenu,Edit>Remove,
Inventory>Cluster>Remove
VConly Clustersplus
parentobject
Clusters,
Hosts
332 VMware, Inc.

Host Local Operations
Modify
Cluster
Changesthepropertiesofacluster.
popupmenu,Inventory>Cluster>
EditSettings,Summarytab
VConly Clusters Clusters
MoveCluster Movesaclusterbetweenfolders.
hierarchy
VConly Clusters,
sourceand
destination
Clusters,
Hostfolders
MoveHost Movesasetofexistinghostsintoa
cluster.
hierarchydraganddrop
VConly Hosts,source
and
destination
Clusters,
Hostfolders
RemoveHost
FromCluster
Destroysahostinaclusteror
standalonehost.
draganddropoutofcluster,popup
menu,Inventory>Host>Remove
VConly Clustersplus
parentobject
Clusters,
Hostfolders
Rename
Cluster
Renamesacluster.
singleclick,inventoryhierarchypopup
menu,Inventory>Cluster>Rename
Table A-7. Host Inventory Privileges (Continued)
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
Table A-8. Host Local Operations Privileges
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
CreateVirtual
Machine
Createsanewvirtualmachinefrom
scratchonadiskwithoutregisteringit
onthehost.
HConly Rootfolder Rootfolder
DeleteVirtual
Machine
Deletesavirtualmachineondisk,
whetherregisteredornot.
VMware, Inc. 333

Network
Performance
InstallAgent Installsanduninstallsvariousagentson
ahost,forexample,vpxaandaam.
ManageUser
Groups
Manageslocalaccountsonahost.
UserinterfaceelementUsers&
Groupstab(onlypresentiftheVIClient
logsontothehostdirectly)
Table A-8. Host Local Operations Privileges (Continued)
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
Table A-9. Network Privileges
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
Delete
Network
Removesanetwork.
networkpopupmenu,Edit>Remove,
Inventory>Network>Remove
HCandVC Datacenter Datacenters
Table A-10. Alarm Management Privileges
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective
on Object
Modify
Intervals
Creates,removes,andupdates
performancedatacollectionintervals.
UserinterfaceelementVCSettings>
Statistics
VConly Rootfolder Rootfolder
334 VMware, Inc.

Permissions
Resource
Table A-11. Permissions Privileges
Privilege
Name Description Used
Pair with
Object
Effective
on Object
Modify
Permission
Definesoneormorepermissionrules
onanentity,orupdatesrulesifalready
presentforthegivenuserorgroupon
theentity.
UserinterfaceelementPermissions
tabpopupmenu,Inventory>
Permissionsmenu
HCandVC Anyobject
plusparent
object
All
inventory
items
ModifyRole Updatesarolesnameandthe
privileges.
UserinterfaceelementRolestab
popupmenu,toolbarbutton,File
menu
ReassignRole
Permissions
Reassignsallpermissionsofaroleto
anotherrole.
UserinterfaceelementDeleteRole
dialogboxradiobuttonandassociated
menu
Table A-12. Resource Privileges
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
Apply
Recommenda
tion
Askstheservertogoaheadwitha
suggestedVMotion.
UserinterfaceelementCluster
Migrationstab
AssignVirtual
MachineTo
Pool
Assignsvirtualmachinestoaresource
pool.
UserinterfaceelementVMCreation
wizard
HCandVC Resource
pools
Resource
pools
ColdMigrate Migratesavirtualmachinesexecution
toaspecificresourcepoolorhost.
popupmenu,VMSummarytab,
Inventory>VM>Migrate,dragand
drop
VConly Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
VMware, Inc. 335

CreatePool Createsanewresourcepool.
popupmenu,Summarytab,Resources
tab
HCandVC Resource
pools,
clusters
Resource
pools,
clusters
DeletePool Deletesaresourcepool.
UserinterfaceelementEdit>
Remove,Inventory>ResourcePool>
Remove,inventorypopupmenu,
Resourcestab
HCandVC Resource
poolsplus
parent
object
Resource
pools
EditPool Changestheallocationsofaresource
pool.
UserinterfaceelementInventory>
ResourcePool>Remove,Resourcestab
HCandVC Resource
poolsplus
parent
object
Resource
pools
HotMigrate Migratesavirtualmachinesexecution
toaspecificresourcepoolorhost.
popupmenu,VMSummarytab,
Inventory>VM>Migrate,dragand
drop
VConly Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
MovePool Movesaresourcepool.
Draganddrop
HCandVC Resource
pools,
sourceand
destination
Resource
pools
Query
VMotion
InvestigatesthegeneralVMotion
compatibilityofavirtualmachinewith
asetofhosts.
UserinterfaceelementRequired
whendisplayingthemigrationwizard
forapoweredonVM,tocheck
compatibility
RenamePool Renamesaresourcepool.
Rename,Inventory>ResourcePool>
Rename,singleclick,popupmenu
HCandVC Resource
pools
Resource
pools
Table A-12. Resource Privileges (Continued)
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
336 VMware, Inc.

Scheduled Task
Sessions
Table A-13. Scheduled Task Privileges
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
CreateTasks
1
Schedulesatask.Requiresthe
privilegestoperformthescheduled
actionatthetimeofscheduling.
UserinterfaceelementScheduled
Taskstoolbarbuttonandpopupmenu
VConly Allinventory
objects
Allinventory
objects
DeleteTask Removesascheduledtaskfromthe
queue.
Taskspopupmenu,Inventory>
ScheduledTask>Remove,Edit>
Remove
VConly Allinventory
objects
Allinventory
objects
ModifyTask Reconfiguresthescheduledtask
properties.
UserinterfaceelementInventory>
ScheduledTasks>Edit,Scheduled
Taskstabpopupmenu
VConly Allinventory
objects
Allinventory
objects
RunTask Runsthescheduledtaskimmediately.
Taskspopupmenu,Inventory>
ScheduledTask>Run
VConly Allinventory
objects
Allinventory
objects
1
Creatingandrunningatask(ondemand)requirespermissiontoinvoketheassociatedaction.For
example,Alarmsrequirespermissionsonafoldertocreatealarmsonobjectsinthatfolder.
Table A-14. Session Privileges
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
Global
Message
Setsthegloballogonmessage.
UserinterfaceelementSessionstab,
Administration>EditMessageofthe
Day
Terminate
Session
Forceslogoffofoneormoreloggedon
users.
UserinterfaceelementSessionstab
VMware, Inc. 337

