VMWare-server Admin Manual

Administration Guide
VMware Server 1.0
VMware Server Administration Guide

Revision: 20060706
Item: SVR-ENG-Q206-226
You can find the most up-to-date technical documentation at:

http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs
The VMware Web site also provides the latest product updates.
If you have comments about this documentation, submit your feedback to:
docfeedback@vmware.com
2006 VMware, Inc. All rights reserved. Protected by one or more of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,397,242,
6,496,847, 6,704,925, 6,711,672, 6,725,289, 6,735,601, 6,785,886, 6,789,156, 6,795,966, 6,880,022,
6,961,941, 6,961,806 and 6,944,699; patents pending.
VMware, the VMware boxes logo and design, Virtual SMP and VMotion are registered trademarks or
trademarks 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.
3145 Porter Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94304
www.vmware.com
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VMware, Inc.
Contents
Chapter1IntroductionandSystemRequirements ...............1
VMwareServerOverview ...............................................1
FeaturesofVMwareServer ..............................................2
Supportfor32bitand64bitGuestOperatingSystems ...................2
TwoWayVirtualSMP(ExperimentalSupport) ..........................2
ConnecttoVMwareGSXVirtualMachinesandHosts....................2
UpgradeandUseGSXVirtualMachines ................................3
MoveExistingVirtualMachines.......................................3
CompatiblewithVMwareWorkstation5.xVirtualMachines..............3
ConfigureVirtualHardwareDevicestobeAutomaticallyDetected ........3
TakeandReverttoSnapshotsintheBackground ........................3
SupportforVMwareVirtualMachineImporter ..........................3
SupportforVirtualCenter.............................................4
APIsIncludedwithVMwareServer ......................................4
BeforeYouInstalltheRelease ............................................4
HostSystemRequirements ..............................................5
ServerHostHardware................................................5
WindowsHostOperatingSystemRequirements .........................7
LinuxHostOperatingSystemRequirements ............................7
RemoteClientRequirements.........................................10
VirtualMachineSpecifications ..........................................12
SupportedGuestOperatingSystems.....................................15
HardwareRequirementsfor64bitGuestOperatingSystems.............15
HardwareRequirementsfor32bitGuestOperatingSystems.............17
TechnicalSupportResources ...........................................20
SelfServiceSupport.................................................20
OnlineandTelephoneSupport.......................................20
SupportOfferings...................................................20
ReportingProblems .................................................21
LogFiles...........................................................22
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Chapter2InstallingVMwareServer ..............................25
SelectingYourHostSystem..........................................25
AbouttheVMwareServerConsoleontheServer .......................26
InstallingVMwareServeronaWindowsHost............................26
BasicInstallation....................................................28
DefaultDirectories ..................................................30
InstallationSteps ...................................................30
InstallingVMwareServeronaLinuxHost ...............................36
BasicInstallation....................................................37
DefaultDirectories ..................................................39
InstallationSteps ...................................................40
BeforeInstallingVMwareManagementInterfaceonaLinuxHost.........43
InstallingtheVMwareManagementInterfaceonaLinuxHost............44
InstallinganXServer................................................45
BeforeYouInstallonaSUSELinuxEnterpriseServer8Host .............45
ConfiguringWebBrowsersforUsewithVMwareServer ...................46
LaunchingtheVMwareServerConsolefromtheVMwareManagement
InterfaceonanEncryptedServer ..................................46
ConnectingtotheVMwareManagementInterfaceonaProxyServer......47
LaunchingHelpinNetscapeonaLinuxSystem ........................48
InstallingtheVMwareServerConsole ...................................48
InstallingtheVMwareServerConsoleonaWindowsHost ...............49
InstallingtheVMwareServerConsoleonaLinuxHost..................50
InstallingtheVMwareAPIs ............................................51
InstallingVmPerlandVmCOMAPIsonaWindowsHost................52
InstallingVmPerlAPIonaLinuxHost ................................54
UninstallingVMwareServer............................................55
UninstallingVMwareServeronaWindowsHost.......................55
UninstallingVMwareServeronaLinuxHost ..........................57
Chapter3MigratingfromGSXServertoVMwareServer......59
PreparingfortheMigration ............................................59
BeforeYouInstallVMwareServer ....................................59
WhenYouRemoveaVMwareProductandInstallVMwareServer ........62
MigratingtoVMwareServeronaWindowsHost .........................62
MigratingtoVMwareServeronaLinuxHost.............................63
UsingVirtualMachinesCreatedwithVMwareGSXServer.................64
CreatingEverythingNewfromtheStart ...............................65
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Contents
UsingaLegacyVirtualMachineWithoutUpgradingVirtualHardware....65
UpgradingtheVirtualHardwareonaLegacyVirtualMachine ...........65
UpgradingVirtualHardware ........................................66
UsingVirtualMachinesCreatedwithWorkstation5.x .....................75
Chapter4ManagingVirtualMachinesandtheVMware
Server Host ........................................................77
RemotelyManagingVirtualMachines ...................................77
ChangingthePortNumberforVMwareServerConsoleConnections......78
DownloadingtheVMwareServerConsole .............................81
SecuringVirtualMachinesandtheHost..................................82
UnderstandingPermissionsandVirtualMachines ......................83
AuthenticatingUsersandRunningVirtualMachinesforaWindowsHost .85
AuthenticatingUsersandRunningVirtualMachinesforaLinuxHost .....88
CheckingPermissionsintheVMwareManagementInterface .............90
SecuringYourRemoteSessions .......................................90
IdentifyingaVirtualMachinebyItsUUID ...............................92
SpecifyingaUUIDforaVirtualMachine ..............................93
LoggingVMwareServerEventsonWindows .............................94
BackingUpVirtualMachinesandtheVMwareServerHost.................95
UsingaBackupAgentintheVirtualMachine ..........................95
UsingaBackupAgentRunningontheHostOperatingSystem ...........96
BackingUptheVMwareServerHost ..................................96
ConsiderationsforBackingUpVirtualMachines........................97
UsingtheVMwareManagementInterface ................................97
SettingtheSessionLengthfortheVMwareManagementInterface ........99
LoggingOntotheVMwareManagementInterface ......................99
UsingtheStatusMonitor ...........................................101
ConfiguringaVirtualMachine ......................................105
TheApacheServerandtheVMwareManagementInterface .............111
LoggingOfftheVMwareManagementInterface .......................111
DeletingVirtualMachines.............................................111
DeletingaVirtualMachineUsingtheVMwareServerConsole ..........112
ConfiguringtheVMwareServerHost...................................112
SecuringRemoteConnectionswithSSL...............................112
ConfiguringStartupandShutdownOptionsforVirtualMachines........113
SettingUserPreferencesfortheVMwareServerHost...................117
SettingGlobalPreferencesforVMwareServer .........................123
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CreatingNetworkLabels ...........................................125
SettingMIMETypetoLaunchtheVMwareServerConsole .............128
UsingVirtualCentertoManageVirtualMachines ........................131
CreatingVirtualMachinesfromaVirtualCenterClient .................131
ConnectingtoaVirtualMachinefromaVirtualCenterClient ............131
Chapter5MovingandSharingVirtualMachines ..............133
MovingaVMwareServerVirtualMachine..............................133
VirtualMachinesUseRelativePaths .................................134
PreparingYourVirtualMachinefortheMove.........................134
MovingaVirtualMachinetoaNewHost .............................135
MovingVMwareGSXServer3VirtualMachinetoaNewHost ............136
VirtualMachinesUseRelativePaths .................................137
MovingaVirtualMachinetoaNewHost .............................138
MovingOlderVirtualMachines........................................138
VirtualMachinesMayUseRelativeorAbsolutePaths ..................139
PreparingtheNewHostMachine ....................................140
ConsiderationsforMovingDisksinUndoableMode...................141
SharingVirtualMachineswithOtherUsers..............................142
Chapter6PerformanceTuningandtheVMwareServerHost 145
ConfiguringandMaintainingtheHostComputer........................145
LocationoftheWorkingDirectory...................................145
DefragmentationofDiskDrives .....................................145
AdequateFreeDiskSpace ..........................................146
NICInterruptsCoalescing ..........................................146
ConfiguringVMwareServer...........................................146
GeneralVMwareServerOptions.....................................147
VMwareServeronaWindowsHost..................................151
VMwareServeronaLinuxHost .....................................154
UnderstandingMemoryUsage ........................................154
MemoryUseontheHost ...........................................155
SpecifyingHowMuchRAMisUsedbyAllRunningVirtualMachines ...155
MemoryUsageonOlderLinuxHosts ................................157
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Contents
Chapter7UsingHighAvailabilityConfigurations.............161
UsingSCSIReservationtoShareSCSIDiskswithVirtualMachines .........161
SCSIReservationSupport...........................................162
EnablingSCSIReservation ..........................................162
IssuestoConsiderWhenSharingDisks ...............................164
OverviewofClusteringwithVMwareServer............................165
ApplicationsThatCanUseClustering ................................166
ClusteringSoftware ................................................166
CreatingaClusterinaBox ............................................167
ConfiguringVirtualMachinesforClusterinaBox .....................168
CreatingaTwoNodeClusterwithMicrosoftClusteringServices ........169
UsingNetworkLoadBalancingwithVMwareServer.....................175
OverviewofNetworkLoadBalancingClusters........................175
CreatingaMultinodeNetworkLoadBalancingCluster .................175
CreatingTwoNodeClustersUsingNovellClusteringServices.............179
CreatingtheFirstNodesBaseVirtualMachine ........................180
CreatingtheSecondNodeintheCluster ..............................181
InstallingtheGuestOperatingSystemandVMwareTools ..............181
AddingtheSharedDiskstoBothVirtualMachines.....................181
InstallingNovellClusteringServicesontheClusterNodes ..............182
ClusteringUsingtheiSCSIProtocol ....................................183
ClusteringScenariosUsingiSCSI ....................................184
CreatingandConfiguringtheiSCSIInitiatorVirtualMachine ...........184
ConfiguringtheiSCSITargetintheCluster ...........................185
Appendix:MountingVirtualDisks...............................187
ConsiderationsforMountingVirtualDisks ..............................187
StatementofSupport ...............................................188
InstallingtheVMwareDiskMount .....................................188
RunningtheVMwareDiskMountUtility ................................188
ExamplesUsingtheVMwareDiskMountUtility .......................189
Glossary..............................................................191
Index .................................................................199
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VMware, Inc.
Introduction and System

Requirements
C HAPTER 1
ThischapterintroducesyoutoVMwareServerandcoversthefollowingtopics:
!
VMwareServerOverviewonpage 1
FeaturesofVMwareServeronpage 2
HostSystemRequirementsonpage 5
VirtualMachineSpecificationsonpage 12
SupportedGuestOperatingSystemsonpage 15
TechnicalSupportResourcesonpage 20
VMware Server Overview

VMwareServerisafreevirtualizationproductforMicrosoftWindowsandLinux
servers.Itenablesuserstoquicklyprovisionnewservercapacitybypartitioninga
physicalserverintomultiplevirtualmachines.YoucanuseVMwareServerto
provisionawidevarietyofplugandplayvirtualappliancesforcommonlyused
infrastructure.
VMwareServersupports:
!
Anystandardx86hardware.
AwidevarietyofLinux,NetWare,Solaris,andWindowsoperatingsystems,
including64bitoperatingsystems.Forinformationaboutspecifichardware
requirements,seeVMwareKnowledgeBasearticle1901orHardware
Requirementsfor64bitGuestOperatingSystemsonpage 15.
TwowayVirtualSMP(experimentalsupport).
IntelVirtualizationTechnology(experimentalsupport).
WithVMwareServer,youcan:
!
VMware, Inc.
Provisionanewserverwithoutinvestinginmorehardwarebylocatingmultiple
virtualmachinesonthesamehost.
RunWindowsandLinuxoperatingsystemsandapplicationswithoutsoftware
conflictsbecausevirtualmachinesarecompletelyisolatedfromoneanotherand
fromthephysicalhost.
Movevirtualmachinesfromonephysicalhosttoanotherwithouthavingto
reconfigure.
Shortenthetimeforprovisioninganewserverbycreatinganddeployingcustom
virtualmachineswiththeVMwareServerVirtualMachineWizard.
Movevirtualmachinestodifferentphysicalhostsasconditionschange.
Formoreinformation,seeFeaturesofVMwareServeronpage 2.
Features of VMware Server

ThissectionprovidesinformationaboutkeyfeaturesofVMwareServer.
Support for 32-bit and 64-bit Guest Operating Systems

VMwareServerprovidesfullandexperimentalsupportforvirtualmachinesrunning
32bitand64bitguestoperatingsystems.Formoreinformation,seeSupportedGuest
OperatingSystemsonpage 15.Thehostmachinetheserveronwhichyouinstall
VMwareServermusthaveoneoftheprocessorsthatVMwareServersupports.You
canusearemoteconsolerunningona32bitmachinetoconnecttoa64bithost
machinerunning64bitguestoperatingsystems.Formoreinformation,seeHardware
Requirementsfor64bitGuestOperatingSystemsonpage 15.
Two-Way Virtual SMP (Experimental Support)

ExperimentalsupportfortwowayVirtualSymmetricMultiprocessing(VirtualSMP)
letsyouassigntwovirtualprocessorstoavirtualmachineonanyhostmachinethathas
atleasttwologicalprocessors.VMwareServerdoesnotsupportguestswithmorethan
twovirtualprocessors.Youcan,however,poweronandrunmultipledualprocessor
virtualmachines.Formoreinformation,seeUsingTwoWayVirtualSymmetric
Multiprocessing(Experimental)intheVMwareServerVirtualMachineGuide.
Connect to VMware GSX Virtual Machines and Hosts

YoucanconnecttohostsrunningVMwareGSXServer3fromtheVMwareServer
ConsoleandrunvirtualmachinesinVMwareServercreatedunderVMwareGSX
Server3aslegacymachines.Forinformation,seeConnectingtoVMwareGSXServer
andOlderVirtualMachinesintheVMwareServerVirtualMachineGuide.
VMware, Inc.
Chapter 1 Introduction and System Requirements
Upgrade and Use GSX Virtual Machines

YoucanupgradethevirtualhardwareofvirtualmachinescreatedunderbothVMware
GSXServer2and3.Youmustupgradehardwareofvirtualmachinescreatedunder
GSX2torunthemunderVMwareServer.Formoreinformation,seeUpgradingthe
VirtualHardwareonaLegacyVirtualMachineonpage 65..
Move Existing Virtual Machines

YoucanmovevirtualmachinesfromoneVMwareServerhosttoanotherandfroma
VMwareGSXServerorVMwareWorkstationhosttoahostrunningVMwareServer.
Formoreinformation,seeMovingandSharingVirtualMachinesonpage 133.
Compatible with VMware Workstation 5.x Virtual Machines

YoucanrunvirtualmachinescreatedusingVMwareWorkstation5.x.However,you
cannotconnectfromahostrunningVMwareServertoahostrunningVMware
Workstation.
Configure Virtual Hardware Devices to be Automatically

Detected
Youcanconfigureanumberofvirtualdevices,includingserialandparallelports,
DVD/CDROMdrives,floppydrives,andsounddrivers(Linuxonly)tobe
automaticallydetected.Thebenefitofautodetectdevicesisthatyoucanmovethem
betweenvirtualmachinesrunningdifferentguestoperatingsystems,suchasWindows
andLinux,withouthavingtoreconfigurethedevices.Formoreinformation,see
UsingDevicesinaVirtualMachineintheVMwareServerVirtualMachineGuide.
Take and Revert to Snapshots in the Background

Youcanconfigureanyvirtualmachinetotakeandreverttosnapshotsinthe
background.Whenyoutakeasnapshot,youpreservethestateofthevirtualmachine,
includingthestateofthedataonallthevirtualmachinedisksandwhetherthevirtual
machinewaspoweredon,poweredoff,orsuspended.Formoreinformation,see
SnapshotActionsasBackgroundActivityintheVMwareServerVirtualMachineGuide.
Support for VMware Virtual Machine Importer

VMwareServerincludessupportfortheVMwareVirtualMachineImporterversion
1.5,whichletsyouimportvirtualmachinesfromMicrosoftVirtualServerandVirtual
PCaswellasSymantecLiveStateRecoverysystemimages.
VMware, Inc.
ToaccesstheVMwareVirtualMachineImporterfromtheVMwareServerConsole,
chooseFile>ImportorFile>Open.TheWizardtoimportavirtualmachineorsystem
imageopens.YoucanaccesstheVMwareVirtualMachineImporteronlyfroma
Windowshostmachine.
FormoredetailedinformationabouthowtousetheVMwareVirtualMachine
Importer,seetheVMwareVirtualMachineImporterUsersManual.
Support for VirtualCenter

VMwareServerincludessupportforusingVirtualCenterversion1.4tomanagevirtual
machinesrunningonVMwareServer.
APIs Included with VMware Server

VMwareServersupportstheVMwarescriptingAPIs,whichincludetheVmPerlAPI
andtheVmCOMAPI,andtheProgrammingAPI.AlloftheAPIsareinstalledona
WindowshostwhenyouperformacompleteinstallationusingtheVMwareServer
WindowsInstaller.TheProgrammingAPIandVmPerlAPIareinstalledwhenyou
installtheVMwareServersoftware.YoucanalsoinstallanyoftheAPIsonaclient
machine.
Before You Install the Release

Beforeyouinstallthisrelease,takethefollowingstepstoensurethebestpossible
experiencewithVMwareServer.
IfyouplantoinstallVMwareServeronahostmachinethatisalreadyrunningany
otherVMwareproduct,youmustfirstuninstallthatproduct.OnaMicrosoftWindows
host,usetheAdd/RemoveProgramscontrolpanel.OnaLinuxhost,seeyourproduct
manualforthecommandsneededtouninstalltheproduct.
OnaWindowshost,theuninstalleraskswhetheryouwanttokeeplicensesinyour
registry.Donotremovethelicenses.IfyoureinstalltheVMwareproductthatyou
uninstalled,youdonotneedtoentertheserialnumberagain.
OnaLinuxhost,thelicenseremainsinplace.Youdonotneedtotakeanyspecial
action.
VMwareServerletsyouconnecttohostsrunningVMwareGSXServer3.Youcaneither
usevirtualmachinescreatedusingVMwareGSXServer3inlegacymodeorupgrade
thevirtualhardwareoflegacyvirtualmachines.Tousevirtualmachinescreatedusing
VMwareGSXServer2,youmustupgradethevirtualhardware.Formoreinformation,
seeMigratingtoVMwareServeronpage 55.
VMware, Inc.
Installing VMware Tools

AfteryouinstallVMwareServer,itisrecommendedtoinstallVMwareToolstoensure
enhancedperformanceforyourguestoperatingsystem.Formoreinformation,see
InstallingVMwareToolsintheVMwareServerVirtualMachineGuide.
Host System Requirements

YoucaninstalltheVMwareServersoftwareonaMicrosoftWindowsorLinuxserver.
Youcanstorevirtualmachinesontheserverhostorlocatethemonanetworkshare.
Server Host Hardware

VMwareServersupportsupto16waymultiprocessorservers.Thenumberofvirtual
machinesyoucanrunconcurrentlydependsontheresourcestheyrequire,but
VMwarerecommendsyourunnomorethanfourvirtualmachinesconcurrentlyper
processor.Youcanrunamaximumof64virtualmachinesconcurrentlyononehost.
Theserverhosthardwareincludes:
!
Standardx86basedserverwithupto16processorshostswith32bitIA32
processors,andIA32processorswith64bitextensionssupported
733MHzorfastercompatiblex86processorthatsupportsthePentiuminstruction
set
Compatibleprocessorsinclude:
!
Intel:PentiumII,PentiumIII,Pentium4,PentiumMXeon,andEM64T.
AMD:Athlon,AthlonMP,AthlonXP,AMDOpteron,AMDAthlon64,
Turion64.
ExperimentalsupportforAMDSempron.
Multiprocessorsystemsaresupported.
Dualcoreprocessorsaresupportedandcountedasoneprocessorfor
licensing.
Memory
YouneedenoughmemorytoruntheMicrosoftWindowsorLinuxhostoperating
system,plusmemoryrequiredforeachguestoperatingsystemandapplicationsonthe
hostandeachguest.Seeyourguestoperatingsystemandapplicationdocumentation
fortheirmemoryrequirements.
Memoryrequirementsinclude:
VMware, Inc.
Minimum:512MB
Maximum:
!
64GBforWindowshostsandLinuxhoststhatsupportlargememoryorare
PAEenabled
4GBfornonPAEenabledWindowshostsor2GBforLinuxhostswithkernels
inthe2.2.xseries
Display
!
16bitdisplayadapterorhigher
Host Hard Disk

!
250MBfreediskspaceonWindowshostsrequiredforVMwareServer,VMware
ManagementInterface,theVmPerlAPI,theVmCOMAPI,theProgrammingAPI,
andVMwareServerConsoleinstallation.
200MBfreediskspaceonLinuxhostsrequiredforVMwareServer,VMware
ManagementInterface,VmPerlAPI,ProgrammingAPI,andVMwareServer
Consoleinstallation.
!
Diskspacein/tmponLinuxhostsshouldbeequivalentto1.5timesthe
amountofmemoryonthehost.Forinformationonthe/tmpdirectory,read
VMwareknowledgebasearticle844at
http://www.vmware.com/support/kb/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=844.
Sufficientfreediskspaceforeachguestoperatingsystemandtheapplication
softwareusedwithit.Usingadefaultsetup,theactualdiskspaceneedsare
approximatelythesameasthoseforinstallingandrunningtheguestoperating
systemandapplicationsonaphysicalcomputer.
IDEorSCSIharddrivesandDVD/CDROMdrivessupported.
Guestoperatingsystemscanresideinvirtualdiskfilesoronphysical(raw)disk
partitions.
Local Area Networking
AnyEthernetcontrollerthatthehostoperatingsystemsupports.
NonEthernetnetworksaresupportedusingbuiltinnetworkaddresstranslation
(NAT)orusingacombinationofhostonlynetworkingplusroutingsoftwareon
thehostoperatingsystem.
StaticIPaddressforyourhostmachine(recommended).
VMware, Inc.
Windows Host Operating System Requirements

YoumustuseaMicrosoftWindowsserveroperatingsystem.TousetheVMware
ManagementInterface,InternetInformationServer(IIS)5.0or6.0mustbeinstalled.
NOTE
Operatingsystemsandservicepacksthatarenotlistedarenotsupportedfor
useasahostoperatingsystemforVMwareServer.
64bithostcomputerscanrunthefollowingoperatingsystemsfor64bitextended
systems:
!
MicrosoftWindowsServer2003Enterprise,Standard,andWebEditions,R2
MicrosoftWindowsServer2003Enterprise,Standard,andWebEditions,Service
Pack1
32bithostcomputerscanrunthefollowingoperatingsystems:
!
MicrosoftWindowsServer2003Enterprise,Standard,Web,andSmallBusiness
Editions,includingServicePack1
MicrosoftWindows2000AdvancedServer,ServicePack3andServicePack4
MicrosoftWindows2000Server,ServicePack3andServicePack4
VmPerlAPIrequiresPerl5.005xorhigher.
VMwareManagementInterfacerequiresoneofthesebrowsers:
!
InternetExplorer5.5or6.0(6.0highlyrecommended)
Firefox1.x
Mozilla1.x
NetscapeNavigator7.0
NOTE
VMwareteststheVMwareManagementInterfaceforstabilityandreliability
withnewbrowserversions.VMwaremakeseveryefforttoaddsupportfor
newbrowserversionsinatimelymanner,butuntilabrowserisaddedtothe
abovelist,itsusewiththeproductisnotsupported.
Linux Host Operating System Requirements

Supporteddistributionsandkernelsarelistedinthissection.VMwareServermightnot
runonsystemsthatdonotmeettheserequirements.Platformsthatarenotlistedare
notsupported.
VMware, Inc.
64bithostcomputerscanrunthefollowingoperatingsystemsfor64bitextended
systems:
!
RedHatEnterpriseLinux3.0AS,ES,andWS,stock2.4.21,update2.4.2115,and
updates6and7
RedHatEnterpriseLinux3.0AS,ES,andWS,update8(experimentalsupport)
RedHatEnterpriseLinux4.0AS,ES,andWS,includingupdate3
RedHatEnterpriseLinux4.0update4(experimentalsupport)
SUSELinuxEnterpriseServer10(experimentalsupport)
SUSELinuxEnterpriseServer9,includingSP1,SP2,andSP3
SUSELinux10
SUSELinux10.1
SUSELinux9.3
SUSELinux9.2,includingSP1
SUSELinux9.1stock2.6.452
MandrivaLinux2006
UbuntuLinux5.04and5.10
UbuntuLinux6.06(experimentalsupport)
32bithostcomputerscanrunthefollowingoperatingsystems:
MandrivaLinux2006
MandrakeLinux10.1
MandrakeLinux9.0stock2.4.19
RedHatEnterpriseLinux4.0AS,ES,andWS,includingupdates1,2,and3
RedHatEnterpriseLinux3.0,updates1,2,3,4,5,6,and7
RedHatEnterpriseLinux2.1stock2.4.9e3
RedHatLinux9.0,stock2.4.208andupgrade2.4.2020.9
RedHatLinux8.0stock2.4.18
VMware, Inc.
RedHatLinux7.2,stock2.4.710andupgrades2.4.97,2.4.913,2.4.921,and
2.4.931
SUSELINUXEnterpriseServer9,includingSP1,SP2,andSP3
SUSELinuxEnterpriseServer8stock2.4.19
SUSELINUX9.3
SUSELINUX9.2
SUSELinux10
SUSELinux10.1
SUSELINUX9.1stock2.6.452
SUSELINUX9.0stock2.4.2199
SUSELinux7.3
Ubuntu6.06
NOTE
AsnewLinuxkernelsanddistributionsarereleased,VMwaremodifiesand
testsitsproductsforstabilityandreliabilityonthosehostplatforms.VMware
makeseveryefforttoaddsupportfornewkernelsanddistributionsina
timelymanner,butuntilakernelordistributionisaddedtothelist,itsuseis
notsupported.LookfornewerprebuiltmodulesintheDownloadsectionof
VMwareWebsite.Gotohttp://www.vmware.com/download.
OtherLinuxhostoperatingsystemrequirementsinclude:
!
Linuxkernel2.2.145.0isnotsupported.
StandardLinuxserverinstallationisrequiredwithglibcversion2.1orhigherand
libXpm.so.
TheinetdprocessmustbeconfiguredandactiveforVMwareServerConsoleand
VMwareManagementInterfaceconnections.
Version2.1.36oftheSCSIGeneric(sg.o)driverisrequiredtousegenericSCSI
devicesinvirtualmachines.
Perl5.005xorhigherisrequiredtouseVmPerlAPI.
VMware, Inc.
XserverisrequiredtoruntheVMwareServerConsole.
TheVMwareManagementInterfacerequiresoneofthesebrowsers:
!
Firefox1.x
Mozilla1.x
NOTE
Asnewbrowserversionsarereleased,VMwareteststheVMware
ManagementInterfaceforstabilityandreliabilitywiththeseversions.
VMwaremakeseveryefforttoaddsupportfornewbrowserversionsina
timelymanner,butuntilabrowserisaddedtotheabovelist,itsusewiththe
productisnotsupported.
Running VMware Server on Some SUSE Linux Hosts

KeepinmindthefollowingwhenyourunVMwareServerontheseSUSELinuxhosts.
!
SLES8InstallgcconyourSLES8hostbeforeinstallingVMwareServer.
SLES7Toupgradethekernel,deselectanySambacomponentswhenyouapply
theupdatepatchbecausethepatchincorrectlyupdatesSambaonyourhost.
RunningtheupdatewiththeSambapackagesselectedcanresultinseriousissues
onyourhostsuchassystemhangsorsegmentationfaults.
VmPerl and VmCOM APIs

TheVmPerlAPIincludesthevmware-cmdutility.TheVmCOMAPIworksonlyon
WindowsServer2003,WindowsXP,Windows2000,andWindowsNTclients.For
moreinformation,gototheVMwareWebsiteat
http://www.vmware.com/support/developer.
Programming API
VMwareServerincludessupportfortheProgrammingAPI(previouslycalledCAPI).
Formoreinformation,gototheVMwareWebSiteat
http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/server_pubs
Remote Client Requirements

TheremoteclientisaMicrosoftWindowsorLinuxsystemfromwhichyoulaunchthe
VMwareServerConsoleoruseVMwareScriptingAPIstoremotelymanagevirtual
machinesontheVMwareServerhost.YouaccesstheVMwareManagementInterface
tomanagevirtualmachinesonthehostusingaWebbrowser.
10
VMware, Inc.
Hardware Requirements
!
Standardx86basedcomputer.
266MHzorfasterprocessor.
64MBRAMminimum.
30MB(forWindowshosts)or60MB(forLinuxhosts)offreediskspaceisrequired
forinstallationoftheVMwareServerConsole.
17MBfreediskspaceisrequiredforVMwareScriptingAPIs(VmCOMandVmPerl
APIs)installationonWindowsremoteclients.14MBisrequiredforVmPerlAPIon
Linuxremoteclients.
Software Requirements Windows Remote Client

!
WindowsServer2003x64Edition,WindowsServer2003StandardEdition,
WindowsServer2003EnterpriseEdition,andWindowsServer2003WebEdition
WindowsXPProfessionalandWindowsXPHomeEdition
ServicePack1andServicePack2
Windows2000Professional,ServerandAdvancedServer,ServicePack1,Service
Pack2,ServicePack3andServicePack4
WindowsNT4.0WorkstationandServer,ServicePack6a,withInternetExplorer
6.0installed
!
InternetExplorer5.5or6.0(6.0highlyrecommended)
Firefox1.x
Mozilla1.x
NOTE
VMwaremakeseveryefforttoaddsupportfornewbrowserversionsin
atimelymanner,butuntilabrowserisaddedtotheabovelist,itsuse
withtheproductisnotsupported.
Software Requirements Linux Remote Client

!
StandardLinuxinstallationisrequiredwithglibcversion2.1orhigherandoneof
thefollowingkernels:
VMware, Inc.
11
Forsingleprocessorsystems:kernel2.0.32orhigherinthe2.0.xseries,or
kernelinthe2.2.x,2.4.xor2.6.xseries.
ForSMPsystems:kernelinthe2.2.x,2.4.xor2.6.xseries
NOTE
Linuxkernel2.2.145.0isnotsupported.
Perl5.005xorhigherisrequiredtouseVmPerlAPI.
XserverisrequiredtoruntheVMwareServerConsoleontheclient.
!
Firefox1.x
Mozilla1.x
NOTE
VMwaremakeseveryefforttoaddsupportfornewbrowserversionsin
atimelymanner,butuntilabrowserisaddedtotheabovelist,itsuse
withtheproductisnotsupported.
VmPerl and VmCOM APIs

TheVmPerlAPIincludesthevmware-cmdutility.TheVmCOMAPIworksonWindows
Server2003,WindowsXP,Windows2000,andWindowsNTclientsonly.Formore
information,gototheVMwareWebsiteat
Programming API
VMwareServerincludessupportfortheProgrammingAPI.Formoreinformation,go
totheVMwareWebsiteathttp://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/server_pubs.
Virtual Machine Specifications

EachvirtualmachinecreatedwithVMwareServerprovidesaplatformthatincludes
thefollowingdevicesthatyourguestoperatingsystemcansee.
Virtual Processor
!
12
IntelPentiumIIorlater,orAMDAthlonorlater,dependingonhostprocessor;
IntelEMT64VT(experimentalsupport).
VMware, Inc.
Singleandmultiprocessorpervirtualmachineonsymmetricmultiprocessor
(SMP)systems.
Virtual Chipset
!
Intel440BXbasedmotherboardwithNS338SIOchipand82093AAIOAPIC
Virtual BIOS
!
PhoenixBIOS4.0Release6withVESABIOS
DMI/SMBIOScompliantforsystemmanagementagentsupport
Virtual Memory
!
Upto3600MBofmemorypervirtualmachine,dependinguponthehostsystems
configuration,thetypesofapplicationsrunningonthehost,andtheamountof
memoryonthehost.
Virtual Graphics
!
VGAandSVGAsupport
Virtual IDE Drives

!
Uptofourdevices:disks,CDROMorDVD(DVDdrivescanbeusedtoreaddata
DVDdiscs).DVDvideoisnotsupported.
Harddiskscanbevirtualdisksorphysicaldisks.
IDEvirtualdisksupto950GB.
CDROMcanbeaphysicaldeviceoranISOimagefile.
Virtual SCSI Devices

!
Upto60devicesonuptofourvirtualSCSIcontrollers.
SCSIvirtualdisksupto950GB.
Harddiskscanbevirtualdisksorphysicaldisks.
GenericSCSIsupportallowsscanners,CDROM,DVDROM,tapedrives,and
otherSCSIdevicestobeusedwithoutrequiringdriversinthehostoperating
system.
Mylex(BusLogic)BT958compatiblehostbusadapter.
LSILogicUltra160LSI53C10xxSCSIcontroller.
VMware, Inc.
13
Virtual PCI Slots

!
SixvirtualPCIslots,tobedividedamongthevirtualSCSIcontrollers,virtual
Ethernetcards,virtualdisplayadapter,andvirtualsoundadapter.
Virtual Floppy Drives

!
Uptotwo1.44MBfloppydevices.
Physicaldrivesorfloppyimagefiles.
Virtual Serial (COM) Ports

!
Uptofourserial(COM)ports.
Outputtoserialports,Windowsfiles,Linuxfiles,ornamedpipes.
Virtual Parallel (LPT) Ports

!
Uptothreebidirectionalparallel(LPT)ports.
Outputtoparallelportsorhostoperatingsystemfiles.
Virtual USB ports

!
TwoportUSB1.1UHCIcontroller.
SupporteddevicesincludeUSBprinters,scanners,PDAs,harddiskdrives,
memorycardreaders,andstilldigitalcameras.
Virtual Keyboard
!
104keyWindows95/98enhanced
Virtual Mouse and Drawing Tablets

!
PS/2mouse
Serialtabletsupport
Virtual Ethernet Card
14
UptofourvirtualEthernetcards
AMDPCnetPCIIIcompatible
WirelessnetworkingsupportwithbridgedandNATnetworking
PXEROMversion2.0
VMware, Inc.
Virtual Networking
!
NinevirtualEthernetswitches(threeconfiguredbydefaultforbridged,hostonly
andNATnetworking).
VirtualnetworkingsupportsmostEthernetbasedprotocols,includingTCP/IP,
NetBEUI,MicrosoftNetworking,Samba,NovellNetWare,andNetworkFile
System.
BuiltinNATsupportsclientsoftwareusingTCP/IP,FTP,DNS,HTTP,andTelnet.
Virtual Sound Adapter

!
Soundoutputandinput.
CreativeLabsSoundBlasterAudioPCIemulation.MIDIinput,gamecontrollers,
andjoysticksarenotsupported.
Supported Guest Operating Systems

TheoperatingsystemslistedherehavebeentestedinVMwareServervirtualmachines
andareofficiallysupported.Fornotesoninstallingguestoperatingsystems,seethe
VMwareGuestOperatingSystemInstallationGuidewhichisavailablefromtheVMware
Website.
VMwareServersupportsallguestoperatingsystemssupportedbyVMware
Workstation5.5.Operatingsystemsthatarenotlistedarenotsupportedforuseina
VMwareServervirtualmachine.
Hardware Requirements for 64-bit Guest Operating Systems

VMwareServersupportsvirtualmachineswith64bitguestoperatingsystemsonlyon
hostmachinesthathaveoneofthefollowing64bitprocessors.
!
AMDAthlon64,revisionDorlater
AMDOpteron,revisionEorlater
AMDTurion64,revisionEorlater
AMDSempron,64bitcapablerevisionDorlater(experimentalsupport)
IntelEM64TVTcapableprocessors(experimentalsupport)
VMwareServerperformsaninternalcheck.IfthehostCPUisnotasupported64bit
processor,VMwareServerdisplaysanerrormessagethatindicatesthehardwareon
yourhostmachineisincompatiblewith64bitguestoperatingsystems.Youcan,
however,continuetopoweronthevirtualmachine.
VMware, Inc.
15
VMwareServerprovidesastandaloneutilitythatperformsthesamecheckand
determineswhetheryourCPUissupportedforVMwareServervirtualmachineswith
64bitguestoperatingsystems.Youcandownloadthe64bitprocessorcheckutility
fromtheVMwareWebsiteathttp://www.vmware.com/download.
Microsoft Windows 64-bit Guest Operating Systems

!
MicrosoftWindowsVista(experimentalsupport)
MicrosoftWindowsServerEnterprise2003Enterprise,Standard,andWeb
Editions,SP1
MicrosoftWindowsXPProfessional
Linux 64-bit Guest Operating Systems

!
MandrivaLinux2006
RedHatEnterpriseLinux3.0,includingstock2.4.21,update2.4.2115,and
updates6,and7
RedHatEnterpriseLinux3.0,update8(experimentalsupport)
RedHatEnterpriseLinux4.0,includingupdate3
RedHatEnterpriseLinux4.0,update4(experimenetalsupport)
SUSELinux9.3
SUSELinux10
SUSELinux10.1
FreeBSD
!
FreeBSD5.3and5.4
FreeBSD6.0
Sun Solaris
!
16
Solaris10,includingupdate1andupdate2(experimentalsupport)
VMware, Inc.
Ubuntu
!
UbuntuLinux6.06(experimentalsupport)
Hardware Requirements for 32-bit Guest Operating Systems

VMwareServersupportsvirtualmachineswiththefollowing32bitguestoperating
systems.
Microsoft Windows 32-bit Guest Operating Systems

!
MicrosoftWindowsServer2003,includingSmallBusiness,Standard,andWeb
Editions
MicrosoftWindowsServer2003EnterpriseEdition,includingR2
MicrosoftWindowsXPProfessionalandHomeEditions,includingSP1andSP2
MicrosoftWindowsVista(experimentalsupport)
MicrosoftWindows2000Professional,includingSP1,SP2,SP3,andSP4
MicrosoftWindows2000Server,includingSP1,SP2,SP3,andSP4
MicrosoftWindows2000AdvancedServer,SP3andSP4only
MicrosoftWindowsNT4.0ServerServicePack6a,WindowsNTWorkstation4.0,
includingServicePack6a,andWindowsNT4.0TerminalServerEditionService
Pack6a
MicrosoftWindowsMe
MicrosoftWindows98,includingallservicepacks
MicrosoftWindows98SE
MicrosoftWindows95,includingSP1andallOSRreleases
MicrosoftWindowsforWorkgroups3.11
MicrosoftWindows3.1
Microsoft MS-DOS
!
MSDOS6.x
Linux 32-bit Guest Operating Systems

!
VMware, Inc.
MandrivaLinux2006
17
18
MandrakeLinux10.1
MandrakeLinux9.2
MandrakeLinux9stock2.4.19
MandrakeLinux3.2stock2.4.186mdk
RedHatEnterpriseLinux3.0AS,ES,andWS,includingupdates1,2,3,4,5,6,
and7)
RedHatEnterpriseLinux4.0AS,ES,andWS,includingupdates1,2,and3
RedHatEnterpriseLinux2.1AS,ES,andWS,includingstock2.4.9e3
RedHatLinux9.0,stock2.4.208andupgrade2.4.2020.9
RedHatLinux7.2,stock2.4.710andupgrades2.4.97,2.4.913,2.4.921,
and2.4.931
RedHatLinux7.1stock2.4.22andupgrade2.2.312
RedHatLinux7.0stock2.2.1622andupgrade2.2.1714
SUSELinuxEnterpriseServer8stock2.4.19
SUSELinuxEnterpriseServer7stock2.4.7andpatch2
SUSELinux10
SUSELinux10.1
SUSELinux9.3
VMware, Inc.
NovellLinuxDesktop9,includingSP2
NovellOpenEnterpriseServer,includingSP1
TurbolinuxEnterpriseServer8.0
TurbolinuxServer7.0
TurbolinuxWorkstation8.0
TurbolinuxDesktop10
Novell NetWare
!
NetWare4.2
NetWare5.1,SP8only
NetWare6,SP5only
Netware6.5,SP3only
FreeBSD
!
FreeBSD4.04.6.2
FreeBSD4.8
FreeBSD5
FreeBSD5.15.3
FreeBSD5.4
FreeBSD6.0
Sun Solaris
!
Solaris9(experimentalsupport)
Solaris10,includingupdate1andupdate2
Ubuntu
!
UbuntuLinux6.06
VMware, Inc.
19
Technical Support Resources

Thefollowingsectionsdescribevarioustechnicalsupportresourcesavailabletoyou.
!
SelfServiceSupport
OnlineandTelephoneSupport
SupportOfferings
ReportingProblems
LogFiles
Self-Service Support
UsetheVMwareTechnologyNetworkforselfhelptoolsandtechnicalinformation:
!
ProductInformationhttp://www.vmware.com/products/product_index.html
TechnologyInformationhttp://www.vmware.com/vcommunity/technology
Documentationhttp://www.vmware.com/support/pubs
KnowledgeBasehttp://www.vmware.com/support/kb
DiscussionForumshttp://www.vmware.com/community
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.
Usephonesupportforthefastestresponseonpriority1issuesforcustomerswith
appropriatesupportcontracts.Goto
http://www.vmware.com/support/phone_support.html.
Support Offerings
FindouthowVMwaressupportofferingscanhelpyoumeetyourbusinessneeds.Go
tohttp://www.vmware.com/support/services.
20
VMware, Inc.
Reporting Problems
IfyouhaveproblemswhilerunningVMwareServer,reportthemtotheVMware
supportteam.Youmustregisteryourserialnumberandthenyoucanreportyour
problemsbysubmittingasupportrequestat
http://www.vmware.com/requestsupport.
Thissectiondescribestheinformationneededtodiagnoseandreportproblems.This
informationlargelycomesfromlogfiles.Therequiredlogfilesdependuponthe
problemyouencounter.
Youcansimplifytheprocessofcollectingtheneededinformationbyrunningthe
supportscripttocollecttheappropriatelogfilesandsysteminformation.Followthe
stepsthatapplytoyourhostcomputer.
NOTE
ThesupportscriptrunsonlyontheVMwareServerhost.Ifyouencounter
problemsonaremoteclient,youmustsupplythelogfilesmanually.The
requiredlogfilesdependontheproblemencounteredontheclient.You
shouldincludetheVMwareServerConsolelogfileandtheinstallationlog
files.
To run the support script on a Windows host

1
Openacommandprompt.
ChangetotheVMwareServerprogramdirectory.
C:
cd \Program Files\VMware\VMware Server
Ifyoudidnotinstalltheprograminthedefaultdirectory,usetheappropriate
driveletterandsubstitutetheappropriatepathinthecdcommandabove.
Runthesupportscript.
cscript vm-support.vbs
Afterthescriptruns,itdisplaysthenameofthedirectorywhereithasstoredits
output.
UseafilecompressionutilitysuchasWinZiporPKZIPtozipthatdirectory,and
includethezipfilewithyoursupportrequest.
To run the support script on a Linux host

1
Openaterminal.
Runthesupportscriptastheuserwhoisrunningthevirtualmachineorasroot.
vm-support
VMware, Inc.
21
Ifyoudonotrunthescriptasroot,thescriptdisplaysmessagesindicatingthatit
cannotcollectsomeinformation.Thisisnormal.IftheVMwaresupportteam
needsthatinformation,asupportrepresentativemayaskyoutorunthescript
againasroot.
Thescriptcreatesacompressed.tgzfileinthecurrentdirectory.
3
Includetheoutputfilewithyoursupportrequest.
Log Files
ThefollowinglogfilesaregeneratedbyVMwareServerandarecollectedbythe
supportscriptasneeded.BecausetheVMwareServerConsoledoesnotincludea
supportscript,youneedtosubmitasupportrequestat
http://www.vmware.com/requestsupportforanyissuesyouencounteronaclientand
includetheVMwareServerConsoleslogfileoritsinstallationlogfiles.
Virtual Machine Log File

Ifavirtualmachineexitsabnormallyorcrashes,runthesupportscriptorsavethelog
filebeforeyoulaunchthatvirtualmachineagain.
OnaWindowshost,thevmware.logfileisinthesamedirectoryastheconfigurationfile
(.vmx)ofthevirtualmachine.Thepathtothelogfileoftheactivevirtualmachineis
locatedunderVirtualMachine>Settings>Options>Advanced.
OnaLinuxhost,the<vmname>.logfileisinthesamedirectoryastheconfigurationfile
(.vmx)ofthevirtualmachine.
Alsosaveanycorefiles(coreorvmware-core).
Virtual Machine Event Log File

Thevirtualmachineseventlog,someofwhichcanbeviewedintheVMware
ManagementInterface,isstoredasafileonthehost.Thisfilecanalsobeusefulinthe
eventavirtualmachinecrashes.
Eachvirtualmachineonthehostincludesaneventlogfilecalled
event-<path_to_configuration_file>.vmx.log.
OnaWindowshost,thelogisstoredinC:\Program Files\VMware\VMware
Server\vmserverdRoot\eventlog.
OnaLinuxhost,thelogisstoredin/var/log/vmware.
22
VMware, Inc.
VMware Server Console Log File