Virtual Machine Configuration
Table A-15. Virtual Machine Privileges
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
AddExisting
Disk
Addsavirtualdiskthatreferstoan
existingvirtualdisk.
UserinterfaceelementVM
Configuration
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
AddNewDisk Addsavirtualdiskthatcreatesanew
virtualdisk.
Configuration
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
Addor
Remove
Device
Addsorremovesanynondiskdevice.
Configuration
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
Advanced ChangesvaluesinextraConfig.
ConfigurationWizard>Optionstab>
AdvancedlookforConfiguration
Parametersbutton
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
ChangeCPU
Count
ChangesthenumberofvirtualCPUs.
Configuration
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
DiskLease LeasesdisksforVMwareConsolidated
Backup.
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
Memory Changestheamountofmemory
allocatedtotheVM.
Configuration>Memory
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
ModifyDevice
Settings
Changesthepropertiesofanexisting
device.
ConfigurationSCSI/IDEnode
selection
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
RawDevice
1
Addsorremovesarawdiskmapping
orSCSIpassthroughdevice.
Configuration>Add/Removerawdisk
mapping
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
338 VMware, Inc.

RemoveDisk Removesavirtualdiskdevice.
Configuration>HardDisk(butnota
rawdiskmapping)
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
Rename Renamesavirtualmachineormodifies
theassociatednotesofavirtual
machine.
Configuration,inventory,inventory
popupmenu,Filemenu,Inventory
menu
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
ResetGuest
Information
Clearsguestinfovariables.
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
Resource Changesresourceconfigurationofaset
ofVMnodesinagivenresourcepool.
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
Settings ChangesgeneralVMsettings.
Configuration>Optionstab(exceptVM
name)
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
Upgrade
Virtual
Hardware
Upgradesthevirtualmachinesvirtual
hardwareversionfromaprevious
versionofVMware.
UserinterfaceelementPopupmenu,
Filemenu(appearsonlyifvmxfile
showsalowerconfigurationnumber)
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
1
Settingthisparameteroverridesanyotherprivilegeformodifyingrawdevices,includingconnection
states.
Table A-15. Virtual Machine Privileges (Continued)
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
VMware, Inc. 339

Virtual Machine Interaction
Table A-16. Virtual Machine Interaction
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
Answer
Question
ResolvesissueswithVMstate
transitionsorruntimeerrors.
UserinterfaceelementSummarytab,
Inventorymenu,popupmenu
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
Console
Interaction
Interactswiththevirtualmachines
virtualmouse,keyboard,andscreen;
getsscreenshotinformation.
UserinterfaceelementConsoletab,
toolbarbutton,Inventory>Virtual
Machine>OpenConsole,inventory
popupmenu
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
Device
Connection
Changestheconnectedstateofavirtual
machinesdisconnectablevirtual
devices.
Configuration
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
PowerOff Powersoffapoweredonvirtual
machine,shutsdownguest.
UserinterfaceelementFilemenu
item,popupmenu,popupconsole
menu,toolbarbutton,Summarytab
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
PowerOn Powersonapoweredoffvirtual
machine,resumesasuspendedvirtual
machine.
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
Reset ResetsVM,rebootsguest.
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
SetCDMedia ChangesthebackingofaCDROM
device.
Configuration>DVD/CDROM
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
SetFloppy
Media
Changesthebackingofafloppydevice.
Configuration
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
340 VMware, Inc.

Virtual Machine Inventory
Suspend Suspendsapoweredonvirtual
machine,putsguestinstandbymode.
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
ToolsInstall MountsandunmountstheVMware
ToolsCDinstallerasaCDROMforthe
guestoperatingsystem.
menu
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
Table A-16. Virtual Machine Interaction (Continued)
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
Table A-17. Virtual Machine Inventory Privileges
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
Create Createsanewvirtualmachineand
allocatesresourcesforitsexecution.
popupmenu,SummarytabNew
VirtualMachinelinks
HCandVC Parent
folders
Virtual
machine
folders
Delete Deletesavirtualmachine,optionally
removesunderlyingfilesfromdisk.
popupmenu,Summarytab
HCandVC Virtual
machines
plusparent
folders
Virtual
machines
Move Relocatesavirtualmachineinthe
hierarchy.
hierarchydraganddropinVirtual
Machines&Templatesview
VConly Virtual
machines,
parent
folders
Virtual
machines,
virtual
machine
folders
VMware, Inc. 341

Virtual Machine Provisioning
Table A-18. Virtual Machine Provisioning Privileges
Privilege Name Description Affects
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
AllowDisk
Access
Opensadiskonavirtualmachinefor
randomreadandwriteaccess.Used
mostlyforremotediskmounting.
n/a Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
AllowReadOnly
DiskAccess
Opensadiskonavirtualmachinefor
randomreadaccess.Usedmostlyfor
remotediskmounting.
n/a Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
AllowVirtual
MachineFiles
Download
Readsfilesassociatedwithavirtual
machine,includingvmx,disks,logs,
andnvram.
HCand
VC
Virtual
machines
Rootfolders
AllowVirtual
MachineFiles
Upload
Writesfilesassociatedwithavirtual
machine,includingvmx,disks,logs,
andnvram.
HCand
VC
Virtual
machines
Rootfolders
Clone Clonesanexistingvirtualmachineand
allocatesresources.
popupmenu,Summarytab
VConly Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
CloneTemplate Clonesatemplate.
popupmenu,VirtualMachinestab
VConly Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
CreateTemplate
FromVirtual
Machine
Createsanewtemplatefromavirtual
machine.
UserinterfaceelementCloneto
template...Filemenu,popupmenu,
Summarytabitems
VConly Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
Customize Customizesavirtualmachinesguest
operatingsystemwithoutmovingthe
VM.
UserinterfaceelementCloneVirtual
MachineWizard:GuestCustomization
VConly Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
342 VMware, Inc.