TheVMwareServerConsolekeepsalog.IfyouencounterproblemswiththeVMware
ServerConsoleonaremoteclient,submitasupportrequestandthislogfile.
OnaWindowshost,thelogiscalledvmware-<username>-<PID>.logandisstoredinthe
usersTEMPdirectory;bydefault,thisdirectoryisC:\Documents and
Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Temp.ThepathtothisfileappearsintheAbout
dialogbox.IntheVMwareServerConsole,chooseHelp>AboutVMwareServer,and
lookunderAdditionalinformation.
OnaLinuxhost,thelogiscalledui-<PID>.logandisstoredintheusersTEMP
directory;bydefault,thisdirectoryis/tmp/vmware-<username>.Thepathtothisfile
appearsintheterminalwhenyoustarttheVMwareServerConsole.
VMware Management Interface Log File

TheVMwareManagementInterfacekeepsalog.
OnaWindowshost,thelogiscalledmui.logandisstoredbydefaultinC:\Program
Files\VMware\VMware Management Interface.
OnaLinuxhost,thelogiscallederror_logandisstoredbydefaultin
/var/log/vmware-mui.
VMware Authorization Service Log File

YoucanmanuallyenableloggingfortheVMwareAuthorizationService,knownas
vmware-authdonLinuxhosts.
To enable logging for VMware Authorization Service
1
Inatexteditor,openthefollowingfile:
!
OnaWindowshostedit config.inilocatedinC:\Documents and

Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware Server
OnaLinuxhostedit/etc/vmware/config
Addthefollowinglinestothefile:
vmauthd.logEnabled = TRUE
log.vmauthdFileName = "vmauthd.log"
Afileiscreatedcalledvmauthd.log.OnaWindowshost,thisfileappearsby
defaultinC:\Windows\system32orC:\WINNT\system32;onaLinuxhost,thisfile
appearsbydefaultin/var/log/vmware.
Saveandclosetheconfigurationfile.
ThelogisenabledonaLinuxhost.
VMware, Inc.
23
OnaWindowshost,chooseStart>AdministrativeTools>Services.
RightclickVMwareAuthorizationServiceandchooseRestart.
ThelogisenabledonaWindowshost.
VMware Registration Service Log File

TheVMwareRegistrationServicekeepsalog.
OnaWindowshost,thelogiscalledvmware-serverd.logandisstoredin
C:\Windows\Temp.
OnaLinuxhost,thelogiscalledvmware-serverd.logandisstoredin/var/log/vmware.
VMware Server and VMware Server Console Installation Log Files

VMwareServerkeepsinstallationlogfilesontheserverhost.
Onaremoteclient,theVMwareServerConsolekeepstwoinstallationlogfiles.Ifyou
encounterproblemsinstallingtheVMwareServerConsole,submitasupportrequest
includingthenamesoftheselogfiles.
OnaWindowshost,thefilesarevminst.log and vmmsi.log which are savedinyour
TEMPdirectory;thedefaultlocationisC:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local
Settings\Temp.TheLocal Settingsfolderishiddenbydefault.Toseeitscontents,
openMyComputer,chooseTools>FolderOptions,clicktheViewtabandselect
ShowHiddenFilesandFolders.
OnaLinuxhost,thelogiscalledlocationsandisstoredin/etc/vmware.
24
VMware, Inc.
C HAPTER 2
Installing VMware Server
ThischapterdescribeshowtoinstallVMwareServeronyourLinuxorWindowshost
systemandcoversthefollowingtopics:
!
SelectingYourHostSystemonpage 25
AbouttheVMwareServerConsoleontheServeronpage 26
InstallingVMwareServeronaWindowsHostonpage 26
InstallingVMwareServeronaLinuxHostonpage 36
ConfiguringWebBrowsersforUsewithVMwareServeronpage 46
InstallingtheVMwareServerConsoleonpage 48
InstallingtheVMwareAPIsonpage 51
UninstallingVMwareServeronpage 55
Selecting Your Host System

VMwareServerisavailableforbothWindowsandLinuxhostcomputers.Goto
http://www.vmware.com/download/server/todownloadthesoftware.Youreceivethe
serialnumbersinanemailmessagefromVMware.Themessageincludesoneserial
numberforuseonWindowshostsandanotherserialnumberforuseonLinuxhosts.
Entertheserialnumberthatisappropriateforyourhostoperatingsystem.To
downloadthesoftwareagainorrequestadditionalserialnumbers,goto
http://www.vmware.com/download/serverandlogontoreceiveanotherserial
number.
ToinstallonasupportedWindowshostcomputer,seeInstallingVMwareServerona
WindowsHostonpage 26.ToinstallonaLinuxhostcomputer,seeInstalling
VMwareServeronaLinuxHostonpage 36.
Toreviewthelistofsupportedhostoperatingsystemsonwhichyoucaninstall
VMwareServer,seeHostSystemRequirementsonpage 5.
Installing on a Computer with a Different VMware Product

YoucannotinstallVMwareServeronacomputerwithVMwareWorkstation,VMware
Player,VMwareACE,orVMwareGSXServerinstalled.Ifyouhaveoneofthese
productsinstalledonthecomputerwhereyouplantoinstallVMwareServer,remove
theexistingproduct,andtheninstallVMwareServer.OnaWindowshost,usethe
VMware, Inc.
25
Add/RemoveProgramscontrolpanel.OnaLinuxhost,seeyourproductmanualfor
thecommandsneededtouninstalltheproduct.Youcanconnecttohostsrunning
VMwareGSXServer3.
Upgrading to VMware Server

YoucanupgradevirtualmachinescreatedusingVMwareGSXServer2and3.Formore
informationaboutupgradingahostfromVMwareGSXServertoVMwareServer,see
MigratingfromGSXServertoVMwareServeronpage 59.
About the VMware Server Console on the Server

VMwareServerusestheVMwareServerConsoletomanagevirtualmachinesonany
VMwareServerhostdirectlyfromthehostorremotelyfromaclientworkstationor
anotherhost.
Multipleconsolescanconnecttoavirtualmachineatthesametime,givingmultiple
authorizedusersconcurrentaccesstothevirtualmachine.Similarly,multipleuserscan
connecttothevirtualmachinewithVMwareScriptingAPIsandtheVMware
ManagementInterface.Youcanrunvirtualmachinesinfullscreenmodefromany
console.
WhenyouinstalltheVMwareServersoftware,theVMwareServerConsoleisinstalled
automatically.YoushouldinstalltheVMwareServerConsoleonanyclient
workstationfromwhichyouwanttoaccessvirtualmachines.Thisallowsforremote
managementofvirtualmachines.
NOTE
DonotmixcomponentsofVMwareServerandVMwareESXServer.You
cannotusetheVMwareServerConsolefromVMwareESXServertoconnect
toaVMwareServerhost,orviceversa.Youcan,however,usetheVMware
ServerConsoletoconnecttoVMwareGSXServer3hosts.Toopenvirtual
machinescreatedonVMwareGSXServer2,youmustfirstuninstallVMware
GSXServer2andtheninstallVMwareServer.
ToinstalltheVMwareServerConsoleonaclient,seeInstallingtheVMwareServer
Consoleonpage 48.YoucandownloadtheVMwareServerConsolefromtheVMware
ManagementInterfaceforconvenientinstallationonaremoteclient.Formore
information,seeDownloadingtheVMwareServerConsoleonpage 81.
Installing VMware Server on a Windows Host

ThefollowingsectionsdescribehowtoinstallVMwareServeronyourWindowshost
operatingsystem:
26
VMware, Inc.
Chapter 2 Installing VMware Server
BasicInstallationonpage 28
DefaultDirectoriesonpage 30
InstallationStepsonpage 30
To get started with VMware Server on a Windows host

1
InstalltheVMwareServersoftware(includingVMwareManagementInterface,
theVmCOMAPI,theVmPerlAPI,theProgrammingAPI,andtheVMwareServer
Console)ontheserver.
InstalltheVMwareServerConsoleandVMwareScriptingAPIsonWindowsor
Linuxclients.
StarttheVMwareServerConsole.
Youarepromptedtoenteryourserialnumbereitherduringtheinstallation
processorthefirsttimeyoustarttheVMwareServerConsole.
Entertheserialnumberonlyonce.
NOTE
YoureceivetheserialnumbersinanemailmessagefromVMware.The
messageincludesoneserialnumbertouseonaWindowshostandanother
serialnumbertouseonaLinuxhost.Entertheserialnumberthatis
appropriateforyourhostoperatingsystem.Todownloadthesoftwareagain
orrequestadditionalserialnumbers,goto
http://www.vmware.com/download/server/.
CreateavirtualmachineusingtheNewVirtualMachineWizard.SeeCreatinga
NewVirtualMachine.
Poweronthevirtualmachineandinstallaguestoperatingsystem.Youneedthe
installationmedia(CDROMorfloppydisks)foryourguestoperatingsystem.See
InstallingaGuestOperatingSystem.
InstalltheVMwareToolspackageinyourvirtualmachineforenhanced
performance.SeeInstallingVMwareTools.
Installsoftwareinyourvirtualmachine.
Startusingyourvirtualmachine.UsetheVMwareServerConsole,VMware
ManagementInterface,andVMwareScriptingAPIstomanageyourserverhost
andvirtualmachines.
VMware, Inc.
27
Basic Installation
OnaWindowshost,installVMwareServerfromamasterinstaller.Themasterinstaller
isaconvenientwaytoinstallallthecomponentsofVMwareServertheserver
software,theVMwareManagementInterfaceandtheVMwareScriptingAPIsoryou
canpickandchoosewhichcomponentstoinstall.Inaddition,theVMwareServer
Consoleisalwaysinstalled.Allcomponentsareinstalledintheirowndirectoriesunder
onemasterdirectory.
AbasicinstallationofVMwareServerusestwocomputers:aserverhostinganumber
ofvirtualmachinesandaclientworkstation.Theclientcommunicateswiththevirtual
machinesontheserveroveraTCP/IPnetworklink.
Inmorecomplexinstallations,oneclientcanrunmultipleVMwareServerConsoles,
witheachconsolemanagingmultiplevirtualmachinesonaseparateserver.
Beforeyoubegin,besureyouhave:
!
Serverandhostoperatingsystemthatmeetthesystemrequirementsforrunning
VMwareServer.SeeHostSystemRequirementsonpage 5.
Remotemanagementclientandoperatingsystemthatmeetthesystem
requirementsforrunningtheVMwareServerremotemanagementsoftware.See
RemoteClientRequirementsonpage 10.
VMwareServerinstallationsoftwarethatyoudownloaded.
VMwareServerserialnumber.Theserialnumberisincludedintheemailmessage
youreceivedfromVMwareorfromtheresellerfromwhomyoupurchased
VMwareServer.
InstallationCDsordisksforyourguestoperatingsystems.
InternetInformationServices(IIS)isinstalledandconfiguredproperly(necessary
tousetheVMwareManagementInterface).
Installation on the Server

AcompleteinstallationontheVMwareServerhostincludes:
28
VMwareServerpackagefortheserver,whichincludesthetoolsneededtocreate
andconfigurevirtualmachinesandtheVMwareServerConsoletoviewand
controlvirtualmachines.
VMwareManagementInterfacepackage,aWebserverformanagingvirtual
machinesandthehostfromabrowser.Formoreinformation,seeManaging
VirtualMachinesandtheVMwareServer Hostonpage 77.
VMware, Inc.
VmCOMAPIpackage,ascriptingtoolthatusesCOMtomanagevirtualmachines
remotely.Formoreinformation,goto
VmPerlAPIpackage,ascriptingtoolthatusesPerltomanagevirtualmachines
remotely.Formoreinformation,goto
ProgrammingAPIpackage.Formoreinformation,goto
Youcanchooseacustominstallationpathwhereyouinstallonlythepackagesyou
need.Inmostcases,youworkdirectlyattheserverwhenyouinstalltheserver
software.Youcanmanageandrunvirtualmachinesfromtheserverorfromanyclient.
Installation on a Client Workstation

InadditiontoaWebbrowser,youcaninstallthefollowingpackagesonaclient:
!
VMwareServerConsole.
VmPerlandVmCOMAPIs(theVmCOMAPIandtheProgrammingAPIcanbe
installedonlyonaWindowsclient).
ThepackagesareavailablefromtheVMwareServerinstaller(onWindowshostsonly)
andontheVMwareWebsite.TheVMwareServerConsoleisavailableintheVMware
ManagementInterface.IfyouareinstallingtheVMwareServerConsoleonaLinux
client,seeInstallingtheVMwareServerConsoleonaLinuxHostonpage 50.
TheVMwareServerConsolecanrunonaremoteclientandontheserveritself.The
VMwareServerConsoleisavailableinclientpackagesforWindows(Windows2000,
WindowsXP,andWindowsServer2003)andLinux.
Typically,youruntheVMwareServerConsoleandbrowseronaclient.Thebrowser
allowsaccesstotheVMwareManagementInterface.TheVMwareManagement
InterfaceandVMwareServerConsoleletyou:
!
Monitortheoperationofvirtualmachines.
Start,stop,reset,suspend,andresumevirtualmachines.
Essentially,theVMwareServerConsoleallowsyoutomanagevirtualmachineslocally
andremotely,whiletheVMwareManagementInterfaceallowsyoutoremotely
managetheserverhostandallthevirtualmachinesonthehost.
TheVmPerlAPI,theVmCOMAPI,andtheProgrammingAPIcanconnecttoLinux
andWindowshosts.However,theVmCOMAPIcanrunonlyonaWindowshostor
client.YoucanusetheAPIstocreatescriptstoautomatemanagementofvirtual
machinesandtheserverhost.
VMware, Inc.
29
Default Directories
Bydefault,theVMwareServercomponentsareinstalledintothefollowingdirectories:
!
TheservercomponentsandtheVMwareServerConsoleareinstalledin
C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Server.
TheVMwareManagementInterfacecomponentsareinstalledin
C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Management Interface.
TheVmCOMAPIcomponentsareinstalledin
C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware VmCOM Scripting API.
TheVmPerlAPIcomponentsareinstalledin
C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware VmPerl Scripting API.
TheProgrammingAPIcomponentsareinstalledin
C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware VIX.
Youcanchangethedirectorythatcontainsallthecomponents,butmakenoteofthe
newpathsyouintendtouse.Theinstructionsmakeuseofthedefaultpaths.
Installation Steps
YoucannotinstallVMwareServeronacomputerthatalreadyhasanyofthefollowing
VMwareapplicationsinstalled:VMwareWorkstation,VMwarePlayer,VMwareACE,
VMwareGSXServer.YoucannothavemultipleversionsofVMwareServerinstalled
onthesamehost.IfyouplantoinstallVMwareServeronahostmachinethatisalready
runninganyoftheseVMwareproducts,youmustfirstuninstallthatproduct.Ona
MicrosoftWindowshost,usetheAdd/RemoveProgramscontrolpanel.
IfyouaremigratingfromVMwareGSXServer,seeMigratingfromGSXServerto
VMwareServeronpage 59.
CAUTION
DonotuseaMicrosoftWindowsTerminalServicessessiontoinstallthe
serversoftwareonahost.
ToautomatetheinstallationofVMwareServeronaWindowshost,seeAutomating
theInstallationofVMwareServeronpage 34.
30
VMware, Inc.
To install VMware Server on a Windows host

1
LogontoyourMicrosoftWindowshostastheAdministratoruserorasauserwho
isamemberoftheAdministratorsgroup.
NOTE
OnaWindowsServer2003host,youmustbeloggedonasalocal
administrator(thatis,notloggedontothedomain)toinstallVMware
Server.
AlthoughyoumustbeloggedonasanadministratortoinstallVMwareServer,
youcanruntheprogramafteritisinstalledasauserwithnormaluserprivileges.
NOTE
AwarningappearsifyouareinstallingVMwareServeronaWindows
hostconfiguredasanActiveDirectoryserver.Youcansafelyignorethe
messagebyclickingOKtocontinuetheinstallation,oryoucanchooseto
canceltheinstallation.
StarttheVMwareServerinstaller.
FromtheStartmenu,chooseRun,andbrowsetothedirectorywhereyousaved
thedownloadedinstallerfile(thenameissimilarto
VMware-server-installer-<xxxx>.exe,where<xxxx>isaseriesofnumbers
representingtheversionandbuildnumbers).
Theinstallerstarts.
ClickNext.
Accepttheenduserlicenseagreement(EULA).
VMware, Inc.
SelecttheIacceptthetermsinthelicenseagreementoption,andclickNext.
31
Choosetoperformacompleteoracustominstallation.
AcompleteinstallationinstallsVMwareServer,VMwareManagementInterface,
VMwareServerConsole,VmCOMAPI,VmPerlAPI,ProgrammingAPI,and
VMwareDiskMountUtilityonthehost.Tochoosethecompleteinstallation,select
Complete,andclickNext.
IfyouwanttoinstallalltheVMwareServercomponentsinadirectoryotherthan
thedefault,clickChangeandbrowsetothedirectoryofyourchoice.Ifthe
directorydoesnotexist,theinstallercreatesitforyou.
CAUTION
VMwareServermustbeinstalledonalocaldrive,notanetwork
drive.
WindowsandtheMicrosoftInstallerlimitthelengthofapathtoafolderto255
charactersforapathtoafolderonalocaldriveand240charactersforapathtoa
folderonamappedorshareddrive.IfthepathtotheVMwareServerprogram
folderexceedsthislimit,anerrormessageappears.Youmustselectorentera
shorterpath.
Whenyouarereadytocontinue,clickNextandgotoStep6.
!
32
Acustominstallationletsyoupickandchoosewhichcomponentstoinstall.You
canalwaysruntheinstalleragainatalaterdatetoinstallcomponentsyoudidnot
VMware, Inc.
installthefirsttime.SelectCustomandclickNext.TheCustomSetupscreen
appears.
IntheCustomSetupscreen,choosethecomponentstoinstall.Clickthearrowto
theleftofthecomponentyoudonotwanttoinstallandselecttheappropriate
optionfromthemenu.
Ifyouneedtodeterminehowmuchfreespaceisonyourhost,clickSpace.Thisis
usefulifyouarechoosingacustominstallationduetolimiteddiskspaceonyour
host.
IfyouwanttoinstallalltheVMwareServercomponentsinadirectoryotherthan
thedefault,clickBrowseandselectthedirectory.Ifthedirectorydoesnotexist,the
installercreatesitforyou.
CAUTION
VMwareServermustbeinstalledonalocaldrive,notanetwork
drive.
WindowsandtheMicrosoftInstallerlimitthelengthofapathtoafolderto255
charactersforapathtoafolderonalocaldrive,and240charactersforapathtoa
folderonamappedorshareddrive.IfthepathtotheVMwareServerprogram
folderexceedsthislimit,anerrormessageappears.Youmustselectorentera
shorterpath.
Whenyouarereadytocontinue,clickNext.
6
Tochangeanysettingsorinformationyouprovided,clickBackuntilyoureachthe
screencontainingtheinformationyouwanttochange.
VMware, Inc.
33
Otherwise,clickInstall.Theinstallerbeginscopyingfilestoyourhost.
IftheinstallerdetectsthattheCDROMautorunfeatureisenabled,itdisplaysa
dialogboxthatgivesyoutheoptiontodisablethisfeature.Disablingitprevents
undesirableinteractionswiththevirtualmachinesyouinstallonthissystem.
Theinstallercreatesoneshortcutonyourdesktop.Thisshortcutgivesyoueasy
accesstoyourvirtualmachinesfromthedesktopofyourhost.
7
ClickFinish.TheVMwareServersoftwareisinstalled.
Ifyouseeapromptthatsuggestsyourebootyourserver,dosonowtoallow
VMwareServertocompletetheinstallationprocess.
Automating the Installation of VMware Server

UsetheMicrosoftWindowsInstallerruntimeenginetoinstallthesoftwaresilently(in
quietmode).IfyouareinstallingVMwareServeronanumberofWindowshosts,you
mightwanttousethesilentinstallationfeatures.
TheserveronwhichyouareinstallingVMwareServermusthaveMicrosoftWindows
Installerruntimeengineversion2.0installed.ThisversionisincludedwithWindows
Server2003.IfyouareinstallingonaWindows2000host(orareinstallingtheVMware
ScriptingAPIsonaWindowsNT4.0client),checktheversionofthisfile:
%WINDIR%\system32\msiexec.exe
Ifyouneedtoupgradetheengine,runinstmsiw.exe,whichislocatedinthedirectory
whereyouextracttheinstallationpackages;seebelow.
FormoreinformationonusingtheMicrosoftWindowsInstaller,gototheMicrosoft
Websiteatmsdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/enus/msi/setup/
about_windows_installer.asp.
34
VMware, Inc.
To install VMware Server silently on a Windows host

1
Extracttheindividualinstallationpackages.Openacommandpromptandonone
linetype:
VMware-server-installer-1.0.0-<xxxx>.exe /a /s /v
"TARGETDIR=C:\temp\server /qn"
where<xxxx>isaseriesofnumbersrepresentingversionandbuildnumbers.
Runthesilentinstallationontheextractedinstallationpackages.Atthecommand
prompt,ononeline,type:
msiexec -i "C:\temp\server\VMware Server Standalone.msi" ADDLOCAL=ALL
/qn
TheinstallationcommandcanbecustomizedusingstandardMicrosoftWindows
Installerinstallationpropertiesaswellasanyofthefollowing:
Property Name
Description
Default
DESKTOP_SHORTCUT
InstallsVMwareServershortcutsonthe
desktop.Bydefault,shortcutsareinstalledon
thedesktop.
Topreventshortcutsfrombeinginstalled,add
thefollowinginStep2:
DESKTOP_SHORTCUT = 0
DISABLE_AUTORUN
DisablesCDautorunonthehost.Bydefault,
autorunisdisabledduringtheinstallation.
Toenableautorun,addthefollowinginStep2:
DISABLE_AUTORUN = 0
REMOVE_LICENSE
Uninstallonly:Removesallstoredlicenses
whenyouuninstallVMwareServer.By
default,VMwareServerkeepsthelicenseson
theserver.
Toremovelicenses,addthefollowinginStep
2:
REMOVE_LICENSE = 1
Caution:VMwarestronglyrecommendsyou
keepyourlicenses,incaseyoureinstallor
upgradeyoursoftware.
SERIALNUMBER
Automaticallyenterstheserialnumber.
none
Toentertheserialnumber,addthefollowing
inStep2:
SERIALNUMBER=<serialNumber>
VMware, Inc.
35
TheADDLOCALoptiondefaultstoinstallallVMwareServercomponents.Youcan
customizetheinstallationusingacombinationoftheADDLOCALandREMOVEoptions.
Youcanaddorremovethefollowingcomponents:
!
All,whichincludesalltheoptionsinthislist.
Network,whichincludesthebridgednetworkingadapter(vmnet0),the
hostonlynetworkingadapter(vmnet1)andtheNATnetworkingadapter
(vmnet8).ItalsoincludesNATandDHCP,butthesecanberemovedfromthe
installation.
NAT,theVMwareNATService.
DHCP,theVMwareDHCPService.
Toincludeacomponent,useitwiththeADDLOCALoption.
Toexcludeacomponent,useitwiththeREMOVEoption.Youalwaysinstallthe
bridgedandhostonlynetworkadaptersaspartoftheNetworkcomponent.
Forexample,toinstalleverythingbuttheVMwareNATandDHCPservices,
specifyonthecommandline:
ADDLOCAL=ALL REMOVE=DHCP,NAT
NOTE
TheDHCPandNATcomponentsarechildrenoftheNetworkcomponent.
Thus,youalsoskipinstallationoftheVMwareNATandDHCPservices
ifyouspecify:ADDLOCAL=ALL REMOVE=Network
Installing VMware Server on a Linux Host

ThefollowingsectionsdescribehowtoinstallVMwareServeronyourLinuxhost
operatingsystem:
36
BasicInstallationonpage 37
DefaultDirectoriesonpage 39
InstallationStepsonpage 40
InstallingtheVMwareManagementInterfaceonaLinuxHostonpage 44
BeforeInstallingVMwareManagementInterfaceonaLinuxHostonpage 43
InstallinganXServeronpage 45
BeforeYouInstallonaSUSELinuxEnterpriseServer8Hostonpage 45
BeforeYouInstallonaSUSELinuxEnterpriseServer8Hostonpage 45
VMware, Inc.
To get started with VMware Server on a Linux host

1
InstalltheVMwareServersoftware(includingVMwareManagementInterface,
theVMwareServerConsole,theVmPerlAPI,andtheProgrammingAPIonthe
server.
InstalltheVMwareServerConsoleandVMwareScriptingAPIsonWindowsor
Linuxclients.
StarttheVMwareServerConsoleandcreateavirtualmachineusingtheNew
VirtualMachineWizard,orcreateonefromtheVMwareManagementInterface.
SeeCreatingaNewVirtualMachine.
Poweronthevirtualmachineandinstallaguestoperatingsysteminthenew
virtualmachine.Youneedtheinstallationmedia(CDROMorfloppydisks)for
yourguestoperatingsystem.SeeInstallingaGuestOperatingSystem.
InstalltheVMwareToolspackageinyourvirtualmachineforenhanced
performance.SeeInstallingVMwareTools.
Installsoftwareinyourvirtualmachine.
Startusingyourvirtualmachine.
YoucanusetheVMwareServerConsole,VMwareManagementInterface,and
VMwareScriptingAPIstomanageyourserverhostandvirtualmachines.
Basic Installation
AbasicinstallationofVMwareServerusestwocomputers:aserver,hostinganumber
ofvirtualmachines,andaclientworkstation.Theclientcommunicateswiththevirtual
machinesontheserveroveraTCP/IPnetworklink.
Inmorecomplexinstallations,oneclientcanrunmultipleinstancesofVMwareServer
Console,witheachconsolemanagingmultiplevirtualmachinesonaseparateserver.
Andconsolesonmultipleclientscanconnecttovirtualmachinesonanyserver.
Beforeyoubegin,besureyouhave:
!
Aserverandhostoperatingsystemthatmeetthesystemrequirementsforrunning
VMwareServer.SeeHostSystemRequirementsonpage 5.
Aremotemanagementclientandoperatingsystemthatmeetthesystem
requirementsforrunningtheVMwareServerremotemanagementsoftware.See
RemoteClientRequirementsonpage 10.
TheinstallationCDsordisksforyourguestoperatingsystems.
TheVMwareServerinstallationsoftware,whichisinthefilesyoudownloaded.
VMware, Inc.
37
YourVMwareServerserialnumber.Theserialnumberisincludedintheemail
messageyoureceivedfromVMware.
Also,beforeyouinstallandrunVMwareServer,checkthefollowinginformationand
makeanynecessaryadjustmentstotheconfigurationofyourhostoperatingsystem:
!
TherealtimeclockfunctionmustbecompiledintoyourLinuxkernel.
VMwareServerforLinuxsystemsrequiresthattheparallelportPCstyle
hardwareoption(CONFIG_PARPORT_PC)bebuiltandloadedasakernelmodule(that
is,itmustbesettomwhenthekerneliscompiled).
ForSUSELinuxEnterpriseServer8hosts,thegccpackagemustbeinstalledon
yourhostbeforeyouinstallVMwareServer.SeeBeforeYouInstallonaSUSE
LinuxEnterpriseServer8Hostonpage 45.
CAUTION
Someoperatingsystems,suchasRedHatLinux7.2and7.3,includea
firewallbydefault.ThisfirewallpreventsaccessfromtheVMwareServer
ConsoleandtheVMwareManagementInterfaceonclientcomputersto
theVMwareServerhost.FortheVMwareServerConsoletoconnectto
thehost,youmustopenport902.ToconnecttothehostwiththeVMware
ManagementInterface,youmustopenport8333andport8222ifyou
plantodisableSSLfortheVMwareManagementInterface.
Installation on the Server

YoucaninstalluptothreesoftwarepackagesontheLinuxserver:
!
TheVMwareServerpackagefortheserver(fromanRPMortararchiveavailable
ontheVMwareServerCDROMortheVMwareWebsite).TheRPMfileiscalled
VMware-server-<xxxx>.i386.rpm andthetararchiveiscalled
VMware-server-<xxxx>.tar.gz,where<xxxx>isaseriesofnumbersrepresenting
theversionandbuildnumbers.
NOTE
38
TheVmPerlAPIandtheProgrammingAPIpackagesareinstalledwhen
youinstallVMwareServer.TheVmPerlAPIisascriptingtoolthatuses
Perltomanagevirtualmachinesremotely.
TheVMwareManagementInterfacepackage(fromatararchiveavailableonthe
VMwareWebsite).ThistararchiveiscalledVMware-mui-<xxxx>.tar.gz.
TheVMwareServerConsolepackage(whichyoudownloadfromtheVMware
ManagementInterface.)ThepackageisalsoavailableasanRPMfileorastar
archiveinaclientGZipfilethatalsocontainstheVmPerlAPI.TheRPMandtar
archivesfilesareavailableontheVMwareWebsite).TheRPMfileiscalled
VMware, Inc.
VMware-server-console-<xxxx>.i386.rpm, andthetararchiveiscalled
VMware-server-console-<xxxx>.tar.gz.
Inmostcases,youworkdirectlyattheserverwhenyouinstalltheserversoftware.You
canmanageandrunvirtualmachinesfromtheserverorfromanyclient.
Installation on a Client Workstation

InadditiontoaWebbrowser,youcaninstallthefollowingpackagesonaclient:
!
TheVMwareServerConsole.
TheProgrammingAPI,theVmPerlAPI,andtheVmCOMAPI(theVmCOMAPI
canbeinstalledonlyonaWindowsclient).Formoreinformation,goto
TheVMwareServerConsoleisavailableintheVMwareManagementInterface.The
VmPerl,VmCOM,andProgrammingAPIareavailableontheVMwareWebsite.Ifyou
areinstallingtheVMwareServerConsoleonaWindowsclient,seeInstallingthe
VMwareServerConsoleonaWindowsHostonpage 49.
VMwareServerConsolescanrunonclientsandontheserveritself.TheVMware
ServerConsolepackagesareavailableforWindows(WindowsNT4.0,Windows2000,
WindowsXP,andWindowsServer2003)andLinux.
Typically,youruntheVMwareServerConsoleandbrowseronaclient.Thebrowser
allowsaccesstotheVMwareManagementInterface.TheVMwareManagement
InterfaceandVMwareServerConsoleletyou:
!
Monitortheoperationofvirtualmachines.
Start,stop,reset,suspend,andresumevirtualmachines.
Createanddeletevirtualmachines.
Configurehostandvirtualmachinesettings.
Essentially,theVMwareServerConsoleallowsyoutomanagevirtualmachineslocally
andremotely,whiletheVMwareManagementInterfaceallowsyoutoremotely
managetheserverhostandallthevirtualmachinesonthehost.
TheVmPerl,VmCOM,andProgrammingAPIcanconnecttoLinuxandWindows
hosts.However,theVmCOMAPIcanrunonlyonaWindowsclient.Youcanusethe
APIstocreatescriptstoautomatemanagementofvirtualmachinesandthehost.
Default Directories
Bydefault,theVMwareServercomponentsareinstalledintothefollowingdirectories:
!
VMware, Inc.
Theservercomponentsareinstalledin
39
/usr/bin
!
TheVMwareManagementInterfacecomponentsareinstalledin
/usr/lib/vmware-mui
TheVMwareServerConsolecomponentsareinstalledin
/usr/bin
TheApacheservercomponentsareinstalledin
/usr/lib/vmware-mui/apache/bin
(sotheydonotconflictwithexistingApachesoftwareonyourserver)
TheVmPerlAPIexecutablefilesareinstalledin
/usr/bin
TheVmPerlAPIlibraryfilesareinstalledin
/usr/lib/vmware-api
TheProgrammingAPIlibraryfilesareinstalledin
/usr/lib/vmware-vix
Ifyouinstalledthesoftwarefromatarinstaller,youcanchangethesepathsifyouwish,
butmakenoteofthenewpathsyouintendtouse.Theinstructionsmakeuseofthe
defaultpaths.
Installation Steps
ThestepsbelowdescribeaninstallationonaRedHatLinuxhost.Startfromthe
directorywhereyousavedthedownloadedinstallerfile.Ifyouareusingadifferent
Linuxdistribution,someofthecommandsmightbedifferent.
BeforeyouinstalltheVMwareServersoftware,ensureyourLinuxdistributionisfora
server,notaworkstation.Ifyouarerunningaworkstationdistribution,youmust
installtheinetdprocesstoconnecttotheVMwareServerConsoleandVMware
ManagementInterface.Ifyouneedto,reviewtheHostSystemRequirementson
page 5.
IfyoucurrentlyhaveVMwareGSXServerinstalledonyourhostmachine,see
MigratingfromGSXServertoVMwareServeronpage 59.Youshouldalsoread
BeforeYouInstalltheReleaseonpage 4beforeinstallingthesoftware.
40
VMware, Inc.
To install VMware Server on a Linux host

1
LogontoyourLinuxhostwiththeusernameyouplantousewhenrunning
VMwareServer.
Inaterminalwindow,becomerootsoyoucanperformtheinitialinstallation.
su -
Changetothedirectorywhereyousavedtheinstallerfile.
Dooneofthefollowing:
VMware, Inc.
UsetheRPMinstallerRunRPMspecifyingtheinstallationfile.
rpm -Uhv VMware-server-<xxxx>.i386.rpm
VMware-server-<xxxx>.i386.rpmistheinstallationfileontheCD;where
<xxxx>isaseriesofnumbersrepresentingversionandbuildnumbers.
UsethetarinstallerCompletethefollowingsteps:
Copythetararchivetoadirectoryonyourharddrive.Forexample,to/tmp.
cp VMware-server-<xxxx>.tar.gz /tmp where<xxxx>isaseriesofnumbers
representingtheversionandbuildnumbers.
Changetothedirectorytowhichyoucopiedthefile.
cd /tmp
Unpackthearchive.
tar zxf VMware-server-<xxxx>.tar.gz
Changetotheinstallationdirectory.
cd vmware-server-distrib
Runtheinstallationprogram.
./vmware-install.pl
Acceptthedefaultdirectoriesforthebinaryfiles,daemonfiles,libraryfiles,
manualfiles,documentationfiles,initdirectoriesandinitscripts.
Runtheconfigurationprogram.
vmware-config.pl
!
IfyouareinstallingVMwareServeronaMandrakeLinuxhost,the
configurationprogramasksforthelocationoflspci.Whenthatprompt
appears,enterthefollowingpath:
/usr/bin/lspcidrake
IfyouusetheRPMinstaller,youmustruntheconfigurationprogram
separatelyfromthecommandline.Ifyouinstallfromthetararchive,the
41
installerofferstolaunchtheconfigurationprogramforyou.AnswerYeswhen
youseetheprompt.
UsethisprogramtoreconfigureVMwareServerwheneveryouupgradeyour
kernel.ItisnotnecessarytoreinstallVMwareServerafteryouupgradeyour
kernel.
Youcanalsousevmware-config.pltoreconfigurethenetworkingoptionsfor
VMwareServerforexample,toaddorremovehostonlynetworks.
5
PressEntertoreadtheenduserlicenseagreement(EULA).IftheDo you accept

promptdoesntappear,pressQtogettothenextprompt.
Configurenetworkingforyourvirtualmachines.
!
Ifyouwanttouseanytypeofnetworkingwithvirtualmachines,answerYes
tothisprompt:Do you want networking for your virtual machines?
Bridgednetworkingisalwaysenabledifyouenablenetworking.Formore
information,seeBridgedNetworking.
ToenableNAT,answerYestothefollowingprompts:
Do you want to be able to use NAT networking in your virtual machines?
Do you want this script to probe for an unused private subnet?
Thisallowsyoutoconnectyourvirtualmachinestoanexternalnetworkwhen
youhaveonlyoneIPnetworkaddressonthephysicalnetwork,andthat
addressisusedbythehostcomputer.Formoreinformation,seeNetwork
AddressTranslation(NAT).
Toenablehostonlynetworking,answerYestothefollowingprompts:
Do you want to be able to use host-only networking in your virtual
machines?
Do you want this script to probe for an unused private subnet?
Hostonlynetworkingallowsfornetworkingbetweenthevirtualmachine
andthehostoperatingsystem.Formoreinformation,seeHostOnly
Networking.
42
SpecifytheporttheVMwareServerConsoleuseswhenconnectingtotheVMware
Serverhostremotely.Port902isthedefaultport.Ifyoursiteusesthisportfor
anotherapplicationforexample,ideafarm-chatusesthisportthenspecifya
differentportfortheVMwareServerConsoletousehere.Tochangetheportlater,
seeChangingthePortNumberforVMwareServerConsoleConnectionson
page 78.
Specifythedirectorywhereyouwanttostoreyourvirtualmachinefiles.By
default,thisdirectoryis/var/lib/vmware/Virtual Machines.Makesurethis
VMware, Inc.
locationisonalargeenoughfilesystemtocontainthefiles,asthevirtualdiskfiles
foreachvirtualmachineareusuallygigabytesinsize.
9
EnteryourVMwareServerserialnumberexactlyasitappears(withhyphens)in
theemailmessageyoureceivedfromVMwareorfromtheresellerfromwhomyou
purchasedVMwareServer.Whenyouentertheserialnumber,itissavedinyour
licensefile.
Theconfigurationprogramdisplaysamessagesayingtheconfiguration
completedsuccessfully.Ifitdoesnotdisplaythismessage,runtheconfiguration
programagain.
10
Whenyoufinish,dooneofthefollowing:
!
Logofftherootaccount.
exit
InstalltheVMwareManagementInterface.GotoStep3underInstallingthe
VMwareManagementInterfaceonaLinuxHostonpage 44.
InstalltheVMwareServerConsole.GotoStep2underInstallingthe
VMwareServerConsoleonaLinuxHostonpage 50.
Before Installing VMware Management Interface on a Linux Host

IfyouarerunningVMwareServerona32bitLinuxhost,youmustinstallthe
libdb.so.3libraryfromyourLinuxdistributionsCDROMbeforeyouinstallthe
VMwareManagementInterface.TheversionthatcomeswithadefaultLinux
installationisincompatiblewiththeVMwareManagementInterfaceandreturnsthe
followingerrorwhenyoustarttheVMwareManagementInterface:
Couldn't find necessary components on your system. It appears that you are missing
the following library: libdb.so.3.
SomeLinuxdistributionsareknowntoshipwithouttheselibraries.FromyourLinux
distributionCD,installthisRPMpackage: compat-db-<#>.<#>.<##>-<#>.i386.rpmor
libdb#.deb,where<#>isaversionnumberparticulartoyourversionofthe
distribution.
IfyourdistributionCDdoesnothavethispackage,contactyourvendorforasuitable
library.IfyouinstallthispackageafteryouinstalledtheVMwareManagement
Interfacesoftware,starttheApacheserverwiththefollowingcommand:
/etc/init.d/httpd.vmware start.
VMware, Inc.
43
Installing the VMware Management Interface on a Linux Host

ThestepsbelowdescribeaninstallationoftheVMwareManagementInterfaceonaRed
HatLinuxhost.Startfromthedirectorywhereyousavedtheinstallerfileyou
downloaded.IfyouareusingadifferentLinuxdistribution,somecommandsmightbe
different.
NOTE
Youmustinstallthelibdb.so.3libraryfromyourLinuxCDROMfirst.For
moreinformation,seeBeforeInstallingVMwareManagementInterfaceona
LinuxHostonpage 43.
To install VMware Management Interface on a Linux host

1
Inaterminalwindow,becomerootsoyoucancarryouttheinstallation.
su -
Changetothedirectorywhereyousavedtheinstallerfile.
Copythetararchivetoadirectoryonyourharddrive(forexample,to/tmp).
cp VMware-mui-<xxxx>.tar.gz /tmp
CAUTION
Makesurethedirectorytowhichyouplantountarthearchivedoes
notcontainanyfilesfromaprevioustarinstallation.
Changetothedirectorytowhichyoucopiedthefile.
cd /tmp
Unpackthearchive.
tar zxf VMware-mui-<xxxx>.tar.gz
44
cd vmware-mui-distrib
./vmware-install.pl
PressEntertocontinue.
AccepttheEULA.
Specifythedirectorywhereyouwanttoinstallthemanagementcomponents,the
binaryfiles,VMwareManagementInterfacefiles,initdirectoriesandinitscripts.
Oracceptthedefaultdirectories.
Allowtheconfigurationprogramvmware-config-mui.pltorun.
VMware, Inc.
10
Specifythenumberofminutesbeforeasessiontimesout.Thedefaultsession
lengthis60minutes.
11
Whenyoufinish,youcan:
!
Logofftherootaccount.
exit
InstalltheVMwareServerConsole.GotoInstallingtheVMwareServer
ConsoleonaLinuxHostonpage 50.
Installing an X Server
YouneedanXservertoruntheVMwareServerConsole.IfanXserverisnotinstalled,
youmustinstalllibxpm.so.4,locatedonyourLinuxdistributiondisk.
Before You Install on a SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 Host

ThegccprogramisnotinstalledonaSLES8hostbydefault.Thiscompilerisrequired
bytheVmPerlAPI.
BeforeyouinstallVMwareServeronaSLES8hostsystem,youmustinstallgcc.
To install gcc in the host operating system
1
StartyourXserverifitdoesnotstartbydefault.Logonastherootuser.
RunYAST2,thedefaultconfigurationutilityforSLES8.
ClickSoftwareintheleftpane,clickInstallorremovesoftwareintherightpane.
CheckC++CompilerandToolsintheleftpane,andclickAccept.
Whenprompted,inserttheSLES8CD.
ClickClosetoexitYAST2.
Thegccprogramisinstalled.NowinstallVMwareServer.
Toinstallthecorrectlibrary,runtheversionoftheBerkeleyDatabase
compat-db-<#>.<#>.<##>-<#>.i386.rpmRPMpackageincludedwithyourLinux
distribution,aslongasyouinstall:compat-db-3.3.<##>-<#>.i386.rpmorlater.
IfyouinstalledthispackageafteryouinstalledtheVMwareManagementInterface
software,starttheApacheserverwiththiscommand:
/etc/init.d/httpd.vmware start
VMware, Inc.
45
Configuring Web Browsers for Use with VMware Server

ToruntheVMwareManagementInterfaceinInternetExplorer6.0onaWindows
system,youmusttakecertainstepstoconfigureInternetExplorerproperly.Thesesteps
areneededwhetherthebrowserisrunningonaVMwareServerWindowshostoryou
areusingaWindowsclientmachinetoconnecttoaVMwareServerhost.
ToruntheVMwareServerinproducthelpfromtheVMwareServerConsoleona
Linuxsystem,youmightneedtolinktothelocationofNetscapeonthesystemifitis
differentfromthelocationwhereVMwareServerexpectsittobe.
Theconfigurationstepsallowyoutoperformthefollowingactivities:
!
LaunchingtheVMwareServerConsolefromtheVMwareManagementInterface
onanEncryptedServeronpage 46
ConnectingtotheVMwareManagementInterfaceonaProxyServeronpage 47
LaunchingHelpinNetscapeonaLinuxSystemonpage 48
Launching the VMware Server Console from the VMware

Management Interface on an Encrypted Server
YoucanlaunchtheVMwareServerConsolefromtheVMwareManagementInterface
automatically.InordertodothisinanInternetExplorer6.0browseronaWindows
systemwhereSSLisencryptingyourVMwareServerremoteconnections,youmust
ensurethattheDonotsaveencryptedpagestodiskoptionisdisabled.
Forinformationonencryptingremoteconnections,seeEnablingandDisablingSSL
forRemoteSessionsonpage 91.
Whenthisoptionisenabled,InternetExplorerdoesnotsaveanyfilestodisk,including
thefilesitneedstohandofftohelperapplications.ThispreventstheVMwareServer
Consolefromlaunchingautomatically.SomepatchesinstalledwhenyourunWindows
Updateresetthissetting,soyoumightneedtorepeatthisprocessafteryourun
WindowsUpdate.
CAUTION
Thisoptionmighthavebeenenableddeliberatelyatyoursitetoprevent
thesavingofsensitivefilestodisk.Disablingitcouldpermitother
sensitiveinformationtobesavedtodisk.
To enable the option to save encryted pages to disk
46
IntheInternetExplorer6.0window,opentheInternetOptionscontrolpanel.
ChooseTools>InternetOptions.
ClicktheAdvancedtab.
VMware, Inc.
ScrolldowntotheSecuritysection,anddeselecttheDonotsaveencryptedpages
todiskcheckbox.
ClickOK.
Connecting to the VMware Management Interface on a Proxy

Server
Ifyournetworkisprotectedbehindaproxyserver,youmusttakecertainstepstouse
theVMwareManagementInterfaceinInternetExplorer6.0onaWindowssystem.
FollowthestepsfortheappropriateWindowsoperatingsystem.
To connect to the VMware Management Interface on Windows Server 2003
1
LaunchInternetExplorer6.0.
ChooseTools>InternetOptions,andclicktheSecuritytab.
SelectTrustedsites,andclickSites.
IntheAddthisWebsitetothezoneentryfield,type
https://*.<domain>
where<domain>isyourorganizationsdomainname,suchasvmware.com.
ClickAdd.
ClickOKuntilyoureturntothebrowserwindow.
WhenyouuseInternetExplorer6.0toconnecttotheVMwareManagementInterface,
besuretousefullyqualifieddomainnames.
To connect to the VMware Management Interface on Windows 2000, Windows XP,
and Windows NT operating systems
1
LaunchInternetExplorer6.0.
ChooseTools>InternetOptions.
ClicktheConnectionstab,andclickLANSettings.
MakesurethatBypassproxyserverforlocaladdressesischecked.
ClickOKuntilyoureturntothebrowserwindow.
WhenyouuseInternetExplorer6.0toconnecttotheVMwareManagementInterface,
donotusefullyqualifieddomainnames.
VMware, Inc.
47
Connecting to the VMware Management Interface When There Is No

Proxy Server
IfyouareonaWindowssystemandyournetworkdoesnotuseaproxyserver,you
mustusefullyqualifieddomainnameswhenconnectingtotheVMwareManagement
InterfacewithInternetExplorer6.0.
Launching Help in Netscape on a Linux System

TouseVMwareServerHelponaLinuxsystem,youmusthaveaWebbrowserinstalled
onyourphysicalcomputer.VMwareServerexpectstofindtheNetscapebrowserin
/usr/bin/netscape.Ifthismatchestheconfigurationofyourhostcomputer,youdonot
needtotakeanyspecialsteps.IfyouareusingadifferentbrowserorifyourNetscape
browserisinadifferentlocation,addasymboliclinktoitfrom/usr/bin:
ln -s <path to browser> /usr/bin/netscape
Installing the VMware Server Console

TheVMwareServerConsoleenablesyoutoviewandcontrolVMwareServervirtual
machinesfromaremoteclientorontheserverhost.MultipleuserscanusetheVMware
ServerConsoletoconnecttoavirtualmachinefromtheserverhostorfromremote
clientsatthesametime.Usetheinstructionsbelowthatcorrespondtotheoperating
systemrunningonyoursystem.
TheVMwareServerConsolecanalsobelaunchedfromtheVMwareManagement
Interface.IfyouuseNetscapeorMozillaasyourbrowser,youmustconfigurethe
MIMEtypefortheVMwareServerConsole.TosettheMIMEtype,seeSettingMIME
TypetoLaunchtheVMwareServerConsoleonpage 128.InternetExploreris
automaticallyconfiguredwhenyouinstalltheVMwareServerConsolesoftware.
CAUTION
DonotinstalltheVMwareServerConsolefromaclientinstallerpackage
ontotheVMwareServerhost.DonotdownloadandinstalltheVMware
ServerConsolefromanolderversionofVMwareServerorVMwareESX
Serverontoanyclient.
ThefollowingsectionsdescribehowtoinstalltheVMwareServerConsoleonWindows
andLinuxcomputers:
48
InstallingtheVMwareServerConsoleonaWindowsHostonpage 49
InstallingtheVMwareServerConsoleonaLinuxHostonpage 50
VMware, Inc.
Installing the VMware Server Console on a Windows Host

OntheVMwareServerforWindowshost,theVMwareServerConsoleisinstalled
automaticallyfromthemasterinstallerwhenyouinstalltheVMwareServer
component.ToupgradetheVMwareServerConsoleontheVMwareServerhost,use
themasterinstaller.
YoucandownloadtheinstallerfromtheVMwareManagementInterface.Youcanrun
theVMwareServerConsoleonanyWindowsclient.
To install VMware Server Console on a Windows host
1
AfteryoudownloadtheVMwareServerConsoleinstallationpackage,gotothe
directorywhereyoudownloadedtheinstallerandrun
VMware-server-console-<xxxx>.exe,where<xxxx>isaseriesofnumbers
representingtheversionandbuildnumbers.
TheInstallShieldWizarddialogboxappears.
ClickNext.
Accepttheenduserlicenseagreement(EULA),andclickNext.
ChoosethedirectoryinwhichtoinstalltheVMwareServerConsole.Ifyouprefer
toinstallitinadirectoryotherthanthedefault,clickChangeandchangetoyour
directoryofchoice.Ifthedirectorydoesnotexist,itiscreatedforyou.ClickNext.
Ifyouwanttochangeanysettingsorinformationyouprovided,clickBackuntil
youreachthedialogboxcontainingtheinformationyouwanttochange.
Otherwise,clickInstall.Theinstallerbeginscopyingfilestoyourhost.
VMware, Inc.
Whenthesetupcompletes,clickFinish.Youdonotneedtorebootyourhost
operatingsystemafteryouinstalltheVMwareServerConsole.
49
Installing the VMware Server Console on a Linux Host

ThissectiondescribesaninstallationoftheVMwareServerConsoleonaRedHatLinux
host.Startfromthedirectorywhereyousavedtheinstallerfileyoudownloaded.Ifyou
areusingadifferentLinuxdistribution,somecommandsmightbedifferent.
YoucandownloadtheVMwareServerConsoleinstallerfromtheVMware
ManagementInterface.YoucanruntheVMwareServerConsoleontheVMwareServer
hostoranyLinuxclient.
TodownloadtheVMwareServerConsolefromtheVMwareManagementInterface,
seeDownloadingtheVMwareServerConsoleonpage 81.
To install VMware Server Console on a Linux host
1
Inaterminalwindow,ifyouhavenotdonesoalready,becomerootsoyoucan
carryouttheinstallationsteps:
su -
Changetothedirectorytowhereyousavedtheinstallerfile.
Ifyoudownloadeda.zipfilefromtheVMwareWebsite,unziptheclientinstaller
archiveto/tmp:
unzip VMware-server-linux-client-<xxxx>.zip -d /tmp
where<xxxx>isaseriesofnumbersrepresentingtheversionandbuildnumbers.
CAUTION
ToinstalltheVMwareServerConsolefromatarpackage,makesure
thedirectorytowhichyouplantountarthetararchivedoesnot
containanyfilesfromapreviousconsoletarinstallation.
Changetothe/tmpdirectory.
cd /tmp
!
UsetheRPMinstaller.RunRPMspecifyingtheinstallationfile.
rpm -Uhv VMware-server-console-<xxxx>.i386.rpm
where<xxxx>isaseriesofnumbersrepresentingtheversionandbuild
numbers.
Usethetarinstaller.Completethefollowingsteps:
Unpackthearchive.
tar zxf VMware-server-console-<xxxx>.tar.gz
where<xxxx>isaseriesofnumbersrepresentingtheversionandbuild
numbers.
Thearchiveunpackstovmware-server-console-distrib.
50
VMware, Inc.
Runtheinstaller.
cd vmware-server-console-distrib
./vmware-install.pl
AccepttheEULAandanswerthequestionsspecifyingdefaultdirectoriesfor
thebinaryfiles,libraryfiles,manualfiles,anddocumentationfiles.
IftheDo you acceptpromptdoesntappear,pressQtocontinue.
Runtheconfigurationprogramvmware-config-console.pl.
NOTE
IfyouusetheRPMinstaller,youmustrunthisprogramseparatelyfrom
thecommandline.Ifyouinstallfromthetararchive,theinstalleroffers
tolaunchtheconfigurationprogramforyou.AnswerYeswhenyousee
theprompt.
Youseethefollowingprompt:What port do you want the remote console to

use to connect to server. [902]
6
Ifyouspecifiedadifferentportnumberwhenyouinstalledtheserversoftware,
enterthatportnumberhere.Otherwise,keepthedefaultof902.
Whenyoufinish,logoffoftherootaccount.
exit
Installing the VMware APIs

VMwareServersupportsVMwaresscriptingAPIswhichincludetheVmPerlAPIand
theVmCOMAPI,andtheProgrammingAPI.YoucanusetheseAPIstomanagethe
VMwareServerhostandvirtualmachineslocallyandremotely.
TheProgrammingAPIcanbeinstalledonaWindowsorLinuxhost.Forinformation
ontheProgrammingAPIandhowtoinstallit,seetheAPIprogrammingandreference
documents.
FormoreinformationontheVMwareAPIs,goto
ThefollowingsectionsdescribehowtoinstallthescriptingAPIsonWindowsand
Linuxhosts.
!
InstallingVmPerlandVmCOMAPIsonaWindowsHostonpage 52
InstallingVmPerlAPIonaLinuxHostonpage 54
VMware, Inc.
51
Installing VmPerl and VmCOM APIs on a Windows Host

OneitheraWindowsserverhostoraWindowsremotecomputer,youcanusethe
VmPerlAPIortheVmCOMAPI.TheAPIsareinstalledautomaticallyontheVMware
ServerforWindowshostfromthemasterinstallerifyouchoseacompleteinstallation.
YoucanmaketheAPIsavailablefordownloadbycustomizingthedownloadmenuon
theLoginpageoftheVMwareManagementInterface.Formoreinformation,see
CustomizingtheDownloadMenuonpage 82.
To install the VMware Scripting APIs
1
ChooseStart>Runandbrowsetothedirectorywhereyousavedthedownloaded
installerfile(thenameissimilartoVMware-VmPerlAPI-<xxxx>.exeor
VMware-VmCOMAPI-<xxxx>.exe,where<xxxx>isaseriesofnumbersrepresenting
theversionandbuildnumbers).
Theinstallerstarts.
52
ClickNext.
Accepttheenduserlicenseagreement(EULA),andclickNext.
VMware, Inc.
ChoosethedirectoryinwhichtoinstallthescriptingAPI.Toinstallitinadirectory
otherthanthedefault,clickChangeandbrowsetoyourdirectoryofchoice.Ifthe
directorydoesnotexist,theinstallercreatesitforyou.ClickNext.
NOTE
WindowsandtheMicrosoftInstallerlimitthepathlengthto255
charactersforapathtoafolderonalocaldrive,and240charactersfora
pathtoafolderonamappedorshareddrive.Ifthepathtothescripting
APIprogramfolderexceedsthislimit,anerrormessageappears.You
mustselectorenterashorterpath.
Ifyouwanttochangeanysettingsorinformationyouprovided,clickBackuntil
youreachthedialogboxcontainingtheinformationyouwanttochange.
Otherwise,clickInstall.
Theinstallerbeginscopyingfilestoyourhost.
ClickFinish.
TheVMwareScriptingAPIisinstalled.
IfyouinstalltheVmCOMAPI,twodirectoriesnamedMiniMUIandSampleScriptsare
createdintheVmCOMAPIdirectory.TheMiniMUIdirectorycontainsasample
VMware, Inc.
53
MicrosoftVisualBasic6projectthatusestheVmCOMAPI.TheSampleScripts
directorycontainsVBScriptandJScriptsamplesusingtheVmCOMAPI.
IfyouinstalltheVmPerlAPI,aSampleScriptsdirectoryiscreatedintheVmPerlAPI
directory.TheSampleScriptsdirectorycontainssamplescriptsusingtheVmPerlAPI.
Installing VmPerl API on a Linux Host

OneitheraLinuxserverhostoraLinuxremotecomputer,youcanuseonlytheVmPerl
API.TheVmCOMAPIcannotbeinstalledonaLinuxhost,althoughVmCOMAPI
installedonaWindowsremoteclientcancommunicatewithaLinuxhost.Youcan
maketheVmPerlAPItararchiveavailablefordownloadbycustomizingthedownload
menuontheLoginpageoftheVMwareManagementInterface.SeeCustomizingthe
DownloadMenuonpage 82.
NOTE
Thereisno64bitversionoftheVmPerlAPIavailableforinstallationona
64bitLinuxhost.TousetheVmPerlAPIwitha64bitLinuxhost,installthe
32bitversionoftheVmPerlAPIona32bitLinuxhostandusethatAPIto
controla64bithost.
To install the VmPerl API on a 32-bit host or client
54
DownloadtheVmPerlAPIpackagefromtheVMwareManagementInterface
LoginpagetothemachineonwhichyouwanttoruntheVMwareScriptingAPI.
Inaterminalwindow,ifyouhavenotdonesoalready,becomerootsoyoucan
carryouttheinstallationsteps.
su -
Untarthepackage.
tar zxf VMware-VmPerlAPI-<xxxx>.tar.gz
where<xxxx>isaseriesofnumbersrepresentingtheversionandbuildnumbers.
cd vmware-api-distrib
./vmware-install.pl
PressEntertoreadtheenduserlicenseagreement(EULA).Youmaypagethrough
itbypressingthespacebar.IftheDo you accept?promptdoesntappear,pressQ
togettothenextprompt.AccepttheEULA.
SpecifythedirectorywhereyouwanttoinstalltheVmPerlAPIexecutablefiles.
ThedefaultiswherePerlisinstalledonyourhost,typically/usr/bin.
VMware, Inc.
SpecifythedirectorywhereyouwanttoinstalltheVmPerlAPIlibraryfiles.The
defaultis/usr/lib/vmware-api.
ThisdirectoryincludesthesamplescriptsfortheVmPerlAPI.TheSampleScripts
directorycontainsexamplescriptsthatdemonstrateuseoftheVmPerlAPI.You
cancustomizethesescriptsforyourorganization.
SpecifythedirectorywhereyouwanttoinstalltheVmPerlAPIdocumentation
files.ThesefilesconsistoftheREADME,enduserlicenseagreementandcopyright
information.Thedefaultis/usr/share/doc/vmware-api.
10
Whenyoufinish,logoffoftherootaccount.
exit
Uninstalling VMware Server

ThefollowingsectionsdescribehowtoremovetheVMwareServercomponentsfrom
yoursystem:
!
UninstallingVMwareServeronaWindowsHostonpage 55
UninstallingVMwareServeronaLinuxHostonpage 57
Uninstalling VMware Server on a Windows Host

TouninstallVMwareServer,completethefollowingsteps.Thesestepsremoveallthe
componentsyouinstalledwiththeVMwareServermasterinstaller,includingthe
VMwareManagementInterfaceandtheVMwareScriptingAPIs.
TouninstalltheVMwareServerConsolefromaWindowsclient,seeUninstallingthe
VMwareServerConsoleonaWindowsHostonpage 57.
ToremovespecificVMwareServercomponents(forexample,thescriptingAPIsorthe
VMwareManagementInterface),seeRemovingVMwareComponentsonaWindows
Hostonpage 56.
Ifyouchosethecustominstallationpath,anycomponentsyouinstalledatthattimeare
removedwhenyouusethemasterinstallertouninstallVMwareServer.
To uninstall VMware Server on a Windows host
1
OnaWindowsServer2003host,chooseStart>Settings>ControlPanel>Addor
RemovePrograms.SelecttheVMwareServer,andclickRemove.
OnaWindows2000host,chooseStart>Settings>ControlPanel>Add/Remove
Programs.SelecttheVMwareServer,andclickRemove.
VMware, Inc.
Afterthemasterinstallerlaunches,clickNext.
55
SelectRemove,andclickNext.
WhenyouarereadytobeginremovingVMwareServer,clickRemove.
Duringtheuninstallation,youareaskedwhetheryouwanttokeepyourVMware
licensesintheWindowsregistry.VMwarestronglyrecommendsyoukeepyour
licenses,incaseyoureinstallorupgradeyoursoftware.
Tokeepthelicensesintheregistry,clickYes.
Duringtheuninstallation,youareaskedwhetheryouwanttokeepanylogin
informationforanyvirtualmachinesconfiguredtorunasspecificuseraccounts.
Ifyouchoosetodeletethelogininformation,andreinstallVMwareServer,any
virtualmachinesconfiguredtorunasspecificuserswillrunastheuserthat
powersonthosevirtualmachines.Afteryoudecidewhethertokeepthelogin
information,theuninstallationcontinues.
Afterallthecomponentsareremoved,clickFinish.
Ifyouseeapromptthatsuggestsyourebootyourserver,dosonowtoallow
VMwareServertocompletetheuninstallationcorrectly.
Removing VMware Components on a Windows Host

Withthemasterinstaller,youcanchoosetoremovespecificcomponentsfromyour
VMwareServerinstallation.Forexample,ifyoudecidetonotusetheVmPerlAPI,you
canremoveonlythatcomponent.
NOTE
DonotusethismethodtoremoveVMwareServer.Useittoremoveonlythe
VMwareScriptingAPIsortheVMwareManagementInterface.
To remove VMware components on a Windows host

1
OnaWindowsServer2003host,chooseStart>Settings>ControlPanel>Addor
RemovePrograms.SelecttheVMwareServerInstallerandclickChange.
OnaWindows2000host,chooseStart>Settings>ControlPanel>Add/Remove
Programs.SelecttheVMwareServerInstallerandclickChange.
56
Afterthemasterinstallerlaunches,clickNext.TheProgramMaintenancescreen
appears.
SelectModify,andclickNext.TheCustomSetupscreenappears.
Clickthearrowtoopenthemenunexttothecomponentyouwanttoremove,
selectThisfeaturewillnotbeinstalled,andclickNext.
Whenyouarereadytobeginremovingthecomponent,clickInstall.
VMware, Inc.
Afterthecomponentisremoved,clickFinish.
Uninstalling the VMware Server Console on a Windows Host

UsetheAdd/RemoveProgramsintheWindowsControlPaneltouninstalltheVMware
ServerConsole.
To uninstall the VMware Server Console on a Windows host
1
ChooseStart>Settings>ControlPanel.
DoubleclickAdd/RemovePrograms(AddorRemoveProgramsonaWindows
Server2003host).
SelectVMwareServerConsole,andclickChange.
NOTE
IftheVMwareServerConsolewasinstalledonWindowsNT4.0,click
Add/Remove.
Awizardstarts.
4
ClickNext.
Inthenextscreen,selectRemove,andclickNext.
TostartremovingtheVMwareServerConsole,clickRemove.
AfterthewizardfinishesremovingtheVMwareServerConsole,clickFinish.
YoudonotneedtorebootthesystemafteryouremovetheVMwareServer
Console.
Uninstalling VMware Server on a Linux Host

TouninstallVMwareServeroranyofitscomponent,openaterminalandlogonasthe
rootuser.
To uninstall VMware Server or any of its components on a Linux host
!
IfyouusedtheRPMinstallertoinstallVMwareServer,enterthefollowing
commandtoviewthenameofthepackagetouninstall:
rpm -qa | grep VM
IfyouusedtheRPMinstallertoinstallVMwareServer,removethesoftwarefrom
yoursystembyrunning:
rpm -e <VMware-server package name>
VMware, Inc.
57
IfyouusedthetarinstallertoinstallVMwareServer,removethesoftwarefrom
vmware-uninstall.pl
NOTE
UninstallingtheserversoftwareremovestheVmPerlAPIandthe
ProgrammingAPIthatwereinstalledwithit.
TouninstalltheVMwareManagementInterfacecomponents,runtheprogram:
/usr/bin/vmware-uninstall-mui.pl
TouninstallaLinuxconsolethatwasinstalledfromanRPMpackage,type:
rpm -e VMware-server-console
TouninstallaLinuxconsolethatwasinstalledfromatarpackage,runthe
program:
/usr/bin/vmware-uninstall-server-console.pl
TouninstalltheVmPerlAPIthatwasinstalledonaremoteclientfromaclient
package,type:
/usr/bin/vmware-uninstall-api.pl
58
VMware, Inc.
Migrating from GSX Server to

VMware Server
C HAPTER 3
ThischapterdescribeshowtomigratefromVMwareGSXServertoVMwareServeron
yourLinuxorMicrosoftWindowshostsystem.Italsodescribeshowtousevirtual
machinescreatedwithVMwareGSXServerandWorkstation5.x.Thischaptercovers
thefollowingtopics:
!
PreparingfortheMigrationonpage 59
MigratingtoVMwareServeronaWindowsHostonpage 62
MigratingtoVMwareServeronaLinuxHostonpage 63
UsingVirtualMachinesCreatedwithVMwareGSXServeronpage 64
UsingVirtualMachinesCreatedwithWorkstation5.xonpage 75
Preparing for the Migration

ThefollowingsectionsdescribehowtoprepareforthemigrationfromVMwareGSX
ServertoVMwareServer:
!
BeforeYouInstallVMwareServeronpage 59
WhenYouRemoveaVMwareProductandInstallVMwareServeronpage 62
Before You Install VMware Server

BeforeyouinstallorremoveanyVMwareproductfromahostcomputer,reviewthe
informationinthefollowingsectionstoensurethebestpossiblemigrationexperience.
Shut Down and Power Off All Virtual Machines

IfyouplantousevirtualmachinescreatedunderVMwareGSXServer,VMware
Workstation5.x,VMwarePlayer,orVMwareACE,besuretheyhavebeenshutdown
completelybeforeyouuninstalltheproductyouusedtocreatethem.
Ifavirtualmachineissuspended,resumeitinthecurrentVMwareproduct,shutdown
theguestoperatingsystem,andpoweroffthevirtualmachine.
VMware, Inc.
59
NOTE
Ifyouattempttoresumeavirtualmachinethatwassuspendedundera
differentVMwareproduct,amessageappears,givingyouthechoiceof
discardingorkeepingthefilethatstoresthesuspendedstate.Torecoverthe
suspendedstate,youmustclickPreserveandresumethevirtualmachine
underthecorrectVMwareproduct.IfyouclickDiscard,youcanpoweron
normally,butthesuspendedstateislost.
Make Sure All Disks Are in the Same Mode

Ifyouhaveanexistingvirtualmachinewithoneormorevirtualdisks,andallthedisks
usepersistentmode,nospecialstepsarerequiredtoupgrade.
Ifyouhaveanexistingvirtualmachinewithoneormorevirtualdisks,andallthedisks
usenonpersistentmode,youmusttakeafewspecialstepswhenyouupgradeVMware
Tools.Fordetails,see
Upgrading Virtual Machines with Disks in Undoable Mode

Ifyouplantouseanexistingvirtualmachinethathasdisksinundoablemode,commit
ordiscardanychangestothevirtualdisksbeforeyouuninstalltheproductyouused
tocreatethem.
NOTE
VMwareServerdoesnotsupportundoabledisks.
To upgrade a virtual machine with disks in undoable mode

1
Resumeorpoweronthevirtualmachineintheearlierproduct.
Shutdowntheguestoperatingsystem.
Poweroffthevirtualmachineandeithercommitordiscardchangestothediskin
undoablemodewhenprompted.
Ifthedisksareinpersistentornonpersistentmode,besurethevirtualmachineis
completelyshutdown.Ifitissuspended,resumeit,shutdowntheguestoperating
systemandpoweroffthevirtualmachine.
Upgrading Virtual Machines with Multiple Virtual Disks

Ifyouhaveanexistingvirtualmachinethathasmultiplevirtualdisksandthedisksare
inmultiplemodes,thesimplestapproachtoupgradingistoconvertallthedisksto
persistentmode.
60
VMware, Inc.
Chapter 3 Migrating from GSX Server to VMware Server
To upgrade a virtual machine with multiple virtual disks in multiple modes

1
Resumeorpoweronthevirtualmachineintheearlierproduct.
Shutdowntheguestoperatingsystem.
Poweroffthevirtualmachineandeithercommitordiscardchangestoany
undoablemodediskswhenprompted.
OpentheConfigurationEditorandchangealldiskstopersistentmode.
AfteryouupgradetoVMwareServer,youcanusethesnapshotfeaturetopreserve
thestateofavirtualmachineandreturntothatstateatalatertime.
Ifyouneedtopreservespecialfunctionalitythatrequiresdisksinmultiplemodes,
reviewtheinformationathttp://vmware.com/
support/kb/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=976beforeyouupgrade.
Back Up Virtual Machines

Asaprecaution,backupallthefilesinyourvirtualmachinedirectoriesincludingthe
.vmdkor.dsk,.vmxor.cfgandnvramfilesforanyexistingvirtualmachinesyouplan
tomigratetothenewversionofVMwareServer.
YouhaveachoicewithvirtualmachinesthatyoucreatedunderVMwareGSXServer
3orupdatedtousetheVMwareGSXServer3virtualhardware:
!
Youcanupgradethevirtualhardwareofthesevirtualmachinesforfull
compatibilitywithVMwareServer.Inthatcase,thevirtualmachinescannolonger
beusedunderVMwareGSXServer3.x.
Youcanchoosenottoupgradethevirtualhardware.Inthatcase,youcanrunthe
virtualmachinesunderbothVMwareGSXServer3andVMwareServer,butyou
donothavethebenefitsofthenewvirtualhardwareprovidedbyVMwareServer.
Othernewfeaturesarealsonotavailable.
TousevirtualmachinescreatedunderVMwareGSXServer2,youmustupgradethe
virtualhardware.Afteryouupgradethevirtualhardwareofmachinescreatedunder
VMwareGSXServer2,theyarenolongercompatiblewithVMwareGSXServer2.
Take Note of Custom Network Configurations

Ifyoucustomizedanyvirtualnetworksettingsorcreatedacustomnetwork,youmust
takenoteofthesesettingsbeforeyouuninstallthepreviousversionofVMwareServer.
Customnetworksettingscannotbepreservedacrossproductupgradesandmustbe
configuredagainafteryouinstallthenewversion.
VMware, Inc.
61
Remove Existing VMware Products

IfyouhaveVMwareGSXServer,VMwareWorkstation,VMwarePlayer,orVMware
ACEinstalledonyourhostsystem,youmustremoveitbeforeyouinstallVMware
Server.Also,seeWhenYouRemoveaVMwareProductandInstallVMwareServer
onpage 62.
NOTE
YoucanrunavirtualmachinecreatedwithVMwareWorkstation5.xona
VMwareServerhost,butyoucannotconnectremotelyfromaVMwareServer
hosttoahostrunninganyversionofVMwareWorkstation.
Make the Virtual Machine Accessible to Its Users

Ifthevirtualmachineislocatedonadifferenthostorinadifferentdirectoryonthe
VMwareServerhost,setpermissionsonthedirectorytomakeitaccessibletoallusers
ofthevirtualmachine.Formoreinformationonpermissions,seeSecuringVirtual
MachinesandtheHostonpage 82.
When You Remove a VMware Product and Install VMware Server

ThereisakeyprecautionyoushouldtakewhenyouremoveaVMwareproductand
installVMwareServer.
Leave the Existing License in Place

Theinstallationstepsforyourhostrequiresthatyourunanuninstallertoremovea
previousversionoftheVMwareproductfromyourmachine.
OnaWindowshost,theuninstalleraskswhetheryouwanttokeeplicensesonyour
system.DonotremovethelicensesifyouplantousetheoldVMwareproductagain.
YoucansafelykeeplicensesformultipleversionsofVMwareproductsonyoursystem
atthesametime.
OnaLinuxhost,thelicenseremainsinplace.Youdonotneedtotakeanyspecial
action.
Migrating to VMware Server on a Windows Host

Inmostcases,migratingtoVMwareServerfromVMwareGSXServerisafourstep
process.
62
VMware, Inc.
To migrate to VMware Server on a Windows host

1
UninstallVMwareGSXServeronyoursystem.
NOTE
Theuninstallermightoffertoremovelicensesfromyourregistry.Donot
removethelicenses.
Ifyouareprompted,rebootyourcomputer.
Installthelatestversion.
Ifyouareprompted,rebootyourcomputer.
Removing Versions 2 or 3
Touninstallversions2or3,usetheVMwareGSXServermasterinstaller.Youmust
keepyourexistinglicenseintheWindowsregistry.
Afteryoureboot,followtheinstructionsinInstallingVMwareServeronaWindows
Hostonpage 26.
Removing Version 1
TouninstallVMwareGSXServer1,useAdd/RemoveProgramsintheWindows
ControlPanel.BesuretouninstallVMwareGSXServer,theVMwareManagement
Interface,andtheRemoteConsole.
Afteryouremovethethreepackages,rebootyourhostandfollowtheinstructionsin
InstallingVMwareServeronaWindowsHostonpage 26.
NOTE
IfyouhaveVMwareWorkstation(oranyotherVMwareproduct)installedon
yourhostsystem,youmustremoveitbeforeyouinstallVMwareServer.See
theVMwareWorkstationproductdocumentationforinformationonhowto
removeWorkstation.
Migrating to VMware Server on a Linux Host

TomigratefromVMwareGSXServertoVMwareServer,youmusthavethefull
VMwareServerproduct.YoumustuninstallVMwareGSXServerbeforeinstalling
VMwareServer.
VMware, Inc.
63
To uninstall VMware GSX Server on a Linux host

1
Openaterminalandlogonastherootuser.
IfyouusedtheRPMinstallertoinstallVMwareGSXServer,removethesoftware
fromyoursystembyrunning:
rpm -e VMware-gsx
IfyouusedthetarinstallertoinstallVMwareServer,removethesoftwarefrom
vmware-uninstall.pl
NOTE
!
UninstallingtheserversoftwareremovestheVmPerlAPIinstalledwithit.
TouninstalltheVMwareManagementInterfacecomponents,runtheprogram:
/usr/bin/vmware-uninstall-mui.pl
TouninstallaLinuxconsolethatwasinstalledfromanRPMpackage,type:
rpm -qa | grep -i vmtoquerythepackagename,andthentype:
rpm -e VMware-server-console
TouninstallaLinuxconsolethatwasinstalledfromatarpackage,runthe
program:
/usr/bin/vmware-uninstall-console.pl
TouninstalltheVmPerlAPIthatwasinstalledonaremoteclientfromaclient
package,type:
/usr/bin/vmware-uninstall-api.pl
Using Virtual Machines Created with VMware GSX Server

Thefollowingsectionsdescribehowtosetupoldervirtualmachinestoworkwith
VMwareServer.
64
CreatingEverythingNewfromtheStartonpage 65
UsingaLegacyVirtualMachineWithoutUpgradingVirtualHardwareon
page 65
UpgradingtheVirtualHardwareonaLegacyVirtualMachineonpage 65
UpgradingVirtualHardwareonpage 66
VMware, Inc.
Creating Everything New from the Start

Createanewvirtualmachineandinstallaguestoperatingsysteminthevirtual
machineasdescribedinCreatingaNewVirtualMachinewiththeVirtualMachine
Wizard.Creatingnewvirtualmachinesistheeasiestwaytoensurethebestpossible
virtualmachineperformance.
Using a Legacy Virtual Machine Without Upgrading Virtual

Hardware
AlegacyvirtualmachineisavirtualmachinecreatedinVMwareGSXServer3thatcan
runonbothVMwareGSXServer3andVMwareServer.
UpgradeVMwareToolstothenewversion,followingtheinstructionsinInstalling
VMwareTools.YoudonotneedtoremovetheolderversionofVMwareToolsbefore
installingthenewversion.
Alegacyvirtualmachinesetupinthiswayshouldrunwithoutproblems.However,
youdonothavethebenefitsofcertainnewfeatures,includingbetterperformance,
improvednetworking,andVirtualSMP.Also,theVMwareServerConsoleinterface
changestoaccommodateoldervirtualmachinefeatures.Formoreinformation,see
ConnectingtoVMwareGSXServerandOlderVirtualMachines.
Upgrading the Virtual Hardware on a Legacy Virtual Machine

Ifyouuseanexistingvirtualmachineandupgradethevirtualhardware,yougain
accesstonewfeatures,including:
!
TwowayVirtualSMP(experimental)
Supportfor64bitguestoperatingsystems
Theabilitytotakeandreverttosnapshotsinthebackground
NOTE
Youcannotreversetheprocessofupgradingthevirtualhardware.Virtual
MachinesupgradedtoVMwareServerareincompatiblewithVMwareGSX
Server.YoumustupgradeallvirtualmachinescreatedunderVMwareGSX
Server2tousewithVMwareServer.Itisrecommendedthatyoumakebackup
copiesofyourvirtualdisksbeforebeginningtheupgrade.
Startbyusinganexistingconfigurationfile(.vmx)andvirtualdisk(.vmdkor.dsk).
UpgradeVMwareToolstothenewversionbyfollowingtheinstructionsinInstalling
VMwareTools.YoudonotneedtoremovetheolderversionofVMwareToolsbefore
installingthenewversion.
VMware, Inc.
65
NOTE
WhenyouupdatethevirtualhardwareforaWindowsXPProfessionalor
WindowsServer2003virtualmachine,theMicrosoftproductactivation
featuremightrequireyoutoreactivatetheguestoperatingsystem.
Upgrading Virtual Hardware

Upgradingavirtualmachinesvirtualhardwaregivesitaccesstonewfeaturesin
VMwareServer.VMwareServersupportsupgradingvirtualmachinescreatedwith
VMwareGSXServer2andaboveandWorkstation3and4.VMwareServerdoesnot
supportupgradingthehardwareofvirtualmachinescreatedwithVMwareGSXServer
1.x.Beforeyouupgradethevirtualhardware,however,considerthefollowing:
!
ThevirtualhardwareupgradeisirreversibleTheprocessofupgradingthe
virtualhardwareisirreversibleandmakesthedisksattachedtothisvirtual
machineincompatiblewithVMwareGSXServer.Youshouldmakebackupcopies
ofyourvirtualdisksbeforestartingtheupgrade.
VMwareServerupdatestheCMOSIfyouareusingavirtualmachinecreated
withVMwareGSXServer3,thefirsttimeyoupoweronthevirtualmachinewith
VMwareServer,theCMOSisupdated.Asaresult,yourguestoperatingsystem
mightdetecthardwarechangesandinstallnewdriversforthenewhardwareeven
ifyoudonotchoosetoupgradethevirtualhardware.
AnerrormightappearwhenupgradingfromaphysicaldiskIfyouare
upgradingavirtualmachinethatrunsfromaphysicaldisk,ratherthanavirtual
disk,youmightseethefollowingerrormessagewhileVMwareServeris
upgradingthevirtualhardware:Unable to upgrade <drivename>. One of the
supplied parameters is invalid.YoucansafelyclickOKtocontinuethe
upgradeprocess.
To upgrade the virtual machines hardware

1
Shutdowntheguestoperatingsystemandpoweroffthevirtualmachine.
UpgradethehostrunningGSX2or3toVMwareServer.
ChooseVM>UpgradeVirtualMachine.
Adialogboxappearswithawarningthattheupgradeprocesscannotbereversed.
66
ClickYestocontinue,andfollowtheonscreendirections.
PoweronthevirtualmachineinVMwareServer.
UpgradeVMwareToolstothenewversion.
VMware, Inc.
DonotremovetheolderversionofVMwareToolsbeforeinstallingthenew
version.
WhenyouupgradethevirtualhardwareonavirtualmachinecreatedusingVMware
GSXServer2,youmightthenneedtotakeseveralstepstobesurethatthenewvirtual
hardwareisrecognizedproperlybytheguestoperatingsystem.Ifyourguestoperating
systemislistedbelow,theinstructionsforthatguestoperatingsystemprovide
examplesofthestepsyoumightneedtotaketoperformtheseupdates.
TheseinstructionsdonotapplytoavirtualmachinecreatedusingVMwareGSXServer
3.
Windows 2000 Guest

Thefollowingstepsprovideexamplesofwhatyoumightseeasyourguestoperating
systemrecognizesthenewvirtualhardware.Thespecificstepsmayvarydependingon
theconfigurationofthevirtualmachine.
To ensure the virtual hardware is recognized by a Windows 2000 guest
1
PoweronthevirtualmachineandletitupdatetheCMOS.
Windowsautomaticallyinstallsthesoftwareforanydevicesitdetects.
InstallthenewversionofVMwareTools.
ShutdowntheWindowsguestandpoweroffthevirtualmachine.
ChooseVM>UpgradeVirtualHardware.
Amessagecautionsyouthattheoperationisirreversibleandrecommendsthat
youbackupthevirtualdisksbeforeproceeding.
Tocontinue,clickYes.
Amessagedescribeswhatisabouttohappen.
ClickOKtocontinue.
Poweronthevirtualmachine.
WindowsdetectsthePCISVGAadapter,thenitdetectstheVMwareSVGAII
adapter.
ClickYestocontinuetheinstallation.
Amessageasksyoutoinsertadisk.
VMware, Inc.
Navigateto:C:\Program Files\VMware\driverstoinstalltheVMwareSVGAII
adapter.
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10
Ifyouhaveserialportsconfiguredinthevirtualmachine,gototheWindows
DeviceManageranduninstallalltheCOMportslistedthere.
11
Restartthevirtualmachine.
WindowsdetectstheCOMportsandinstallsthemproperly.
Windows NT 4.0 Guest

To ensure the virtual hardware is recognized by a Windows NT 4.0 guest
1
Windowsdisplaysamessageaboutthevideodriverintheguestoperatingsystem.
ClickOK.
RestarttheWindowsguestandconfirmthatitisoperatingcorrectly.
ClickOKtocontinue.
Youcannowpoweronthevirtualmachineandusethenewconfiguration.
WindowsNTdoesnothaveaPlugandPlayprocess,sonoadditionalstepsare
required.
Windows XP Guest
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VMware, Inc.
To ensure the virtual hardware is recognized by a Windows XP guest

1
ClickOKtocontinue.
WindowsdetectstheVMwareSVGAadapter.
SelectInstallthesoftwareautomaticallyandfollowtheonscreeninstructions.
Amessageasksyoutoinsertadisk.
Navigateto:C:\Program Files\VMware\driverstoinstalltheVMwareSVGAII
adapter.
10
11
Windows Me Guest
To ensure the virtual hardware is recognized by a Windows Me guest
1
PlugandPlaydetectsanIntel82371EBPowerManagementcontroller.
SelectAutomaticsearchandclickNext.
Windowsfindsandinstallsthedriverautomatically.
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PlugandPlaydetectsanIntel82443BXPentiumIIProcessortoPCIbridge.
3
Windowsfindsandinstallsthedriverautomatically.
Restarttheguestoperatingsystem.
PlugandPlaydetectsanIntel82371AB/EBPCIBusMasterIDEcontroller.
Windowsfindsandinstallthedriverautomatically.
10
ClickOKtocontinue.
11
WindowsdetectsthePCIMultimediaAudiodeviceandinstallsthedriverforthe
CreativeAudioPCI.
WindowsdetectsanAMDPCNetadapter.
12
Windowsautomaticallyinstallsthedriverfortheadapter.
13
ClickFinishtorestartthevirtualmachine.
WindowsdetectsaCreativegameportdeviceandinstallsthedriver
automatically.
Windowsdetectsagameportjoystickandinstallsthedriver.
WindowsdetectsthePCISVGAadapter,whichitthenidentifiesastheVMware
SVGAIIadapterandinstallsthedriverautomatically.
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14
ClickYestorestartthevirtualmachine.
15
VMware, Inc.
16
Windows 98 Guest
1
WindowsdetectsaPCItoISAbridge.
GotoC:\Windows\SystemandletWindowsselectthenecessarydriver.
WindowsdetectsanIntel82371EBPowerManagementController.
GotoC:\Windows\SystemandletWindowsselectthenecessaryfile.
Windowsdetectslpt.vxd.
WindowsdetectsanIntel82443BXPentiumProcessortoPCIbridge.
WindowsdetectsanIntel82371AB/EBPCIBusMasterIDEcontroller.
Windowsasksforthefileuhcd.sys.
EnterthelocationC:\Windows\System32\drivers,andclickOK.
WindowsdetectsanIntel82371AB/EBPCItoUSBUniversalhostcontroller.
WindowsdetectsanAMDPCNETFamilyEthernetAdapter.
Windowsasksforthefileinetmib1.dll.
10
EnterthelocationC:\Windows,thenclickOK.
Windowsasksforthefilelocproxy.exe.
11
VMware, Inc.
EnterthelocationC:\Windows\System,thenclickOK.
71
Windowsasksforthefilendishlp.sys.
12
EnterthelocationC:\Windows,thenclickOK.
Windowsasksforthefilewsock.vxd.
13
14
WhenyoufinishinstallingtheAMDFamilyEthernetAdapter,restartWindows
98.
PlugandPlaydetectsmultipledevicesandrestartsWindows98.
15
Afterthevirtualmachinerestarts,installthenewversionofVMwareTools.For
details,seeInstallingVMwareTools.
16
17
18
19
ClickOKtocontinue.
20
WhenWindowsboots,itdetectsthePCISVGAadapter.Later,itdetectsthe
VMwareSVGAIIadapterandinstallsthedriver.
WindowsdetectsPCIMultimediaAudioandofferstoinstalladriverforit.
21
ClickCancel.
WindowsdetectsanAMDPCNETFamilyEthernetadapter.
22
ClickNext.
23
SelectSearchforthebestdriverandclickNext.
24
SelectSpecifyalocation,andenterC:\Windows\System.ClickNext.
25
SelectTheupdateddriver(Recommended)AMDPCNETFamilyEthernet
Adapter(PCIISA).ClickNext.
Windowsfindsthe.inffilefortheadapter.
26
ClickNext.
Windowsasksforthefiledhcpsvc.dll.
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VMware, Inc.
27
EnterthelocationC:\Windows\System,andclickOK.
Windowsasksforthefileinetmib1.dll.
28
EnterthelocationC:\Windows,andclickOK.
Windowsasksforthefilelocproxy.exe.
29
EnterthelocationC:\Windows\System,andclickOK.
Windowsasksforthefilendishlp.sys.
30
EnterthelocationC:\Windows,andclickOK.
31
Windowsasksforthefilewshtcp.vxd.EnterthelocationC:\Windows\System,then
clickOK.
AdialogboxindicatesthatWindowshasfinishedinstallingthesoftware.
32
ClickFinish.
33
Toinstallthesoundadapter,followthedirectionsinInstallingSoundDriversin
Windows9xandNTGuestOS.
34
35
Windows 95 Guest
1
Windowsdetectsnewdevicesandautomaticallyinstallsthedrivers.
Restarttheguestoperatingsystemafterthisprocessiscomplete.
WhenWindowsrestarts,itdetectsmorenewdevices.
Windowsasksforthefilelpt.vxd.
WindowsdetectsaPCIstandardhostbridgeandotherdevices.
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ClickOKtodismissthesemessages.Youdonotneedtoinstallthesedrivers.
ClickFinish.
InstallthenewversionofVMwareTools.Fordetails,seeInstallingVMware
Tools.
10
ClickOKtocontinue.
WindowsdetectsaPCIMultimediaAudiodevice.
11
ClickCancel.
WindowsdetectsaPCIEthernetadapter,thentheAMDEthernetadapter.
Windowsautomaticallyinstallsthedriver.
12
Toinstallthesoundadapter,followthedirectionsinInstallingSoundDriversin
Windows9xandNTGuestOS.
13
14
Mandrake Linux, Red Hat Linux, or SUSE Linux Guest

To ensure the virtual hardware is recognized by a Mandrake Linux, Red Hat
Linux, or SUSE Linux guest
74
WhenKudzuappears,followtheinstructionstodetectnewhardwareandinstall
theproperdrivers.
ShutdowntheLinuxguestandpoweroffthevirtualmachine.
VMware, Inc.
ClickOKtocontinue.
WhenKudzuruns,itdetectsanEnsoniq:ES1371[AudioPCI97]sounddevice.
ClickConfigure.
NOTE
WhenusingKudzuinaMandrakeLinuxguest,donotmigratethe
existingnetworkconfiguration.Ifyoutrytodoso,youseeablankscreen.
Instead,clickNowhenaskedifyouwanttomigratetheexistingnetwork
configuration.
Using Virtual Machines Created with Workstation 5.x

YoucanrunvirtualmachinescreatedusingWorkstation5.xonVMwareServer.Virtual
machinescreatedusingVMwareServerarecompatiblewithWorkstation5.x.
However,virtualmachinescreatedusingWorkstation5.xdonotincludesupportfor
multiplesnapshotsorteamswhentheyarerunningonVMwareServer.
YoucannotopenorconfigureteamswhenyouarerunningaWorkstation5.xvirtual
machineonVMwareServer.YoucannotremotelyconnectfromaVMwareServerhost
toahostrunningWorkstation.
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VMware, Inc.
Managing Virtual Machines and

the VMware Server Host
C HAPTER 4
ThischapterdescribeshowtomanageyourvirtualmachinesandtheVMwareServer
hostandcoversthefollowingtopics:
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RemotelyManagingVirtualMachinesonpage 77
SecuringVirtualMachinesandtheHostonpage 82
IdentifyingaVirtualMachinebyItsUUIDonpage 92
LoggingVMwareServerEventsonWindowsonpage 94
BackingUpVirtualMachinesandtheVMwareServerHostonpage 95
UsingtheVMwareManagementInterfaceonpage 97
DeletingVirtualMachinesonpage 111
ConfiguringtheVMwareServerHostonpage 112
UsingVirtualCentertoManageVirtualMachinesonpage 131
Remotely Managing Virtual Machines