Virtual Machine State
DeployTemplate Createsanewvirtualmachinefroma
template.
UserinterfaceelementDeployto
templatefilemenu,popupmenu
items,VirtualMachinestab
VConly Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
MarkAs
Template
Marksanexisting,poweredoffVMasa
template.
UserinterfaceelementConvertto
template...Filemenu,popupmenu
items,VirtualMachinestab,Summary
tab
VConly Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
MarkAsVirtual
Machine
MarksanexistingtemplateasaVM.
UserinterfaceelementConvertto
VirtualMachine...Filemenu,popup
menuitems,VirtualMachinestab
VConly Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
Modify
Customization
Specs
Creates,modifies,ordeletes
customizationspecifications.
CustomizationSpecificationsManager
Read
Customization
Specs
Viewsthecustomizationspecifications
definedonthesystem.
CustomizationSpecifications
Table A-18. Virtual Machine Provisioning Privileges (Continued)
Privilege Name Description Affects
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
Table A-19. Virtual Machine State Privileges
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
Create
Snapshot
Createsanewsnapshotfromthevirtual
machinescurrentstate.
toolbarbutton,Inventorymenu
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
Remove
Snapshot
Removesasnapshotfromthesnapshot
history.
toolbarbutton,Inventorymenu
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
VMware, Inc. 343

Rename
Snapshot
Renamesthissnapshotwitheithera
newnameoranewdescriptionorboth.
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
RevertTo
Snapshot
SetstheVMtothestateitwasinata
givensnapshot.
toolbarbutton,Inventorymenu,Virtual
Machinestab
HCandVC Virtual
machines
Virtual
machines
Table A-19. Virtual Machine State Privileges (Continued)
Privilege
Pair with
Object
Effective on
Object
344 VMware, Inc.

VMware, Inc. 345

B
IfyouplantocustomizeaWindowsguestoperatingsystem,youmustfirstinstallthe
MicrosoftSyspreptoolsonyourVirtualCenterServermachine.
MicrosoftincludestheSyspreptoolsetontheinstallationCDROMdiscsforWindows
2000,WindowsXP,andWindows2003.ItalsodistributesSysprep1.1fromthe
MicrosoftWebsite.ToperformaWindowscustomization,youmustinstalltheSysprep
toolseitherfromyourinstallationdisc,orfromthe1.1downloadpackage.
Duringcustomization,VirtualCentersearchesfortheSyspreppackagecorresponding
toyourguestoperatingsystem.IftheSyspreptoolsarenotfoundunderthe
correspondingoperatingsystemdirectory,VirtualCentersearchesintheprovided
\1.1directory.IfVirtualCenterdoesnotfindanySyspreptools,theWindowsvirtual
machinecustomizationdoesnotproceed.
To install the Microsoft Sysprep tools from a Microsoft Web site download
1 DownloadtheSyspreppackagefrom:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/tools/sysprep/default.asp
AlthoughtheSysprepversionindicatesWindows2000,itworkswithboth
WindowsXPProfessionalandWindowsServer2003.
2 ClickNexttocontinue.
3 ClickIagreetoacceptthetermsandconditions.
4 ClickDownload.
5 Savethefiletoyourlocaldisk.
6 RuntheMicrosoftinstaller:
Installing the Microsoft
Sysprep Tools B
346 VMware, Inc.

Q257813_w2k_spl_x86_en.exe
7 Extractthefilestotheprovideddirectory.
ThefollowingSysprepsupportdirectorieswerecreatedduringVirtualCenter
installation:
C:\<ALLUSERSPROFILE>\Application Data\Vmware\VMware VirtualCenter\sysprep
...\1.1\
...\2k\
...\xp\
...\svr2003\
where <ALLUSERSPROFILE> is usually \Documents And Settings\All Users\.
This is where vpxd.cfg is also located.
Selectthe1.1subdirectory.
8 ClickOKtoexpandthefiles.
AfteryouhaveextractedthefilesfromQ257813_w2k_spl_x86_en.exetothe
\1.1directory,youshouldsee:
...\1.1\docs\
...\1.1\samples\
...\1.1\tools\
...\1.1\contents.txt
To install the Microsoft Sysprep tools from the Windows operating system CD
1 InserttheWindowsoperatingsystemCDintotheCDROMdrive(oftentheD:
drive.
2 LocatetheDEPLOY.CABfileintheCDdirectory,\Support\Tools.
3 OpenandexpandtheDEPLOY.CABfile,usingatoolsuchasWinzip.exeoranother
toolcapableofreadingMicrosoftCABfiles.
4 ExtractthefilestothedirectoryappropriatetoyourSysprepguestoperating
system.
ThefollowingSysprepsupportdirectorieswerecreatedduringVirtualCenter
installation:
C:\<ALLUSERSPROFILE>\Application Data\Vmware\VMware VirtualCenter\sysprep
...\1.1\
...\2k\
...\xp\
...\svr2003\
where<ALLUSERSPROFILE>isusually\Documents And Settings\All Users\.
Thisiswherevpxd.cfgisalsolocated.
VMware, Inc. 347
Appendix B Installing the Microsoft Sysprep Tools

Selectthesubdirectorythatcorrespondstoyouroperatingsystem.
5 ClickOKtoexpandthefiles.
AfteryouhaveextractedthefilesfromDEPLOY.CAB,youshouldsee:
...\<guest>\deptool.chm
...\<guest>\readme.txt
...\<guest>\setupcl.exe
...\<guest>\setupmgr.exe
...\<guest>\setupmgx.dll
...\<guest>\sysprep.exe
...\<guest>\unattend.doc
where<guest>iseither2k,xp,orsvr2003.
6 RepeatthisproceduretoextractSysprepfilesforeachoftheWindowsguest
operatingsystems(Windows2000,WindowsXP,orWindows2003)youplanto
customizeusingVirtualCenter.
YouarenowreadytocustomizeanewvirtualmachinewithasupportedWindows
guestoperatingsystemwhenyoucloneanexistingvirtualmachine.
348 VMware, Inc.

VMware, Inc. 349

C
Thefollowingtableliststhemeasurementoptionsforeachresourcemonitoredona
host.ThefollowingtablesuseVCtoindicateVirtualCenterServerandHtoindicate
HostClient,astandaloneESXServer.
Performance Chart
Measurements C
350 VMware, Inc.

CPU
Disk
Table C-1. CPU Performance Chart
Inventory Resource
Cluster R Pool VM Host Name Item Measured
CPUPerformanceChart
VCH VCH CPUusageaspercentageoverthecollected
interval
VC VCH VCH VCH CPUusageinMHzoverthecollected
interval
VCH CPUreservedcapacity
VCH CPUtimespentonwaitstate
VCH CPUtimespentonreadystate
VCH CPUtimespentonsystemprocesses
VCH CPUtimethatisextra
VCH CPUtimethatisguaranteed
Table C-2. Disk Performance Chart
Inventory Object Resource
DiskPerformanceChart
VCH VCH Amountofdatareadfromthediskinthe
period
VCH VCH Amountofdatawrittentothediskinthe
period
VCH VCH Aggregatedstorageperformancestatistics
VCH VCH Numberofdiskwritesintheperiod
VCH VCH Numberofdiskreadsintheperiod
VCH VCH ResourceGroupCPUsamplecount
VCH VCH ResourceGroupCPUschedulinglimitover
oneminute
5minutes
VMware, Inc. 351
Appendix C Performance Chart Measurements

15minutes
VCH VCH ResourceGroupCPUrunningpeakover1
minute
minutes
minutes
VCH VCH ResourceGroupCPUrunningaverageover
1minute
5minutes
15minutes
VCH VCH ResourceGroupCPUactivepeakover1
minute
minutes
minutes
VCH VCH ResourceGroupCPUactiveaverageover1
minute
minutes
minutes
Table C-2. Disk Performance Chart (Continued)
352 VMware, Inc.

DRS
Memory
Table C-3. DRS Performance Chart
DRS
VC DRSeffectiveCPUresourcesavailable
VC DRSeffectivememoryresourcesavailable
VC DRSnumberoffailuresthatcanbetolerated
Table C-4. Memory Performance Chart
MemoryPerformanceChart
VC VC VCH VCH Memoryusageaspercentageoftotal
availablememory
VC VCH VCH VCH Memoryzero
VC VCH Memorystate
VC VCH Freespaceinmemoryheap
VCH Memoryreservedcapacity
VC VCH VCH VCH Amountofmemorygranted
VC VCH VCH VCH Amountofmemoryusedbymemory
control
VC VCH Amountofmemorythatcanbeusedby
memorycontrol
VC VCH Amountofmemorythatisunreserved
VC Amountofmemorythatisunreservedby
swap
VC VCH VCH VCH Amountofmemorythatisactivelyused
VC VCH VCH VCH Amountofmemorythatisshared
VC VCH Amountofmemorythatisusedbyswap
VC VCH Amountofmemorythatcanbeswapped
VMware, Inc. 353

VCH VCH Amountofmemorythatisswapped
VC VCH Amountofmemorythatisswappedin
VC VCH Amountofmemorythatisswappedout
VC VCH VCH VCH Amountofmemorythatisanoverhead
VC VCH Amountofmemorythatisallocatedforheap
VCH Amountofmemorythatissharedby
common
Table C-4. Memory Performance Chart (Continued)
354 VMware, Inc.

Network
Resource Group
Table C-5. Network Performance Chart
NetworkPerformanceChart
VCH VCH Aggregatednetworkperformancestatistics
VCH VCH Amountofdatareceivedintheperiod
VCH VCH Amountofdatatransmittedintheperiod
VCH VCH Numberofpacketstransmittedintheperiod
VCH VCH Numberofpacketsreceivedintheperiod
Table C-6. Resource Group Performance Chart
ResourceGroupCPUPerformanceChart
VCH VCH ResourceGroupCPUsampleperiod
VCH VCH ResourceGroupCPUsamplecount
oneminute
5minutes
15minutes
minute
minutes
minutes
1minute
VMware, Inc. 355

System
5minutes
15minutes
minute
minutes
minutes
minute
minutes
minutes
Table C-6. Resource Group Performance Chart
Table C-7. System Performance Chart
SystemPerformanceChart
VCH VCH Numberofsecondssincestartup
VCH Numberofheartbeatsinthisperiod
VCH ResourceCPUusage
356 VMware, Inc.

VMware, Inc. 357 VMware, Inc. 357

Index
A
access
permissions 262
rules 248
access permissions
assigning 263
changing 267
removing 268
active sessions 73
sending messages 73
terminating 73
adding
DVD/CD-ROMs 183
existing virtual machines 150
floppy devices 183
hosts 101
inventory objects 96
parallel port 183
serial port 181, 182
virtual machines 150
advanced configuration
hosts 110
alarms 24, 309
creating 314
editing 320
email notification 309
preparing SMTP notification 311
preparing SNMP notification 312
removing 321
tab 49
assigning
access permissions 263
audio
configuring 180
automating upgrades
VMware Tools 138
B
BusLogic SCSI adapter in virtual
machine 126
C
canceling
scheduled task 301
changing
CPU configuration 169
Ethernet adapter 165
floppy drive 162
memory 165
parallel port 166
port number 69
SCSI controllers 166
SCSI device 163
serial port 168
virtual disk 164
virtual machine power states 141
charts
performance 270
cloning
existing templates 206
358 VMware, Inc.

existing virtual machines 215
roles 259
virtual machines to a template 205
clusters 23
removing hosts 106
shared storage 234
collecting
log files 87
commands
service console 38
configuring
audio 180
communication through a firewall 68
hosts 62
SMTP 311
SNMP 74
virtual machine hardware 160
VirtualCenter Server port 69
connecting
hosts 104
Console tab 49
CPU
advanced settings 176
changing 169
compatibility 238
configuration 169
CPUs
monitoring with SNMP 77
creating
alarms 314
roles 257
templates 204
custom
D
datacenters 23
datastores 23
deleting
exiting template 212
DHCP 38
disconnecting
hosts 104
disk
resources 179
disks
independent 225
DVD/CD-ROMs
adding 183
changing 161
E
editing
alarms 320
maps 280
roles 260
templates 208
email
notification option 311, 312
notification type 309
ESX Server
rebooting 32
ESX Server commands
viewing 65
Ethernet adapter
changing 165
events 24, 306
exporting 86, 307
navigation bar 49
tab 49
viewing messages 303
VMware, Inc. 359
Index