VMwareServerallowsyoutomanageyourvirtualmachinesremotely.Anymachine
thatcanconnecttoyourVMwareServerhostoveranIPnetworkcaninteractwith
virtualmachinesrunningonit.
Remotemanagementhasmanycomponentsandlevels.Forahighlevelviewofyour
VMwareServerhost,usetheVMwareManagementInterface,aWebbasedtoolfor
managingyourvirtualmachinesandtheserverhost.Formoreinformation,seeUsing
theVMwareManagementInterfaceonpage 97.
Tointeractwithavirtualmachinedirectlyfromaremotelocationforexample,to
maintainadatabasestoredinavirtualmachineusetheVMwareServerConsole.The
VMwareServerConsoledisplaysyourvirtualmachineinawindowwhereyouinteract
withthevirtualmachineasyouwouldinteractwithaphysicalcomputer.
ForanautomatedwaytoremotelymanagevirtualmachinesandtheVMwareServer
host,usetheVMwareScriptingAPIs.IfyouareconnectingtoaVMwareServerhost
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fromaWindowsremotemachine,youcanusetheVmCOM,theVmPerlAPI,andthe
ProgrammingAPI.IfyouareconnectingtoaVMwareServerhostfromaLinuxremote
machine,youcanusetheVmPerlAPIandtheProgrammingAPI.
Anotherautomatedwaytomanagevirtualmachinesistousethevmware-cmdutility.
Formoreinformation,visittheVMwareWebsiteat
www.vmware.com/support/developer.
Finally,youcanusethirdpartytoolstoremotelymanageyourvirtualmachines.You
canuseapplicationslikeVNCViewer,WindowsTerminalServices,orWindowsXP
RemoteDesktop.ToviewavirtualmachinewithVNCViewer,youmustmodifythe
virtualmachinesconfigurationmanually.
Thefollowingsectionsfurtherexploreremotelymanagingvirtualmachines:
!
ChangingthePortNumberforVMwareServerConsoleConnectionsonpage 78
DownloadingtheVMwareServerConsoleonpage 81
Changing the Port Number for VMware Server Console

Connections
Bydefault,theVMwareServerConsoleconnectstovirtualmachinesviaport902.Ifthis
portassignmentposesaconflictforyoursiteforexample,ifyouusethe
ideafarm-chatprogramyoucanchangetheportnumberthattheconsoleuses.
Changingtheportnumberinvolvesmanuallyaddingavariabletocertainpreference
files.Thestepsyoumusttakevarydependingupontheserverhostoperatingsystem,
thehostonwhichtheconsoleisrunning,andwhetheryouaremakingthischangeto
VMwareServeritself(byassigningthenewportnumbertoavariablecalled
authd.port)ortotheconsole(byassigningthenewportnumbertoavariablecalled
authd.client.port).
Theauthd.portsettingisdifferentfromtheauthd.client.portsetting.Theauthd.port
variabletellsVMwareServer(theserverside)whichporttolistenonforconsole
connectionsfromremotehostsorclients.Theauthd.client.portvariabletellsthe
console(theclientside)theportwithwhichtoconnect.Thus,ifyousetonlyauthd.port
toadifferentportnumber,suchas9902,andyoutrytoconnecttoavirtualmachineon
thathostwithaconsoleonaremotehostorclient,theconsolestilltriestoconnectto
port902.
Youcansubstitutethisnewportnumbermanuallywhenyouconnectwithaconsole.
IntheConnecttoVMwareServerdialogbox,intheHostnamefield,entertheport
numberalongwiththenameoftheVMwareServerhostnameandconfigurationfile
path,likethis:
<server name>:<port> <config file>
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Chapter 4 Managing Virtual Machines and the VMware Server Host
Dependinguponyoursitesneedsorconfiguration,forexampleifyouhavemultiple
VMwareServerhostsandtheyusedifferentports,thenthismightbeacceptable.
However,settingauthd.client.porttothesameportnumberyouuseforauthd.port
allowsforseamlessintegrationbetweentheserverandtheclient.Italsoletsyouavoid
manuallyenteringtheportnumbereverytimeyouconnecttotheserverwithaclient.
To change the port number on a Windows host or client
Addthefollowinglinetoconfig.iniinC:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware Server:
authd.port = <portNumber>
where<portNumber>istheportnumberthatallclientsconnectingtovirtualmachines
onthishostmustuse.
TochangetheportnumberthatisusedbytheconsoleinstalledonaWindowsmachine,
youmustcreateafilecalledconfig.iniandplaceitinC:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware Server Console.Inthisfile,addthe
followingline:
authd.client.port = <portNumber>
where<portNumber>isthedefaultportnumberthatallclientsonthismachine
connectingtovirtualmachinesontheVMwareServerhostmustuse.TheVMware
Serverhostmusthavethisportnumbersettotheauthd.portvariableinitsconfig.ini
file(Windowshost)orvmware-authdfile(Linuxhost).
TochangetheportnumberforaspecificuserwhoisusingtheVMwareServerConsole
installedonaWindowshost,addthefollowinglinetothepreferences.inifilelocated
inC:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\VMware:
where<portNumber>istheportnumbertouseonlywhenthisuserisloggedonand
usingaVMwareServerConsoletoconnecttoavirtualmachineontheVMwareServer
host.
TheVMwareServerhostmusthavethisportnumbersettotheauthd.portvariablein
itsconfig.inifile(Windowshost)orvmware-authdfile(Linuxhost).
To change the port number on a Linux host or client
Determinewhetheryourhostisconfiguredtousexinetdorinetd.
Ifyourhostisconfiguredtousexinetd,lookforthefollowinglinein
/etc/xinetd.d/vmware-authd:
port = 902
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Changetheportnumber902inthiscasetothedesirednumber.
Ifyourhostisconfiguredtouseinetd,lookforthefollowinglinein/etc/inetd.conf:
902 vmware-authd
Changetheportnumber902inthiscasetothedesirednumber.Allclientsconnecting
tovirtualmachinesonthishostmustusethisportnumber.
TochangetheportnumberusedbytheVMwareServerConsoleinstalledonaLinux
hostorclient,addthefollowinglinetoeither/etc/vmware-server-console/configor
/usr/lib/vmware-server-console/config:
where<portNumber>istheportnumberthatallclientsonthismachineconnectingto
virtualmachinesontheVMwareServerhostmustuse.TheVMwareServerhostmust
havethisportnumbersettotheauthd.portvariableinitsconfig.inifile(Windows
host)orvmware-authdfile(Linuxhost).
NOTE
Iftheportnumbersspecifiedinthesefilesaredifferent,theportnumber
specifiedin/etc/vmware-server-console/configtakesprecedence.
TochangetheportnumberforaspecificuserwhoisusingtheVMwareServerConsole
installedonaLinuxhost,addthefollowinglineto~/.vmware/preferences:
where<portNumber>istheportnumbertouseonlywhenthisuserisloggedonand
usingaVMwareServerConsoletoconnecttoavirtualmachineontheVMwareServer
host.
TheVMwareServerhostmusthavethisportnumbersettotheauthd.portvariablein
itsconfig.inifile(Windowshost)orvmware-authdfile(Linuxhost).
Whenthisuserisloggedon,theportnumberspecifiedin~/.vmware/preferences
supersedestheportnumberspecifiedin/etc/vmware-server-console/configor
/usr/lib/vmware-server-console/config.
Substituting a Port Number with the VMware Scripting APIs

WiththeVMwareScriptingAPIs,youcansupplyadifferentportnumberwhenyou
createanewvirtualmachineobject.Thisportnumbermustmatchtheportnumberset
ontheVMwareServerhost,whichissetbytheauthd.portvariableintheconfig.ini
file(Windowshost)orvmware-authdfile(Linuxhost).
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Ifyouspecify0astheportnumber,theconsoleconnectswiththeportnumberspecified
byauthd.client.portinstead.Ifauthd.client.portisnotspecified,theconsole
connectswiththedefaultport902.
FormoreinformationabouttheVMwareScriptingAPIs,visittheVMwareWebsiteat
www.vmware.com/support/developer.
Downloading the VMware Server Console

YoucandownloadinstallationpackagesfortheVMwareServerConsolefromthe
VMwareManagementInterface.PackagesareavailableforLinuxandWindowshosts;
downloadthepackageappropriatetothehostmachineonwhichtheVMwareServer
Consoleistobeinstalled.
DownloadingtheVMwareServerConsoleandinstallingitallowsyoutoquickly
managevirtualmachinesfromthemanagementinterface.
DownloadingtheinstallerfromtheStatusMonitorpageallowsyoutoaccessthe
consoleyouneedwithoutloggingoffofthemanagementinterface.
CAUTION
DonotinstalltheVMwareServerConsolefromtheclientinstaller
packageontoahostwhereVMwareServerisinstalled.Donotdownload
andinstallaconsolefromVMwareGSXServerorVMwareESXServer
ontoanyclient.
To download and install a VMware Server Console package from the Login or
Status Monitor page
1
ConnecttotheVMwareServerhostwiththeVMwareManagementInterface.
Forinformationonconnectingtothemanagementinterface,seeLoggingOnto
OntheStatusMonitorpage,downloadtheinstallerbyclickingthelinkforthe
packageappropriatetotheoperatingsystemonwhichtheVMwareServer
Consoleistobeinstalled.
OntheLoginpage,selecttheinstallerappropriatetotheoperatingsystemofthe
computerwhereyouareinstallingtheVMwareServerConsole,andclick
Download.
IfyouareinstallingtheVMwareServerConsoleonaLinuxhost,youcanfurther
choosebetweentarandRPMinstallationpackages.
VMware, Inc.
Runtheinstallationpackage.
81
ToinstalltheconsoleonaWindowssystem,seeInstallingtheVMware
ServerConsoleonaWindowsHostonpage 49.
ToinstalltheconsoleonaLinuxsystem,seeInstallingtheVMwareServer
ConsoleonaLinuxHostonpage 50.
Customizing the Download Menu

YoucancustomizethedownloadmenuontheLoginpagetosuityourusersneeds.For
example,ifyoursiteusestheVMwareScriptingAPIs,youcanaddtheAPIinstallersto
thedownloadmenu.ClientpackagescontainingtheVMwareServerConsoleandthe
VMwareScriptingAPIsareavailableinthepackagesyoudownloadedfromthe
VMwareWebsite.Theclientpackagesare:
!
VMware-server-win32-client-<xxxx>.zip
VMware-server-linux-client-<xxxx>.zip
YoucanexpandthesearchivesandplacetheAPIinstallerfilesinareadilyavailable
area.ThenmodifythedownloadmenuontheLoginpagetopointtothem.
Youcanaddmorefilestothedownloadmenu,hideitemsalreadylistedandevenhide
thelinkorthemenuitself.ClickHelpontheLoginpageandfollowtheinstructions
there.
OnaWindowshostwiththeVMwareManagementInterfaceinstalled,youcanfindthe
installersfortheconsoleandscriptingAPIsinC:\Program Files\VMware\VMware
Management Interface\htdocs\vmware\bin.Thisfoldercontains:
!
VMware-server-console-<xxxx>.exeTheinstallerfortheVMwareServer
ConsoletorunonWindowsclients.
VMware-server-console-<xxxx>.i386.rpmTheRPMinstallerfortheVMware
ServerConsoletorunonLinuxclients.
VMware-server-console-<xxxx>.tar.gzThetarinstallerfortheVMwareServer
ConsoletorunonLinuxclients.
VMware-VmCOMAPI-<xxxx>.exeTheinstallerfortheVmCOMAPIforWindows
hostsonly.
VMware-VmPERLAPI-<xxxx>.exeTheinstallerfortheVmPerlAPIforWindows
hosts.
Securing Virtual Machines and the Host

Thissectiondescribeshowyoucansetpermissionsandimplementsecurityfeaturesfor
yourvirtualmachinesandtheserverhost.Itincludesthefollowingtopics:
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UnderstandingPermissionsandVirtualMachinesonpage 83
AuthenticatingUsersandRunningVirtualMachinesforaWindowsHoston
page 85
AuthenticatingUsersandRunningVirtualMachinesforaLinuxHostonpage 88
CheckingPermissionsintheVMwareManagementInterfaceonpage 90
SecuringYourRemoteSessionsonpage 90
TheVMwareknowledgebasehasanarticleaboutbestpracticestoimprovesecurityfor
theVMwareServerhostandvirtualmachines.Forinformation,see
http://www.vmware.com/support/kb/enduser/std_adp.php?&p_faqid=1042.
Understanding Permissions and Virtual Machines

Accesstoavirtualmachineisbasedonthepermissionsyou,asauser,aregrantedto
thevirtualmachinesconfigurationfile(.vmx).Differentpermissionsletyouaccess
virtualmachinesindifferentways.Thesewaysinclude:
!
Browsingvirtualmachines.
Interactingwithvirtualmachines.
Configuringvirtualmachines.
Administeringvirtualmachinesandthehost.
IfthevirtualmachineisonaWindowshost,permissionsonmorevirtualmachinefiles
mightbeneeded,dependingupontheuseraccountthevirtualmachineuseswhile
running.Forinformation,seeAuthenticatingUsersandRunningVirtualMachinesfor
aWindowsHostonpage 85.
Browsing a Virtual Machine

Browsingavirtualmachineletsyouconnecttoitwithaconsole,butyoucanseeonly
thevirtualmachinespowerstate.Thevirtualmachinedisplayisblank,evenifthe
virtualmachineisrunning.Youcannotinteractwiththevirtualmachineatall.
Tobrowseavirtualmachine,youneedReadpermissionforthevirtualmachines
configurationfileonaWindowshost,orread(r)permissiononaLinuxhost.
Interacting with a Virtual Machine

Interactingwithavirtualmachineletsyouchangeitspowerstate(poweronoroff,
suspend,orresume)andconnectordisconnectremovabledevices.Youcannotchange
thevirtualmachinesconfiguration.Amongotherrestrictions,thismeansyoucannot
addorremovevirtualhardware.
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YourusernameappearsintheVMwareManagementInterfaceandintheConnected
Usersdialogbox,whichyouaccessintheVMwareServerConsolebychoosingVM>
ConnectedUsers.
Tointeractwithavirtualmachine,youmusthaveRead&Executepermissionforthe
virtualmachinesconfigurationfileonaWindowshost,orreadandexecute(randx)
permissionsonaLinuxhost.
Configuring a Virtual Machine

Configuringavirtualmachineletsyouaddandremovevirtualhardwaretoandfrom
thevirtualmachine.
Toconfigureavirtualmachine,youmusthaveReadandWritepermissionsforthe
virtualmachinesconfigurationfileandvirtualmachineresources(suchasaphysical
diskorcertaindevices)onaWindowshost,orreadandwrite(randw)permissionson
aLinuxhost.
Administering Virtual Machines and the VMware Server Host

AnadministratororrootusercanconfiguretheVMwareServerhostandanyvirtual
machinesonthehost.Forexample,youcanenableSSLforclientconnectionsorchange
theamountofhostmemoryallocatedforallvirtualmachines.
ToadministeravirtualmachineonaWindowshost,youruseraccountmustbea
memberofthehostsAdministratorsgroup.OnaLinuxhost,youshouldhaveroot
accesstothedirectoriescontainingvirtualmachinefiles.
Alternatively,youruseraccountcanhaveRead&ExecuteandWritepermissionsona
Windowshost,orread,write,andexecute(r,w,andx)permissionsonaLinuxhostto
aparticularvirtualmachine.
If You Have No Permissions

Ifyouhavenopermissionsforthevirtualmachinesconfigurationfile,youcannot
connecttothevirtualmachineatall.OnaWindowshost,ifapermissionisboth
allowedanddenied,thedenialtakesprecedence.Ifpermissionsareneitherallowed
nordenied,youareconsideredtohavenopermissions.
Only You Can See Virtual Machines You Create

Whenyoucreateanewvirtualmachine,thevirtualmachinebydefaultisprivate;other
userscannotseeorusethevirtualmachine.Foralluserstobeabletousethevirtual
machine,followthecustompathwhenyoucreatethevirtualmachine.Youcanalso
changetheprivatesettinginthevirtualmachinesettingseditor.
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Whenavirtualmachineisprivate,itappearsintheinventoryoftheconsoleoftheuser
whocreatedit.Thevirtualmachinedoesnotappearintheinventoryofconsolesfor
otherusersconnectedtothehost.ThevirtualmachineappearsintheVMware
ManagementInterfaceonlywhenyouareloggedonwiththeaccountthatcreatedthe
virtualmachine.
Otheruserscannotbrowsetothevirtualmachineandaddittotheinventory.
Ifthevirtualmachineismadeprivateafterithasbeencreated,itdisappearsfromother
usersinventories.
To specify whether a virtual machine is private
1
SelectthevirtualmachineinaconsoleandchooseVM>Settings.
Thevirtualmachinesettingseditorappears.
ClicktheOptionstab,andclickPermissions.
Tomakethevirtualmachineprivate,selectMakethisvirtualmachineprivate.
Toallowalluserstoseeandusethisvirtualmachine,deselectthecheckbox.
ClickOKtosaveyoursettingsandclosethevirtualmachinesettingseditor.
Authenticating Users and Running Virtual Machines for a

Windows Host
EverytimeyouconnecttoaVMwareServerforWindowshostwiththeVMwareServer
ConsoleorVMwareManagementInterface,theVMwareAuthorizationService
requestsausernameandpasswordandauthenticatesonlyvalidusers.
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Afteryouareauthenticated,theconsolestartsorthemanagementinterfacesStatus
Monitorpageappears.Accesstoavirtualmachineisbasedonyourpermissions.See
UnderstandingPermissionsandVirtualMachinesonpage 83.
Eachvirtualmachinerunsasoneofthefollowingthreeuseraccounts:
!
TheuserwhopowersonthevirtualmachineThevirtualmachinerunsasthe
accountoftheuserwhopoweredonthevirtualmachineuntilthevirtualmachine
ispoweredoff.Otheruserscanconnecttothevirtualmachinebutitstillrunsas
theuserwhopoweredonthevirtualmachine.
ThelocalsystemaccountThevirtualmachinerunsasthelocalsystemaccount.
Youcanenablethisoptiononlyifyouareloggedontothehostoperatingsystem
asanAdministrator.
AspecificuseraccountThevirtualmachinerunsastheuseraccountspecified
intheNewVirtualMachineWizardorthevirtualmachinesettingseditor.This
accountmustbeabletoaccesstheVMwareServerhost.
Theuseraccountisspecifiedwhenyoucreatethevirtualmachineandyoucanchange
itinthevirtualmachinesettingseditor.
Understanding Permissions and User Accounts

Ifthevirtualmachineisconfiguredtorunastheuserwhopowersiton,theusermust
haveReadandWritepermissionstothevirtualmachinefiles,suchastheconfiguration
file,virtualdiskfiles,andsnapshotfiles.Youmusthaveanadministratoraccountto
accessdeviceslikephysicaldisks,USBcontrollers,andgenericSCSIdevices.
Aneasywaytoallowthisusertoaccessavirtualmachineistosetthepermissionsfor
thedirectorycontainingthevirtualmachinefilesandlettheuserinherittherightsfor
thatdirectory.
Ifanotheruserconnectstothisvirtualmachinewhileitisrunning,thatuseronlyneeds
permissionsfortheconfigurationfile.
Forvirtualmachinesconfiguredtorunasaspecificuseraccountorrunasthelocal
systemuser,anyuserconnectingtothevirtualmachineneedspermissionsonlyforthe
configurationfile.
AneasywaytoallowtheseuserstoaccessthevirtualmachineistograntReadand
Writepermissionstoallthefilesinthevirtualmachinesdirectoryexceptforthe
configurationfile.GrantRead&Executepermissiontotheconfigurationfileand
disallowtheinheritanceofpermissionsonthefile.
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VMware, Inc.
Changing the User Account

YoucanchangetheuseraccountforavirtualmachinebychoosingVM>Settings>
Options>Startup/Shutdownandchangingtheuseraccountinformationthere.
Ifthevirtualmachineisconfiguredtorunastheuseraccountwhopowersiton,you
needtomakesurethevirtualmachineisinalocationthatisaccessibletothatuser.If
youneedtolocatethevirtualmachinesinadifferentarea,oronanothersystemonthe
network,makesuretheuserhasaccesstothevirtualmachineresources(suchasvirtual
disks,physicaldisks,devicesandsnapshotfiles).
Tochangethelocationwherevirtualmachinesarecreated,seeSpecifyingWhere
VirtualMachinesAreCreatedonpage 123.
Permissions and Virtual Machine Devices

ToconfigureavirtualmachinetouseaphysicaldiskorgenericSCSIdevice,theuser
mustbeamemberoftheAdministratorsgroup.
Configuring Permissions to Access a Virtual Machine

Thesystemadministrator(thatis,theadministratorresponsibleforsettingupthehost
runningVMwareServer,notnecessarilytheWindowsAdministratorlogin)cansetthe
accesspermissionsontheconfigurationfileusingthefollowingprocedure.Ingeneral,
VMwareServerusersshouldhaveReadpermissiontovirtualmachineconfiguration
files;youcanaddanyspecificusersthatshouldhaveRead&ExecuteandWrite
permissions.
To configure permissions to access a virtual machine
1
Locatetheconfigurationfileonthehostsystem.Rightclicktheconfigurationfile
andselectProperties.
ThePropertiesdialogboxappears.
ClicktheSecuritytab.
NOTE
VMware, Inc.
IfthevirtualmachineisstoredonaWindowsXPclientsystemandis
configuredtouseWorkgroupmode,theSecuritytabishiddenbydefault.
Toshowthetab,ontheWindowsXPsystem,chooseStart>Control
Panel>FolderOptions,clickAdvanced,andcleartheSimpleFile
Sharingcheckbox.
InthePropertiesdialogbox,selecteachuserorgroupandselecttheappropriate
permission,typicallyRead.
87
Ifyouwanttolimitaccesstothevirtualmachine,cleartheAllowinheritable
permissionsfromparenttopropagatetothisobjectcheckbox.
4
Tospecifythatauserorgroupthatshouldnothaveaccesstotheconfigurationfile,
eitherclickRemoveorcheckallpermissionsintheDenycolumntodenyall
permissionstothatuserorgroup.
Toaddmoreusersorgroups,clickAdd.
TheSelectUsers,ComputersandGroupsdialogboxappears.
Inthedialogbox,selectthegroupsorusersthatyouwanttoaccessthevirtual
machine,thenclickAdd.
Afteryoufinishaddingtheusersorgroups,clickOK.
TheusersandgroupsareaddedwithdefaultReadandWritepermissions.
InthePropertiesdialogbox,changethetypeofaccessfortheuserorgrouptothe
configurationfile.ChooseeitherReadorRead&ExecuteandWrite.
ClickOKtosetthepermissionstotheconfigurationfile.
Authenticating Users and Running Virtual Machines for a Linux

Host
VMwareServerforLinuxusesPluggableAuthenticationModules(PAM)foruser
authenticationintheVMwareServerConsoleandtheVMwareManagementInterface.
ThedefaultinstallationofVMwareServerusesstandardLinux/etc/passwd
authentication,butcanbeconfiguredtouseLDAP,NIS,Kerberosoranother
distributedauthenticationmechanism.
EverytimeyouconnecttotheVMwareServerhostwiththeVMwareServerConsole
orVMwareManagementInterface,theinetdorxinetdprocessrunsaninstanceofthe
VMwareauthenticationdaemon(vmware-authd).Thevmware-authdprocessrequestsa
usernameandpassword,andhandsthemofftoPAM,whichperformsthe
authentication.
Afteryouareauthenticated,theconsolestartsorthemanagementinterfacesStatus
Monitorpageappears.Whatyoucannowdowiththevirtualmachinesisbasedon
yourpermissions.SeeUnderstandingPermissionsandVirtualMachinesonpage 83.
Thevmware-authdprocessstartsavirtualmachineprocessastheownerofthe
configurationfile,notastheuserconnectingtothevirtualmachine.However,theuser
isstillrestrictedbyhisorherpermissionsontheconfigurationfile.
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NOTE
Ifyouhavefullpermissionsonaconfigurationfilebutdonothaveexecute
permissiontothedirectoryinwhichtheconfigurationfileresidesoranyofits
parentdirectories,thenyoucannotconnecttothevirtualmachinewitha
VMwareServerConsoleoraVMwareScriptingAPI.Furthermore,youcannot
seethevirtualmachineintheVMwareManagementInterfaceorinthe
VMwareServerConsole.Norcanyoudeleteanyfilesinthevirtualmachines
directory.
Virtualmachinesandtheirresources,suchasvirtualdisks,physicaldisks,devicesand
snapshotfiles,shouldbelocatedinareasaccessibletotheirusers.
Ifavmwareprocessisnotrunningforthisconfigurationfile,vmware-authdcheckstosee
ifthisvirtualmachineisintheinventory.Ifthevirtualmachineisintheinventory,
vmware-authdbecomestheowneroftheconfigurationfile(notnecessarilytheuserthat
iscurrentlyauthenticated)andstartstheconsolewiththisconfigurationfileasan
argument(forexample,vmware /<path_to_config>/<configfile>.vmx).
Thevmware-authdprocessexitsassoonasaconnectionisestablishedtoavmware
processandatleastoneuserhasconnected.Eachvmwareprocessshutsdown
automaticallyafterthelastuserdisconnects.
Default Permissions
WhenyoucreateavirtualmachinewithVMwareServeronaLinuxhost,its
configurationfileisassignedthefollowingdefaultpermissions,basedontheuser
accessingit:
!
Read,executeandwrite(7)Fortheuserwhocreatedtheconfigurationfile(the
owner).
Readandexecute(5)Fortheprimarygrouptowhichtheownerbelongs.
Read(4)Forusersotherthantheowneroramemberoftheownersgroup.
WhenyoufirstinstalltheVMwareServersoftwareandruntheconfigurationprogram
vmware-config.pl,youcansetthesepermissionsforanyexistingvirtualmachine
configurationfiles.
Ifyouplantouseavirtualmachineanditsconfigurationfileyoucreatedinother
VMwareproductswithVMwareServer,youmustopentheconfigurationfile(choose
File>Open)toconnecttothevirtualmachinefromtheVMwareServerConsoleorthe
VMwareManagementInterface.Thensetthedefaultpermissionsasabove.
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Creating Virtual Machines on NFS Shares

IfthevirtualmachineislocatedonanNFSshare,makesuretherootuserhasaccessto
thelocationofthevirtualmachinefiles.Otherwise,youmayencounterproblems
configuringthevirtualmachine.
IfyoucreateavirtualmachineonanNFSsharetowhichtherootuserhasnoaccess,
certainoperationsdonotworkwhenthevirtualmachineisnotrunning.Forexample,
youcannotreverttoasnapshot,addorremovedevicestoorfromthevirtualmachine,
orotherwisechangethevirtualmachinesconfiguration.
Checking Permissions in the VMware Management Interface

TheVMwareManagementInterfaceliststhepermissionsyouhaveforeach
configurationfileonthehostmachinetowhichyouareconnected.Thepermissions
appearontheUsersandEventspageforeachvirtualmachine.Formoreinformation,
seeViewingaListofConnectedUsersonpage 109.
OnlyvirtualmachinesforwhichyouhavereadaccessarevisibletoyouintheVMware
ManagementInterface.
Securing Your Remote Sessions

Theusername,password,andnetworkpacketssenttotheVMwareServerhostovera
networkconnectionwhenusingtheVMwareServerConsoleortheVMware
ManagementInterfaceareencryptedinVMwareServerbydefault.Asthe
Administratoruser(Windowshosts)orrootuser(Linuxhosts),youcandisableSecure
SocketsLayer(SSL)ifyoudonotwanttoencryptthesesessions.
WithSSLenabled,VMwareServercreatessecuritycertificatesandstoresthemonyour
host.However,thecertificatesusedtosecureyourVMwareManagementInterface
sessionsarenotsignedbyatrustedcertificateauthority.Thereforetheydonotprovide
authentication.Touseencryptedremoteconnectionsexternally,youshouldconsider
purchasingacertificatefromatrustedcertificateauthority.
WithSSLenabled,theconsoleandmanagementinterfaceperformexactlyastheydo
whenSSLisdisabled.
WhenSSLisenabledfortheVMwareServerConsole,alockiconappearsinthelower
rightcorneroftheconsolewindow.AnyconsolesthatarealreadyopenatthetimeSSL
isenableddonotbecomeencrypted,andthelockicondoesnotappearintheseconsole
windows.Youmustclosetheseconsolesandstartnewconsolesessionstoensure
encryption.
WhenSSLisenabledfortheVMwareManagementInterface,theURLtoconnecttothe
managementinterfaceishttps://<hostname>:8333.Themanagementinterface
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automaticallyredirectsuserstothisURLiftheyusetheinsecureURL
(http://<hostname>:8222)toconnect.Alockiconappearsinthestatusbarofthe
browserwindow.
IfyoudisableSSL,usersareautomaticallyredirectedtohttp://<hostname>:8222if
theyusehttps://<hostname>:8333toconnecttothemanagementinterface.
NOTE
IfSSLisdisabledandthenenabledagain,anynewmanagementinterface
connectionstothenonsecureport(8222)arenotredirected.
Using Your Own Security Certificates

YoucanuseyourownsecuritycertificatewhenyouenableSSL.
OnaWindowshost,runtheMicrosoftManagementConsole(mmc.exe)andselectyour
certificate.WhenyouupgradetheVMwareManagementInterfaceonaVMwareServer
forWindowshost,youmustreassignyourcertificatetotheVMwareManagement
Interface.
OnaLinuxhost,theVMwareManagementInterfacecertificatemustbeplacedin
/etc/vmware-mui/ssl.Thecertificateconsistsoftwofiles:thecertificatefile(mui.crt)
andtheprivatekeyfile(mui.key).Theprivatekeyfileshouldbereadableonlybythe
rootuser.
WhenyouupgradetheVMwareManagementInterfaceonaLinuxhost,thecertificate
remainsinplace.IncaseyouremovedtheVMwareManagementInterface,the
directoryisnotremovedfromyourhost.
Enabling and Disabling SSL for Remote Sessions

YouenableanddisableSSLforVMwareServerConsoleconnectionsintheconsoleor
themanagementinterface.YouenableSSLforVMwareManagementInterface
connectionsinthemanagementinterface.Bydefault,SSLisenabledforallremote
connections.
Thecertificatesusedinthesesecuresessionsarenotsignedbyatrustedcertificate
authority.Thereforetheydonotprovideauthentication.Touseencryptedremote
connectionsexternally,considerpurchasingacertificatefromatrustedcertificate
authority.
TochangeSSLsettingsforconsoleandmanagementinterfaceconnectionsfromthe
VMwareManagementInterface,seeSecuringRemoteConnectionswithSSLon
page 112.
TochangetheSSLsettingforconsoleconnectionsfromtheVMwareServerConsole,
seeEnablingSSLforVMwareServerConsoleConnectionsonpage 125.
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Identifying a Virtual Machine by Its UUID

Eachvirtualmachineisautomaticallyassignedauniversallyuniqueidentifier(UUID),
whichisstoredintheSMBIOSsysteminformationdescriptor.TheUUIDcanbe
accessedbystandardSMBIOSscanningsoftware,forexampleSiSoftwareSandraorthe
IBMutilitysmbios2,andusedforsystemmanagementinthesamewayyouusethe
UUIDofaphysicalcomputer.
TheUUIDisa128bitinteger.The16bytesofthisvalueareseparatedbyspaces,except
foradashbetweentheeighthandninthhexadecimalpairs.SoasampleUUIDlooks
likethis:
00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77-88 99 aa bb cc dd ee ff
TheUUIDisbasedonthephysicalcomputersidentifierandthepathtothevirtual
machinesconfigurationfile.ThisUUIDisgeneratedwhenyoupoweronorresetthe
virtualmachine.Aslongasyoudonotmoveorcopythevirtualmachinetoanother
location,theUUIDremainsconstant.
Ifyoumoveorcopythevirtualmachine,youhavethechoiceofcreatinganewUUID
thefirsttimeyoupoweronthevirtualmachine.ThisnewUUIDisbasedonthe
physicalcomputersidentifierandpathtothevirtualmachinesconfigurationfileinits
newlocation.
Whenyoupoweronavirtualmachinethatwasmovedorcopiedtoanewlocation,a
messageappears.
Ifyoumovedthisvirtualmachine,youcanchoosetokeeptheUUID.SelectKeep,then
clickOKtocontinuepoweringonthevirtualmachine.
Ifyoucopiedthisvirtualmachinetoanewlocation,youshouldcreateanewUUID,
sincethecopyofthevirtualmachineisusingthesameUUIDastheoriginalvirtual
machine.SelectCreate,thenclickOKtocontinuepoweringonthevirtualmachine.
Iftheoriginalvirtualmachineisbeingusedasatemplateformorevirtualmachines,
youcanchoosetocreateanewUUIDthefirsttimeyoupoweroneachcopy.Afteryou
configurethevirtualmachineandarereadytomakeitatemplate,moveittoanew
locationandpoweriton.Whenthemessageappearsafteryoupoweron,selectAlways
Create,thenclickOKtocontinuepoweringonthevirtualmachine.Thevirtual
machineissetuptocreateanewUUIDeverytimeitismoved.Poweroffthevirtual
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machineandbeginusingitasatemplatebycopyingthevirtualmachinefilestoother
locations.
Ifyouintendtomovethevirtualmachinenumeroustimes,andwanttokeepthesame
UUIDeachtimethevirtualmachinemoves,thenselectAlwaysKeepandclickOKto
continuepoweringonthevirtualmachine.
NOTE
IfyouwanttochangetheAlwaysKeeporAlwaysCreatesetting,poweroff
thevirtualmachineandedititsconfigurationfile(.vmx).Deletethelinethat
contains
uuid.action = "create"
or
uuid.action = "keep"
Suspendingandresumingavirtualmachinedoesnottriggertheprocessthatgenerates
aUUID.Thus,theUUIDinuseatthetimethevirtualmachinewassuspendedremains
inusewhenthevirtualmachineisresumed,evenifithasbeencopiedormoved.
However,thenexttimethevirtualmachineisrebooted,themessageappears,soyou
canchoosetocreateanewUUIDorkeeptheexistingone.
Specifying a UUID for a Virtual Machine

InsomecircumstancesyoumightwanttoassignaspecificUUIDtothevirtual
machine.
To specify a UUID for a virtual machine
1
OverridetheautomaticallygeneratedUUIDvalue.
Poweroffthevirtualmachineandedititsconfigurationfile(.vmx)tosetthevalue
oftheUUIDparameter.
Useatexteditortoedittheconfigurationfile.Theformatforthelineis:
uuid.bios = <uuidvalue>
TheUUIDvaluemustbesurroundedbyquotationmarks.Asampleconfiguration
linelookslike:
uuid.bios = "00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77-88 99 aa bb cc dd ee ff"
Afteraddingthislinetotheconfigurationfile,poweronthevirtualmachine.
ThenewUUIDisusedwhenthevirtualmachineboots.
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Logging VMware Server Events on Windows

VMwareServersendsinformationabouteventsthatoccurintheapplicationtothe
EventVieweronWindowshosts.Eacheventhasauniqueidentifiertoassistyouin
trackingvariouseventswithautomationtools.
ThetypesofeventsthataresenttotheEventViewerinclude:
!
Anychangestoavirtualmachinespowerstate.Whenavirtualmachineis
poweredonoroff,suspendedorresumed,anentryisloggedintheEventViewer.
Theadditionorremovalofvirtualmachinesfromtheinventory.
ThedeletionofavirtualmachinefromtheVMwareServersystem.
AnymessagesandwarningsgeneratedbyVMwareServerandtheresponsesto
thesemessagesandwarnings.WheneverVMwareServergeneratesamessageora
warningprompttowhichtheusermustrespond,themessageorwarningandthe
usersresponseareloggedintheEventViewer.Amessageorawarningisany
dialogboxthatVMwareServergeneratesintheapplicationthatisnotahint.
To log VMware Server events on Windows

1
ToaccesstheEventViewer,chooseStart>AdministrativeTools>EventViewer.
SelecttheApplicationlogtoviewVMwareServerevents.
Modifytheinformationthatgetsloggedforaparticularmachineorforallvirtual
machines.
Thetwooptionsyoucanmodifyinclude:
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eventlog.win.message=FALSEthissettingpreventstheloggingofalldialog
boxandmessageeventsthatappearinVMwareServer.
eventlog.win.register=FALSEthissettingpreventstheloggingofpower
statechangeeventsandloggingofwhenavirtualmachineisaddedtoor
removedfromtheinventory.
Tomodifywhatgetsloggedforavirtualmachine,addeitherorbothoftheoptions
tothevirtualmachinesconfiguration(.vmx)file.
Tomodifywhatgetsloggedforallvirtualmachinesonahost,addeitherorboth
oftheoptionstotheVMware Serverconfig.inifile,locatedbydefaultin
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware
Server.
Backing Up Virtual Machines and the VMware Server Host

ThissectiondiscussesmethodsforbackingupyourvirtualmachinesandtheVMware
Serverhost.Itincludes:
!
UsingaBackupAgentintheVirtualMachineonpage 95
UsingaBackupAgentRunningontheHostOperatingSystemonpage 96
BackingUptheVMwareServerHostonpage 96
ConsiderationsforBackingUpVirtualMachinesonpage 97
Using a Backup Agent in the Virtual Machine

Thebestwaytobackupvirtualmachinesthatrequireconstantuptime(24hoursaday,
sevendaysaweek)istoloadabackupagentineachvirtualmachine.Thisagentshould
connectdirectlythroughyournetworktoyourbackupservers.Thismethodallowsyou
tocompletelybackupindividualfilesonyourvirtualmachinesandrecoverfiles
individually.
Supported Backup Configurations

VMwarehastestedthefollowingbackupsoftwareinvirtualmachinesusingtheDell
PowerVault120Ttapedrive/changer:
!
BrightStorARCserveBackupversion9.0(build1868)
VeritasBackupExec9,ServicePack1
ThetapedrivemustbeconfiguredasagenericSCSIdevice.Toaddthedrivetoavirtual
machine,seeAddingaGenericSCSIDevicetoaVirtualMachine.
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NOTE
IfthevirtualmachinehasaWindowsguestoperatingsysteminstalledandis
configuredtousetheBusLogicSCSIadapter,youmustusetheVMware
BusLogicdriver,availablefromtheVMwareWebsiteat
http://www.vmware.com/download.
Using a Backup Agent Running on the Host Operating System

AnotherbackupmethodusesabackupagentrunningontheVMwareServerhost.You
backupavirtualmachinebysuspendingandresumingitwithbatchfilescontaining
vmware-cmdcommands.Suspendingavirtualmachineputsitinastateinwhichthe
hostbackupsoftwarecangainexclusiveaccesstothevirtualmachinefilestocomplete
itstask.
To backup a virtual machine directory using a backup agent
1
Addthefollowinglinetoyoursuspendbatchfile:
vmware-cmd <path_to_config>\<config>.vmx suspend
Oncethevirtualmachineissuspended,youcansafelybackupthisvirtual
machinesdirectoryusingthebackupagentinstalledontheVMwareServerhost.
Afterthebackupjobcompletes,runaresumebatchjobtorestartthevirtual
machine.
Thebatchfileshouldcontainthefollowingline:
vmware-cmd <path_to_config>\<config>.vmx start
Thiscommandresumesthevirtualmachineintoanactive,runningstate.
IfyouwanttorestoreavirtualmachinetoaserverotherthantheVMwareServer
hostwhereitwasoriginallylocated,shutdownthevirtualmachine.Insteadof
usingthesuspendbatchfile,useonethatpowersoffthevirtualmachine.
vmware-cmd <path_to_config>\<config>.vmx stop
Thesuspend,stop,andresumecommandscanbeusedinpreandpostjobscripts
thatarenormallyavailableviathebackupsoftwarebeingused.Backupsoftware
suchasVeritasBackupExechasthecapabilitytorunpreandpostbatchjobswith
scheduledbackups.
Backing Up the VMware Server Host

TocompletelybackupyourentireVMwareServerenvironmentforagivenpointin
time,backupyourentireVMwareServerhost.Shutdownallvirtualmachinesonthe
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host,andbackupthehostandallvirtualmachinedirectories.However,restoringa
virtualmachinedirectoryfromsuchabackupreturnsyoutothatpointintime;you
cannotrestoreindividualfilesinthevirtualmachine.
Considerations for Backing Up Virtual Machines

AvirtualmachinedirectoryshouldnotbebackedupontheVMwareServerhostifthe
virtualmachineispoweredon.Youshouldeithersuspendorshutdownthevirtual
machinebeforebackingupitsdirectory.
Ifthevirtualmachineisrunningwhenyoutrytobackitup,thevirtualmachinecan
hangandbeunreachable.
OpenfileagentsloadedontheVMwareServerhostdonotalwaysworkreliablywhen
youbackupopenvirtualdisksthataregigabytesinsize.
Beforeimplementingabackupmethod,testanddocumentthemethodinadvanceto
ensureasuccessfulbackup.
Formoreinformationonscriptingandusingthevmware-cmdfile,readAppendixAof
theVMwareScriptingAPIUsersManual,availableontheVMwareWebsiteat
Using the VMware Management Interface

VMwareServerprovidestheVMwareManagementInterface,aWebbased
managementtoolthatallowsyouto:
!
MonitorthestateofvirtualmachinesandtheVMwareServerhostonwhichthey
arerunning.
Control(poweron,suspend,resume,resetandpoweroff)thevirtualmachineson
thathost.
ConnecttheVMwareServerConsoletoagivenvirtualmachine,forhandson
management.
Viewdetailsabouteachvirtualmachine,includingsystemsummary,hardware
information,anyconnectedusersandalogofrecentevents.
SecureconsoleandmanagementinterfacesessionswithSSL(administratorand
rootusersonly).
Answerquestionsandacknowledgemessagesposedbythevirtualmachine.
TomanageavirtualmachinefromtheVMwareManagementInterface,ausermust
haveatleastreadpermissionforthatvirtualmachinesconfigurationfile.Formore
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informationaboutpermissionsandVMwareServer,seeUnderstandingPermissions
andVirtualMachinesonpage 83.
ToproperlyviewtheVMwareManagementInterface,ensurethatstylesheetsare
enabledinyourbrowser,regardlessofwhichbrowserandversionyouareusing.
NOTE
ToruntheVMwareManagementInterfaceinInternetExplorer6.0ona
WindowsServer2003system,whethertheVMwareServerhostisinstalledon
WindowsServer2003oraWindowsServer2003clientmachinethatconnects
toaVMwareServerhost,youneedtofollowsomespecialconfigurationsteps
inordertousethemanagementinterface.Formoreinformation,see
ConfiguringWebBrowsersforUsewithVMwareServeronpage 46.
TheVMwareManagementInterfacestartswithaLoginpage,whereyouenteryour
usernameandpasswordtologon.TheLoginpagecontainslinksfordownloadingthe
VMwareServerConsoleforWindowsandLinuxhosts.Formoreinformation,see
DownloadingtheVMwareServerConsoleonpage 81.
Afteryourusernameandpasswordareauthorizedbythemanagementinterface,the
StatusMonitorpageappears.TheStatusMonitorpagecontainshighleveldetailsabout
allthevirtualmachinesonthehostservertowhichyouareconnected.TheStatus
Monitorpagelinkstoadetailedsetofpagesspecifictoeachvirtualmachine,whereyou
findinformationaboutvirtualdevices,configurationoptions,andasummaryofrecent
events.Inaddition,youcancreateanddeletevirtualmachinesfromyourbrowser.
Thesepagesrefreshorreloadautomaticallyevery90seconds.Youmightwantto
refreshorreloadthesepagesmanuallybeforeyouperformanoperationlike
suspending,resuming,orpoweringonoroffavirtualmachinefromtheVMware
ManagementInterfaceorafteryouperformapoweroperationinaconsole.Another
usermighthaveperformedthesameoraconflictingoperationrightbeforeyou.To
refreshthepage,clickRefreshatthetopofapage.
Thissectionincludesthefollowingtopics:
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SettingtheSessionLengthfortheVMwareManagementInterfaceonpage 99
LoggingOntotheVMwareManagementInterfaceonpage 99
UsingtheStatusMonitoronpage 101
ConfiguringaVirtualMachineonpage 105
TheApacheServerandtheVMwareManagementInterfaceonpage 111
LoggingOfftheVMwareManagementInterfaceonpage 111
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Setting the Session Length for the VMware Management

Interface
Yourmanagementinterfacesessionstimesoutafter60minutesofidletime.
OnaWindowshost,thissettingisspecifiedbythevariablevmware_SESSION_LENGTH,
storedinC:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Management Interface\htdocs\init.pl.
Youcanchangethissettingtoanynumberofminutes,oryoucanblockaccesstothe
managementinterfaceforallusersbysettingvmware_SESSION_LENGTHto0minutes.You
canhavepersistentsessionsthatnevertimeoutbysettingvmware_SESSION_LENGTHto
-1.
OnaLinuxhost,youcanchangethissettingbyrunningthemanagementinterface
configurationprogramvmware-config-mui.pl.Youcanblockaccesstothe
managementinterfaceforallusersbysettingthetimeoutlengthto0minutes.Youcan
havepersistentsessionsthatnevertimeoutbysettingthetimeoutlengthto-1.
Logging On to the VMware Management Interface

TousetheVMwareManagementInterface,runasupportedbrowsersuchasInternet
Explorer5.5or6.0.VMwarehighlyrecommendsusing6.0,NetscapeNavigator7.0or
later,orMozilla1.x.
Before you log on to the VMware Management Interface

!
YoumustknowthehostnameorIPaddressoftheserveryouwanttomanage.
Youmusthaveavalidusernameandpasswordonthatserver.
Youcanconnecttotheserverwithuptoeightmanagementinterfacesessionsata
time.TheURLtoconnecttotheserverishttps://<hostname>:8333.
IfyouareconnectingtotheVMwareManagementInterfacefromabrowseronthe
hostmachine,youcanuselocalhostasthe<hostname>.
IfyoudisabledSSLforyourmanagementinterfacesessions,theURLtoconnectto
theserverishttp://<hostname>:8222.
Formoreinformation,seeSecuringYourRemoteSessionsonpage 90.Usersare
automaticallyredirectedtohttp://<hostname>:8222iftheyuse
https://<hostname>:8333toconnecttothemanagementinterface.
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IfyouareusingNetscapeNavigatororMozilla,checktheadvanced
preferences(Edit>Preferences>Advanced)tobesureJavaScriptandstyle
sheetsarebothenabled.
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To log on to the VMware Management Interface