viewing selected 305
exporting
events 86, 307
maps 285
F
firewall
configuring communication 68
floppy devices
adding 183
floppy drive
changing 162
folders 23
G
global maps 277
graphs
viewing 273
groups 248, 253
guest operating system
installing 132
H
hardware
new 181
heartbeat
host network configuration
viewing 64
hosts 22
about 99
adding 101
advanced configuration 110
automatically reconnecting 106
configuring 62
connecting 104
disconnecting 104
removing from clusters 106
removing from VirtualCenter 108
states 101
tab 49
I
image files
ISO 162
independent disks 225
installing
guest operating system 132
VMware Tools 133
inventory
maps 277
navigation bar 49
tabs overview 49
VirtualCenter 24
inventory objects
adding 96
moving 97
removing 98
ISO image files 162
K
knowledge base
accessing 13
L
license server 20
log files
collecting 87
logging off
VI Client 36
VI Web Access 36
logging on
VI Client 35
VI Web Access 36
logs 25
360 VMware, Inc.

LSI Logic SCSI adapter in virtual
machine 126
M
man pages
service console 38
managed hosts
removing 109
managing
scheduled tasks 293
tasks 289
mapping
SAN LUN 130
maps 24, 276
editing 280
elements 279
exporting 285
global 277
inventory 277
navigating 286
printing 284
viewing 280
VMotion resources 277
memory
changing 165
resources 178
migration 232
wizard 239
monitoring
VI environment 269
moving
N
navigating
maps 286
navigation bar
overview 47
network
network requirements
VMotion 236
networks 23
notification
alarm options 309
run script option 310
SNMP trap 310
notification option
email 311
power off virtual machine 311
reset virtual machine 311
SMTP 311
SNMP 312
suspend virtual machine 311
O
options
P
parallel port
adding 183
changing 166
parent snapshot 228
parent snapshots 228
percentage
alarm types 309
performance
charts 270
tab 49
performance charts
resources 270
VMware, Inc. 361
Index

viewing 271
permissions 248, 254
access 262
settings 249
tab 49
port configuration
VirtualCenter Server 69
Web connection 69
power off
notification option 311
toolbar 143
power on
toolbar 143
power states
transitional 144
virtual machines 141, 146
preparing
SMTP notification 311
SNMP notification 312
printing
maps 284
privileges 248
properties
VMware Tools 135
R
rebooting
ESX Server 32
removing
alarms 321
hosts from VirtualCenter 108
managed hosts 109
roles 261
scheduled task 300
scheduled tasks 300
requirements
VMotion 234
rescheduling
scheduled tasks 300
reset
toolbar 143
resource
disk 179
resource pools 22
resource settings
resources
CPU 175
memory 178
performance charts 270
restarting
VirtualCenter 34
restoring
snapshots 227
resume
reverting
snapshots 229
roles 248, 254
cloning 259
creating 257
default 255
editing 260
removing 261
renaming 262
rules
access 248
S
SAN LUN
362 VMware, Inc.

mapping 130
scheduled task
about 24
removing 300
rescheduling 300
scheduled tasks
canceling 301
clone virtual machine 218
managing 293
overview 290
removing 300
rescheduling 300
scheduling
power states 146
script
SCSI controllers
changing 166
security
viewing configuration 64
serial port
adding 181, 182
changing 168
service console 37
commands 38
connecting 38
DHCP 38
man pages 38
using DHCP 38
SMTP
notification option 311, 312
snapshots
changing disk mode 225
parent 228
restoring 227
reverting 229
snapshot manager 226
taking 223
understanding 221
SNMP
and VMware Tools 79
configuring 74
location of the VMware sub-tree 77
software components
datastore 19
ESX Server 19
host agent 20
license server 20
VirtualCenter agent 20
VirtualCenter database 19
sorting 306
event messages 306
starting
VI Client 35
VirtualCenter 33
states
alarm type 309
statistics
collection level 276
setting collection intervals 274
stopping
VI Client 36
VirtualCenter 33
storage information
viewing 64
Summary tab 49
suspend
toolbar 143
VMware, Inc. 363
Index

T
tabs
Admin tab 49
Summary 49
tasks 24
canceling 301
managing 289
navigation bar 49
viewing 290
templates 22
converting to a virtual machine 211
creating 204
deploying virtual machines 209
editing 208
navigation bar 49
terminating
active sessions 73
toolbar
power off 143
power on 143
reset 143
suspend 143
U
Upgrading
VMware Tools 134
user groups
accessing 14
users 251
V
VI Client 34
logging off 36
logging on 35
starting 35
stopping 36
VI Web Access 21, 36
logging off 36
logging on 36
viewing
ESX Server commands 65
event messages 303
graphs 273
host network configuration 64
maps 280
performance charts 271
storage information 64
tasks 290
VirtualCenter events 305
virtual machine
logs 85
wizard 114
virtual machine name 116, 122
virtual machines
adding 150
adding existing 150
advanced settings 172
cloning 215
configuring 159
creating custom 121
deploying from templates 209
managing 141
manually powering on and off 144
options 170
power states 141
properties editor 159
removing 150
resource settings 175
resume 145
returning 152
scheduling power states 146
shutdown 155
364 VMware, Inc.

startup 155
suspend 145
tab 49
Virtual SCSI adapter, BusLogic or LSI
Logic 126
VirtualCenter
inventory 24
restarting 34
starting 33
stopping 33
VirtualCenter Server
stopping 34
VMotion 21, 232, 233
compatibility 237
CPU requirements 234
network best practices 237
network requirements 236
Nx/XD considerations 235
requirements 234
resource maps 277
shared storage requirements 234
SSE3 considerations 235
VMware Authorization Service
log 88
VMware community forums
accessing 13
VMware DRS 22
VMware High Availability (HA) 21
VMware SDK 22
VMware Service Console 21
VMware Tools
About tab 138
and SNMP 79
automating upgrades 138
Devices tab 136
installing 133
Options tab 135
properties 135
Scripts tab 136
upgrading 134
W
Web connection
port configuration 69
VMware, Inc. Update1
Updates for Basic System
Administration
LastUpdated:February12,2010
ThisdocumentprovidesyouwithupdatestoESXServer3.0.1andVirtualCenter2.0.1
versionofBasicSystemAdministration.Updateddescriptions,procedures,andgraphics
areorganizedbypagenumbersoyoucaneasilylocatetheareasoftheguidethathave
changes.Ifthechangespansmultiplesequentialpages,thisdocumentprovidesthe
startingpagenumberonly.
ThefollowingisalistofBasicSystemAdministrationpageupdatesinthisdocument:
UpdatesfortheConfiguringSNMPTrapDestinationsProcedureonPage 80
UpdatesfortheCreatingCustomVirtualMachinesProcedureonPage 127
UpdatesfortheInstallingandUpgradingVMwareToolsProcedureonPage 134
UpdatesfortheSchedulingaPowerStateChangeforaVirtualMachine
ProcedureonPage 149
UpdatesfortheStartingandShuttingDownVirtualMachinesProcedureon
Page 157
UpdatesfortheChangingtheAudioConfigurationonPage 180
AdditionoftheCustomizingaLinuxGuestOperatingSystemProcedureon
Page 189
UpdatesforthePreparingforGuestCustomizationDiscussiononPage 190
UpdatesfortheCreatinganAlarmProcedureonPage 319
Updates for Basic System Administration
Update2 VMware, Inc.

Updates for the Configuring SNMP Trap Destinations
Procedure on Page 80
TheprocedureConfiguringSNMPTrapDestinationsonpage 80containserrors.The
correctprocedurefollows.
To enable and disable traps
1 Edittheconfig.xmlfile.
Theconfigurationparametersnmp/generateTrapsinthe
/etc/vmware/hostd/config.xmlfiledetermineswhethertogenerateatrap.By
default,atrapisgenerated.
2 Todisabletraps,addthefollowingentrytothefile:
<plugins>
<snmpsvc><generateTraps>false</generateTraps></snmpsvc>
</plugins>
3 Toreenabletraps,removetheentryfromthefile.
4 Restartvmware-hostdtoseethechangetakeeffect.
Updates for the Creating Custom Virtual Machines
Step 19showsanincorrectscreenshotfortheVirtualDiskCapacitypageoftheNew
VirtualMachinewizard.Thecorrectscreenshotfollows:
Updates for the Installing and Upgrading VMware Tools
TheprocedureToinstallorupgradeVMwareTools(SEEUPDATE)describesinstalling
orupgradingVMwareToolsonWindowsguestoperatingsystemsonly.Theheading
forthisprocedureshouldreadToinstallorupgradeVMwareToolsonaWindows
guestoperatingsystem.
ThissectionofthemanualomittedproceduresforinstallingandupgradingVMware
ToolsonLinux,Solaris,andNetwareguestoperatingsystems.Theseprocedures
follow.
To install or upgrade VMware Tools on a Linux guest operating system from X
with the RPM installer
1 Openaconsoletothevirtualmachine.
2 Poweronthevirtualmachine.
3 Aftertheguestoperatingsystemstarts,rightclickthevirtualmachineandchoose
InstallVMwareTools.
Theremainingstepstakeplaceinsidethevirtualmachine.
4 Dooneofthefollowing:
IfyouseeaVMwareToolsCDicononthedesktop,doubleclickit,andafter
itopens,doubleclicktheRPMinstallerintherootoftheCDROM.
Ifyouseeafilemanagerwindow,doubleclicktheRPMinstallerfile.
InsomeLinuxdistributions,theVMwareToolsCDiconmightfailtoappear.In
thiscase,continuetoinstallVMwareToolsfromthecommandline.
5 Whenprompted,entertherootpasswordandclickOK.
Theinstallerpreparesthepackages.
6 ClickContinuewhentheinstallerpresentsadialogboxthatshowsCompleted
SystemPreparation.
Adialogboxappearswithaprogressbar.Whentheinstallerisdone,VMware
Toolsisinstalled.Thereisnoconfirmationorfinishbutton.
7 InanXterminal,asroot(su -),runthefollowingfiletoconfigureVMwareTools:
vmware-config-tools.pl
Respondtothequestions.PressEntertoacceptthedefaultvalue.

8 Exitfromtherootaccount:
exit
9 InanXterminal,opentheVMwareToolsPropertiesdialogbox:
vmware-toolbox &
To install or upgrade VMware Tools on a Linux guest operating system with the
tar installer or RPM installer
1 Ifyouhaveapreviousinstallation,deletethepreviousvmware-tools-distrib
directorybeforeinstalling.Thedefaultlocationofthisdirectoryis:
/tmp/vmware-tools-distrib
InstallVMwareTools.
5 Asroot(su -),mounttheVMwareToolsvirtualCDROMimageandchangetoa
workingdirectory(forexample,/tmp),asfollows.
SomeLinuxdistributionsautomaticallymountCDROMs.Ifyourdistribution
usesautomounting,donotusethemountandumountcommandsdescribedinthis
procedure.YoustillmustuntartheVMwareToolsinstallerto/tmp.
SomeLinuxdistributionsusedifferentdevicenamesororganizethe/dev
directorydifferently.Modifythefollowingcommandstoreflecttheconventions
thatyourdistributionuses:
mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom
cd /tmp
6 UncompresstheinstallerandunmounttheCDROMimage.
DependingonwhetheryouareusingthetarinstallerortheRPMinstaller,doone
ofthefollowing:
Forthetarinstaller,atthecommandprompt,enter:
tar zxpf /mnt/cdrom/VMwareTools-5.0.0-<xxxx>.tar.gz
umount /dev/cdrom
where <xxxx> isthebuildorrevisionnumberoftherelease.
FortheRPMinstaller,atthecommandprompt,enter:
rpm -Uhv /mnt/cdrom/VMwareTools-5.0.0-<xxxx>.i386.rpm
umount /dev/cdrom
where <xxxx> isthebuildorrevisionnumberoftherelease.
Ifyouattempttoinstallanrpminstallationoveratarinstallation,orthe
reverse,theinstallerdetectsthepreviousinstallationandmustconvertthe
installerdatabaseformatbeforecontinuing.
7 Dooneofthefollowing:
Forthetarinstaller,runtheVMwareToolstarinstaller:
cd vmware-tools-distrib
./vmware-install.pl
Answerthequestions.PressEntertoacceptthedefaultvalue.
FortheRPMinstaller,configureVMwareTools:
vmware-config-tools.pl
8 Logofffromtherootaccount.
exit
9 Startyourgraphicalenvironment.
10 InanXterminalwindow,opentheVMwareToolsPropertiesdialogbox:
vmware-toolbox &
To install or upgrade VMware Tools on a Solaris guest operating system