1
EntertheURL.
TheLoginpageappears.
TheLoginpagecontainsfieldsforyourusernameandpassword.
ItalsocontainsamenusoyoucandownloadinstallationpackagesfortheVMware
ServerConsole.Todownloadapackage,seeDownloadingtheVMwareServer
Consoleonpage 81.
2
OntheLoginpage,enteryourusernameandpasswordforthehostmachine,and
clickLogIn.
TheStatusMonitorpageappears.ForinformationabouttheStatusMonitorpage,
seeUsingtheStatusMonitoronpage 101.
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Using the Status Monitor

TheStatusMonitorpagecontainsahighlevelviewoftheVMwareServerhost
includingahostsystemsummaryandlistofallvirtualmachinesknowntothehostthat
youhavesufficientpermissionstosee.
Viewing Summary Information About the VMware Server Host System

UnderSystemSummary,youcanview:
!
ThenumberofprocessorsontheVMwareServerhost,includingtheaverage
percentageofprocessorpowerusedbyvirtualmachines,otherprocessesonthe
host,andthetotalbeingusedbythewholesystemforthepreviousminute.
TheamountofmemoryontheVMwareServerhost,includingtheaverageamount
ofmemoryusedbyvirtualmachines,otherprocessesonthehost,andthetotal
beingusedbythewholesystemforthepreviousminute.
Viewing Summary Information About Virtual Machines on the Host

UnderVirtualMachines,youcanviewalistofallvirtualmachinesknowntothehost
thatyouhavesufficientpermissionstosee.Whenavirtualmachineisrunning,the
StatusMonitorpagedisplaysitsIDnumberafterthepowerstatusofthevirtual
machine.
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Activitiesyoucanperforminclude:
!
ConnectingtoaVirtualMachinewiththeVMwareServerConsoleonpage 103
MonitoringtheVirtualMachinesHeartbeatonpage 104
ViewingInformationaboutaVirtualMachineonpage 104
DownloadingtheVMwareServerConsoleonpage 81(LoginandStatus
Monitorpages)
Using the Virtual Machine Menu

Clickthearrowtotherightoftheterminalicon( )todisplayamenuofoptionsfor
thatvirtualmachine.Themenuincludesthefollowingcommands,mostofwhichcan
beperformedusingthebuttonsandothervisualelementsofthemanagementinterface.
Dependingonyourpermissionsandthestateofthevirtualmachine,someoptions
mightnotbeavailable.
!
AttachConsoleLaunchestheVMwareServerConsole,whichconnectstothis
virtualmachine.Selectingthisoptionisthesameasclicking .Youneedtologon
tothehost.Formoreinformation,seeConnectingtoaVirtualMachinefroma
WindowsHostorClientandConnectingtoaVirtualMachinefromaLinuxHost
orClient.
NOTE
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NetscapeandMozillausersmustdefineaMIMEtypebeforeinstalling
theVMwareServerConsole.InternetExplorerisautomatically
configuredwhentheVMwareServerConsoleisinstalled.For
information,seeSettingMIMETypetoLaunchtheVMwareServer
Consoleonpage 128.
PropertiesOpenstheVirtualMachineOverviewpageforthisvirtualmachinein
anewbrowserwindow.Selectingthisoptionisthesameasclickingthevirtual
machinenamelinkintheDisplayNamecolumn.
ConfigureOptionsOpenstheOptionspage,whereyoucaneditavirtual
machinesconfiguration,suchastheguestoperatingsystemtype,displayname,
thelocationofthesuspendedstatefileandthestartupandshutdownoptions.
Withtheexceptionofthedisplayname,youcanedittheseoptionsonlywhenthe
virtualmachineispoweredoff.
ShutDownGuestRunsthescriptassociatedwiththispowerstatechange,shuts
downtheguestoperatingsystem,andpowersoffthevirtualmachine.Selecting
thisoptionisthesameasclicking inthepowerstatepopupmenu.
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SuspendafterRunningScriptRunstheassociatedscriptandsuspendsa
runningvirtualmachine.Selectingthisoptionisthesameasclicking inthe
powerstatepopupmenu.
PowerOn/ResumeandRunScriptPowersonastoppedvirtualmachineor
resumesasuspendedvirtualmachine,andrunsthescriptassociatedwiththis
powerstatechange.Selectingthisoptionisthesameasclicking inthepower
statepopupmenu.
RestartGuestGracefullyrestartstheguestoperatingsystemandthevirtual
machine.Selectingthisoptionisthesameasclicking
menu.
inthepowerstatepopup
PowerOffPowersoffthevirtualmachineimmediatelywithoutrunningascript
orshuttingdowntheguestoperatingsystem.Selectingthisoptionisthesameas
turningoffthepowertoaphysicalcomputer.
SuspendSuspendsapoweredonvirtualmachinewithoutrunningascript.
PowerOn/ResumePowersonastoppedvirtualmachineorresumesa
suspendedvirtualmachinewithoutrunningascript.
ResetResetsthevirtualmachineimmediatelywithoutrunningascriptor
stoppingtheguestoperatingsystem.Selectingthisoptionisthesameaspressing
theresetbuttononaphysicalcomputer.
Connecting to a Virtual Machine with the VMware Server Console

Toviewaparticularvirtualmachinesdesktop,attachtheVMwareServerConsoleand
connecttothevirtualmachine.Clicktheterminalicon( )intherowforthevirtual
machinetowhichyouwanttoconnectwiththeconsole.Forinformationonconnecting
withtheconsole,seeConnectingtoaVirtualMachinefromaWindowsHostor
ClientandConnectingtoaVirtualMachinefromaLinuxHostorClient.
Theterminaliconappearsslightlydifferent,dependingupontheguestoperating
systemselectedforthevirtualmachinewhenitwascreated.Thisvisualcuehelpsto
identifythevirtualmachine(forexample,thedisplaynamemightnotindicatethe
guestoperatingsystem).Thevariationsintheterminaliconareshownhere.
indicatesaWindowsguestoperatingsystem.
indicatesaLinuxguestoperatingsystem.
indicatesaFreeBSDguestoperatingsystem.
indicatesaNetWareguestoperatingsystem.
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indicatesanotherguestoperatingsystem,suchasMSDOS.
indicatesaSunSolarisoperatingsystem.
Monitoring the Virtual Machines Heartbeat

UnderHBisabargraphthatrepresentstheaveragepercentageofheartbeatsreceived
byavirtualmachineduringthepreviousminute.Theheartbeatrepresentstheoverall
healthoftheguestoperatingsystem,basedonwhetherapplicationsrunninginthe
guestareconsumingresourcesfromotherapplicationsintheguest.
TheheartbeatsaresentbytheVMwareToolsservicetothevirtualmachinefromits
guestoperatingsystem;thepercentageisrelativetothenumberofheartbeatsthe
virtualmachineexpectstoreceivefortheminutebeforethepagewaslastupdated.
Heavilyloadedguestoperatingsystemsmightnotsend100%oftheexpected
heartbeats,eventhoughthesystemisotherwiseoperatingnormally.Ingeneral,only
whentheheartbeatpercentagedropstozeroshouldthevirtualmachineorguest
operatingsystembeconsideredabnormal.
NOTE
IfVMwareToolsisnotinstalledorisnotrunning,theguestoperatingsystem
doesnotsendanyheartbeatstoitsvirtualmachineandthismeterisdisabled.
Viewing Information about a Virtual Machine

ImportantvirtualmachineinformationisreadilyavailableontheStatusMonitorpage.
!
ThelinkintheDisplayNamecolumnindicatesthedisplaynameforthevirtual
machine.Ifoneisnotspecified,thepathtotheconfigurationfileforthevirtual
machineappearshereinstead.Thiscolumnalsocontainsthevirtualmachines
powerstate,itsprocessID,anditsvirtualmachineID(ifitisrunning)Italsonotes
ifVMwareToolsisnotinstalled.
Ifthevirtualmachineiswaitingforaresponsetoasystemmessage,aWaitingfor
inputlinkappearshere.Clickthelinktoviewthemessageandrespondtoit.
Clickthevirtualmachinelinkformoredetailsaboutthevirtualmachine.The
VirtualMachineOverviewpageappearsinanewbrowserwindow.Formore
information,seeConfiguringaVirtualMachineonpage 105.
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ThevalueintheUpcolumnindicatesthelengthoftimethevirtualmachinehas
beenrunning.
Thevalueinthe%CPUcolumnindicatestheaveragepercentageofhostoperating
systemprocessorcapacitythevirtualmachineusedduringthefinalminutebefore
thepagewaslastupdated.Moredetailedprocessorinformationisavailableonthe
VirtualMachineOverviewpage.
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ThevalueintheRAMcolumnindicatestheaverageamountofmemorythevirtual
machineusedduringthefinalminutebeforethepagewaslastupdated.More
memoryinformationisavailableontheVirtualMachineOverviewpage.
Using Common Controls

Thefollowinglinksappearonmostorallofthepagesinthemanagementinterface.
RefreshThislinkrefreshesorreloadsthecurrentpage.Toavoidconflictswithother
users,clickthisbuttonbeforeyouperformanoperationinthemanagementinterface
likeshuttingdown,suspending,resuming,orpoweringonavirtualmachineor
afteryouperformsuchanoperationinaconsole.
HelpThislinkconnectsyoutotheonlinedocumentationforthecurrentpageinthe
managementinterface.
LogoutThislinklogsyouoffofthemanagementinterface.Youcanlogofffromthe
StatusMonitorandOptionspagesonly.ClickLogouttoreturntotheLoginpage.See
LoggingOfftheVMwareManagementInterfaceonpage 111.
CloseThislinkclosesthecurrentmanagementinterfacewindow.
Configuring a Virtual Machine

Toseemoreinformationaboutaparticularvirtualmachineandtomodifyits
configuration,clickthelinktothatvirtualmachineintheDisplayNamecolumnonthe
StatusMonitorpage.TheVirtualMachineOverviewpageappearsinanewbrowser
window.
TheVirtualMachineOverviewpagecontainsthesedetailsaboutthevirtualmachine:
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Thecurrentpowerstateofthevirtualmachinewhetheritispoweredon,
poweredoff,orsuspended.
TheprocessIDofthevirtualmachine.
TheVMIDofthevirtualmachine,whichistheVMwareServerversionofthePID
forarunningvirtualmachine.
Theminimum,maximum,andaveragepercentageofVMwareServerhost
processorcapacitythatthevirtualmachineusedinthepreviousminute.
Theminimum,maximum,andaverageamountofVMwareServerhostmemory
thatthevirtualmachineusedinthepreviousminute.
Howlongthevirtualmachinehasbeenrunning.
ThestatusofVMwareToolswhetherVMwareToolsisinstalledandrunning.
Theaveragepercentageofheartbeatsreceivedbyavirtualmachineduringthe
previousminute.SeeMonitoringtheVirtualMachinesHeartbeatonpage 104.
TheIPaddressofthevirtualmachine.
Linkstoeditstandardconfigurationoptions.ClickOptionstoeditthevirtual
machinesstandardconfigurationoptions.TheOptionspageappears.Tochange
mostoptions,youmustpoweroffthevirtualmachine.
Theguestoperatingsysteminstalledinthevirtualmachine.
Thenumberofvirtualprocessorsinthevirtualmachine.
Theamountofmemoryallocatedtothevirtualmachine.
ThepathtothevirtualmachinesconfigurationfileontheVMwareServerhost.
Activitiesyoucanperformwhenviewingavirtualmachinesdetailsinclude:
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ModifyingtheConfigurationFileDirectly(AdvancedUsersOnly)onpage 107
ViewingaListofConnectedUsersonpage 109
ViewingaLogofaVirtualMachinesEventsonpage 110
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Changing Configuration Options

Tochangeanystandardvirtualmachineconfigurationoptions,completethefollowing
steps.
1
PoweroffthevirtualmachineandclickEdit.TheOptionsConfigurationpage
appears.
NOTE
Youcanchangethedisplaynamewhenthevirtualmachineisrunning.
Tochangethedisplayname,typethenewnameintheDisplayNamefield.
Tochangetheguestoperatingsystem(forexample,ifyouareupgradingtheguest
operatingsysteminstalledinthevirtualmachine),selectthenewguestoperating
systemfromtheGuestOperatingSystemlist.
Tochangethelocationofthesuspendedstatefile,typethepathtothedirectoryon
thehostintheSuspendFileLocationfield.
Tochangewhetherloggingisenabledforthevirtualmachine,check(toenable)or
clear(todisable)theEnableLoggingcheckbox.
Tochangewhetherthevirtualmachineisrunningwithdebugginginformation,
check(toenable)orclear(todisable)theRunwithDebuggingInformationcheck
box.
ClickOKtosaveyourchangesandclosethewindow.
Modifying the Configuration File Directly (Advanced Users Only)

Toaddorchangeavirtualmachinesconfigurationoptionthatcannotbeaccessedfrom
elsewhereinthemanagementinterface,editthevirtualmachinesconfigurationfile
(.vmx)fromtheOptionstab.
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CAUTION
Youshouldnotaddorchangeanyoptionsinyourconfigurationfile
unlessyouhavebeengivenspecificinstructionsaboutanoptionin
anotherpartoftheuserdocumentation,orifyouareworkingwith
VMwaresupporttosolveanissuewithyourvirtualmachine.
Toaddanoptiontotheconfigurationfile,makesureyouareloggedontothe
managementinterfaceasthevirtualmachineuserorasauserwiththeproper
permissionstomodifythisvirtualmachine(suchastheAdministratororrootuser),
andcompletethefollowingsteps.Makesurethevirtualmachineispoweredoff.
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UnderVerboseOptions,clicktheclickherelink.TheOptionspageappears.
ClickAdd.
Apromptappears.Enteranamefortheoption,thenclickOK.
Anotherpromptappears.Enteravalueforoptionyouspecified,thenclickOK.
ClickOKintheOptionspagetosavethechangetotheconfigurationfile.
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Tochangeanoptionintheconfigurationfile,completethefollowingsteps.
1
UnderVerboseOptions,clicktheclickherelink.TheOptionspageappears.
Locatetheoptionyouwanttochange,thenchangethevalueintheentryfieldto
therightoftheoption.
ClickOKtosaveyourchangeandclosetheOptionspage.
Viewing a List of Connected Users

ToseealistofuserswhoareconnectedtoavirtualmachinewithaconsoleorVMware
ScriptingAPI,clicktheUsersandEventstab.
ThelistunderRemoteConsoleConnectionsidentifiesanyusersconnectedtothe
virtualmachinewithaconsoleorVMwareScriptingAPI.Thelistincludesthetimeand
IPaddressfromwhichtheuserconnectedtothevirtualmachineandthestatusofthe
usersactivity.
NOTE
Youcandeterminewhichusersareconnectedtoarunningvirtualmachine
fromtheconsole;chooseVM>ConnectedUsers.
ThelistunderPermissionsindicateswhatyoucandowiththevirtualmachine.You
areeitherallowedordeniedthefollowingabilities:
!
Viewingvirtualmachinestatus.
Modifyingthevirtualmachinesconfiguration.
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Controllingthevirtualmachinepoweringitonoroff,suspendingorresuming
it.
Viewing a Log of a Virtual Machines Events

Alogofthe15mostrecentvirtualmachineeventsisavailable.ClicktheUsersand
Eventstab.TheUsersandEventspageappears.
TheEventslistdisplaysalogofthemostrecentactionsoreventsrecordedinthevirtual
machine,suchasthequestionsVMwareServerasks,anyerrorsandthepoweringon
oroffthevirtualmachine.Eventsappearinreversechronologicalorder;thatis,the
mostrecenteventsappearfirstinthelist.
Theeventlogdrawsitsdatafromthelogfileforthevirtualmachinesconfigurationfile.
Thelogfileisstored,bydefault,inthevirtualmachinesdirectory.OnaWindowshost,
thisdirectoryis<installdrive>:\Virtual Machines\<guestOS>.OnaLinuxhost,this
directoryis/var/lib/vmware/Virtual Machines/<guestOS>.
SometimesyouseeawaitingforinputmessageappearsasalinkintheDisplayName
column.Thislinkappearswhenyouperformanactioninthemanagementinterface
thatpromptsthevirtualmachinetogenerateamessage;youmustrespondtothe
messagebeforethevirtualmachinecanproceed.Whenyouclickthatlink,aprompt
appears,whereyoucanenteraresponse.Afteryouprovideyouranswer,theprompt
closes.YourresponseappearsintheEventslist.
Thelogshowsthedateandtimetheeventoccurredandanexplanationoftheevent.
Someeventshaveasymbolassociatedwiththemthatcorrespondstothetypeofevent
thatoccurred.
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Thistypeofeventindicatesthevirtualmachinegeneratedaquestionorwarning.
Thistypeofeventindicatesanerroroccurredinthevirtualmachine.
NOTE
OnWindowshosts,thehostoperatingsystemsEventViewertracksvirtual
machinepowerstatechanges,VMwareServermessagesandanswersto
promptsthatappearinthevirtualmachine.Formoreinformation,see
LoggingVMwareServerEventsonWindowsonpage 94.
The Apache Server and the VMware Management Interface

OnVMwareServerforLinuxhosts,anApacheserverisinstalledwiththemanagement
interface.Listedherearethecommandstostart,stopandrestarttheApacheserver.
Inordertousethesecommands,youmustfirstlogonasroot(su -),thenopena
terminalsession.
TostarttheApacheserver,type
/etc/init.d/httpd.vmware start
TostoptheApacheserver,type
/etc/init.d/httpd.vmware stop
TorestarttheApacheserver,type
/etc/init.d/httpd.vmware restart
Logging Off the VMware Management Interface

WhenyouarereadytologoffoftheVMwareManagementInterface,clickLogouton
theStatusMonitororOptionspage.Youarepromptedtoconfirmthatyouwanttolog
off.Loggingoffofthemanagementinterfacedoesnotaffectthevirtualmachinesonthe
hostoranyconsolesyouopenedfromthemanagementinterface.
VMwareManagementInterfacesessionsexpireautomaticallyafter60minutesof
inactivityoridletime.Tochangethesessionlength,seeSettingtheSessionLengthfor
Deleting Virtual Machines

YoucandeleteavirtualmachineonlyifyouaretheAdministratororrootuser.You
mightdeleteavirtualmachineifitisnolongerneededorifyouneedtofreeupdisk
spaceonyourhost.
Whenyoudeleteavirtualmachine,thefilesassociatedwithitthatis,allfileslocated
inthesamedirectoryandthevirtualmachinesdirectoryaredeleted.Thefiles
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includethevirtualmachinesconfigurationfile(.vmx),logfile,nvramfile,suspended
statefileandsnapshotfile.
Anyvirtualdisksthatareassociatedwithanothervirtualmachineonthehostarenot
deleted.Thedirectorycontainingthesefilesisnotdeleted.
YoudeletevirtualmachinesfromtheVMwareServerConsoleonly.TheVMware
ManagementInterfaceonVMwareServerdoesnotsupportdeletingvirtualmachines.
Formoreinformation,seeDeletingaVirtualMachineUsingtheVMwareServer
Consoleonpage 112.
Deleting a Virtual Machine Using the VMware Server Console

Tousetheconsoletodeleteavirtualmachine,makesurethevirtualmachineis
poweredoff.Selectthevirtualmachineusingeitherthetabatthetopoftheconsoleor
fromtheinventorylistandchooseVM>DeletefromDisk.Youarepromptedto
confirmyouraction.ClickYestodeletethevirtualmachine.
Configuring the VMware Server Host

ConfiguringtheVMwareServerhostinvolves:
!
SecuringRemoteConnectionswithSSLonpage 112
ConfiguringStartupandShutdownOptionsforVirtualMachinesonpage 113
SettingUserPreferencesfortheVMwareServerHostonpage 117
SettingGlobalPreferencesforVMwareServeronpage 123
SettingMIMETypetoLaunchtheVMwareServerConsoleonpage 128
Securing Remote Connections with SSL

VMwareManagementInterfacesessionsandVMwareServerConsoleconnectionsare
securedwithSSL.FormoreinformationaboutSSL,seeSecuringYourRemote
Sessionsonpage 90.
YoucanenableSSLforconsoleconnectionsfromtheconsoleitself.Fordetails,see
EnablingSSLforVMwareServerConsoleConnectionsonpage 125.
ToconfigureSSLfromthemanagementinterface,completethefollowingsteps.
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LogontotheVMwareManagementInterfaceastheAdministrator(VMware
ServerforWindowshosts)orrootuser(VMwareServerforLinuxhosts).
OntheStatusMonitorpage,clicktheOptionstab.TheOptionspageappears.
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ClickSecuritySettings.TheSecuritySettingspageappears.
Tosecureyourmanagementinterfacesessions,checktheUseSecureSockets
Layer(SSL)toencryptmanagementinterfacesessionscheckbox.
Tosecureyourconsoleconnections,checktheUseSecureSocketsLayer(SSL)to
encryptremoteconsoleconnectionscheckbox.
NOTE
IfyouchangetheSSLsettingforthemanagementinterface,thesystem
automaticallylogsyouoffandmustlogonagain.
Tosaveyoursettings,clickOK.
WhenSSLisenabled,alockiconappearsinthestatusbarofthebrowserrunning
theVMwareManagementInterface,andinthestatusbaroftheVMwareServer
Consolewindow,unlesstheconsoleisconnectedtoavirtualmachineonthelocal
host.
AfteryouchangeyourSSLsettingforthemanagementinterface,youare
promptedtoacceptthesecuritycertificateinyourbrowserthenexttimeyoulog
ontothemanagementinterface.
Configuring Startup and Shutdown Options for Virtual Machines

Youcanconfigureyourhosttodetermineifvirtualmachinesstartuporshutdown
whenthehostoperatingsystemstartsorshutsdown.
Youcansetadelayfromthetimeonevirtualmachinestartsorstopsuntilthenextone
startsorstops.Thisdelayhelpstopreventoverburdeningthehost,sincesignificant
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processorandmemoryarecapacitiesrequiredtosimultaneouslystartorstopmultiple
guestoperatingsystems.
Youcandeterminetheglobalorderinwhichvirtualmachinesstartandstop.
Thehostisconfiguredtostartandstopvirtualmachinesautomaticallybydefault.You
cancustomizetheglobalsettingsandvirtualmachinespecificsettings.Tocustomize
thesesettingsforavirtualmachine,seePoweringVirtualMachinesOnandOff.
Thesystemwidevirtualmachinestartupandshutdownoptionsinclude:
!
StartUpandShutDownVirtualMachinesdetermineswhetherornotvirtual
machinesarestartedandstoppedwiththesystem.Ifenabled,defaultstartupand
shutdownpoliciesareappliedtoallvirtualmachinesonyoursystem(whereno
virtualmachinesarepoweredonwhenthehoststartsandallvirtualmachinesare
shutdownwhenthehostshutsdown);youcancustomizeeachvirtualmachines
startupandshutdownpolicies.
Ifthisoptionisdisabled,youcannotsetstartupandshutdownpoliciesforany
virtualmachinesonyoursystem.
ContinueStartingVirtualMachinesAftersetstheamountoftimeVMware
Serverwaitsafterstartingonevirtualmachinebeforestartinganothervirtual
machine.YoucansetthissothatVMwareServerdoesnotwaitbeforestartingthe
nextvirtualmachine,waitsacertainnumberofminutesbeforestartingorstarts
whenVMwareToolsstartsinthecurrentvirtualmachine.
AttempttoContinueStoppingVirtualMachinesAftersetstheamountoftime
VMwareServerwaitsafterstoppingonevirtualmachinebeforestoppinganother
virtualmachine.YoucansetthissothatVMwareServerdoesnotwaitbefore
stoppingeachvirtualmachineorwaitsacertainnumberofminutesbefore
stoppingeachvirtualmachine.
Enabling the Systems Configuration Settings

Toenablethesystemwideconfigurationsettingsforvirtualmachines,completethe
followingsteps.
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ServerforWindowshosts)orrootuser(VMwareServerforLinuxhosts).
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ClickVirtualMachineStartupandShutdown.TheVirtualMachineStartupand
Shutdownpageappears.
UnderSystemConfiguration,clickEdit.TheSystemStartupandShutdown
Defaultspageappears.
Toenablesystemwidestartupandshutdownpolicies,checktheStartUpand
ShutDownVirtualMachinescheckbox.
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ToconfigurewhenVMwareServershouldstartthenextvirtualmachineaftera
virtualmachinestarts,dooneorbothofthefollowing:
!
Tospecifyaperiodoftimebeforethenextvirtualmachinestarts,inthe
ContinueStartingVirtualMachinesAfterlist,eitherchoosethenumberof
minutestowaitorindicatethatVMwareServershouldnotwaitbefore
startingthenextvirtualmachine.IfyouselectOther,specifythenumberof
minutestowaitinthepromptthatappears.Itisagoodideatosetadelay
betweenstartingvirtualmachines,asadelayavoidsplacinganundueburden
onthehostprocessorsandmemory.
TospecifythatVMwareToolsshouldstartinavirtualmachinebeforethenext
virtualmachinestarts,checkwhenVMwareToolsstarts.IfVMwareTools
doesnotstartinthevirtualmachinebeforethetimespecifiedintheContinue
StartingVirtualMachinesAfterlistelapses,VMwareServerstartsthenext
virtualmachine.
ToconfigurewhenVMwareServershouldstopthenextvirtualmachineaftera
virtualmachinestops,intheAttempttoContinueStoppingOtherVirtual
MachinesAfterlist,eitherchoosethenumberofminutestowaitorindicatethat
VMwareServershouldnotwaitbeforestartingthenextvirtualmachine.Ifyou
selectOther,specifythenumberofminutestowaitinthepromptthatappears.It
isagoodideatosetadelaybetweenstoppingvirtualmachines,asadelayavoids
placinganundueburdenonthehostprocessorsandmemory.
ClickOKtosaveyoursettings.
ClickCloseWindowtoreturntothemanagementinterfacesOptionspage.
Specifying the Order in Which Virtual Machines Start

Onceyousetwhetherornotvirtualmachinesshouldstartandstopwiththesystem,
youcansettheorderinwhichthevirtualmachinesstartandstop.Settingthesequence
allowsyoutospecifythepositionofagivenvirtualmachineinthesystemwidestartup
andshutdownsequence.Ifasequenceissetforavirtualmachine,thevirtualmachine
startsandstopsinofthefollowingorders:
!
SpecifiedOrderliststhevirtualmachinesintheorderinwhichtheyare
configuredtostartandstop.
AnyOrderliststhevirtualmachinesspecifiedtostartandstopinanyorder.
Youcannotspecifythestartuporderforavirtualmachineifitisconfiguredtorunas
theuserwhopowersiton.Thevirtualmachinemustbeconfiguredtorunasthelocal
systemaccountorasaspecificuser.
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Editing the Startup Sequence for Virtual Machines

Toeditthestartupsequenceforvirtualmachines,clickEditunderStartupSequence.
TheVirtualMachineStartupSequenceconfigurationpageappearsanddisplaysthe
virtualmachinesonyoursystem.
Tospecifythestartuporderforthevirtualmachinesonthehost,selectthecheckbox
nexttooneormoremachines.Onceyouselectavirtualmachine,navigationarrows
highlight,allowingyoutomovemachinesbetweenthethreelists.Virtualmachinescan
besettooneofthefollowingoptions:
!
Otherliststhevirtualmachinesthatareconfiguredtousethedefaultstartand
stoppolicieswhenthesystemstartsupandshutsdown.
SpecifiedOrderliststhevirtualmachinesintheorderinwhichtheyare
configuredtostart.Theorderinwhichthevirtualmachinesstopisthereverseof
theorderinwhichtheystart,sothelastvirtualmachinetostartwhenthesystem
startsupisthefirsttostopwhenthesystemshutsdown.Tospecifythestartup
order,selectmachinesandusethearrowstomovethemupordownwithinthelist.
AnyOrderliststhevirtualmachinesthatareconfiguredtostartandstopinany
order.Movevirtualmachinestothiscategoryifyouwantthemtostartandstop
withthesystem,butyoudonotwanttosettheorderforthem.Thevirtual
machinesinthiscategorydonotstartorstopuntilallthevirtualmachineslisted
intheSpecifiedOrderlisthavestartedorstopped.
Disabling the Systems Configuration Settings

Todisablethesystemwideconfigurationsettings,completethefollowingsteps.
1
OntheVirtualMachineStartupandShutdownpage,underSystem
Configuration,clickEdit.TheSystemStartupandShutdownDefaultspage
appears.
CleartheStartUpandShutDownVirtualMachinescheckbox,thenclickOK.
ClickCloseWindowtoreturntothemanagementinterfacesOptionspage.
Setting User Preferences for the VMware Server Host

ThePreferencesdialogboxallowsyoutochangeanumberofsettingsthatapplytoall
virtualmachinesrunninginaconsole.Thesesettingsapplytotheusercurrentlylogged
ontothehostcomputer.Thesettingsdonotaffectsettingsmadebyanyotheruser
whenthatuserisloggedontothehost.Thesesettingscanbechangedbyregularusers,
aswellasrootandAdministratorusers.
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Tochangethesesettings,chooseEdit>Preferences.ThePreferencesdialogbox
appears.
Setting Workspace Preferences

TheWorkspacetabletsyoudeterminewhetheranyvirtualmachinesappearinthe
virtualmachinedisplayeachtimeyouopenaconsole.OnaWindowshost,youcan
specifywhetheranyhostandusernamesappearintheconsoleLogindialogboxwhen
youconnect.
OnbothWindowsandLinuxhosts,youcanspecifyhowoftenVMwareServershould
checkforsoftwareupdates.ThedefaultisWeekly.FromtheCheckforUpdates
dropdownlist,youcanselectDaily,Weekly,orMonthly.
IfyouselecttheRememberopenedvirtualmachinesbetweensessionscheckbox,you
seeatabforeachopenedvirtualmachineinthevirtualmachinedisplaythenexttime
youopenaconsole.Avirtualmachineisconsideredopenedifbothofthefollowing
conditionsaretrue:
!
Thevirtualmachinewasleftopen.
Thevirtualmachinewaspoweredonandoff,orpoweredonandsuspended.
IfyouselecttheRemembervisitedhostsbetweensessionscheckbox,thenameofany
VMwareServerhosttowhichyouconnectedinapreviousconsolesessionappearsin
theconsolesLogindialogbox.Toclearthelistofrememberedhosts,clickClearHost
List.
IfyouselecttheRememberusernamesbetweensessionscheckbox,anyusernames
youusedwhenyouconnectedduringpreviousconsolesessionsappearintheconsoles
Logindialogbox.Toclearthelistofrememberedusernames,clickClearUserNames
List.
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Configuring VMware Server to Check for Software Updates

YoucanconfigureVMwareServertocheckwhetherupdatesfortheproductare
available.IfyouconfigureVMwareServertocheckforupdates,andanupdateis
available,theconsoledisplaysamessagewhenyoulaunchit.Youcancheckmanually
atanytimebychoosingHelp>CheckforUpdatesontheWeb.
ChooseEdit>Preferences>Workspace.SelecttheintervalintheCheckforsoftware
updatesdropdownlist.
Youcansettheintervaltonever,daily,weekly,ormonthly.
OnaLinuxhostonly,youcanalsocheckforsoftwareupdatesatanytimebyclicking
CheckNow.
IfyouarerunningVMwareServeronaWindowshostbehindaproxyserver,make
sureyourbrowserisconfiguredtoconnecttotheInternetthroughyourproxyserver.
IfyouarerunningVMwareServeronaLinuxhostbehindaproxyserver,makesure
youconfigurehttp_proxywiththenameoftheproxyserverandtheportnumberthe
proxyserveruses.
Changing Your Input Settings

TheInputtabletsyouadjustthewaythatthevirtualmachinecapturescontrolofthe
keyboardandmouse.
NOTE
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TheGrabwhencursorenterswindowoptionallowsyoutomovethemouse
pointerbackintothevirtualmachinewindoweasilyifyouhavebeenworking
inthevirtualmachineandtemporarilymovedthemousepointeroutsidethe
virtualmachinewindow.ThemousepointerisgrabbedonlywhenVMware
Serverhasfocus(istheactiveapplication).Ifyoureleasethemousepointerby
pressingahotkeycombinationthedefaultisCtrlAltyoumustclick
insidethevirtualmachinewindowtomakeVMwareServergrabthemouse
pointeragain.
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Theinputsettingsyoucanspecifyinclude:
!
GrabkeyboardandmouseinputonmouseclickVMwareServertakescontrol
ofthekeyboardandthemouseafterthefirstprimarymousebuttonclickinthe
virtualmachineconsolewindow.
GrabkeyboardandmouseinputonkeypressVMwareServertakescontrolof
thekeyboardandthemouseafterthefirstkeystroke.Thefirstkeystrokeissentto
thevirtualmachine.Whenthevirtualmachineconsolewindowisactiveandthis
optionisselected,youcannotusethenormalapplicationandsystemaccelerator
keysequences.
Ungrabwhencursorleaveswindowthemousepointerbecomesthemouse
pointerofyourhostoperatingsystemwhenthemousepointerexitsthevirtual
machineconsolewindow.Thisoptiondoesnotapplywhenthevirtualmachineis
infullscreenmode.Usethisoptiontotransitionseamlesslybetweenthevirtual
machineandyourhostoperatingsystem.
Hidecursoronungrabthemousepointeroftheguestoperatingsystemis
hiddenwhenyourmouseiscontrollingthepointerofthehostoperatingsystem.
Thisoptionisparticularlyusefulwhenyourguestoperatingsystemandyourhost
operatingsystemareidentical:iteliminatestheconfusionofhavingtothinkabout
whichofthetwoidenticalpointersmoveswhenyoumoveyourmouse.
Grabwhencursorenterswindowthemousepointerbecomesthemouse
pointerofyourguestoperatingsystemwhenthemousepointerentersthevirtual
machineconsolewindow.Thisoptiondoesnotapplywhenthevirtualmachineis
infullscreenmode.
Enablecopyandpastetoandfromvirtualmachineusethisoptionforcopying
andpastingtextbetweenthehostandthevirtualmachineandamongvirtual
machines.Theclipboardsofthetwooperatingsystemscommunicatewitheach
other.Whenthemousepointerofyourguestoperatingsystemexitstheconsole
window,thecontentsoftheguestoperatingsystemclipboardarecopiedintothe
hostoperatingsystemclipboard.Similarly,eachtimethemousepointerofyour
hostoperatingsystemisgrabbedbytheconsolewindow,thecontentsofthehost
operatingsystemclipboardarecopiedintotheguestoperatingsystemclipboard.
NOTE
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Atthistime,youcannotcopyandpastebetweenRedHatLinux7.0
through7.3andWindows2000.Itdoesnotmatterwhichoperating
systemistheguestandwhichisthehost.
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NOTE
Thebestwaytounderstandthecursoroptionsistoplaywiththemforawhile.
Theydescribehowthemousepointershouldbehavewhenyouarein
windowedmode;thatis,thevirtualmachineisinaconsolewindow,notin
fullscreenmode,andyoucanseeyourhostoperatingsystemsdesktop.
Setting Hot Key Preferences

UsetheHotKeytabtochangewhichcombinationofkeys(theCtrl,Alt,andShiftkeys
incombinationwithotherkeys)arepassedtotheguestoperatingsystemorare
interceptedbyVMwareServer.
Youcanconstructyourowncustomhotkeycombinationif,forexample,thedefault
Ctrl+Altcombinationconflictswithanotherapplicationonthehostthatprocessesthe
samehotkeycombination.
Forexample,youmaywanttochangehotkeycombinationsfromCtrlAlt<key>to
CtrlShiftAlt<key>topreventVMwareServerfrominterceptingCtrlAltDelete
insteadoflettingthekeycombinationbesenttotheguestoperatingsystem.
Or,youmaybeusingPCAnywheretoconnecttoamachinerunningaconsole.Thethe
consoleisconnectedtoavirtualmachinerunninginfullscreenmode,andyouwantto
runadifferentapplication.Normally,toreturntowindowmode,youpressCtrlAlt,
butPCAnywhereprocessesCtrlAltkeycombinations,soVMwareServercannot
receivethekeycombination.Thus,youneedtouseanalternatehotkeycombinationto
getoutoffullscreenmode.
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NOTE
BecauseCtrlAltisthekeycombinationthattellsVMwareServertorelease
(ungrab)mouseandkeyboardinput,combinationsthatincludeCtrlAltare
notpassedtotheguestoperatingsystem.Ifyouneedtousesucha
combinationforexample,CtrlAlt<Fkey>toswitchbetweenLinux
workspacesinavirtualmachinepressCtrlAltSpace,releaseSpace
withoutreleasingCtrlandAlt,thenpressthethirdkeyofthekeycombination
youwanttosendtotheguest.
Youcanalsoconstructyourowncustomhotkeycombination.SelectCustom,then
selectthecombinationofCtrl,AltandShiftkeys.Youspecifywhethereachkeyis:
!
Downwhereyoumustpressthekeydownaspartofthekeycombination.
Upwhereyoumustleavethekeyunpressedaspartofthekeycombination.
Eitherwhereitdoesnotmatterifyoupressthekey.
Setting Display Preferences

OnbothLinuxandWindowshosts,theDisplaytabletsyouadjustthewayinwhich
theconsoleandthehostdisplayaccommodateadifferentguestoperatingsystem
resolution.
UseAutofitpreferencestocontrolhowtheconsolewindowbehaveswhenAutofitis
active.ChecktheAutofitwindowboxtohaveVMwareServerchangetheconsole
windowsizetomatchtheguestoperatingsystemresolution.Thisisthesameas
choosingView>AutofitWindow.ChecktheAutofitguestboxtohaveVMware
Serverchangetheguestoperatingsystemdisplayresolutiontomatchtheconsole
windowsize.ThisisthesameaschoosingView>AutofitGuest.
OnLinuxhostsonly,theDisplaytabalsoletsyouconfigurethedisplaysettingsofthe
hostandguestwhenyouenterfullscreenmode.
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Setting Global Preferences for VMware Server

TheHostSettingsdialogboxallowsyoutochangeanumberofsettingsthatapplyto
VMwareServer.
Tochangethesesettings,chooseHost>Settings.Youmustbeeithertherootor
Administratorusertochangethesesettings.
Specifying Where Virtual Machines Are Created

UsetheGeneraltabtospecifythedefaultlocationwhereallvirtualmachinesonthis
hostarecreated.
ThedirectoryVMwareServerusesbydefaultisdisplayedunderDefaultlocationfor
virtualmachines.Tosetadifferentdirectory,typeinthepathorclickBrowseto
navigatetothedirectoryyouwanttouse.VMwareServercreatesadirectoryforeach
newvirtualmachineunderthedirectoryyouspecifyhere.
OnaWindowshost,thedefaultfolderwherenewvirtualmachinesarestoredis
<installdrive>:\Virtual Machines.
OnaLinuxhost,thedefaultlocationwherenewvirtualmachinesarestoredis
/var/lib/vmware/Virtual Machines.
Reserving Host Memory for Virtual Machines

SelecttheMemorytabtoadjusttheamountofmemoryreservedforallrunningvirtual
machines.
ThesettingsontheMemorytabappliesnomatterwhatvirtualmachineisrunningor
whoisloggedontothehostcomputer.
Formoreinformationaboutmemoryandvirtualmachines,seeUnderstanding
MemoryUsageonpage 154andAllocatingMemorytoaVirtualMachine.
Adjusting Priorities for Virtual Machine Processes (Windows Hosts Only)

VMwareServerforWindowsgivesyoutheoptiontosettheprioritythattheWindows
processschedulergivestoyourvirtualmachineswhenmouseandkeyboardinputare
goingtoaparticularvirtualmachineandwheninputisnotgoingtothatvirtual
machine.
Youcanadjustthesesettingstoimproveoverallsystemperformancebasedonthe
relativepriorityofworkyouaredoinginvariousvirtualmachinesandonthehost
computer.
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ThesettingsonthePrioritytabapplytoallvirtualmachinesfortheusercurrently
loggedontothehostcomputer.Theprioritysettingsdonotaffectprioritysettings
madebyanyotheruseronthecomputer.
ThissettingisnotavailableonaLinuxhost.
Tosetprioritypreferences,intheHostSettingsdialogbox,clickthePrioritytab.
Theprioritysettingshereareusedbyallvirtualmachinesunlessavirtualmachine
configurationoverridestheglobalsettingwithalocalsetting.Tochangethelocal
settingforaparticularvirtualmachine,andoverridetheglobalsettings,openthe
virtualmachineyouwanttoadjust,chooseVM>Settings,clicktheOptionstab,select
Advanced,thenusethedropdownlistsunderProcessprioritiestomakethesetting
youwantforthatvirtualmachine.
Therearethreepossibleprocessschedulingpriorities:low,normalandhigh.The
typicalprocessonthehostrunsatnormalpriority.Ifyousetthepriorityofthevirtual
machinetolow,thatvirtualmachinehaslowerprioritythanotherprocessesonthe
host.Ifyousetthepriorityofthevirtualmachinetonormal,thatvirtualmachine
contendswithalltheprocessesonthehost.Ifyousetthevirtualmachinepriorityto
high,thatvirtualmachinegetspriorityoverotherprocessesonthehost.
VMwareServergivesyoutheoptiontoautomaticallychangetheprocessscheduling
prioritythatapplieswhenthevirtualmachinegrabsandungrabskeyboardandmouse
input.Formoreinformationongrabbingandungrabbinginput,seeChangingYour
InputSettingsonpage 119.
Thefourpossibleprocessprioritiesare
!
highnormal:Wheninputisgrabbed,VMwareServergetspriorityoverother
processesonthehost.Wheninputisnotgrabbed,VMwareServercontendswith
alltheprocessesonthehost.
highlow:Wheninputisgrabbed,VMwareServergetspriorityoverother
processesonthehost.Wheninputisnotgrabbed,VMwareServerhaslower
prioritythanotherprocessesonthehost.
normalnormal:Wheninputisgrabbed,VMwareServercontendswithallthe
processesonthehost.Wheninputisnotgrabbed,VMwareServercontendswith
alltheprocessesonthehost.
normallow:Wheninputisgrabbed,VMwareServercontendswithallthe
processesonthehost.Wheninputisnotgrabbed,VMwareServerhaslower
prioritythanotherprocessesonthehost.
VMwareServerdefaultstoprocessprioritynormalnormal.
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Configuring Virtual Machines to Take and Revert to Snapshots

Youcanconfigureyourvirtualmachinetotakeandreverttosnapshotsinthe
background.IntheVMwareServerConsoleforWindowsandLinuxhosts,gotothe
Host>Settings>Prioritytabtoenablethisoption.Formoreinformation,goto
SnapshotActionsasBackgroundActivityintheVMwareServerVirtualMachineGuide.
Enabling SSL for VMware Server Console Connections

SelecttheConnectionstabtoenableSSLforconsoleconnectionsoveranetwork.
ToenableSSLforconsoleconnectionsfromtheconsole,ontheConnectionstab,check
theUseSSLforConsolecommunicationscheckbox.
FormoreinformationaboutSSL,seeSecuringYourRemoteSessionsonpage 90.
Creating Network Labels

BeginningwiththeRC1release,VMwareServersupportsusingVMwareVirtual
CentertomanagethevirtualmachinesonyourVMwareServerhosts.Touse
VirtualCenteryoumustcreatelabelsforeachvirtualnetworkadapter.VirtualCenter
useslabelstoidentifywhichvirtualnetworkadapterisassociatedwithwhichphysical
network.
Eachvirtualnetworkadapterneedsalabel:
!
Toavoidconfusioninamultiplehost,multiplenetworkenvironment.Thisisthe
typicalVirtualCenterenvironment.VirtualCentercanmanagevirtualmachineson
multipleVMwareServerhosts.
ToletyoumigratevirtualmachinesbetweenVirtualCenterhosts.Virtualmachines
canbemigratedfromhostsonthesamenetworkonly.Thelabelensuresthat
VirtualCenterknowstowhichnetworkthevirtualmachineisconnected.
ToletyoucreatevirtualmachinesfromtheVirtualCenterclient.
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125
Toletyoueditthevirtualnetworkconfigurationofanexistingvirtualmachine
fromtheVirtualCenterclient.
NOTE
IfyouconfigurevirtualmachinesfromtheVirtualCenterclient,you
cannottakeadvantageofVMwareServerfeatureslikesnapshots.
Iftheadapterhasnolabel,VirtualCentercannotrecognizetheadapter.Ifavirtual
machineisconfiguredforanetworknamethatdoesnotexist,thevirtualnetwork
adapterisdisconnectedwhenyoupoweronthevirtualmachine.
YoucancreatelabelsfortheexistingdefaultvirtualnetworkadapterslikeVMnet0,
thedefaultbridgednetworkadapter,orVMnet8,thedefaultNATadapter.You
configuretheadaptersinVMwareServer.Youcanconfigureeachadapterwith
bridged,hostonly,NATorcustomnetworking.Thetypeofnetworkingconfiguration
isirrelevanttoVirtualCenter.VirtualCenterisconcernedwiththenetworklabelonly.
NOTE
TocreateandmanageallyourvirtualmachinesfromtheVirtualCenterclient,
youshouldassignuniquelabelstoeachhostonlyadapteronaVMware
Serverhost.Thisway,youcaneasilyidentifyonwhichhosteachhostonly
networkresides.However,ifyouhaveaVMwareServerhostwhereallthe
virtualmachinesusehostonlynetworking,youcoulddecidetonotgivethe
hostonlyadapteranetworklabel.
Forinformationonconfiguringnewvirtualnetworkadapters,seeAddingand
ModifyingVirtualNetworkAdapters.
FormoreinformationonmanagingVMwareServervirtualmachineswith
VirtualCenter,seeUsingVirtualCentertoManageVirtualMachinesonpage 131.
Afteryourvirtualnetworkadaptersareconfiguredtoyourliking,createlabelsforeach
adaptersoVirtualCentercancorrectlymanagethevirtualmachinesonthehost.
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Creating Network Labels from the VMware Server Console

TocreatenetworklabelsforvirtualmachinesmanagedbyVirtualCenter,completethe
followingstepsinaconsole.
1
ConnecttotheVMwareServerhostwithaconsole,thenchooseHost>Settings.
TheHostSettingsdialogboxappears.
ClicktheNamedNetworkstab.
NOTE
IftheNamedNetworkstabdoesnotappearintheHostSettingsdialog
box,thentheVMwareServerhosthasnotbeendiscoveredby
VirtualCenter.ForinformationaboutaddingaVMwareServerhostto
VirtualCenter,seeyourVirtualCenterdocumentation.
Toaddalabel,clickAdd.TheAddNamedNetworkdialogboxappears.
SelectthevirtualnetworkadapterfromtheAdapterlist.OnaWindowshost,ifan
adapterisconfiguredforbridged,hostonlyorNATnetworking,itsnetworking
typeisindicatednexttotheadaptername.
EnterthenameofthelabelintheLabelentryfield.
ClickOKtoaddthelabel,thenclickOKtosaveyourchanges.
Creating Network Labels from the VMware Management Interface

TocreatenetworklabelsforvirtualmachinesmanagedbyVirtualCenter,completethe
followingstepsinthemanagementinterface.
1
ServerforWindowshosts)orrootuser(VMwareServerforLinuxhosts).For
information,seeLoggingOntotheVMwareManagementInterfaceonpage 99.
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127
ClickNetworkConnections.TheNetworkConnectionspageappears.
NOTE
IftheNetworkConnectionslinkdoesnotappearontheOptionspage,
thentheVMwareServerhosthasnotbeendiscoveredbyVirtualCenter.
ForinformationonaddingaVMwareServerhosttoVirtualCenter,see
yourVirtualCenterdocumentation.
Foreachnetworkadapter,addalabelinthecorrespondingfieldunderNetwork
Label.OnaWindowshost,ifanadapterisconfiguredforhostonlyorNAT
networking,itsnetworkingtypeisindicatednexttotheadaptername.
ClickOKtosaveyourchanges.
Setting MIME Type to Launch the VMware Server Console

FromtheVMwareManagementInterface,youcanconnecttoavirtualmachinefroma
consolebyclickingtheterminalicon( )forthatvirtualmachine.Beforedoingso,
somebrowsersmayrequireyoutodefineaMIMEtypeofx-vmware-server console
andassociateitwiththeconsoleprogramfile.InternetExplorerisautomatically
configuredwhenyouinstalltheconsole.
TheprocedureforsettingaMIMEtypefortheconsoleissimilarforWindowsand
Linuxhosts.Bothinvolvewritingashortscriptthatprovidesthecommandtolaunch
theconsole.YoucanchoosetolaunchtheconsolethatwasinstalledwithVMware
Serveroryoucanlaunchtheconsolethatwasinstalledfromafiledownloadedfrom
themanagementinterface.
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VMware, Inc.
NOTE
Youmaynotneedtocreateahelperfilemanuallyifyourbrowserprompts
youtoassociateVMwareServerwiththefiletype.
Setting MIME Type for the VMware Server Console

1
Openatexteditoranddooneofthefollowing.
!
OnaWindowshost,writeashortbatchfilecalledvmwareserver-helper.bat.
Thebatchfilemustcontainthefollowingline:
"<path_to_vmwareserver>" -o "%1"
wherethedefault<path_to_vmwareserver>is
C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Server\vmware.exe
OnaLinuxhost,writeashortshellscriptcalledvmware-vms-helper.sh.The
shellscriptmustcontainthefollowingtwolines:
#!/bin/sh
"<path_to_vmware-vms>" -o $1 > /dev/null 2>&1;
wherethedefault<path_to_vmware-vms>is/usr/bin/vmware.
Savethefileinalocationofyourchoice.
NOTE
OnaLinuxhost,changetothedirectorywhereyousavedthefileand
giveyourselfpermissiontoexecutethefile.
chmod +x vmware-server-helper.sh
3
Usethebrowsertoconnecttotheserveryouwanttomanage.
Clicktheterminalicon(
Adialogboxaskswhatyouwanttodowiththefile.ClickAdvanced.
IntheNewTypedialogbox,intheDescriptionoftypefield,typeVMware Server.
IntheFileextensionfield,typexvm.
IntheMIMEtypefield,typeapplication/x-vmware-server-console.
IntheApplicationtousefield,typethepathtovmwareserver-helper.bator
vmware-server-helper.sh.
10
ClickOKtwice.Yourbrowserisnowsettolaunchtheconsolewhenyouclickthe
terminaliconinthefuture.
VMware, Inc.
)forthevirtualmachineyouwanttoviewinaconsole.
129
Setting MIME Type for VMware Server Console Installed from the
Management Interface Download
1
Openatexteditoranddooneofthefollowing.
!
OnaWindowshost,writeashortbatchfilecalledvmwareConsole-helper.bat.
Thebatchfilemustcontainthefollowingline:
"<path_to_vmwareConsole>" -o "%1"
wherethedefault<path_to_vmwareConsole>is
C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Server Console\vmware.exe
OnaLinuxhost,writeashortshellscriptcalled
vmware-server-console-helper.sh.Theshellscriptmustcontainthe
followingtwolines:
#!/bin/sh
"<path_to_vmware-server-console>" -o $1 > /dev/null 2>&1;
wherethedefault<path_to_vmware-server-console>is
/usr/bin/vmware-server-console.
Savethefileinalocationofyourchoice.
NOTE
OnaLinuxhost,changetothedirectorywhereyousavedthefileand
giveyourselfpermissiontoexecutethefile.
chmod +x vmware-server-console-helper.sh
130
Usethebrowsertoconnecttotheserveryouwanttomanage.
Clicktheterminalicon(
Adialogboxaskswhatyouwanttodowiththefile.ClickAdvanced.
IntheNewTypedialogbox,intheDescriptionoftypefield,typeVMware Server
Console.
IntheFileextensionfield,typexvm.
IntheMIMEtypefield,typeapplication/x-vmware-console.
IntheApplicationtousefield,typethepathtovmwareConsole-helper.bator
vvmware-server-console-helper.sh.
10
ClickOKtwice.Yourbrowserisnowsettolaunchtheconsolewhenyouclickthe
terminaliconinthefuture.
)forthevirtualmachineyouwanttoviewinaconsole.
VMware, Inc.
Using VirtualCenter to Manage Virtual Machines

IfyouareusingVMwareVirtualCentertomanageyourVMwareServervirtual
machines,youmusttakecertainstepsbeforeyoucancreatevirtualmachinesona
VMwareServerhostfromaVirtualCenterclient.Inaddition,youneedtobeawareof
certaindifferenceswhenyouconnecttoavirtualmachinefromaVirtualCenterclient.
ForinformationaboutusingVirtualCenter,seetheVirtualCenterproduct
documentationathttp://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vc_pubs.html.
Creating Virtual Machines from a VirtualCenter Client

BeforeyoustartcreatingvirtualmachinesonaVMwareServerhostfroma
VirtualCenterclient,completethefollowingtasks:
1
ConfirmVirtualCenterandVMwareServerareinstalledandoperatingcorrectly.
LocatetheVMwareServerhostinVirtualCenter,andsupplythecredentialsfora
useraccountontheVMwareServerhosttousewhenrunningvirtualmachines.
CreatenetworklabelsforyournetworkadaptersontheVMwareServerhost.
VirtualCenteruseslabelstoidentifywhichvirtualnetworkadapterisassociated
withwhichphysicalnetwork.Forinformation,seeCreatingNetworkLabelson
page 125.
CreatethevirtualmachinesfromaVirtualCenterclient.
NOTE
IfyouarecreatingaRedHatEnterpriseLinux4virtualmachine,select
OtherLinux2.6.xKernel.
Connecting to a Virtual Machine from a VirtualCenter Client

Ingeneral,whenavirtualmachineonaVMwareServerhostismanagedby
VirtualCenter,itretainsallthefeaturesandfunctionalitythatVMwareServerprovides.
However,whenyouconnecttoavirtualmachinefromaVirtualCenterclient,certain
featuresaccessiblefromtheVMwareServerConsolearenotavailablefromtheconsole
inaVirtualCenterclient.
EventhoughsomefeaturesmightbeunavailablefromtheVirtualCenterclient,these
featuresstillworkwiththevirtualmachinewhenconnectedwiththeVMwareServer
Console.Theunavailableoptionsinclude:
!
SnapshotsareunavailableonaVirtualCenterclient.Snapshotsarenotavailable
whenyouconnecttoaVMwareServervirtualmachinefromaVirtualCenterclient.
IfyoutakeasnapshotofaVMwareServervirtualmachinewhenyouconnectto
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131
thevirtualmachinewithaVMwareServerConsole,andlaterconnecttothevirtual
machinefromaVirtualCenterclient,thesnapshotstillexists.
Youcannotupdate,remove,orreverttothecurrentsnapshot,ortakeanew
snapshotwhenyouconnecttothevirtualmachinefromaVirtualCenterclient.
Whenyouconnecttothevirtualmachinewithaconsole,youcaninteractwiththe
snapshotagain.
132
VirtualmachinescreatedfromaVirtualCenterclientrunasaspecificuser
account.AvirtualmachinecreatedfromaVirtualCenterclientcannotbe
configuredtorunastheuserthatpowersiton.Yousupplytheuseraccount
informationwhenyouaddtheVMwareServerhosttoVirtualCenter.
VirtualmachinescreatedfromaVirtualCenterclientarenotprivate.Tomakethe
virtualmachineavailableonlytotheVirtualCenteruseraccount,connecttothe
virtualmachinewiththeVMwareServerConsoleandchangethesettingthere.For
information,seeOnlyYouCanSeeVirtualMachinesYouCreateonpage 84.
Youcannotspecifyanameforvirtualdiskfileswhenyoucreateavirtual
machinefromaVirtualCenterclient.Thevirtualdiskfilesusethevirtualmachine
nameasthebasisforthefilenames.YoucanusetheVMwareServerConsoleto
createmorevirtualdiskswithfilenamesthatdonotreflectthevirtualmachine
name.
VirtualmachinescanuseonlytheDVD/CDROMdriveontheVMwareServer
host.TousetheclientDVD/CDROMdriveonaremotesystem,connecttothe
virtualmachinewiththeVMwareServerConsole.
Youcannotbrowsearemotefilesystemwhenconnectedtothevirtualmachine
fromaVirtualCenterclient.YouneedtoknowthepathtoafilesuchasanISO
imageandmustenteritmanually.
VMware, Inc.
Moving and Sharing Virtual

Machines
C HAPTER 5
Thischapterprovidesinformationonhowtomoveyourvirtualmachinesfromone
hosttoanother,orelsewhereonthesamehost,plusrecommendationsonhowtoshare
virtualmachineswithotherusers.
Thischapteralsoincludesinformationonhowtomoveavirtualmachinerunning
underVMwareGSXServer3andVMwareWorkstation5.xtoahostrunningVMware
Serverandcoversthefollowingtopics:
!
MovingaVMwareServerVirtualMachineonpage 133
MovingVMwareGSXServer3VirtualMachinetoaNewHostonpage 136
MovingOlderVirtualMachinesonpage 138
SharingVirtualMachineswithOtherUsersonpage 142
NOTE
Whenyoumoveavirtualmachinetoanewhostcomputerortoadifferent
directoryonthesamehostcomputerorwhenyourenameadirectoryinthe
pathtothevirtualmachinesconfigurationfileVMwareServergeneratesa
differentMACaddressforeachvirtualEthernetadapter(unlessyouspecified
theMACaddressmanually).Foradditionalinformation,seeMaintaining
andChangingtheMACAddressofaVirtualMachine.
ForinformationaboutmovingvirtualmachinesbetweenVMwareproducts,seethe
VMwareVirtualMachineMobilityPlanningGuideontheVMwareWebsite.
Moving a VMware Server Virtual Machine

ThissectiondescribeshowtomoveavirtualmachinecreatedunderVMwareServerto
anotherhostrunningVMwareServerortoadifferentlocationonthesamehost.The
processisnotdifficult,andinmostcasesyoucanevenmoveyourvirtualmachinefrom
aWindowshosttoaLinuxhostorviceversa.
VMware, Inc.
133
NOTE
Theseinstructionsassumethatyouareusingavirtualdiskstoredinoneor
more.vmdkfilesonyourhostcomputer.
Itsalwayssafesttomakebackupcopiesofallthefilesinyourvirtualmachines
directorybeforeyoustartaprocesslikethis.
CAUTION
VMwarerecommendsyounotmigrateaRedHatLinux7.3or7.2virtual
machinebetweenhostswhenonehostisrunningonanAMDprocessor
andtheotherisrunningonanIntelprocessor.Formoreinformation,read
theKnownIssuessectionsfortheseguestoperatingsystemsinthe
VMwareGuestOperatingSystemInstallationGuide,availableonthe
VMwareWebsite.
ThefollowingsectionsfurtherdescribemovingaVMwareServervirtualmachine:
!
VirtualMachinesUseRelativePathsonpage 134
PreparingYourVirtualMachinefortheMoveonpage 134
MovingaVirtualMachinetoaNewHostonpage 135
Virtual Machines Use Relative Paths

ThepathnamesforallfilesassociatedwithaVMwareServervirtualmachineare
relative,meaningthepathtoeachfileisrelativetothecurrentlyactivedirectory.For
example,ifyouareinthevirtualmachinesdirectory,therelativepathtothevirtual
diskfileis<machine name>.vmdk.
Preparing Your Virtual Machine for the Move

1
Shutdowntheguestoperatingsystemandpoweroffthevirtualmachine.Ifthe
virtualmachineissuspended,resumeit,thenshutdowntheguest.
!
Ifyouaremovingthevirtualmachinetoanewhostandhaveanetwork
connectionbetweentheoriginalhostmachineandthenewhost,youare
finishedwiththepreparationsontheoriginalhost.Ifyoudonothavea
networkconnection,youneedtohaveawayofmovingthevirtualdisk
(.vmdk)filesfromthevirtualmachinesdirectorytothenewhost.Youcould
movethemtoasharednetworkdirectory,forexample,orburnthemto
CDROMsorDVDs.
Onceyouknowhowyouaregoingtomovethevirtualmachine,goto
MovingaVirtualMachinetoaNewHostonpage 135.
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VMware, Inc.
Chapter 5 Moving and Sharing Virtual Machines
Ifyouaremovingthisvirtualmachinetoanotherdirectoryonthishost,then
youarereadytomakethemove.Copyallthefilesinthevirtualmachines
originaldirectorytothenewlocation.Ifyoustoredanyfilesindirectories
otherthanthevirtualmachinedirectory,besuretomovethemintoadirectory
ofthesamenameandsamepositionrelativetothelocationofthevirtual
machine.
StarttheVMwareServerConsoleandopenthenewvirtualmachineyoujust
moved.ChooseFile>OpenVirtualMachine,thenbrowsetothevirtual
machinesconfiguration(.vmx)file.
Moving a Virtual Machine to a New Host

1
MakesureVMwareServerisinstalledandworkingcorrectlyonthenewhost.
Createadirectoryonthenewhostforthevirtualmachineyouaremoving.Locate
thevirtualdiskfilesyouaremovingandcopythemintothenewdirectory.Besure
tocopyallthefilesinthevirtualmachinesoriginaldirectory.Ifyoustoredany
filesindirectoriesotherthanthevirtualmachinedirectory,besuretomovethem
intoadirectoryofthesamenameandsamepositionrelativetothelocationofthe
virtualmachine.Setpermissionsonthedirectorysothatitisaccessibletoallusers
ofthevirtualmachine.
If,forsomereason,youarenotmovingafile,makesureyoudonothaveanypaths
pointingtothatfile.Usethevirtualmachinesettingseditorandchecktoseeifyour
virtualmachineispointingtothecorrectlocationforfiles(chooseVM>Settings)
youdonotmove.Inthevirtualmachinesettingseditor,selecteachdeviceandbe
surethatanydeviceswithassociatedfilesarepointedtothecorrectfiles.Also,
checktheOptionstabtobesurethelocationfortheredologfileiscorrect.
NOTE
Ifyouhavetakenasnapshotofthevirtualmachine,youcansimplifythe
movebyremovingthesnapshotorrevertingtothesnapshot,then
removingit.Ifyouwanttokeepthesnapshot,besuretomovethe
redolog(.REDO)filesalongwithalltheotherfilesinthevirtualmachines
directory.
LaunchtheVMwareServerConsoleandopenthevirtualmachineyoujustmoved.
ChooseFile>OpenVirtualMachine,thenbrowsetothevirtualmachines
configuration(.vmx)file.
VMware, Inc.
135
Thefirsttimeyoupoweronthevirtualmachine,youareaskedtokeeptheexisting
UUIDorcreateanewone.
IfyouareusingtheUUIDformanagementpurposes,youshouldselectKeep,then
clickOKtocontinuepoweringonthevirtualmachine.Formoreinformationabout
theUUID,seeIdentifyingaVirtualMachinebyItsUUIDonpage 92.
Moving VMware GSX Server 3 Virtual Machine to a New

Host
IfyouwanttomovethelocationofavirtualmachinecreatedwithVMwareGSXServer
3,itisrecommendedtoupgradeitforfullcompatibilitywithVMwareServerbefore
movingit.Todoso,runthevirtualmachineunderVMwareServeranduseVM>
UpgradeVirtualHardware.Ifyouupgradethevirtualhardware,youcanthenfollow
theinstructionsinMovingaVMwareServerVirtualMachineonpage 133.
Ifyouupgradethevirtualmachine,youcannolongerrunitunderVMwareGSXServer
3.IfyouneedtorunthevirtualmachineunderbothVMwareGSXServer3and
VMwareServer,donotupgradethevirtualhardware.YoucanuseaVMwareServer
ConsoletoconnectaVMwareGSX3Serverhost,butyoucannotuseaVMwareGSX
ServerVirtualMachineConsoletoconnecttoahostrunningVMwareServer.
NOTE
Theseinstructionsassumethatyouareusingavirtualdiskstoredinoneor
more.vmdkfilesonyourhostcomputer.Itsalwayssafesttomakebackup
copiesofallthefilesinyourvirtualmachinesdirectorybeforeyoustarta
processlikethis.
ThefollowingsectionsexplainhowtoprepareandmovetheVMwareGSXServer2or
3toanewhost,andcoverthetopics:
136
VirtualMachinesUseRelativePathsonpage 137
MovingaVirtualMachinetoaNewHostonpage 138
VMware, Inc.
Virtual Machines Use Relative Paths

ThepathnamesforallfilesassociatedwithavirtualmachinecreatedunderVMware
GSXServer3arerelative,meaningthepathtotheeachfileisrelativetothecurrently
activedirectory.Forexample,ifyouareinthevirtualmachinesdirectory,therelative
pathtothevirtualdiskfileis<machine name>.vmdk.
TomovevirtualmachinescreatedinaVMwareproductotherthanVMwareGSX
Server3higher,orVMwareWorkstation5.x,seeMovingOlderVirtualMachineson
page 138.

1
UseVMwareServertoconnecttothevirtualmachine.Ifthevirtualmachinehas
morethanonevirtualdiskandifthevirtualdisksusedifferentdiskmodes,you
mustusetheConfigurationEditor(chooseSettings>ConfigurationEditor)to
changeoneormoreofthevirtualdiskssotheyallusethesamemode.
Besuretheguestoperatingsystemiscompletelyshutdown.Ifthevirtualmachine
issuspendedanditsvirtualdisksareinpersistentornonpersistentmode,resume
it,thenshutdowntheguestoperatingsystem.
Ifyourvirtualmachineisusingdisksinundoablemode,itisbesttocommitor
discardthechangeswhentheguestoperatingsystemshutsdown.Ifyoucannot
commitordiscardthechangestoyourdisk,readConsiderationsforMoving
DisksinUndoableModeonpage 141.
!
Ifyouaremovingthevirtualmachinetoanewhostandhaveanetwork
connectionbetweentheoriginalhostmachineandthenewhost,youare
finishedwiththepreparationsontheoriginalhost.Ifyoudonothavea
networkconnection,youneedtohaveawayofmovingthevirtualdisk
(.vmdk)filesfromthevirtualmachinesdirectorytothenewhost.Youcould
movethemtoasharednetworkdirectory,forexample,orburnthemto
CDROMsorDVDROMs.
Onceyouknowhowyouaregoingtomovethevirtualmachine,goto
MovingaVirtualMachinetoaNewHost.
VMware, Inc.
Ifyouaremovingthisvirtualmachinetoanotherdirectoryonthesamehost,
youarereadytomakethemove.Copyallthefilesinthevirtualmachines
originaldirectorytothenewlocation.Ifyoustoredanyfilesindirectories
otherthanthevirtualmachinedirectory,besuretomovethemintoadirectory
ofthesamenameandsamepositionrelativetothelocationofthevirtual
machine.
137
Launchtheconsoleandopenthevirtualmachineyoujustmoved.ChooseFile
>Open,thenbrowsetothevirtualmachinesconfiguration(.vmx)file.
Moving a Virtual Machine to a New Host

1
Locatethevirtualdiskfilesyouaremovingandcopythemintothenewvirtual
machinedirectory.Besuretocopyallthefilesinthevirtualmachinesoriginal
directory.Ifyoustoredanyfilesindirectoriesotherthanthevirtualmachine
directory,besuretomovethemintoadirectoryofthesamenameandsame
positionrelativetothelocationofthevirtualmachine.Setpermissionsonthe
directorysothatitisaccessibletoallusersofthevirtualmachine.
If,forsomereason,youarenotmovingafile,makesureyoudonothaveany
relativeorabsolutepathspointingtothatfile.Usethevirtualmachinesettings
editorandchecktoseeifyourvirtualmachineispointingtothecorrectlocation
forfilesyoudonotmove.Inthevirtualmachinesettingseditor,selecteachdevice
andbesurethatanydeviceswithassociatedfilesarepointedtothecorrectfiles.
Also,checktheOptionstabtobesurethelocationfortheredologfileiscorrect.
Inaddition,checktoseeyoudonothaveanyabsolutepathspointingtoanyfiles
youaremoving.
NOTE
Ifyourvirtualmachineisusingdisksinundoablemode,itisbestto
commitordiscardthechangeswhenyoushutdowntheguestoperating
systemunderVMwareServer2.Ifyoucannotcommitordiscardthe
changestoyourdisk,readConsiderationsforMovingDisksin
UndoableModeonpage 141.
LaunchtheVMwareServerConsoleandopenthevirtualmachineyoujustmoved.
ChooseFile>OpenVirtualMachine,thenbrowsetothevirtualmachines
configuration(.vmx)file.
Moving Older Virtual Machines

IfyouhavecreatedavirtualmachineusingVMwareGSXServer2oranotherVMware
product,youmustupgradethevirtualhardwarethefirsttimeyourunitunder
VMwareServer.Onceyouhavedonethis,youcanfollowtheinstructionsinMoving
aVMwareServerVirtualMachineonpage 133.
IfyouhavecreatedavirtualmachineusingVMwareGSXServer2oranotherVMware
product,andyouwanttomoveittoadifferentcomputerortoanotherdirectoryon
yourhost,youneedtoperformthefollowingtasks.
138
VMware, Inc.
NOTE
Theseinstructionsassumethatyouareusingavirtualdiskstoredinaset
of.vmdkor.dskfilesonyourhostcomputer.
Itisalwayssafesttomakebackupcopiesofallthefilesinyourvirtualmachines
directorybeforeyoustartaprocesslikethis.
Thefollowingsectionsfurtherdescribemovingoldervirtualmachines:
!
VirtualMachinesMayUseRelativeorAbsolutePathsonpage 139
PreparingtheNewHostMachineonpage 140
ConsiderationsforMovingDisksinUndoableModeonpage 141
Virtual Machines May Use Relative or Absolute Paths

InVMwareServer1,thepathnamesforallfilesassociatedwithavirtualmachinewere
absolute,orfullyqualified,meaningthecompleteroutetothefilesonthehostwas
stored.Forexample,theabsolutepathtoavirtualdiskfilemightbeC:\Documents and
Settings\<user name>\My Documents\My Virtual Machines\<machine name>\<machine
name>.vmdk.
WithVMwareGSXServer2andhigher,pathnamestofilesarerelative,meaningthe
pathtotheeachfileisrelativetothecurrentlyactivedirectory.Forexample,ifyouare
inthevirtualmachinesdirectory,therelativepathtothevirtualdiskfileis<machine
name>.vmdk.

1
OpenthevirtualmachineusingtheVMwareproductwithwhichyoucreatedit.If
thevirtualmachinehasmorethanonevirtualdiskandifthevirtualdisksuse
differentdiskmodes,youmustusetheConfigurationEditor(chooseSettings>
ConfigurationEditor)tochangeoneormoreofthevirtualdiskssotheyallusethe
samemode.
BesureyouknowwhetherthevirtualdiskissetupasanIDEdiskoraSCSIdisk.
Youcancheckthisinthevirtualmachinesettingseditor.
Also,notethesizeofthevirtualdiskyouaremoving.Youneedthisinformation
whenyoupreparethenewhostmachine,asdescribedinthenextsection.
Besuretheguestoperatingsystemiscompletelyshutdown.Ifthevirtualmachine
issuspended,resumeitusingtheVMwareproductwithwhichyoucreatedthe
virtualmachine,thenshutdowntheguestoperatingsystem.
VMware, Inc.
139
NOTE
Donotmoveasuspendedvirtualmachinefromonehosttoanother.
Ifyourvirtualmachineisusingdisksinundoablemode,itisbesttocommitor
discardthechangeswhentheguestoperatingsystemshutsdown.Ifyoucannot
commitordiscardthechangestoyourdisk,readConsiderationsforMoving
DisksinUndoableModeonpage 141.
Ifyouhaveanetworkconnectionbetweentheoriginalhostmachineandthenew
host,youarefinishedwiththepreparationsontheoriginalhost.Ifyoudonothave
anetworkconnection,youneedtohaveawayofmovingthevirtualdisk(.vmdk)
filesfromthevirtualmachinesdirectorytothenewhost.Youcouldmovethemto
asharednetworkdirectory,forexample,orburnthemtoCDROMsorDVDs.
NOTE
Ifyourdisksareusingundoablemodeandyouhavenotcommittedor
discardedyourchanges,youmustalsomovetheredolog(.REDO)fileto
thenewhostcomputer.
Preparing the New Host Machine

1
StarttheVMwareServerConsoleandruntheNewVirtualMachineWizard.Select
theappropriateguestoperatingsystemforthevirtualmachineyouaremoving.
Chooseavirtualdiskforyourharddriveanduseadrivetype(IDEorSCSI)that
matchesthetypeofthevirtualdiskyouplantomove.
Selectallappropriatenetwork,floppyandCDROMsettings.Donotmakeany
changeswiththevirtualmachinesettingseditoratthispoint.
Saveyoursettingsandclosethevirtualmachinesettingseditor.
Inthedirectoryjustcreatedforthenewvirtualmachine,deletethebrandnew
.vmdkfilesthatwerejustcreated.
Locatethevirtualdiskfilesyouaremovingandcopythemintothenewvirtual
machinedirectory.Setpermissionsonthedirectorysothatitisaccessibletoall
usersofthevirtualmachine.
NOTE
140
Ifyourvirtualmachineisusingdisksinundoablemodeandyoudidnot
commitordiscardyourchangesbeforethemove,youmustalsomovethe
redolog(.REDO)filetothenewhostcomputer.
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IntheconsolesInventorylist,selectthevirtualmachineyoujustcreated,then
chooseVM>Settings.
Besurethevirtualmachineisconfiguredtousethevirtualdiskfilesyoumoved
fromtheoriginalhost.YouneedtoconfirmthatthenewdiskssettingsIDEor
SCSIandthefilenameforthefirst.vmdkfilematchthosethatwereusedonthe
originalhostmachine.
ThedevicelistingfortheharddriveshowswhetheritisSCSIorIDE.Ifthatsetting
doesnotmatchthevirtualdiskyouaremoving,selecttheharddiskandclick
Remove.ThenclickAddandusetheAddHardwareWizardtoaddanIDEorSCSI
diskasappropriate.BesuretospecifyIDEorSCSIwhenyoureachtheSelecta
DiskTypescreeninthewizard.
Besurethefilenameandpathforthevirtualdiskmatchtheactualfilenameand
locationforthefirst.vmdkfileusedbythevirtualmachineyouaremoving.
Considerations for Moving Disks in Undoable Mode

Onceyoucommitordiscardchangesmadetoanoldervirtualdiskinundoablemode,
youcanmoveyourdiskbetweenLinuxandWindowshostoperatingsystems.Youcan
alsomoveyourdisktodifferentlocationsonyourcomputerandtoothercomputers
withthesamehostoperatingsystem.
However,ifyoucannotordonotwanttocommitordiscardthechangesmadetoyour
undoabledisk,notethefollowing:
!
Youcanalwaysmoveadiskinundoablemodebetweenhostoperatingsystemsof
thesamegeneraltype(forexample,betweentwoMicrosoftWindowssystems,or
betweentwoLinuxsystems).Dependinguponhowthediskwasfirstsetup,you
mayhavetoplacethediskanditsredologinadirectorythathasapathname
identicaltothatofthecurrentdirectory.
YoumightbeabletomovethediskinundoablemodebetweenWindowsand
Linuxhostsystems,ormovethedisktoadifferentdirectoryonyourcurrent
system,ifthereisnopathnameinformationinthevirtualmachinesconfiguration
file.
Followthesestepstochecktheconfigurationandseewhetherornotyoucanmove
yourundoablediskwithoutcommittingordiscardingchanges:
1
LaunchaVMwareGSXServer3console.
Ifyouaremovingadiskinundoablemodefromonecomputertoanother
computer,launchaVMwareGSXServer3consoleonthecomputerthatcurrently
hasthedisk.
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Opentheconfigurationfileforthevirtualmachinethatusestheundoablemode
diskyouwishtomove.
Intheconsolewindow,selectFile>Openandchoosetheconfigurationfileofthe
virtualmachinewiththediskyouwanttomove.
OpentheConfigurationEditor.ChooseSettings>ConfigurationEditor.
Examinetheentryforyourvirtualdisktoseewhetheritincludesafullpathtothe
firstvirtualdiskfile.Forexample,onaWindowshost,youmightseeadiskfile
listinglikethis:
My Documents\My Virtual Machines\Windows 2000\Windows 2000.vmdk
EntriesforSCSIdisksaresimilar.
Ifyourdiskfileinformationresemblestheexampleabove(withafullpathtothe
firstdiskfile)andyouhavenotcommittedordiscardedchangestotheundoable
disk,thefollowingrulesapply:
!
Youcanmovethedisktoanothercomputerofthesametypeonly(Windows
toWindowsorLinuxtoLinux).Youcannotmovethedisktoacomputerofa
differenttype(WindowstoLinuxorviceversa).
Youmustplacethevirtualmachinesotherfiles(including.vmxand.REDOon
Windows,and.vmxor.cfgand.REDOonLinux)inthesamerelativelocation
onthenewcomputer.Inotherwords,ifthevirtualmachinesfilesresideinMy
Documents\My Virtual Machines\Windows 2000\ ontheoriginalhost
computer,youmustplacetheminthatsamelocationonthenewhost
computer.
Youcannotmovethedisktoanotherdirectoryonthecurrentsystem.
Ifyourdiskfileinformationdoesnotcontainapath,itlookslikethis:
Windows 2000.vmdk
Ifyourdiskentryresemblestheoneabove(justafilenamewitha.vmdkextension),
youcanmovethediskandredologanywhereyouwish.
Sharing Virtual Machines with Other Users

Ifyouintendtohaveotherusersaccessyourvirtualmachines,youshouldconsiderthe
followingpoints:
!
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OnWindowshosts,thevirtualmachinefilesshouldbeinalocationonasystem
thatisaccessibletothoseusers.Whenyouconfigurethevirtualmachineinthe
VMware, Inc.
NewVirtualMachineWizard,youcanspecifyalocationforthevirtualmachine
elsewhereonyoursystemoronthenetwork.
!
OnLinuxhosts,permissionsforthevirtualmachinefilesespeciallythe
configurationfile(.vmx)andvirtualdisks(.vmdk)shouldbesetforotherusers
accordingtohowyouwantthemtousethevirtualmachine.Forinstance,ifyou
wantuserstorunavirtualmachinebutnotbeabletomodifyitsconfiguration,do
notmaketheconfigurationfilewritable.
IfyourvirtualmachinewascreatedunderVMwareGSXServeroranother
VMwareproduct(suchasVMwareWorkstation5.x)andusesindependentdisks
innonpersistentmode,considerchangingthelocationoftheredologfile,sinceby
defaultitisplacedinyourTEMPdirectory,towhichotherusersmightnothave
access.Tochangethelocationoftheredologfile,takethefollowingsteps.
a
Withthevirtualmachinepoweredoff,openthevirtualmachinesettings
editor.ChooseVM>Settings.
ClicktheOptionstab.
ClickBrowseandselectadirectorythatissharedwithotherusers.
ClickOKtosavethechangeandclosethevirtualmachinesettingseditor.
Thevirtualmachinemustbelocatedinadirectorywithpermissionssetsothatit
isaccessibletoallusersofthevirtualmachine.
Thevirtualmachinemustnotbeprivate.Formoreinformation,seeOnlyYouCan
SeeVirtualMachinesYouCreateonpage 84.
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Performance Tuning and the

VMware Server Host
C HAPTER 6
ThischapterprovidessuggestionsforgettingthebestperformancefromVMware
Serverandyourvirtualmachines,andcoversthefollowingtopics:
!
ConfiguringandMaintainingtheHostComputeronpage 145
ConfiguringVMwareServeronpage 146
UnderstandingMemoryUsageonpage 154
Configuring and Maintaining the Host Computer

Thehostcomputerisanobviousplacetolooktoimproveperformance.Thissection
discussesthesekeyareas:
!
LocationoftheWorkingDirectoryonpage 145
DefragmentationofDiskDrivesonpage 145
AdequateFreeDiskSpaceonpage 146
NICInterruptsCoalescingonpage 146
Location of the Working Directory

Theinstallerlocatestheworkingdirectoryholdingthevirtualdiskfilesonthehost
computer.Youcancustomizeyourconfigurationtoplacetheworkingdirectoryorthe
virtualdiskfilesonadifferentphysicalcomputer.Youmightexperienceperformance
advantagestosuchcustomizing.
Defragmentation of Disk Drives

HostdisksandvirtualdisksaffecttheperformanceofVMwareServer.
Host Hard Drives

Performanceisweakenedbyfragmentationofthephysicaldiskholdingthevirtual
machinesworkingdirectoryorvirtualdiskfiles.Fragmentationofthehostdiskcan
affectanyorallofthefollowing:
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Thefilesthatholdavirtualdisk
Thefilesthatstorenewlysaveddatawhenyoutakeasnapshot
Thefilesthatholdinformationusedinsuspendingandresumingavirtual
machine
Ifyouareexperiencingslowdiskperformanceinthevirtualmachine,orifyouwantto
improvethespeedofsuspendandresumeoperations,checktobesurethehostdisk
thatholdsthevirtualmachinesworkingdirectoryandvirtualdiskfilesisnotbadly
fragmented.Ifitisfragmented,youcanimproveperformancebyrunninga
defragmentationutilitytoreducefragmentationonthathostdisk.
Virtual Drives
VMwarestronglyrecommendsthatyoudefragmentusingaguestoperating
mechanismbeforetakingthefirstsnapshot.
VMwareServermakesallitschangestotheredolog,nottotheoriginaldisk,whenyou
runadefragmentingprogramontheguestafterasnapshot.Youpermanentlylosethe
abilitytodefragmentinsidetheoriginaldisk.
Everysectorthatmovesiscopiedtotheredolog,makingthevirtualmachineredolog
extremelylargewhenthediskisheavilyfragmentedandyourundefragmentation
afterasnapshot.
Adequate Free Disk Space

Forbetterperformance,avoidhavingverylowfreediskspaceonthehostdisk.
PerformancecandegradeconsiderablywhenVMwareServerhastouseanearlyfull
hostharddisktowriteguestsparsedisk,snapshot,checkpoint,orredofiles.
NIC Interrupts Coalescing

IncreasinghostNICinterruptcoalescingcanimproveperformanceforworkloads
involvingheavynetworktrafficintotheguest.Interruptcoalescingisafeature
implementedinhardwareunderdrivercontrolonhighperformanceNICs,allowing
thereceptionofagroupofnetworkframestobenotifiedtotheoperatingsystemkernel
throughasinglehardwareinterrupt.
Configuring VMware Server

Thefollowingsectionsofferadviceandinformationaboutfactorsthatcanaffectthe
performanceofVMwareServeritself.Thesectionsdonotaddressperformanceofthe
guestoperatingsystemorthehostoperatingsystem.
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Chapter 6 Performance Tuning and the VMware Server Host
GeneralVMwareServerOptionsonpage 147
VMwareServeronaWindowsHostonpage 151
VMwareServeronaLinuxHostonpage 154
NOTE
InadditiontotheVMwareServerconfigurationoptionsdiscussedinthis
section,youshouldalwaysinstallVMwareToolsinanyguestoperating
systemforwhichaVMwareToolspackageexists.InstallingVMwareTools
providesbettervideoandmouseperformanceandalsogreatlyimprovesthe
usabilityofthevirtualmachine.Fordetails,seeInstallingVMwareTools.
General VMware Server Options

ThefollowingsectionsdescribewaysyoucanimprovetheperformanceofVMware
ServeronbothWindowsandLinuxhosts.
Guest Operating System Selection

Makecertainyouselectthecorrectguestoperatingsystemforeachofyourvirtual
machines.Tochecktheguestoperatingsystemsetting,chooseVM>Settings>
Options>General.
VMwareServeroptimizescertaininternalconfigurationsonthebasisofthisselection.
Forthisreason,itisimportanttosettheguestoperatingsystemcorrectly.The
optimizationscangreatlyaidtheoperatingsystemtheytarget,buttheymightcause
significantperformancedegradationifthereisamismatchbetweentheselectionand
theoperatingsystemactuallyrunninginthevirtualmachine.(Selectingthewrong
guestoperatingsystemisnotlikelytocauseavirtualmachinetorunincorrectly,butit
coulddegradethevirtualmachinesperformance.)
Memory Settings
Makesuretochooseareasonableamountofmemoryforyourvirtualmachine.Many
modernoperatingsystemshaveagrowingneedformemory,soassigningagenerous
amountisbeneficialforthebestvirtualmachineperformance.
Thesameholdstrueforthehostoperatingsystem,especiallyaWindowshost.
TheNewVirtualMachineWizardautomaticallyselectsareasonablestartingpointfor
thevirtualmachinesmemory,butyoumightbeabletoimproveperformanceby
adjustingthesettingsinthevirtualmachinesettingseditor(chooseVM>Settings>
Memory).
Ifyouplantorunonevirtualmachineatatimemostofthetime,agoodstartingpoint
istogivethevirtualmachinehalfthememoryavailableonthehost.
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Adjustingthereservedmemorysettingsmayalsohelp.ChooseHost>Settings>
Memory.
Foradditionalinformation,seeUnderstandingMemoryUsageonpage 154.
Debugging Mode
Youcanconfigureeachvirtualmachinetoruninoneoftwomodesnormalmode
andamodethatprovidesextradebugginginformation.Thedebuggingmodeisslower
thannormalmode.
Fornormaluse,makesurethevirtualmachineisnotrunningindebuggingmode.
ChooseVM>Settings>OptionsandselectAdvanced.UnderSettings,makesurethe
Runwithdebugginginformationcheckboxiscleared.
CD-ROM Drive Polling

SomeoperatingsystemsincludingWindowsNTandWindows98pollthe
CDROMdriveeverysecondorsotoseewhetheradiscispresent.(Doingthisallows
themtorunautorunprograms.)ThispollingcancauseVMwareServertoconnectto
thehostCDROMdrive,whichcanmaketheCDROMdrivespinupwhilethevirtual
machineappearstopause.
IfyouhaveaCDROMdrivethattakesespeciallylongtospinup,therearetwoways
youcaneliminatethesepauses.
!
Youcandisablethepollinginsideyourguestoperatingsystem.Themethodvaries
byoperatingsystem.ForrecentMicrosoftWindowsoperatingsystems,theeasiest
wayistouseTweakUIfromthePowerToysutilities.
ForinformationonfindingTweakUIandinstallingitinyourguestoperating
system,gotohttp://www.microsoft.comandsearchforTweakUI.Specific
instructionsdependonyouroperatingsystem.
AnotherapproachistoconfigureyourvirtualCDROMdrivetobedisconnected
whenthevirtualmachinestarts.Thedriveappearsinthevirtualmachine,butit
alwaysappearstocontainnodisc(andVMwareServerdoesnotconnecttoyour
hostCDROMdrive).
Tomakethischange,gotoVM>Settings.SelecttheDVD/CDROMiteminthe
Devicelist.ThencleartheConnectatPowerOncheckbox.
WhenyouwanttouseaCDROMinthevirtualmachine,gototheVM>
RemovableDevicesmenuandconnecttheCDROMdrive.
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Disk Options
Thevariousdiskoptions(SCSIversusIDE)andtypes(virtualorphysical)affect
performanceinanumberofways.
Overall,SCSCIdisksarefasterthanIDEdisksthatusesdirectmemoryaccess(DMA)
However,incertainsituations,suchassinglethreadeddiskaccess,anIDEdiskthat
usesDMAisasfastasaSCSIdisk.Insideavirtualmachine,SCSIdisksandIDEdisks
thatusedirectmemoryaccess(DMA)haveapproximatelythesameperformance.If
supported,VMwarerecommendsthatyouenableDMAinSCSIdisks.IDEdiskscanbe
veryslowinaguestoperatingsystemthatisnotsettouseDMA.
TheeasiestwaytoconfigureaLinuxguesttouseDMAforIDEdriveaccessistoinstall
VMwareTools(VM>InstallVMwareTools).Amongotherthings,theinstallation
processautomaticallysetsIDEvirtualdrivestouseDMA.
InWindowsServer2003,WindowsXPandWindows2000,DMAaccessisenabledby
default.ThemethodforchangingthesettingvarieswithotherWindowsoperating
systems.Seethefollowingtechnicalnotesfordetails.
!
DiskPerformanceinWindowsNTGuestsonMultiprocessorHosts
Windows95andWindows98GuestOperatingSystemPerformanceTips
Whenasnapshotexists,virtualdisksoftenhaveverygoodperformanceforrandomor
nonsequentialaccess.Buttheycanpotentiallybecomesofragmentedthatperformance
isaffected.Inordertodefragmentthedisk,youmustfirstremovethesnapshot
(Snapshot>RemoveSnapshot).
Whennosnapshotexists,physicaldisksandpreallocatedvirtualdisksbothuseflat
filesthatmimicthesequentialandrandomaccessperformanceoftheunderlyingdisk.
Whenasnapshotexistsandyouhavemadechangessincepoweringonthevirtual
machine,anyaccesstothosechangedfilesperformsatalevelsimilartothe
performanceofavirtualdiskthatdoesnothaveallspaceallocatedinadvance.Ifyou
removethesnapshot,performanceisagainsimilartothatoftheunderlyingdisk.
Overall,ifnosnapshotexistsandyouareusingphysicaldisksorpreallocatedvirtual
disks,youseesomewhatbetterperformancethanthatprovidedbyother
configurations.
Diskwritescanbeslowerforvirtualdisksthatdonothaveallspaceallocatedin
advance.Youcanimproveperformanceforthesedisksbydefragmentingthemfrom
thevirtualmachinesettingseditor.ChooseVM>Settings,selectthediskyouwantto
defragment,thenclickDefragment.
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Remote Disk Access

Wheneverpossible,donotusedisksthatareonremotemachinesandaccessedoverthe
networkunlessyouhaveaveryfastnetwork.Ifyoumustrundisksremotely,choose
VM>Settings>Options,selectGeneralandsettheWorkingdirectorytoadirectory
onyourlocalharddisk.Thentakeasnapshot.Afteryoutakethesnapshot,changesyou
makearestoredlocallyintheworkingdirectory.
Snapshots
Ifyoudonotneedtousesnapshots,runyourvirtualmachinewithoutasnapshot.This
providesbestperformance.Tobesureavirtualmachinehasnosnapshot,choose
Snapshot>RemoveSnapshot.
Issues Installing or Running Applications in a Guest Operating System