InstallVMwareTools.
4 Loginasroot(su -)and,ifnecessary,mounttheVMwareToolsvirtualCDROM
image,asfollows.
Usually,theSolarisvolumemanager(vold)mountstheCDROMin
/cdrom/vmwaretools.IftheCDROMisnotmounted,restartthevolume
managerbyusingthefollowingcommands:
/etc/init.d/volmgt stop
/etc/init.d/volmgt start
5 AftertheCDROMismounted,changetoaworkingdirectory(forexample,/tmp)
andextractVMwareTools,asfollows:
cd /tmp
gunzip -c /cdrom/vmwaretools/vmware-solaris-tools.tar.gz | tar xf -
6 RuntheVMwareToolstarinstaller:
cd vmware-tools-distrib
./vmware-install.pl
7 Logofffromtherootaccount.
exit
8 Startyourgraphicalenvironment.
9 InanXterminalwindow,opentheVMwareToolsPropertiesdialogbox:
vmware-toolbox &
To install VMware Tools on a NetWare virtual machine
InstallVMwareTools.
4 LoadtheCDROMdriversothattheCDROMdevicemountstheISOimageasa
volume.
Dooneofthefollowing:
OnthesystemconsoleforaNetWare6.5virtualmachine,enter:
LOAD CDDVD
OnthesystemconsoleforaNetWare6.0orNetWare5.1virtualmachine,
enter:
LOAD CD9660.NSS
Whenthedriverfinishesloading,youcanbegininstallingVMwareTools,as
describedinStep 5.
5 Onthesystemconsole,enterthefollowingcommand:
vmwtools:\setup.ncf
Whentheinstallationfinishes,themessageVMware Tools for NetWare are now
runningappearsintheloggerscreen(NetWare6.5andNetWare6.0guests)orthe
consolescreen(NetWare5.1guests).
Updates for the Scheduling a Power State Change for a
Virtual Machine Procedure on Page 149
Step 11incorrectlydescribeswhenVirtualCenterverifiesuserpermissionsfora
scheduledtask.Thecorrecttextfollows:
11 ClickFinish.
VirtualInfrastructureClientaddsthenewtasktothescheduledtasklistand
completesthetaskatthedesignatedtime.Whenyoucreateascheduledtask,
VirtualCenterverifiesthatyouhavethecorrectpermissionstoperformtheactions
ontherelevantdatacenters,hosts,andvirtualmachines.Afterthetaskiscreated,
thetaskisperformedevenifyounolongerhavepermissiontoperformthetask.
Updates for the Starting and Shutting Down Virtual
Machines Procedure on Page 157
Step 9doesnotclearlyindicatehowtoenableautomaticstartuporshutdownof
individualvirtualmachines.Thestepshouldincludethefollowingadditionaltext:
VirtualmachineslistedunderManualStartupdonotautomaticallystartuporshut
down.Toautomaticallystartuporshutdownavirtualmachine,youmustmove
itsothatitislistedundereitherAutomaticStartuporAnyOrder.

Inaddition,tohavethevirtualmachinesgracefullyshutdownwhentheserveris
halted,dothefollowing:
a SelectthevirtualmachineandclickEdit.
b IntheShutdownSettingsgroupbox,selectUseSpecifiedSettings.
c FromthePerformshutdownactionlistbox,selectGuestShutdown.
d ClickOK.
Updates for the Changing the Audio Configuration on
Page 180
TheinstructionsforChangingtheAudioConfigurationsectioncanbeignoredasthe
sectionincorrectlystatesthatESXServersupportsaudiodevices.
Addition of the Customizing a Linux Guest Operating
System Procedure on Page 189
TheinstructionsforcustomizingLinuxguestoperatingsystemswereomittedfromthe
chapterCustomizingGuestOperatingSystems.Theseinstructionsfollow.
Customizing a Linux Guest Operating System
YoucannotstarttheGuestCustomizationwizardfromamenuortoolbaroption.The
GuestCustomizationwizardstartsindirectlyfromtheDeployTemplatewizardor
CloneVirtualMachinewizard.
To customize a Linux guest operating system
1 StarttheGuestCustomizationwizard.
2 OntheComputerNamepage,specifytheComputerNameandtheDomainName
forthevirtualmachineandclickNext.
Thecomputernameisthenamegiventotheparticularinstanceofaguest
operatingsystem.Theoperatingsystemusesthisnametoidentifyitselfonthe
network.OnLinuxsystems,itiscalledthehostname.Thisisnotthesameasthe
virtualmachinenamethatwasdeclaredearlierintheDeployTemplatewizardor
CloneVirtualMachinewizard.Youcanspecifythecomputernameintheseways:
AssignaspecificnameThenamecancontainalphanumericcharactersand
theunderscore(_)andhyphen()characters.Itcannotcontainperiods(.)or
blankspacesandcannotbemadeupofdigitsonly.Toensurethatthenameis
uniquesothatyoudonotincurconflicts,selectAppendanumericvalueto
ensureuniqueness.
UsethevirtualmachinesnameThecomputernamethatVirtualCenter
createsisidenticaltothenameofthevirtualmachineonwhichtheguest
operatingsystemisrunning.
RespondtopromptsforanameTheVIClientpopulatestheDeployVirtual
Machinewizardwithapromptforthecomputernameafteryoucompleteall
thestepsinthewizard.
UseacustomapplicationtogenerateanameTheVIClientcallsacustom
applicationstoredontheVirtualCenterServertogenerateaname.Ifyou
selectthisoption,entertheabsolutepathtothecustomapplicationinthe
associatedtextfield.
3 ToautomaticallyconfigureallnetworkinterfacesfromaDHCPserver,select
TypicalsettingsontheNetworkpageandclickNext.
4 IfVirtualCenterconfigurationisnotappropriateforyourenvironment,select
CustomsettingsandclickNext.