Youmightnoticethatwheneveryoutrytoinstallorstartaparticularprogramina
virtualmachine,theprogramseemstohang,crash,orcomplainthatitisrunningunder
adebugger.VMwarehasseenthisproblemwithafewprograms,includingthe
installerfortheJapaneseversionofTrendMicroVirusBuster,theFoxProdatabase,the
NetWareclientinWindows98,Mathcad,TheSims,andCivilizationIII.
Youcanworkaroundthisproblembydisablingacceleration.Frequently,theproblem
occursonlyduringinstallationorearlyintheprogramsexecution;inthatcaseyou
shouldturnaccelerationbackonaftergettingpasttheproblem.Followthesesteps:
1
Beforerunningorinstallingtheprogramthatwasencounteringproblems,disable
acceleration.
ChooseVM>Settings>Advanced,andcheckDisableacceleration.
ClickOKtosavethechangeandclosethevirtualmachinesettingseditor.
Starttheprogramorruntheinstaller.
Afteryoupassthepointwheretheprogramwasencounteringproblems,returnto
thevirtualmachinesettingseditorandremovethecheckbesideDisable
acceleration.Youmightbeabletoruntheprogramwithaccelerationafteritis
startedorinstalled.
NOTE
150
Disablingaccelerationcanhelpyougetpasttheexecutionproblem,butit
causesthevirtualmachinetorunslowly.Iftheproblemoccursonlyat
startuporduringinstallation,youcanimproveperformancebyresuming
acceleratedoperationaftertheprogramthatwasencounteringproblems
isrunningorisinstalled.
VMware, Inc.
VMware Server on a Windows Host

TheitemsinthissectiondescribeperformanceofVMwareServeronaWindowshost.
FortipsonconfiguringVMwareServeronaLinuxhost,seeVMwareServerona
LinuxHostonpage 154.
Monitoring Virtual Machine Performance

VMwareServerincorporatesasetofcountersthatworkwiththeMicrosoft
Performanceconsoletoallowforthecollectionofperformancedatafromrunning
virtualmachines.
NOTE
ThePerformanceconsoleisavailableonlyonWindowshosts.Youcannot
monitorperformanceforvirtualmachinesonLinuxhosts.However,youcan
monitortheperformanceofanyguestoperatingsystemontheWindowshost,
includingLinuxguests.
TheVMwareServerperformancecounterscanmonitorthefollowingdatafroma
runningvirtualmachine:
!
Readingandwritingtovirtualdisks
Memoryusedbythevirtualmachine
Virtualnetworktraffic
YoucantrackvirtualmachineperformanceonlywhentheVMwareServerConsoleis
openorwhenavirtualmachineisrunning.Theperformancecountersreflectthestate
ofthevirtualmachine,nottheguestoperatingsystem.Forexample,thecounterscan
recordhowoftentheguestreadsfromavirtualdisk,buttheycannotknowhowmany
processesarerunninginsidetheguest.Anexplanationofeachcounterappearsinthe
Performanceconsole.
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Toaddcounterstotrackvirtualmachineperformance,usetheWindowsPerformance
console.Completethefollowingsteps.
1
ChooseStart>Programs>AdministrativeTools>Performance.ThePerformance
consoleopens.
SelectSystemMonitor,thenclicktheplus(+)signonthetoolbar,orpressCtrl+I.
TheAddCountersdialogboxappears.
InthePerformanceobjectlist,selectVMware.
Decidewhetheryouwanttoaddallcountersorselectoneormorecountersfrom
thelist.
Tousethesecountersforallrunningvirtualmachines,selectAllinstances.Touse
thecountersforspecificvirtualmachines,clickSelectinstancesfromlist,then
selectthevirtualmachinesyouwant.
NOTE
152
Forabriefdescriptionofeachcounter,clickExplain.Whenyouselecta
counterfromthelist,adescriptionappearsbelowtheAddCounters
dialogbox.
VMware, Inc.
ClickAddtoaddthecounterstothePerformanceconsole.
FormoreinformationaboutusingthePerformanceconsole,usetheconsoles
inproducthelporvisittheMicrosoftWebsite.
Using Full Screen Mode

Fullscreenmodeisfasterthanwindowmode.Ifyoudonotneedtohaveyourvirtual
machineandyourhostsharingthescreen,tryswitchingtofullscreenmode.
NOTE
Youseethemostnoticeableimprovementusingfullscreenmodewhenthe
guestisinVGAmode.VGAmodeisanymodeinwhichthescreenisintext
mode(DOS,forexample,orLinuxvirtualterminals),or16color640x480
graphicsmode(forexample,theWindows95orWindows98cloudsboot
screen,oranyguestoperatingsystemthatisrunningwithouttheSVGA
driverprovidedbyVMwareTools).
Windows Host Disk Caching

OnaWindowshost,theDiskPropertiesPoliciespageassociatedwitheachharddrive
providesacheckboxtoenablewritecachingonthedisk.Insomecases,youcanalso
enableadvancedperformanceonthedisk.Enablingoneorbothoftheseoptionscan
improvehostdiskperformanceingeneral.Enablingtheseoptionsonthehostdiskthat
containstheVMwareServervirtualdiskfilescanimproveVMwareServerdisk
performance,especiallywhenVMwareServerismakingheavyuseofthedisk.
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VMware Server on a Linux Host

NOTE
TheitemsinthissectiondescribeperformanceofVMwareServeronaLinux
host.FortipsonconfiguringVMwareServeronaWindowshost,see
VMwareServeronaWindowsHostonpage 151.
Using Full Screen Mode

Fullscreenmodeisfasterthanwindowmode.Ifyoudonotneedtohaveyourvirtual
machineandyourhostsharingthescreen,tryswitchingtofullscreenmode.
NOTE
Youseethemostnoticeableimprovementusingfullscreenmodewhenthe
guestisinVGAmode.VGAmodeisanymodeinwhichthescreenisintext
mode(DOS,forexample,orLinuxvirtualterminals),or16color640x480
graphicsmode(forexample,theWindows95orWindows98cloudsboot
screen,oranyguestoperatingsystemthatisrunningwithouttheSVGA
driverprovidedbyVMwareTools).
OnaLinuxhost,fullscreenVGAmodeusestheunderlyingvideocarddirectly,so
graphicsperformanceisquiteclosetothatofthehost.Bycontrast,windowmodeVGA
requiresmorecomputerresourcestoemulatethanwindowmodeSVGA.Asaresult,if
youneedtorunforanextendedperiodoftimeinVGAmode(forexample,whenyou
areinstallinganoperatingsystemusingagraphicalinstaller)youshouldseea
significantperformanceboostifyouruninfullscreenmode.
Swap Space and /tmp

Theamountofswapspaceonyourhostandthesizeofyour/tmpdirectoryaffect
performance.Your/tmpdirectoryshouldbeequivalentto1.5timestheamountof
memoryonthehost.Forexample,ifyourVMwareServerhosthas1GBofmemory,
makesurethehosts/tmpdirectoryisatleast1.5GBinsize.
Formoreinformationonconfiguringswapspaceandthe/tmpdirectory,readVMware
knowledgebasearticle844at
Understanding Memory Usage

VMwareServerallowsyoutosetthememorysizeofeachvirtualmachineandthe
amountofthehostcomputersmemorythatcanbeusedforvirtualmachines.Athird
controlgovernstheextenttowhichyouwanttoallowthehostoperatingsystems
memorymanagertoswapvirtualmachinesoutofphysicalRAM.
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Byadjustingthesesettings,youcanaffectbothvirtualmachineandoverallsystem
performance.
ThefollowingsectionsdescribehowVMwareServerusesthememoryconfiguration
parameterstomanagevirtualmachinesandsystemmemoryproperly.
!
MemoryUseontheHostonpage 155
SpecifyingHowMuchRAMisUsedbyAllRunningVirtualMachineson
page 155
MemoryUsageonOlderLinuxHostsonpage 157
Forinformationonmemoryuseforaspecificvirtualmachine,seeAllocatingMemory
toaVirtualMachine.
Memory Use on the Host

Hostoperatingsystemsdonotbehavewellwhentheyrunlowonfreememoryfortheir
ownuse.WhenaWindowsorLinuxhostoperatingsystemdoesnothaveenoughRAM
foritsownuse,itthrashes,thatis,itconstantlyswapspartsofitselfbetweenRAMand
itspagingfileondisk.Tohelpguardagainstvirtualmachinescausingthehostto
thrash,VMwareServerenforcesalimitonthetotalamountofRAMthatcanbe
consumedbyvirtualmachines.
Ingeneral,thesumofthememoriesofallcurrentlyrunningvirtualmachinesplus
overheadfortheVMwareServerprocessesshouldnotexceedtheamountofphysical
memoryonthehostminussomememorythatmustbekeptavailableforthehost.For
moreinformation,seeUsingAdditionalMemoryonpage 156.
Somememorymustbekeptavailableonthehosttoensurethehostisabletooperate
properlywhilevirtualmachinesarerunning.Theamountofmemoryreservedforthe
hostdependsonthehostoperatingsystemandthesizeofthehostcomputersmemory.
Specifying How Much RAM is Used by All Running Virtual

Machines
YoucansettheamountofhostRAMthatVMwareServerisallowedtoreserveforall
runningvirtualmachines.Tosetthisparameter,chooseHost>Settings>Memory.
ThereservedmemorysettingspecifiesamaximumamountofhostRAMthatVMware
Serverisallowedtouse.Butthismemoryisnotallocatedinadvance.Evenifmultiple
virtualmachinesarerunningatthesametime,VMwareServermightbeusingonlya
fractionoftheRAMyouspecifiedhere.AnyunusedRAMisavailableforusebyother
applications.IfalltheRAMyouspecifyhereisinusebyoneormorevirtualmachines,
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thehostoperatingsystemcannotusethismemoryitselforallowotherapplicationsto
useit.
Virtual Machine Overhead

Virtualmachinesrequirerelativelylargeamountsofmemorytooperatewith
reasonableperformance.Anindividualvirtualmachinecanuseatmosttheamountof
memoryspecifiedinitsconfigurationfileplussomeoverhead.Theamountof
overheadmemoryrequireddependsuponthesizeoftheguestsvirtualdisks,its
behavior,andtheamountofmemoryallocatedtothevirtualmachine.Refertothetable
belowforthetypicalupperlimitneeded,basedontheamountofmemoryallocatedto
theguest.
Table 6-1.
Amount of Memory Allocated to the
Virtual Machine
Additional Amount of
Overhead Needed
Upto512MB
Upto54MB
Upto1000MB
Upto62MB
Upto2000MB
Upto79MB
Upto3600MB
Upto105MB
TheamountofRAMactuallyusedforaparticularvirtualmachinevariesasavirtual
machineruns.Ifmultiplevirtualmachinesrunsimultaneously,theyworktogetherto
managethememory.
TherecommendedamountofRAMtospecifyforallrunningvirtualmachinesis
calculatedonthebasisofthehostcomputersphysicalmemoryandisdisplayedinthe
memorysettingsslidercontrolHost>Settings>Memory.IfyouwantVMware
Servertousemoreorlessphysicalmemory,usethisslidertochangetheamount.
Ifyousetthisvaluetoohigh,thehostmaythrashwhenotherapplicationsarerunon
thehost.Ifyousetthisvaluetoolow,virtualmachinesmayperformpoorlyandyou
cannotrunasmanyvirtualmachinesatonce.
Using Additional Memory

Bydefault,VMwareServerlimitsthenumberofvirtualmachinesthatcanrunatonce
basedontheamountofmemoryspecifiedintheHostSettingsdialogbox.Thislimit
preventsvirtualmachinesfromcausingeachothertoperformpoorly.Ifyoutryto
poweronavirtualmachineandthereisnotenoughmemoryavailable,awarning
appearsandthevirtualmachinefailstopoweron.
Toincreasethenumberormemorysizeofvirtualmachinesthatcanrun,adjustthe
amountofvirtualmachinememorythatthehostoperatingsystemmayswaptodisk.
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Tochangethissetting,chooseHost>Settings>Memoryandchooseanoptionunder
Additionalmemory.
Selectoneofthefollowingoptions:
!
FitallvirtualmachinememoryintoreservedhostRAMStrictlyapplythe
reservedmemorylimitsetinthetopofthedialogbox.Thissettingimposesthe
tightestrestrictionsonthenumberandmemorysizeofvirtualmachinesthatmay
runatagiventime.BecausethevirtualmachinesarerunningentirelyinRAM,
theyhavethebestpossibleperformance.
AllowsomevirtualmachinememorytobeswappedAllowthehostoperating
systemtoswapamoderateamountofvirtualmachinememorytodiskifnecessary.
Thissettingallowsyoutoincreasethenumberormemorysizeofvirtualmachines
thatcanrunonthehostcomputeratagiventime.Itmayalsoresultinreduced
performanceifvirtualmachinememorymustbeshiftedbetweenRAManddisk.
AllowmostvirtualmachinememorytobeswappedAllowthehostoperating
systemtoswapasmuchvirtualmachinememorytodiskasitwants.Thissetting
allowsyoutorunevenmorevirtualmachineswithevenmorememorythanthe
intermediatesettingdoes.Inthiscase,too,performancemaybelowerifvirtual
machinememorymustbeshiftedbetweenRAManddisk.
Ifyoutrytopoweronavirtualmachineandthereisnotenoughmemoryavailable,
VMwareServerdisplaysawarningmessage.Themessageshowshowmuchmemory
thevirtualmachineisconfiguredtouseandhowmuchmemoryisavailable.Youcan
trytopoweronthevirtualmachineusingtheavailablememorybyclickingOK.Ifyou
donotwanttopoweronthevirtualmachine,clickCancel.
Memory Usage on Older Linux Hosts

Bydefault,Linuxkernelsinthe2.2.xseriessupport1GBofphysicalmemory.Ifyou
wanttousemorememoryinLinux,youcantakeoneofseveralapproaches.
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Upgradetoa2.4.xserieskernelthatallowsformorephysicalmemory.
Recompileyourkernelasa2GBkernelusingtheCONFIG_2GBoption.
EnabletheCONFIG_BIGMEMoptiontomapmorephysicalmemory.(This
approachrequiresspecialsteps,describedindetailintheWorkaroundssection
below,toworkwithVMwareproducts.)
RecompilingyourkernelwithCONFIG_2GBenabledallowsLinuxtosupportnearly
2GBofphysicalmemorybydividingtheaddressspaceintoa2GBusersectionand2GB
kernelsection(asopposedtothenormaldivisionof3GBforuserand1GBforkernel).
ThethirdapproachusestheCONFIG_BIGMEMoptioninLinux.Withthe
CONFIG_BIGMEMoptionenabled,thekerneldoesnotdirectlyaddressallofphysical
memoryanditcanthenmap1GB(or2GB)ofphysicalmemoryintotheaddressspace
atatime.Thisallowstheuseofallofphysicalmemoryatthecostofchangingthe
semanticsthekernelusestomapvirtualtophysicaladdresses.However,VMware
productsexpectphysicalmemorytobemappeddirectlyinthekernelsaddressspace
andthusdonotworkproperlywiththeCONFIG_BIGMEMoptionenabled.
Workarounds
Ifyouareusinga1GBkernelwithCONFIG_BIGMEMenabledandhave960MBto
1983MBofmemory,VMwareServerdoesnotrun.Toworkaroundthisissue,youcan:
!
Recompilethekernelasa2GBkernelbyenablingtheCONFIG_2GBoption.This
allowsfor100percentuseofphysicalmemory.
Passtheboottimeswitchmem=959MattheLILOprompt,oraddittolilo.conf,to
disableCONFIG_BIGMEMandthusallowyoutorunVMwareServer.Todothis:
TopasstheswitchattheLILOprompt,type
linux-2.2.16xxx mem=959M
Toeditlilo.conf,openthefileinatexteditor.Inthekernelsection,addthisline:
append mem="959M"
Ifyouhavea1GBkernelwithCONFIG_BIGMEMenabledandhavemorethan1983MB
ofmemory,youcandooneofthefollowing:
!
Recompilethekernelasa2GBkernelbyenablingtheCONFIG_2GBoptionand
eitherpasstheboottimeswitchmem=1983MattheLILOpromptoradditto
lilo.conf.Tousetheswitch:
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VMware, Inc.
append mem="1983M"
!
Passtheboottimeswitchmem=959MattheLILOpromptoraddittolilo.confto
disableCONFIG_BIGMEM.Tousetheswitch:
append mem="959M"
Ifyouareusinga2GBkernelwithCONFIG_BIGMEMenabledandhave1984MBor
morememory,VMwareServerdoesnotrun.Youcaneitherpasstheboottimeswitch
mem=1983MattheLILOprompt,oraddittolilo.conftodisableCONFIG_BIGMEM
andthusallowyoutorunVMwareServer.Tousetheswitch:
Toeditlilo.conf,openitinatexteditor.Inthekernelsection,addthisline:
append mem="1983M"
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160
VMware, Inc.
Using High-Availability
Configurations
C HAPTER 7
ThischapterdescribesusinghighavailabilityconfigurationswithVMwareServerand
coversthefollowingtopics:
!
UsingSCSIReservationtoShareSCSIDiskswithVirtualMachinesonpage 161
OverviewofClusteringwithVMwareServeronpage 165
CreatingaClusterinaBoxonpage 167
UsingNetworkLoadBalancingwithVMwareServeronpage 175
CreatingTwoNodeClustersUsingNovellClusteringServicesonpage 179
ClusteringUsingtheiSCSIProtocolonpage 183
Using SCSI Reservation to Share SCSI Disks with Virtual

Machines
VMwareServerpermitsthesharingofapreallocatedvirtualSCSIdiskwithmultiple
virtualmachinesrunningonthesamehost.Whenthediskisshared,allvirtual
machinesconnectedtothediskusetheSCSIreservationprotocoltowritetothedisk
concurrently.
Youmustinstallclusteringsoftwareoneachvirtualmachinethatyouplantosharea
SCSIdisk.EnablingSCSIreservationinandofitselfdoesnotautomaticallymeanthat
arunningvirtualmachineisaparticipantintheSCSIreservationprotocol.
NOTE
VMware, Inc.
AlthoughgrowablevirtualdisksandphysicaldiskscanbeusedwithSCSI
reservation,suchuseisconsideredexperimentalandshouldnotbeattempted
inaproductionenvironment.Onlytheuseofpreallocatedvirtualdisksisfully
supportedwithSCSIreservation.Whenyoucreateanewvirtualmachine,or
addanewvirtualdisktoanexistingvirtualmachine,VMwareServercreates
apreallocatedvirtualdiskbydefault.
161
NOTE
Thisfeatureisadvanced.UseitonlyifyouarefamiliarwithSCSIingeneral
andtheSCSIreservationprotocolinparticular.
ThefollowingsectionsdescribehowtouseSCSIreservationtosharedisksamong
multiplevirtualmachines.
!
SCSIReservationSupportonpage 162
EnablingSCSIReservationonpage 162
IssuestoConsiderWhenSharingDisksonpage 164
SCSI Reservation Support

SCSIreservationsupportislimitedbythefollowing:
!
YoucanenableSCSIreservationforSCSIvirtualandphysicaldisks.Noothertype
ofSCSIdevicescanuseSCSIreservationinavirtualmachine.Specifically,you
cannotenableSCSIreservationforaSCSIdiskthatisconfiguredasagenericSCSI
device.FormoreinformationaboutgenericSCSI,seeConnectingtoaGeneric
SCSIDevice.
NOTE
VMwareServersupportsSCSIreservationwhenusedwithpreallocated
virtualdisks.SupportforSCSIreservationwithgrowablevirtualdisks
andphysicaldisksisconsideredexperimental.Forhighavailability
configurations,useSCSIreservationwithpreallocatedvirtualdisks.
SCSIdiskscanbesharedusingSCSIreservationamongvirtualmachinesrunning
onthesamehost.Thismeansthattheconfigurationfilesforthevirtualmachines
mustallbelocatedonthesameVMwareServerhost.However,thediskordisks
thevirtualmachinesaresharingcanbelocatedremotelyonadifferenthost.
ASCSIvirtualdiskcanbelocatedonahostwithanytypeofharddisk(for
example,IDE,SCSIorSATA).AsharedphysicaldiskmustalwaysbeaSCSIdisk.
VMwareServervirtualmachinescurrentlysupportonlytheSCSI2diskprotocol,
andnotapplicationsusingSCSI3diskreservations.Allpopularclustering
software(includingMSCSandVCS)currentlyuseSCSI2reservations.
Enabling SCSI Reservation

SCSIreservationmustbeenabledinavirtualmachinebeforeyoucanshareitsdisks.
VMwarerecommendsyousetupanyshareddisksonthesameSCSIbus,whichisa
differentbusfromtheonetheguestoperatingsystemuses.Forexample,ifyourguest
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Chapter 7 Using High-Availability Configurations
operatingsystemisonthescsi0bus,youshouldsetupdiskstoshareonthenext
availablebus,typicallythescsi1bus.
Sharingresourcesusingtwoseparatebuses(forexample,dataonSCSI1:0andquorum
onSCSI2:0)causestheconfigurationfiletobecomeinvalid,andyoucannotbootthe
virtualmachine.
ToenableSCSIreservation,makesurethevirtualmachineispoweredoff.Openthe
configurationfile(.vmx)inatexteditorandaddtheline:
scsi<x>.sharedBus = "virtual"
anywhereinthefile,where<x>istheSCSIbusbeingshared.
Forexample,toenableSCSIreservationfordevicesonthescsi1bus,addthefollowing
linetothevirtualmachinesconfigurationfile:
scsi1.sharedBus = "virtual"
Thisallowsthewholebustobesharedandisquickerthanspecifyingeachdisk
separately.However,ifyoudonotwanttosharethewholebus,youcanselectively
enableSCSIreservationforaspecificSCSIdiskonthesharedbus.Forexample,ifyou
wanttoshareaSCSIdisklocatedatscsi1:1,addthefollowinglinetothe
configurationfile:
scsi1:1.shared = "true"
YoumustspecifythesameSCSItarget(thatis,scsi<x>:1)intheconfigurationfilefor
eachvirtualmachinethatisgoingtosharethedisk.
IfSCSIreservationisenabledforthewholebus(thatis,scsi1.sharedBusissetto
"virtual"),thissettingisignored.
InadditiontoenablingSCSIreservationonthebus,youneedtoallowvirtualmachines
toaccesstheshareddiskconcurrently.Addthefollowinglinetothevirtualmachines
configurationfile:
disk.locking = "false"
Thispreventsthelockingofthatdisk,whichpermitsmultiplevirtualmachinesto
accessadiskconcurrently.Becarefulthough:ifanyvirtualmachinenotconfiguredfor
SCSIreservationtriestoaccessthisdiskconcurrently,theshareddiskisvulnerableto
corruptionordataloss.
CAUTION
Thissettingappliestoalldisksinthevirtualmachine.
WhenSCSIreservationisenabled,thesystemcreatesareservationlockfilethat
containsthesharedstateofthereservationforthegivendisk.Thenameofthisfile
consistsofthefilenameoftheSCSIdiskappendedwith.RESLCK.
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163
Forexample,ifthediskscsi1:0.filenameisdefinedintheconfigurationfileas
scsi1:0.fileName = "/<path_to_config>/vmSCSI.vmdk"
thereservationlockfileforthisdiskhasthedefaultname
/<path_to_config>/vmSCSI.vmdk.RESLCK
Youcanprovideyourownlockfilename.Addadefinitionforscsi1:0.reslcknameto
theconfigurationfile.Forexample,ifyouadd
scsi1:0.reslckname = "/tmp/scsi1-0.reslock"
totheconfigurationfile,thisnameoverridesthedefaultlockfilename.
CAUTION
Usethesamelockfilename(forexample,"/tmp/scsi1-0.reslock")for
eachvirtualmachineinthecluster.YoumustalsousethesameSCSI
targetforeachvirtualmachinewhenyoudefinescsi1:0.reslckname.
However,theSCSIbus(scsi1inthiscase)doesnotneedtobethesame.
AfterSCSIreservationisenabledforadiskthatis,thescsi<x>.sharedBus =
"virtual"anddisk.locking ="false"settingsareaddedtotheconfigurationfilefor
eachvirtualmachinewantingtosharethisdiskyouneedtopointeachvirtual
machinetothisdisk.
Toaddavirtualdisktoavirtualmachine,seeAddingVirtualDiskstoaVirtual
Machine.
Issues to Consider When Sharing Disks
164
Donottrytoshareadiskamongmultiplerunningvirtualmachinesthatarenot
collocatedonthesamehost.Thediskfileitselfcanbelocatedremotely,butthe
virtualmachinesmustberunningtogetheronthesameVMwareServerhost.If
youtrytoshareadiskamongvirtualmachineslocatedondifferenthosts,data
couldbecorruptedorlost.
DonotshareadiskonSCSIbus0.Thisbusisusuallyusedforthebootdisk.Ifyou
sharethebootdisk,youruntheriskofcorruptingit,asthebootprogramisnot
awarethatthediskisbeingsharedandcanwritetothediskregardlessofwhether
ornotitisbeingshared.ItisfarmoresecuretouseSCSIreservationonadatadisk
locatedonadifferentbus.
Ifonlyonerunningvirtualmachineisusingagivendisk,anditisrunning
applicationsthatdonotuseSCSIreservation,thedisksperformancemightbe
degradedslightly.
VMware, Inc.
Atthistime,ifonevirtualmachinedoesnothaveSCSIreservationenabledforits
virtualdisk,butanothervirtualmachinedoeshaveSCSIreservationenabledfor
thesamevirtualdisk,VMwareServerdoesallowthedisktobeshared.However,
anyvirtualmachinenotconfiguredforSCSIreservationthattriestoaccessthis
diskconcurrentlycancausecorruptionordatalossontheshareddisk.VMware
recommendsyoutakecarewhensharingdisks.
Ifyouneedtoshrinkordefragmentthevirtualdisk(whichcanbedoneonlywith
agrowablevirtualdisk),firstdisableSCSIreservationandmakesurethevirtual
diskisnotbeingusedbyanyothervirtualmachine.
TodisableSCSIreservationforallSCSIdisksinavirtualmachine,openthe
configurationfileandcommentoutorremovethescsi<x>.sharedBus =
"virtual"lineandmakesurethedisk.lockinglineissetto"true".
TodisableSCSIreservationforonlyaspecificSCSIdiskonasharedbus,change
thescsi<x>:<y>.shared = "true"lineintheconfigurationfileto
scsi<x>:<y>.shared = "false".Youcanalsocommentouttheline.
InaWindowsvirtualmachine,somediskerrorsarerecordedintheWindows
eventloginnormaloperation.Theseerrormessageshaveaformatsimilarto
"The driver detected a controller error on \Device\Scsi\BusLogic3"
Theerrorsshouldappearinthelogperiodicallyonlyonthepassivenodeofthe
clusterandshouldalsoappearwhenthepassivenodeistakingoverduringa
failover.Theerrorsareloggedbecausetheactivenodeoftheclusterhasreserved
thesharedvirtualdisk.Thepassivenodeperiodicallyprobestheshareddiskand
receivesaSCSIreservationconflicterror.
Overview of Clustering with VMware Server

VMwareServerclusteringcapabilitiesareideallysuitedfordevelopment,testing,and
trainingapplications.
NOTE
Alwaysrigorouslytestandreviewyourclusterbeforedeployingitina
productionenvironment.
Thissectionincludes:
!
ApplicationsThatCanUseClusteringonpage 166
ClusteringSoftwareonpage 166
Clusteringprovidesaservicethroughagroupofserverstogethighavailability,
scalability,orboth.
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165
Forexample:
!
InaWebserverclusterwheretheWebsiteservesstaticcontent,agateway
distributesrequeststoallnodesaccordingtoload.Thegatewayalsoredirects
requeststoremainingnodesifonecrashes.
Thisconfigurationincreasesavailabilityandperformanceoverasinglemachine
approach.NetworkLoadBalancinginWindows2000andWindowsServer2003
providessuchaservice.
Inamorecomplexcluster,asinglenodemightserveadatabase.Ifthatnode
crashes,itmustrestartthedatabaseonanothernode.Thedatabaseapplication
knowshowtorecoverfromacrash.Innormaloperation,othernodesrunother
applications.
MicrosoftClusterServiceandVeritasClusterServiceprovidesuchaservice.
Inatypicalvirtualmachinecluster:
!
Eachvirtualmachineisonenodeinthecluster.
Disksaresharedbetweennodes.
Shareddisksareneedediftheapplicationusesdynamicdataasmailserversor
databaseserversdo.
Whenusingvirtualdisks,youmustpreallocatethediskspaceatthetimeyou
createthevirtualdisk.
Extranetworkconnectionsbetweennodesformonitoringheartbeatstatusare
available.
Amethodforredirectingincomingrequestsisavailable.
Applications That Can Use Clustering

Totakeadvantageofclusteringservices,applicationsneedtobeclusteringaware.Such
applicationscanbestateless,suchasWebserversandVPNservers.Clusteringaware
applicationsoftenincludebuiltinrecoveryfeatures,likethoseindatabaseservers,
mailservers,fileservers,orprintservers.
Clustering Software
Availableclusteringsoftwareincludes:
!
166
MicrosoftClusteringService(MSCS)underWindows2000,MSCSprovides
failoversupportfortwotofournodeclustersforapplicationssuchasdatabases,
VMware, Inc.
fileservers,andmailservers.UnderWindowsServer2003,MSCSprovides
failoversupportforeightnodeclusters.
!
MicrosoftNetworkLoadBalancing(NLB)balancestheloadofincomingIP
trafficacrossaclusterofupto32nodesforapplicationssuchasWebserversand
terminalservices.
VeritasClusteringService(VCS).
NovellClusteringServices.
NOTE
TheseclusteringservicesaretestedandsupportedbyVMwareonlywith
Windowshostoperatingsystems.
Creating a Cluster in a Box

WithVMwareServer,youcancreateasimpleclusterinaboxtohelpmitigatethe
effectsofsoftwarecrashesoradministrativeproblems.
CAUTION
NOTE
WhenyouuseVMwareServervirtualmachinesinacluster,youmust
turnoffdiskcachingforeachvirtualmachinethatisamemberofthe
cluster.Ifyoudonotturnoffdataontheshareddrivemightbecome
corrupted.Toturnoffdiskcachingopentheconfiguration.vmxfileof
eachvirtualmachineinatexteditorandaddthefollowingline:
diskLib.dataCaheMaxSize = 0
Whenyouconfigureacluster,theabilitytotakesnapshotsisdisabledin
virtualmachinesinthecluster.
Thistypeofcluster:
!
Consistsofmultiplevirtualmachines(nodes)onasinglephysicalmachine.
SupportsshareddiskswithoutanysharedSCSIhardware.
Supportsaheartbeatnetworkwithoutanextraphysicalnetworkadapter.
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167
Figure 7-1. A two-node cluster on a single physical machine.

Thefollowingsectionsdescribehowtosetupaclusterinabox:
!
ConfiguringVirtualMachinesforClusterinaBoxonpage 168
CreatingaTwoNodeClusterwithMicrosoftClusteringServicesonpage 169
Configuring Virtual Machines for Cluster in a Box

Tocreateasetofclusteredvirtualmachines(aclusterinabox),configureeachofthem
withthefollowing:
168
AprimaryvirtualSCSIhostadapterwithoneSCSIvirtualdisk.
Twovirtualnetworkadapters:
!
ApublicnetworkadapterbridgedtoaphysicaladaptereitherusingVMnet0,
orVMnet28asconfiguredinthevirtualmachinesettingseditorofthe
VMwareServermachine.
AprivatenetworkadapterconnectedtoVMnet1(hostonly),oranother
physicaladapter(VMnet2throughVMnet8).Thisisthenetworkadapterthat
theclusteringserviceusestomonitortheheartbeatbetweennodes.This
deviceselectionmustmatchinallvirtualmachinesinaclusterset.
VMware, Inc.
Theremainingdefaultvirtualmachinedevices(suchastheCDROMdriveandthe
floppydiskdrive).
Inadditiontotheabovedevices,thefollowingarerequiredforsharedstorage:
!
AsecondaryvirtualSCSIhostadapter.
Oneormorepreallocatedvirtualdisksthatareshared,attachedtothesecondary
SCSIhostadapter.
NotethefollowingaboutvirtualPCIslotsinthevirtualmachines:
!
EachvirtualmachinebydefaulthassixPCIslotsavailable.
Thisconfiguration(twonetworkadaptersandtwoSCSIhostbusadapters)uses
fouroftheseslots.
OnemorePCIslotisavailableforathirdnetworkadapterifneeded.(Thesixthslot
isusedbythevirtualdisplayadapter.)
IfthevirtualmachinesbootpartitionisonanIDEvirtualdisk,thepartition
occupiesoneofthePCIslots.
Creating a Two-Node Cluster with Microsoft Clustering Services

ThisprocedurecreatesatwonodeclusterusingMicrosoftClusteringServicesona
singleVMwareServercomputerusingthefollowing:
!
SQL1=hostnameofnode1ofthecluster
SQL2=hostnameofnode2ofthecluster
SQLCLUSTER=publichostnameofthecluster
Creating the First Nodes Base Virtual Machine

Thefollowingstepsdescribehowtocreatethebasevirtualmachinethatservesasthe
firstnodeinthecluster(andasatemplatefortheadditionalnode),andhowtocreate
thetwopreallocatedvirtualdisksthataresharedamongthevirtualmachinesinthe
cluster.
NOTE
Thevirtualdisksusedtostoretheoperatingsystemandclusteringsoftware
foreachvirtualmachine(node)intheclusterdonothavetobepreallocated
virtualdisks.
LogontoyourVMwareServerhostastheuserwhowillownthevirtualmachine.
LaunchaVMwareServerConsoleandcreateanewvirtualmachine(for
informationoncreatinganewvirtualmachine,seeCreatingaNewVirtual
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169
Machine).FollowtheCustompath.Choosethesettingsyouwant(forexample,
thesizeofthevirtualdiskortheamountofmemory),butmakesureyouspecify
!
Windows2000AdvancedServerorWindowsServer2003EnterpriseEdition
astheguestoperatingsystem.
SQL1asthevirtualmachinename.
Thevirtualmachinedirectoryasd:\cluster\SQL1(onaWindowshost)or
/home/cluster/SQL1(onaLinuxhost).
Bridgednetworkingforthevirtualmachine.
SQL1asthediskfilename.
Openthevirtualmachinesettingseditor.ChooseVM>Settings.
Addanewnetworkadapterthatuseseitheranotherexternaladapterorthe
VMnet1hostonlyadapter.(Forcompleteisolationfromthehost,youcanalsouse
anyunusedvirtualEthernetswitch,typicallyVMnet2throughVMnet7.)For
information,seeAddingandModifyingVirtualNetworkAdapters.
ThisadapterisusedasthevirtualprivateEthernetconnectionforheartbeat
monitoring.
Addthetwovirtualdisksthataretobeshared:
!
Ashareddatadisk(callitdata.vmdk,forexample)
Asharedquorumdisk(callitquorum.vmdk,forexample)tostoretransactions
beforetheyarecommittedtothedatadisk
Forinformation,seeAddingVirtualDiskstoaVirtualMachine.
6
ClickOKtosaveyourchangesandclosethevirtualmachinesettingseditor.
Usingatexteditor,manuallyedittheconfigurationfile
d:\cluster\SQL1\SQL1.vmx(onaWindowshost)or/home/cluster/SQL1/SQL1.vmx
(onaLinuxhost).
Addthefollowinglinestotheconfigurationfile:
scsi1.sharedBus = virtual
ThisenablesSCSIreservation,whichisdescribedinmoredetailinthesection
UsingSCSIReservationtoShareSCSIDiskswithVirtualMachinesonpage 161.
Youarefinishedcreatingthevirtualmachineforthefirstnodeinyourcluster.Thenext
stepistoinstallaguestoperatingsysteminthevirtualmachine.
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VMware, Inc.
Installing the Guest Operating System in the First Virtual Machine (Node)
ForinformationoninstallingWindows2000AdvancedServerorWindowsServer2003
EnterpriseEditioninthevirtualmachine,seetheVMwareGuestOperatingSystem
InstallationGuide.ItisavailablefromtheVMwareWebsiteat
http://www.vmware.com/support/guestnotes/doc/index.html.
NOTE
Duringtheinstallationoftheguestoperatingsystem,donotinstallthe
clusteringservices.
Whentheinstallationiscomplete,installVMwareToolsintheguestoperatingsystem.
SeeInstallingVMwareTools.
AfteryoufinishinstallingtheguestoperatingsystemandVMwareTools,clonethe
virtualmachine.(Later,youcreatethesecondclusternodeusingtheclone.)
To clone the first virtual machine node
1
Runsysprep.exe,whichisavailableontheWindowsCDinthefile
\support\tools\deploy.cab(orfromtheMicrosoftWebsite).
Thesysprep.exeutilityremovesthesecurityIDassignedtotheguestoperating
system,resetsthemachineinformationandresetstheTCP/IPnetwork
configuration.
CreateadirectorynamedSQL2undertheclusterdirectory.
CopytheSQL1*.vmdkfilesintothisdirectory.
UsetheVMwareVirtualDiskManagertochangethenameofthevirtualdiskto
SQL2*.vmdk.Atacommandprompt,type:
vmware-vdiskmanager -n SQL1.vmdk SQL2.vmdk
Formoreinformationaboutthevirtualdiskmanager,seeUsingVMwareVirtual
DiskManager.
Youarefinishedcloningthefirstnode.Youarenowreadytocreatethesecondnodein
theclusterusingtheclone.
To create the second node in the cluster from the clone of the first node
1
MachinewiththeVirtualMachineWizard).Choosethesettingsyouwant(for
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171
example,thesizeofthevirtualdiskortheamountofmemory),butmakesureyou
specify:
!
SQL2asthevirtualmachinename.
Thevirtualmachinedirectoryasd:\cluster\SQL2(onaWindowshost)or
/home/cluster/SQL2(onaLinuxhost).
Touseanexistingvirtualdisk,clickBrowseandselectSQL2.vmdk.
Addanewnetworkadapterthatuseseitheranotherexternaladapterorthe
VMnet1hostonlyadapter.Forinformation,seeAddingandModifyingVirtual
NetworkAdapters.
Addthetwovirtualdisks(quorum.vmdkanddata.vmdk)youpreviouslycreated.
Forinformation,seeAddingVirtualDiskstoaVirtualMachine.Makesureyou
selectUseanexistingvirtualdiskandbrowsetoquorum.vmdkanddata.vmdk.
Usingatexteditor,manuallyedittheconfigurationfile
d:\cluster\SQL2\SQL2.vmx(onaWindowshost)or/home/cluster/SQL2/SQL2.vmx
(onaLinuxhost).
Addthefollowinglinestothebottomoftheconfigurationfile:
ThisenablesSCSIreservation,whichisdescribedinmoredetailinUsingSCSI
ReservationtoShareSCSIDiskswithVirtualMachinesonpage 161.
Intheconsole,verifythatbothvirtualmachinesarepoweredoff.
Youarefinishedcreatingthesecondnode.
Nowthatyouhavevirtualmachinesforbothnodesinyourtwonodecluster,youare
readytoinstalltheclusteringservicessoftware.
To install Microsoft Clustering Services on the Cluster Nodes
172
Startthenode1virtualmachine.
FollowtheWindowssetuppromptstoenter
VMware, Inc.
TheWindowsserialnumber.
Thehostname(SQL1).
TheIPaddressesofthepublicandprivatenetworkadapters.
NOTE
Forthepublicnetworkadapter,enteranIPaddressthatbelongstothe
physicalnetwork.FortheprivateIPaddress,youcanuseanaddresslike
192.168.x.xwithaclassCsubnetmask(255.255.255.0).
Attheendoftheprocess,Windowsreboots.
StarttheDiskManagementtoolandchangebothshareddiskstoBasicdisks.
FormatbothsharedvirtualdiskswithNTFSiftheyarenotalreadyformatted.
AssignthefirstshareddisktoQ:(quorum)andtheseconddisktoR:(data).
IfyouhavejoinedthisvirtualmachinetoanexistingActiveDirectorydomain,
skiptostep11.
Rundcpromo.exefromthecommandprompt.ThisstartstheActiveDirectory
Wizard.
Setupthecurrentmachineasadomaincontroller.Forthedomainname,use
somethingsimilarto<vmcluster>.<domain.com>where<domain.com>isyourDNS
domainand<vmcluster>isyourActiveDirectorydomain.
Youcansetupthisnodeasanewdomaintreeoranewdomainforest,orjoinitto
anexistingdomaintreeorforest.
MakesuretheDNSserverisinstalled.
10
Setthedomainpermissionsasmixedmodeunlessyouplanotherwise.
11
Toaddaclusterservicesaccountinthedomain,gotoPrograms>Administrative
Tools>ActiveDirectoryUsersandComputers.
12
Addaclusterserviceaccountnamedcluster:
!
Entertheuserspassword.
ChecktheUsercannotchangepasswordcheckbox.
CheckthePasswordneverexpirescheckbox.
13
InserttheWindowsCDintheCDROMdrive.
14
ChooseControlPanel>Add/RemovePrograms.
15
SelectAdd/RemoveWindowsComponents.
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173
16
ChecktheClusterServicecomponent.
17
ClickNextandfollowthepromptstoinstalltheservice.
18
Asyouconfiguretheclusterservice,chooseFormaNewCluster.
19
SpecifySQLCLUSTERastheclustername.
20
Specifytheclusterserviceaccountcreatedinstep12.
21
Specifythatbothshareddisksshouldbemanagedbytheclusterservice.
22
Indicatetheshareddisk(Q:)tobethequorumdisk.
23
Specifywhichnetworkadapterispublicandwhichisprivate.
24
SpecifytheclusterIPaddress.Thisistheaddressthatrepresentsthecluster.It
mustbeonthesamenetworkasthephysicalEthernetdevice.
25
Stoptheclusterserviceonthelocalnode(node1)sothatthesecondvirtual
machine(node2)canaccesstheshareddisks.
!
FromClusterManager,rightclickthenodename.
SelectStopClusterService.
YouarefinishedinstallingMicrosoftClusteringServicesonthefirstnode.Thestepsto
installthesoftwareonthesecondnodearesimilar.
1
Startthenode2virtualmachine.
Repeatstep2andstep3intheprocedureforthefirstnode.
StarttheDiskManagementtoolandassignthefirstshareddisktoQ:(quorum)and
theseconddisktoR:(data).
Startdcpromo.exeandaddthisvirtualmachineasadomaincontrollerinthesame
domaincreatedinstep8forthefirstnode,oraddittoanexistingdomain.
NOTE
174
Thesetupinnode2mustmatchthesetupinnode1,whichyouspecified
instep8fornode1.
Inthenode1virtualmachine,starttheclusterservice.
!
FromClusterManager,rightclickthenodename.
SelectStartClusterService.
Inthenode2virtualmachine,repeatstep14throughstep24inToinstall
MicrosoftClusteringServicesontheClusterNodesonpage 172,withone
exception:instep18,selectJoinaCluster.
VMware, Inc.
Youarenowfinishedconfiguringthecluster.
Using Network Load Balancing with VMware Server

ThissectioncoversproceduresforcreatingamultinodeNetworkLoadBalancing
clusterusingnodesrunninginvirtualmachines.Thesevirtualmachinescanbelocated
ononeormoreVMwareServercomputers.
ThefollowingsectionsdescribehowtocreateanexampleNetworkLoadBalancing
cluster:
!
OverviewofNetworkLoadBalancingClustersonpage 175
CreatingaMultinodeNetworkLoadBalancingClusteronpage 175
Overview of Network Load Balancing Clusters

NetworkLoadBalancingisaWindows2000AdvancedServerandWindowsServer
2003feature.UsingNetworkLoadBalancingtobuildaservercluster:
!
YoucanenhancetheavailabilityofInternetserverprograms,suchasthoseusedon
thesetypesofservers:
!
Web
Proxy
Domainnameservice(DNS)
FTP
Virtualprivatenetwork(VPN)
Streamingmediaservers
Terminalservices
Youcanscaleyourserversperformance.
Youcancreatetheclusterwithvirtualmachinesonthesamephysicalserveror
withvirtualmachinesonmultiplephysicalservers(allrunningVMwareServer).
Youcanconfigureupto32nodesinthecluster.
Creating a Multinode Network Load Balancing Cluster

ThefollowingsectionsdescribehowtocreateamultinodeNetworkLoadBalancing
cluster.
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175
To create the first nodes base virtual machine