5 SelecttheNICtocustomizeandclickCustomizetomakeadditionalspecifications.
TheNetworkPropertiesdialogboxopens.
UsetheNetworkPropertiesdialogboxtoperformthesesteps:
a OntheGeneraltab,selectwhethertouseDHCPtoobtainanIPaddress
automaticallyorentertheIPaddressesmanually.Alsoselectwhethertouse
DHCPtoobtainanDNSserveraddressautomaticallyorentertheDNSserver
addressesmanually.
b ClickOKtoreturntothepreviousdialogbox.ClickNextontheNetwork
GuestCustomizationspage.
6 OntheDNSandDomainsettingspage,entertheIPaddressesfortheDNSservers.
SpecifytheDNSconnectionsbyenteringDNSsuffixes.ForeachDNSsuffixyou
enter,clickAdd.IfyouareaddingmultipleDNSconnections,useMoveUpand
MoveDowntospecifytheorderinwhichavirtualmachineistousethe
connections.
7 (Optional)OntheSaveSpecificationpage,savethecustomizedoptionsasan
.xmlfilebycompletingthesesteps:
a SelectSavethiscustomizationspecificationforlateruse.
b SpecifythepathandfilenameforthespecificationandclickNext.
VirtualCentersavesthecustomizedconfigurationparametersinan.xmlfile.
Later,youcanimportthesepredefinedcustomizedparameterswhendeployinga
templateorcloninganexistingvirtualmachine.Becauseofencryption,saved
customizationfilesareuniquetoeachVirtualCenterServerandtoeachversionof
VirtualCenter.YoumustrecreatethecustomizationfilesforeachVirtualCenter
Server.Encryptionispreservedbetweenupgradeversionsonthesame
VirtualCenterServer.Thismeansyoucanusethesamefilesbetweenupgradesof
VirtualCenter.
8 ClickFinish.
VirtualCenterclosestheGuestCustomizationwizardandreturnsyoutothe
DeployTemplatewizardorCloneVirtualMachinewizard.
9 ClickFinishtodeploythevirtualmachinefromthetemplateorcreatetheclone.
Updates for the Preparing for Guest Customization
Discussion on Page 190
ThePreparingforGuestCustomization(SEEUPDATE)discussioncontains
instructionstoverifythattheguestoperatingsystemmeetstheguestoperatingsystem
customizationrequirements,butdoesnotdescribethoserequirements.Thissection
shouldincludethefollowingadditionalinformation:
Virtual Hardware Requirements for Guest Customization
Guestcustomizationrequiresthatthesourcevirtualmachineusedtocreatetheclone
ortemplateshasthefollowing:
VMwareToolsinstalled.
Atleastonenetworkinterfacecard(NIC)configured.
Whenavirtualmachineisclonedorusedforatemplate,thenewvirtualmachine
hasthesamenumberandtypeofNICs,forexample,AMDVLance/PcNetversus
highperformanceVMwarevmxnet.Thisconfigurationcannotbechangedduring
thedeploymentorguestcustomizationprocess.
SCSIdisks.
VirtualCentercustomizationoperatesonthediskattachedtothevirtualSCSInode
withthelowestaddressontheSCSIcontrollerwiththelowestindex.Asaresult,
youmustmakesurethattheguestoperatingsystembeingcustomizedresideson
adiskattachedasSCSI0:0nodeinthevirtualmachineconfiguration.
ForWindowsguestoperatingsystems:Boththeactivepartition(thepartition
containingboot.ini)andthesystempartition(thepartitioncontainingthe
systemdirectory,forexample,\WINNTor\WINDOWS),areonthesamevirtualdisk
andattachedtheSCSI0:0virtualSCSInode.
Activeandsystempartitionsarenotrequiredtobethesamepartition.
ForLinuxguests:Thevirtualdiskcontainingthesystempartition(thepartition
containingthe/etcdirectory)mustresideontheSCSI0:0node.
32bitor64bithardwarecorrespondingtothe32bitor64bitoperatingsystem
beinginstalled.
Windows Requirements for Guest Customization
GuestcustomizationofaWindowsguestoperatingsystemcanoccurif:
Theguestoperatingsystemisnotaprimaryorbackupdomaincontroller.

ThecloneortemplatehasoneofthefollowingWindowsversionsinstalled:
Windows2000Server,AdvancedServer,orProfessional
WindowsXPProfessional
WindowsServer2003,Web,Standard,orEnterpriseEditions
TheMicrosoftSyspreptoolsareinstalledontheVirtualCenterserver.
ForinformationoninstallingtheMicrosoftSyspreptools,seeInstallingtheMicrosoft
SysprepToolsonpage 345.
MicrosoftSyspreptoolshavecertainrequirementsandimposecertainrestrictionson
thesourcemachine.Foradditionalinformation,seetheMicrosoftSysprep
documentation.
Linux Requirements for Guest Customization
GuestcustomizationofaLinuxguestoperatingsystemcanoccurif:
ThecloneortemplatehasoneofthefollowingLinuxversionsinstalled:
RedHatEnterpriseLinuxAS3.0
RedHatAdvancedServer2.1
SUSELINUXEnterpriseServer8,9,or10
Thecloneortemplatehasarootvolumeformattedwithanext2,ext3,orReiserFS
filesystem.
NOTEWindowsXPHomeorWindowsNT4operatingsystemguest
customizationisnotsupported.Guestcustomizationof64bitWindowsoperating
systemsisnotsupported.
NOTEGuestoperatingsystemcustomizationisnotsupportedforLinuxvirtual
machineswithdisksmanagedbyLogicalVolumeManagers.
Updates for the Creating an Alarm Procedure on Page 319
ThedescriptionofrunningascriptinStep 11liststhefollowingincorrectvariablename
entries:
{entityName}
{entityObject}
Thecorrectvariablenameentriesareasfollows:
{targetName}
{target}

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Basic System Administration

ESX Server 3.0.1 and Virtual Center 2.0.1

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