1
Machine).Choosethesettingsyouwant(forexample,thesizeofthevirtualdisk
ortheamountofmemory),butmakesureyouspecify
!
NLB1asthevirtualmachinename.
Thevirtualmachinedirectoryasd:\cluster\nlb1(onaWindowshost)or
/home/cluster/nlb1(onaLinuxhost).
nlb1asthediskfilename.
ConnecttothisvirtualmachinewiththeVMwareServerConsoleandchooseVM
>Settings.
Addasecondnetworkingdevice,bindingittoanotherphysicalNICortothe
hostonlynetwork.
Youarefinishedcreatingthefirstvirtualmachine(node)inthecluster.Thenextstepis
toinstallaguestoperatingsysteminthevirtualmachine.
Installing the Guest Operating System in the First Virtual Machine (Node)
ForinformationoninstallingWindows2000AdvancedServerorWindowsServer2003
EnterpriseEditioninthevirtualmachine,seetheVMwareGuestOperatingSystem
InstallationGuide.ItisavailablefromtheVMwareWebsiteat
http://www.vmware.com/support/guestnotes/doc/index.html.
NOTE
Duringtheinstallationoftheguestoperatingsystem,donotinstallthe
clusteringservices.
Youarefinishedcreatingthefirstclusternode.Youcannowclonethatnodeforusein
creatingothernodes.
176
VMware, Inc.
Cloning the First Cluster Node

Followthesestepstoclonethefirstclusternodeforuseincreatingtheothernodesin
thecluster,eitheronthesamephysicalserveroronothermachinesrunningVMware
Server:
1
Runsysprep.exe,whichisavailableontheWindowsCDinthefile
\support\tools\deploy.caborfromtheMicrosoftWebsite.
Thesysprep.exeutilityremovesthesecurityIDassignedtotheguestoperating
system,resetsthemachineinformation,andresetstheTCP/IPnetwork
configuration.
Createadirectorynlb2undertheclusterdirectory,eitheronthelocalserveroron
differentmachinesrunningVMwareServer.
Copythenlb1*.vmdkfilesintothisdirectory.
UsetheVMwareVirtualDiskManagertochangethenameofthevirtualdiskto
nlb<n>.vmdk(where<n>istheNetworkLoadBalancingnodenumber).Ata
commandprompt,type:
vmware-vdiskmanager -n nlb1.vmdk nlb<n>.vmdk
Formoreinformationaboutthevirtualdiskmanager,seeUsingVMwareVirtual
DiskManager.
Repeatstep3throughstep5foreachadditionalnodeyouwanttocreate,eitheronthe
samephysicalserver,oronadditionalmachinesrunningVMwareServer.Youcan
configureupto32nodeswithNetworkLoadBalancing.
Whenyouarefinishedmakingclonesofthefirstnode,youarereadytocreate
additionalnodesfromtheclones.
Creating Additional Nodes in the Network Load Balancing Cluster

Followthesestepsforeachoftheadditionalnodesyouwanttocreate(upto32nodes)
intheNetworkLoadBalancingcluster:
1
ortheamountofmemory),exceptyoushouldspecify
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177
nlb2asthevirtualmachinename.
NOTE
Foreachadditionalnode,usethenameofthatnodeinsteadofnlb2.
Thevirtualmachinedirectoryasd:\VMware\cluster\nlb2(onaWindows
host)or/home/cluster/nlb2(onaLinuxhost).
Touseanexistingvirtualdisk.ClickBrowseandselectnlb2.vmdk.
ConnecttothisvirtualmachinewiththeVMwareServerConsoleandchooseVM
>Settings.
Addasecondnetworkingdevice,bindingittoanotherphysicalNICortothe
hostonlynetwork.Forinformation,seeAddingandModifyingVirtualNetwork
Adapters.
Intheconsole,verifythatbothvirtualmachinesarepoweredoff.
Afteryouhavefinishedcreatingtheadditionalnodes,youarereadytoconfigurethe
cluster.
Configuring the Network Load Balancing Cluster

Youcanclusterupto32nodesusingNetworkLoadBalancing.
To configure the cluster for each node that joins the cluster
1
ConnecttothefirstnodevirtualmachinewiththeVMwareServerConsole.
FollowtheWindowsminisetuppromptstoenterthefollowing:
!
TheWindowsserialnumber
Thehostname
IPaddressesforthathost
Attheendoftheprocess,Windowsreboots.
LogontothevirtualmachineastheAdministratoruser.
OpenNetworkandDialupConnections.
RightclickthelocalareaconnectiononwhichyouwanttoinstallNetworkLoad
BalancingandchooseProperties.
TheLocalAreaConnectionPropertiesdialogboxappears.
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UnderComponentscheckedareusedbythisconnection,selecttheNetwork
LoadBalancingcheckbox.
ClickProperties.
10
OntheClusterParameterstab,configureclusteroperationsusingthese
parameters:
!
PrimaryIPAddress:Thisistheaddressfortheclusterasawhole.Clientsuse
thisaddresstoaccessthecluster.
SubnetMask:Thisisthesubnetmaskofthenetworktowhichtheabove
addressbelongs.
Multicast:Selectthisoption,evenifyourvirtualmachinewasconfigured
withasinglenetworkadapter.
NOTE
Allmembersoftheclustermustbeconfiguredformulticasting.
RefertoNetworkLoadBalancingonlineHelpfortheremainingoptions.
11
Whenyoufinishwiththeclusterparameters,clickOKtoreturntotheLocalArea
ConnectionPropertiesdialogbox.
12
ClickOKtoreturntotheLocalAreaConnectionStatusdialogbox.
13
RightclickthelocalareaconnectiononwhichNetworkLoadBalancingistobe
installed,andselectProperties.
14
ClickInternetProtocol(TCP/IP),andclickProperties.
15
SetupTCP/IPforNetworkLoadBalancing.
FormoreinformationandlinkstoproceduresforsettingupTCP/IPforNetwork
LoadBalancingonsingleandmultiplenetworkadapters,seeRelatedTopicsinthe
NetworkLoadBalancingonlineHelp.
NOTE
YoumustaddtheclustersprimaryIPaddresstothelistofIPaddresses
boundtotheadapter.
RepeatthesestepsoneachhosttobeusedinyourNetworkLoadBalancingcluster.
Creating Two-Node Clusters Using Novell Clustering

Services
ThefollowingsectionsdescribehowtocreateatwonodeclusterusingNovell
ClusteringServicesonasingleVMwareServersystem:
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CreatingtheFirstNodesBaseVirtualMachineonpage 180
CreatingtheSecondNodeintheClusteronpage 181
InstallingtheGuestOperatingSystemandVMwareToolsonpage 181
AddingtheSharedDiskstoBothVirtualMachinesonpage 181
InstallingNovellClusteringServicesontheClusterNodesonpage 182
Creating the First Node's Base Virtual Machine

Thefollowingstepsdescribehowtocreatethebasevirtualmachinethatservesasthe
firstnodeinthecluster,aswellashowtocreatethetwopreallocatedvirtualdisksthat
aresharedamongthevirtualmachinesinthecluster.YoucaninstallNovellNetWare
6.0or6.5inavirtualmachineusingthestandardNetWare6.0or6.5CDROM.VMware
recommendsyouinstallNetWare6.0onahostwithatleast384MBofmemory;
NetWare6.5mustbeinstalledonahostwithatleast512MBofmemory.
Creating and Configuring the NetWare Virtual Machine

NOTE
Thevirtualdisksusedtostoretheoperatingsystemandclusteringsoftware
foreachvirtualmachine(node)intheclusterdonothavetobepreallocated
virtualdisks.
ortheamountofmemory),butmakesureyouspecify:
!
Netware6astheguestoperatingsystem.
Cluster1asthevirtualmachinename.
ThevirtualmachinedirectoryasD:\Netware6\Cluster1(onaWindowshost)
or/home/Netware/Cluster1(onaLinuxhost).
Youarefinishedcreatingthevirtualmachineforthefirstnodeinyourcluster.The
nextstepistocreatethesecondnodeinyourcluster.Then,foreachnode,install
theguestoperatingsystemandVMwareTools.
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Creating the Second Node in the Cluster

Next,createthesecondnodeoftheclusterbyfollowingthesameprocedureforcreating
thefirstnodelistedabovewiththefollowingchanges:
!
UseCluster2asthevirtualmachinename.
UseD:\Netware6\Cluster2asthevirtualmachinedirectory(onaWindowshost)
or/home/Netware/Cluster2(onaLinuxhost).
Installing the Guest Operating System and VMware Tools

ForinformationoninstallingNetWare6.0or6.5inavirtualmachine,seetheVMware
GuestOperatingSystemInstallationGuide.ItisavailablefromtheVMwareWebsiteat
http://www.vmware.com/support/guestnotes/doc/index.html.Makesureyoufollow
theinstructionsforbridgednetworking.
Youarefinishedcreatingthefirstclusternode.Youcannowclonethatnodeforusein
creatingothernodes.
BesuretoreadtheknownissuesforNetWare6.0or6.5intheinstallationguidelines.
Adding the Shared Disks to Both Virtual Machines

FollowtheprocedureoutlinedinAddingVirtualDiskstoaVirtualMachinetocreate
andaddtwosharedpreallocatedvirtualdiskstothefirstnode(calledCluster1).These
disksaresharedbetweenbothnodesandinclude:
!
Ashareddatadisk(callitdata.vmdk,forexample).
Asharedquorumdisk(callitquorum.vmdk,forexample).
NOTE
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UsetheAdvancedoptionwhenaddingthepreallocatedvirtualdisksfromthe
virtualmachinesettingseditortoselectSCSIvirtualdevicenodesforthe
disks.
181
Afteryoufinishcreatingthevirtualdisks,addthemtothesecondnodebycompleting
thefollowingsteps.
1
Openthevirtualmachinesettingseditorforthenode2virtualmachine(called
Cluster2).ChooseVM>Settings.
Addthetwovirtualdisksthataretobeshared.Insteadofcreatingnewvirtual
disks,usetheexistingvirtualdiskscreatedfornode1(calledCluster1).
ClickOKtosaveyourchangesandclosethevirtualmachinesettingseditor.
ForthevirtualmachinenamedCluster1,useatexteditortomanuallyeditthe
configurationfile.ThisfileisD:\Netware6\Cluster1\Cluster1.vmxonaWindows
hostor/home/Netware/Cluster1/Cluster1.vmxonaLinuxhost.
ForthevirtualmachinenamedCluster2,useatexteditortomanuallyeditthe
configurationfile.ThisfileisD:\Netware6\Cluster2\Cluster2.vmxonaWindows
hostor/home/Netware/Cluster2/Cluster2.vmxonaLinuxhost.
Addthefollowinglinestoeachconfigurationfile:
disk.locking = false
NOTE
ThedefaultvirtualdisktypeisIDEforthebasevirtualmachinesvirtual
diskcreatedinCreatingtheFirstNodesBaseVirtualMachineon
page 180.IfyouareusingSCSIvirtualdisksforthebasevirtualmachine
instead,theconfigurationfileoptionsforthesharedbusare:
scsi1.present = true (Ifthislinealreadyexists,donotadditagain.)
disk.locking = false
Thesesettingsarenecessarybecauseyourbasevirtualmachinesvirtualdiskis
attachedtoscsi0andyoumusthaveaseparatevirtualSCSIcardforattachingthe
shareddisks.ThesettingsenableSCSIreservationforscsi1,whichisdescribedin
moredetailinUsingSCSIReservationtoShareSCSIDiskswithVirtual
Machinesonpage 161.
Installing Novell Clustering Services on the Cluster Nodes

CompletethefollowingstepstoinstallNovellClusteringServicesineachvirtual
machine.
182
Poweronthefirstnodevirtualmachine(Cluster1).
BootintoDOSbypressingtheF5keytobypassrunningthestartupfiles.
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Insertthedriverfloppydiskinthehostsfloppydrive.
Copythedriverstothec:\nwserverdirectory.
Removethedriverfloppydiskfromthehostsfloppydrive.
Rebootthevirtualmachine.
Theservershouldbeabletorecognizetheshareddisks.Youcanverifythatby
runningList Devices.
Repeattheabovestepsforthenode2virtualmachine(Cluster2).
NowyouarereadytoinstalltheNovellClusteringServices(NCS)asyouwould
normallyontwophysicalmachines.RefertotheNetWare6.0or6.5product
documentationfordetails.
Clustering Using the iSCSI Protocol

YoucanusetheiSCSIprotocolwithvirtualmachinesandphysicalmachinesina
clusteredenvironmenttoprovidehighlyavailablenetworkstorageandfailover.
ClusteringwithiSCSIistheonlywayyoucanuseVMwareServertoconfigure
clusteringacrossmultiplehosts.UsingtheiSCSIprotocolalsomeansthatyoudonot
needtomanuallyeditthevirtualmachinesconfigurationfileasyoudowiththeother
clusteringconfigurationmethods.However,performanceislimitedbytheslower
speedofvirtualnetworking.
Eachvirtualmachinerepresentsaclusternode.Youconfigureeachnodeofthecluster
toactasaniSCSIinitiator.TheinitiatorcommunicateswiththeiSCSItarget.TheiSCSI
targetcanbe:
!
Avirtualmachineonthishostoranotherhost.
TheVMwareServerhostitselforadifferenthostonthenetwork.
TheiSCSIinitiatormustruntheMicrosoftiSCSISoftwareInitiatorpackage,available
fordownloadfromtheMicrosoftWebsiteat
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsServer2003/technologies/storage/iscsi/default.
mspx.ThissoftwarerunsinavirtualmachinewithaWindowsServer2003,Windows
2000,orWindowsXPguestoperatingsystem.
TheiSCSItargetsoftwarecanruninavirtualmachineoronahostwithaWindowsor
Linuxoperatingsystem.ExamplesofiSCSItargetsoftwareincludeWinTarget(for
Windows)andNetAppFiler(forLinux).
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NOTE
Youcanuseanyclusteringsoftwareintheseclusternodesthatissupported
byotherVMwareServerclusteringstrategies.Formoreinformation,see
ClusteringSoftwareonpage 166.
ThefollowingsectionsdescribehowtosetupclusteringusingtheiSCSIprotocol.
!
ClusteringScenariosUsingiSCSIonpage 184
CreatingandConfiguringtheiSCSIInitiatorVirtualMachineonpage 184
ConfiguringtheiSCSITargetintheClusteronpage 185
Clustering Scenarios Using iSCSI

YoucanemploythefollowingscenariostoclustervirtualmachineswiththeiSCSI
protocol:
!
UsingaVirtualMachineastheiSCSITarget
UsingaHostastheiSCSITarget
Using a Virtual Machine as the iSCSI Target

YoucanuseavirtualmachineastheiSCSItarget.Thesetupinvolvesatleastthree
virtualmachines.TwovirtualmachinesaretheclusternodesthatactasiSCSIinitiators,
soyoumustinstalltheiSCSIinitiatorsoftwareinthesevirtualmachines.Thethird
virtualmachineactsastheiSCSItarget.TheiSCSItargetvirtualmachinemustbe
runningforclusteringtoworksuccessfully.
Using a Host as the iSCSI Target

YoucanuseahostonyournetworkastheiSCSItarget.Eachclusternode(virtual
machine)actsasaniSCSIinitiator,soyoumustinstalltheiSCSIinitiatorsoftwarein
eachvirtualmachine.ThenyouinstalltheiSCSItargetsoftwareonthetargethost.
Creating and Configuring the iSCSI Initiator Virtual Machine

TheiSCSIinitiatorvirtualmachineiscreatedinthesamemannerasaregularvirtual
machine.Unlikeotherclusteringmethods,youdonotmodifythevirtualmachines
configurationfile(.vmx)manuallyinordertoenableclustering.
Thevirtualdiskusedtostoretheguestoperatingsystemandclusteringsoftwarefor
eachvirtualmachine(node)intheclusterdoesnothavetobeapreallocatedvirtualdisk
oraSCSIvirtualdisk.
Youshouldconfigurethevirtualmachinewithatleasttwovirtualnetworkadapters
onetocommunicatewithotheriSCSIinitiatornodesandtheothertoconnecttothe
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iSCSItargetandtotheInternet.Youcouldoptionallyconfigurethevirtualmachine
withthreevirtualnetworkadaptersthefirsttocommunicatewithotheriSCSI
initiatornodes,thesecondtoconnecttotheiSCSItarget,andthethirdtotheInternet.
Forthevirtualnetworkadapterthatcommunicateswiththeotherclusternodes,you
shouldconfigureittousebridgednetworkingiftheclusternodesarelocatedon
differentVMwareServerhosts.Ifthenodesareonthesamehost,youcanalsouse
hostonlynetworking.
To create an iSCSI initiator virtual machine
1
ortheamountofmemory),butmakesureyouspecifybridgednetworkingforthe
virtualmachine.
Addasecondvirtualnetworkadapter.Formoreinformation,seeAddingand
ModifyingVirtualNetworkAdapters.Again,makesureyouspecifybridged
networkingfortheadapter.
Ifyouchoose,youcanaddathirdvirtualnetworkadaptertothevirtualmachine.
Selectthevirtualnetworkadapteryouintendtousetocommunicatewiththe
iSCSItarget.UnderAdaptertype,selectvmxnet.
PoweronthevirtualmachineandinstalltheguestoperatingsystemandVMware
Tools.SeeInstallingVMwareTools.
InstalltheiSCSIinitiatorsoftware.
YouarefinishedcreatingtheiSCSIinitiatorvirtualmachine.Repeatthesestepsfor
eachiSCSIinitiator,orelseusesysprep.exetoclonethefirstnode.Thencreatethe
iSCSItargetvirtualmachine.
Configuring the iSCSI Target in the Cluster

TheconfigurationoftheiSCSItargetnodeoftheclusterdependsonwhetheryouare
usingavirtualmachineorahostforthetarget.
Ifyouareusingahost,youneedtoinstalltheiSCSItargetsoftwareonthehost.After
theiSCSIinitiatorvirtualmachinesareconfiguredandtheiSCSIinitiatorsoftware
installed,thevirtualmachinescanaccessthetarget.
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IfyouareusingavirtualmachineastheiSCSItarget,configurethevirtualmachinethe
samewayyoudidfortheinitiator,exceptforthefollowing:
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MakesurethevirtualmachineisconfiguredwithatleastoneSCSIvirtualdisk.
Youcanconfigurethevirtualmachinewithonevirtualnetworkadapter.Ifthe
virtualmachineislocatedonthesamehostastheiSCSIinitiators,youshould
configureittousehostonlynetworking.Ifthevirtualmachineislocatedon
anotherVMwareServerhost,youshouldconfigureittousebridgednetworking.
YoumustinstalliSCSItargetsoftwareinsteadofiSCSIinitiatorsoftwareonaSCSI
virtualdisk.
VMware, Inc.
Appendix: Mounting Virtual Disks
VMwareServerDiskMountUtilityletsyoumountanunusedvirtualdiskina
MicrosoftWindowshostfilesystemasaseparatedrivewithoutneedingtoconnectto
thevirtualdiskfromwithinavirtualmachine.Youcanmountspecificvolumesofa
virtualdiskifthevirtualdiskispartitioned.
DiskMountUtilityisacommandlineprogramcalledvmware-mountthatworks
similarlytohowyouusethesubstcommandonWindows.Oncethediskismounted,
youcanreadfromandwritetothediskasifitwereaseparatefilesystemwithitsown
driveletteronyournetwork.However,youcannotpoweronanyvirtualmachinethat
usesthisdiskuntilthediskisunmounted.
Youcanperformactivitiessuchasscanningavirtualdiskforvirusesandtransferring
filesbetweenthehostsystemandapoweredoffvirtualmachine.
Whenyouarefinishedusingthemountedvirtualdisk,deletethemappingsothe
virtualdiskcanbeusedbyvirtualmachinesagain.
Considerations for Mounting Virtual Disks

!
YoucanuseDiskMountwithvirtualdiskscreatedwithVMwareServeraswell
VMwareESXServer2,VMwareGSXServer3and2.5.1,VMwareACE,and
VMwareWorkstation5and4.
NOTE
VirtualdiskscreatedwithVMwareACEcannotbeencryptedvirtual
disks.EncryptedvirtualdiskscannotbemountedwithDiskMount.
YoucanrunDiskMountonanyversionsofWindows2000,WindowsXP,or
WindowsServer2003.
YoumustmountvirtualdisksasdriveD:orgreater.Youcannotspecifyaletter
alreadyinuseonthehost.
YoucanmountvolumesformattedwithFAT(12/16/32)orNTFSonly.Ifthevirtual
diskhasamixofpartitions(volumes)where,forexample,apartitionis
unformattedorisformattedwithaLinuxoperatingsystemandanotherpartition
isformattedwithaWindowsoperatingsystem,youcanmounttheWindows
partitionwithDiskMount.
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Youcanmountavirtualdiskthathasasnapshot.Anychangesyoumaketothe
virtualdiskwhileitismountedarediscardedwhenyoureverttothesnapshot.
Youcannotmountavirtualdiskifanyofits.vmdkfilesarecompressedorhave
readonlypermissions.Changetheseattributesbeforemountingthevirtualdisk.
Youcannotmountavirtualdiskthatiscurrentlybeingusedbyarunningor
suspendedvirtualmachine.Onlydisksthatareinapoweredoffvirtualmachine
canbemounted.
Statement of Support
TheVMwareDiskMountUtilityisprovidedwithoutsupportservicesfromVMware
underthetermsintheVMwareServerlicenseagreement.
Installing the VMware DiskMount

TheVMwareServerinstallerincludestheVMwareDiskMountutility.Aftertheutility
isinstalled,runitonaWindowshostmachine.AVMwarevirtualizationproductssuch
asVMwareServerdoesnotneedtobeinstalledonthehost.
Running the VMware DiskMount Utility

ToruntheVMwareDiskMountUtility,openacommandpromptonaWindows2000,
WindowsXPorWindowsServer2003host,thenchangetothedirectorywhereyou
installedthesoftware.
Thecommandsyntaxis:
vmware-mount [options] [drive letter:] [\\path\to\virtual disk]
Theoptionsyoucanuseinclude:
Table A-1.
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Option
Definition
/v:N
MountsvolumeNofavirtualdisk.Ndefaultsto1.
/p
Displaysthepartitions(volumes)onthevirtualdisk.
/d
Deletesthemappingtoavirtualdiskdrivevolume.
/f
Forciblydeletesthemappingtoavirtualdiskdrivevolume.Use
thisoptionwhenatechnicalerrororacorrectablecondition
suchasopenfilehandlespreventsVMwareServerfrom
unmountingthedrive.
/?
Displaysvmware-mountusageinformation.
VMware, Inc.
Appendix: Mounting Virtual Disks
Examples Using the VMware DiskMount Utility

FollowingaresomeexamplesthatillustratehowtousetheVMwareDiskMountUtility.
Mounting a Virtual Disk

Usethiscommandtomountavirtualdisk:
vmware-mount h: C:\My Virtual Machines\w2003std.vmdk
List Virtual Disk Volumes Currently Mounted

UsethiscommandtoreviewwhichvirtualdisksaremountedunderDiskMount.
vmware-mount
Currently mounted volumes:
f:\ => C:\My Virtual Machines\w2003std\w2003std.vmdk
g:\ => C:\My Virtual Machines\NT\NT.vmdk (volume 1)
Mounting a Specific Volume in a Virtual Disk

Usethiscommandtomountaspecificvolumeinavirtualdisk:
vmware-mount /v:2 h: C:\My Virtual Machines\w2003std.vmdk
Unmounting a Virtual Disk

Usethiscommandtounmountavirtualdisksovirtualmachinescanaccessitagain:
vmware-mount h: /d
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Glossary
AddHardwareWizard
Apointandclickinterfaceforaddingvirtualhardwaretoavirtualmachine.To
launchtheWizard,poweroffthevirtualmachine,openthevirtualmachine
settingseditor,thenclickAdd.Itpromptsyouforinformationforconfiguringthe
hardware,suggestingdefaultvaluesinmostcases.
SeealsoVirtualmachinesettingseditor.
Bridgednetworking
Atypeofnetworkconnectionbetweenavirtualmachineandtherestoftheworld.
Underbridgednetworking,avirtualmachineappearsasanadditionalcomputer
onthesamephysicalEthernetnetworkasthehost.
SeealsoHostonlynetworking.
Configuration
SeeVirtualmachineconfigurationfile.
Console
SeeVMwareServerConsole.
Currentvirtualmachine
AvirtualmachinecreatedunderthecurrentVMwareServerversionand
WorkstationServer5.x.
SeealsoLegacyvirtualmachine.
Customnetworking
Anytypeofnetworkconnectionbetweenvirtualmachinesandthehostthatdoes
notusethedefaultbridged,hostonlyornetworkaddresstranslation(NAT)
networkingconfigurations.Forinstance,differentvirtualmachinescanbe
connectedtothehostbyseparatenetworksorconnectedtoeachotherandnotto
thehost.Anynetworktopologyispossible.
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VMware Server Virtual Machine Guide
EULA
Theenduserlicenseagreement.
Existingpartition
Apartitiononaphysicaldiskinthehostmachine.
SeealsoPhysicaldisk.
Fullscreenmode
Adisplaymodeinwhichthevirtualmachinesdisplayfillstheentirescreen.
SeealsoQuickswitchmode.
Growabledisk
Atypeofvirtualdiskwherethediskspaceisnotpreallocatedtoitsfullsize.Its
filesstartoutsmallinsizeandgrowasdataiswrittentoit.
Guestoperatingsystem
Anoperatingsystemthatrunsinsideavirtualmachine.
SeealsoHostoperatingsystem.
Headless
Adescriptionforaprogramorapplicationthatrunsinthebackgroundwithout
anygraphicaluserinterfaceconnectedtoit.Avirtualmachinerunningwithno
consolesconnectedtoitisconsideredtoberunningheadless.
Hostonlynetworking
Atypeofnetworkconnectionbetweenavirtualmachineandthehost.Under
hostonlynetworking,avirtualmachineisconnectedtothehostonaprivate
network,whichnormallyisnotvisibleoutsidethehost.Multiplevirtualmachines
configuredwithhostonlynetworkingonthesamehostareonthesamenetwork.
SeealsoBridgednetworking,CustomnetworkingandNetworkaddress
translation.
Hostcomputer
ThephysicalcomputeronwhichtheVMwareServersoftwareisinstalled.Ithosts
theVMwareServervirtualmachines.
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Glossary
Hostoperatingsystem
Anoperatingsystemthatrunsonthehostmachine.
SeealsoGuestoperatingsystem.
Independentdisk
Anindependentdiskisatypeofvirtualdiskthatisnotaffectedbysnapshots.
Independentdiskscanbeconfiguredinpersistentandnonpersistentmodes.
SeealsoNonpersistentmode,Persistentmode.
Inventory
Alistintheleftpaneloftheconsolewindowthatshowsthenamesofvirtual
machinesthatauserhasaddedtothelist.Theinventorymakesiteasytolauncha
virtualmachineortoconnecttothevirtualmachinesconfigurationfileinorderto
makechangesinthevirtualmachinesettings.
Legacyvirtualmachine
AvirtualmachinecreatedunderVMwareGSXServerorVMwareWorkstation3
or4.SeealsoCurrentvirtualmachine.
Networkaddresstranslation(NAT)
Atypeofnetworkconnectionthatallowsyoutoconnectyourvirtualmachinesto
anexternalnetworkwhenyouhaveonlyoneIPnetworkaddress,andthataddress
isusedbythehostcomputer.IfyouuseNAT,yourvirtualmachinedoesnothave
itsownIPaddressontheexternalnetwork.Instead,aseparateprivatenetworkis
setuponthehostcomputer.Yourvirtualmachinegetsanaddressonthatnetwork
fromtheVMwarevirtualDHCPserver.TheVMwareNATdevicepassesnetwork
databetweenoneormorevirtualmachinesandtheexternalnetwork.Itidentifies
incomingdatapacketsintendedforeachvirtualmachineandsendsthemtothe
correctdestination.
SeealsoBridgednetworking,CustomnetworkingandHostonlynetworking.
NewVirtualMachineWizard
Apointandclickinterfaceforconvenient,easycreationofavirtualmachine
configuration.TolaunchtheWizard,chooseFile>NewVirtualMachine.It
promptsyouforinformation,suggestingdefaultvaluesinmostcases.Itcreates
filesthatdefinethevirtualmachine,includingavirtualmachineconfigurationfile
and(optionally)avirtualdiskorphysicaldiskfile.
SeealsoVirtualmachinesettingseditor.
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Nonpersistentmode
Amodeinwhichalldiskwritesissuedbysoftwarerunninginsideavirtual
machinewithadiskinnonpersistentmodeappeartobewrittentodiskbutarein
factdiscardedafterthevirtualmachineispoweredoff.Ifyouconfigureavirtual
diskorphysicaldiskasanindependentdiskinnonpersistentmode,thediskisnot
modifiedbyVMwareServer.
SeealsoIndependentdisk,Persistentmode
Persistentmode
Amodeinwhichalldiskwritesissuedbysoftwarerunninginsideavirtual
machineareimmediatelyandpermanentlywrittentothevirtualdisk.Ifyou
configureavirtualdiskorphysicaldiskasanindependentdiskinpersistentmode,
thediskbehaveslikeaconventionaldiskdriveonaphysicalcomputer.
SeealsoIndependentdisk,Nonpersistentmode
Physicaldisk
Aharddiskinavirtualmachinethatismappedtoaphysicaldiskdriveor
partitiononthehostmachine.Avirtualmachinesdiskcanbestoredasafileon
thehostfilesystemoronalocalharddisk.Whenavirtualmachineisconfigured
touseaphysicaldisk,VMwareServerdirectlyaccessesthelocaldiskorpartition
asarawdevice(notasafileonafilesystem).
SeealsoVirtualdisk.
Preallocateddisk
Atypeofvirtualdiskwherealldiskspaceforthevirtualmachineisallocatedat
thetimethediskiscreated.Thisisthedefaulttypeofvirtualdiskcreatedby
VMwareServer.
Quickswitchmode
Adisplaymodeinwhichthevirtualmachinesdisplayfillsmostofthescreen.In
thismode,tabsatthetopofthescreenallowyoutoswitchquicklyfromone
runningvirtualmachinetoanother.
SeealsoFullscreenmode.
Rawdisk
Seephysicaldisk.
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VMware, Inc.
Glossary
Redolog
Thefilethatstoresthechangesmadetoadiskinindependentnonpersistentmode.
Theredologfileisdeletedwhenyoupowerofforresetthevirtualmachine
withoutwritinganychangestothedisk.
Resume
Returnavirtualmachinetooperationfromitssuspendedstate.Whenyouresume
asuspendedvirtualmachine,allapplicationsareinthesamestatetheywerewhen
thevirtualmachinewassuspended.
SeealsoSuspend.
Shrink
Reducetheamountoffilesystemspaceavirtualdiskoccupiesinordertoreclaim
unusedspaceinavirtualdisk.Ifthereisemptyspaceinthedisk,shrinking
reducestheamountofspacethevirtualdiskoccupiesonthehostdrive.You
cannotshrinkpreallocatedvirtualdisksorphysicaldisks.
Snapshot
Awaytopreservethestateofavirtualmachinethestateofthedataonallthe
virtualmachinesdisksandthevirtualmachinespowerstate(whetherthevirtual
machinewaspoweredon,poweredofforsuspended).Youcantakeasnapshotof
avirtualmachineatanytimeandreverttothatsnapshotatanytime.Thevirtual
machinecanbepoweredon,poweredofforsuspended.
Supportedpartition
AvirtualdiskpartitionthatVMwareToolscanprepareforshrinking,suchasone
ofthedrivesthatcomprisethevirtualharddisk.Youcanchoosetonotprepare
certainpartitionsforshrinking.
SeealsoShrink.
Suspend
Savethecurrentstateofarunningvirtualmachine.Toreturnasuspendedvirtual
machinetooperation,usetheresumefeature.
SeealsoResume.
Unsupportedpartition
AvirtualdiskpartitionthatVMwareToolscannotprepareforshrinking.
Unsupportedpartitionsincludereadonlydrivepartitions,partitionsonremote
devicesandpartitionsonremovabledevicessuchasfloppydrivesorCDROM
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drives.
SeealsoShrink.
Virtualdisk
Avirtualdiskisafileorsetoffilesthatappearsasaphysicaldiskdrivetoaguest
operatingsystem.Thesefilescanbeonthehostmachineoronaremotefilesystem.
Whenyouconfigureavirtualmachinewithavirtualdisk,youcaninstallanew
operatingsystemintothediskfilewithoutneedingtorepartitionaphysicaldisk
orrebootthehost.Virtualdiskscanbepreallocatedorgrowable.Apreallocated
virtualdiskhasallthediskspaceallocatedatthetimethevirtualdiskiscreated.A
growablediskisnotpreallocated;itsfilesstartoutsmallinsizeandgrowasdata
iswrittentoit.
SeealsoPhysicaldisk.
Virtualhardware
Thedevicesthatcompriseavirtualmachine.Thevirtualhardwareincludesthe
virtualdisk,theremovabledevicessuchastheDVDROM/CDROMandfloppy
drives,andthevirtualEthernetadapter.Youconfigurethesedeviceswiththe
virtualmachinesettingseditor.
Virtualmachine
Avirtualizedx86PCenvironmentinwhichaguestoperatingsystemand
associatedapplicationsoftwarecanrun.Multiplevirtualmachinescanoperateon
thesamehostmachineconcurrently.
Virtualmachineconfiguration
Thespecificationofwhatvirtualdevices(disks,memorysize,andsoforth)are
presentinavirtualmachineandhowtheyaremappedtohostfilesanddevices.
Virtualmachineconfigurationfile
Afilecontainingavirtualmachineconfiguration.Itiscreatedwhenyoucreatethe
virtualmachine.ItisusedbyVMwareServertoidentifyandrunaspecificvirtual
machine.
Virtualmachinesettingseditor
Apointandclickcontrolpanelusedtoviewandmodifyavirtualmachines
settings.YoulaunchitbychoosingVM>Settings.
SeealsoNewVirtualMachineWizard.
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Glossary
VirtualNetworkEditor
Apointandclickeditorusedtoviewandmodifythenetworkingsettingsforthe
virtualnetworkscreatedbyVMwareServer.YoulaunchbychoosingHost>
VirtualNetworkSettings.
VirtualSMP
Symmetricmultiprocessingenablesyoutoassigntwovirtualprocessorstoa
virtualmachineonanyhostmachinethathasatleasttwologicalprocessors.
VMwareAuthorizationService
TheserviceVMwareServeremploystoauthenticateusers.ForbothMicrosoft
WindowsandLinuxhosts,thisprocessiscalledvmware-authd.
VMwareManagementInterface
Abrowserbasedtoolthatallowsyoutocontrol(start,suspend,resume,resetand
stop),configureandmonitorvirtualmachinesandtheserveronwhichtheyrun.
VMwareRegistrationService
TheserviceVMwareServeremploysformanagingconnectionstovirtual
machinesandtheVMwareManagementInterface.Thisprocessisknownas
vmware-serverdonLinuxhostsandvmware-serverdwin32onMicrosoftWindows
hosts.
VMwareTools
Asuiteofutilitiesanddriversthatenhancestheperformanceandfunctionalityof
yourguestoperatingsystem.KeyfeaturesofVMwareToolsincludesomeorallof
thefollowing,dependingonyourguestoperatingsystem:anSVGAdriver,a
mousedriver,theVMwareToolsservice,theVMwareToolscontrolpanel,and
supportforsuchfeaturesastheabilitytoshrinkvirtualdisks,time
synchronizationwiththehost,VMwareToolsscriptsandtheabilitytoconnectand
disconnectdeviceswhilethevirtualmachineisrunning.
VMwareToolsservice
OneofthecomponentsinstalledwithVMwareToolsthatperformsvariousduties
intheguestoperatingsystem,likeexecutingcommandsinthevirtualmachine,
gracefullyshuttingdownandresettingavirtualmachine,sendingaheartbeatto
VMwareServer,synchronizingthetimeoftheguestoperatingsystemwiththe
hostoperatingsystemandpassingstringsfromthehostoperatingsystemtothe
guestoperatingsystem.
VMware, Inc.
197
VMwareServerConsole
Aninterfacetoavirtualmachinethatprovidesaccesstooneormorevirtual
machinesonthelocalhostoraremotehostrunningVMwareServer.Youcanview
thevirtualmachinesdisplaytorunprogramswithinitormodifyguestoperating
systemsettings.Inaddition,youcanchangethevirtualmachinesconfiguration,
installtheguestoperatingsystemorrunthevirtualmachineinfullscreenmode.
198
VMware, Inc.
Index
Symbols
Clustering 165
across multiple hosts 183
.vmdk 134, 136, 139
applications 166
cluster in a box 167
Add Hardware Wizard 191

Apache, and management interface 111
Authentication
configuring virtual machines 168

iSCSI protocol 183
multinode Network Load Balancing
cluster 175
Linux hosts 88
Windows hosts 85
Authentication daemon on Linux host 88
Network Load Balancing 175
software 166
Back up
virtual machines 97
VMware Server host 96
Backup agent
in virtual machine 95
on host 96
BIOS provided in virtual machine 13
Bridged networking defined 191
Browser
configuring on Linux host 48
setting MIME type 128
BSD
supported guest operating
systems 16, 19
BSD, supported guest operating
systems 16, 19
C
CD-ROM image file 13
Chip set in a virtual machine 13
VMware, Inc.
Novell Clustering Services 179

two-node cluster 169, 179
Configuration, virtual machine 196
Configure
after Linux kernel upgrade 42
memory size 154
Web browser on Linux host 48
Core files 22
CPU
host requirement 5
provided in virtual machine 12
Creating virtual machines on NFS
shares 90
Ctrl-Alt-Delete in virtual machines 121
Current virtual machine
defined 191
D
Default directories 30, 39
Devices
199
supported 15
Disks
available in virtual machine 13
existing partition 192
physical 194
virtual 196
Display preferences 122
Drawing tablet in a virtual machine 14
Drives
See Disks
H
Headless 192
Heartbeat
and clustering virtual machines 168
virtual machine 104
Help, configuring Web browser on Linux
host 48
Host computer
defined 192
E
Encrypting remote sessions 90
Ethernet
adapter in a virtual machine 14
defined 192
See Network
Event log 22
Event viewer 94
enabling on Linux host 42

Hot key preferences 121
Floppy
IDE
drives in virtual machine 14

image file 14
FreeBSD
systems 16, 19
FreeBSD, supported guest operating
systems 16, 19
Full screen mode, defined 192
drives in virtual machine 13

See Disks
Image file
floppy 14
ISO 13
Input preferences 119
Install
default directories 30, 39
log 24
G
Generic SCSI
and SCSI reservation 162
virtual machine backup 95
Graphics
Linux host and performance 154
Graphics support in virtual machine 13
Guest operating system
defined 192
200
system requirements 5
Host operating system, defined 193
Host-only networking
on Linux host 36
on Windows host 26
silent 34
VmCOM API 52
VmPerl API 5455
VMware Management Interface
software 44
VMware Server Console
software 48, 50
VMware, Inc.
Index
VMware Workstation 25
Internet Explorer 6.0, and management
interface 46
Inventory
and authentication on Linux
hosts 89
and private virtual machines 85
real-time clock 38
uninstalling VMware Server 57
upgrading GSX Server 63
vmware-authd 88
Linux host authentication daemon 88
Log files
console installation 24
defined 193
iSCSI protocol 183
virtual machine 22
virtual machine event log 22
bridged networking 185
VMware Authorization Service 23
configuration 184185
VMware Management Interface 23
host as iSCSI target 184
VMware Registration Service 24
initiator virtual machine 184
VMware Server Console 23
target node 185

virtual machine as iSCSI target 184
ISO image file 13
K
Kernel, reconfiguring VMware Server after Linux kernel upgrade 42
Keyboard
grabbing input 119
in a virtual machine 14
Knowledge base 20
M
Master installer, on Windows host 28
Memory
amount required on host 5
choosing for best performance 147
for all virtual machines 123
more than 1GB on a Linux host 157
setting size 154
Migrate
L
Legacy virtual machine
defined 193
Linux
systems 16
supported host operating systems 7
Linux host
authentication 88
default permissions 89
installing VMware Server 36
performance 154
permissions 89
VMware, Inc.
VMware Server installation 24
disks in undoable mode 141

virtual machine 64, 138
MIME type, configuring for virtual machine consoles 128
Mode
full screen 192
quick switch 194
Mouse
grabbing input 119
Moving virtual machines 133
UUID 93
201
MS-DOS, supported guest operating

systems 17
guest 192
host 193
supported guest 15
supported Windows host 7
NAT
defined 193
enabling on Linux host 42
Netscape, setting MIME type for
console 128
NetWare
See Novell NetWare
Network
bridged networking 191
custom networking 191
enabling host-only networking on
Linux host 42
enabling NAT on Linux host 42
host-only 192
NAT
Virtual Network Editor 197
Network adapter in a virtual machine 14
Network address translation
See NAT
Network Load Balancing
clustering 175
multinode 175
New Virtual Machine Wizard 193
NFS shares, creating virtual
machines 90
Novell Clustering Services 179
Parallel port
and the Linux kernel 38
Partition, existing 192
PCI slots
in virtual machine 14
limits 14
Performance
CD-ROM drive polling 148
debugging mode 148
disk options 149
guest operating system
selection 147
installing applications in a guest 150
memory settings 147
memory usage 154
remote disk access 150
swap space on a Linux host 154
temp directory on a Linux host 154
using full screen mode on a Linux
host 153154
Permissions
and user accounts 86
installing 182
Novell NetWare
Linux host 89
clustering 181
Novell NetWare, supported guest operating systems 19
snapshot 89
O
Operating system
202
physical disk 89
virtual disks 89
virtual machines 83
Physical disk
defined 194
permissions 89
VMware, Inc.
Index
Port numbers
console 78
management interface 99
Preallocated disk, defined 194
Preferences
VMware Scripting APIs 77

vmware-cmd 78
Resume, defined 195
display 122
hot keys 121
input 119
SCSI
keyboard combinations 121

shortcut keys 121
user 117
VMware Server 123
workspace 118
Priority
preferences 123
Windows host 123
Private virtual machines 84
Process scheduler on a Windows
host 123
Processor
host requirement 5
Q
Quick switch mode 194
Quiet mode, install VMware Server 34
generic 95
SCSI reservation
and clustering 161
enabling 162
issues to consider 164
preallocated virtual disks 161
sharing SCSI disks 161
support 162
Security certificates 91
Serial port, in a virtual machine 14
Set up
memory size 154
Web browser on Linux host 48
Shortcut keys, configuring 121
Shrink, defined 195
Silent install 34
SMBIOS
R
RAM
amount required on host 5
Real-time clock, requirement on Linux
host 38
Redo log, defined 195
Registration 21
Remote management 77
encrypted communications 90
SSL 90
VMware, Inc.
devices in virtual machine 13
modifying UUID 92
Snapshot
defined 195
permissions 89
Sound in a virtual machine 15
Specifications for virtual machine
platform 12
SSL
console connections 90
custom security certificates 91
203
enabling 112
automatic generation 92
for the management interface 91
modifying 136
management interface
connections 90
moving virtual machines 93
remote management 90
Support resources, technical 20
Supported guest operating system 15
Supported host operating system
Windows 7
Supported partition 195
Suspend, defined 195
System requirements 5
remote workstation 10
virtual machine configuration file 93
V
Virtual disk
defined 196
permissions 89
Virtual hardware 196
Virtual machine
accessibility 86
backing up 95
changing user 87
T
Technical support resources 20
Tools
See VMware Tools
configuring in management
interface 105
connected users 109
Ctrl+Alt+Delete 121
default directory 123
Undoable mode, migrating 141

Uninstall
defined 196
on Linux host 57
on Windows host 55
Unsupported partition 195
Update VMware Server software 119
Upgrade
deleting from host 111

event log 110
grabbing input 119
heartbeat 104
log 22
migrating 138
from GSX Server 1 and 2 59
moving 133
Linux kernel, reconfiguring GSX

Server after upgrade 42
moving between VMware

products 133
on Linux host 63
permissions 83
on Windows host 62
platform specifications 12
virtual machine 64
private 84
VMware GSX Server 59

USB, virtual machine ports 14
User groups 20
User preferences 117
204
UUID 92
for consoles 91, 112, 125
resources and permissions 89

running on Linux host 88
running on Windows host 85
upgrading 64
VMware, Inc.
Index
user 86
refresh rate 98
UUID 92
VMID 106
Virtual machine settings editor,
defined 196
Virtual Network Editor 197
VMware Authorization Service 85
defined 197
log 23
VMware community forums 20
VMware guest operating system service
defined 197
virtual machine heartbeat 104
advanced configuration options 107
Apache commands 111
changing port number 99
configuring to launch console 46
SSL 90
startup and shutdown options 114,
127
Status Monitor 101
supported browsers 99
URL to log in 99
virtual machine event log 110
virtual machine heartbeat 104
virtual machine menu 102
virtual machine summary 101
VMware Registration Service
defined 197
log 24
VMware Scripting APIs
configuring virtual machines 105
downloading from management

interface 82
connected users 109
installing 51
defined 197
disabling SSL 91
downloading console installer 81
enable JavaScript 99
enable style sheets 99
enabling SSL 91
enabling SSL for remote
connections 112
VMWare Server
global preferences 123
VMware Server
software updates 119
user preferences 117
changing port number 78
host summary information 101
connecting from management

interface 103
launching remote console 46
deleting virtual machines 112
launching remote consoles 48
disabling SSL 91, 112, 125
log 23
download from management

interface 81, 100
logging in 99
logging out 111
permissions 90
proxy servers 47
VMware, Inc.
setting session length 99
enabling SSL 91, 112, 125

install 48
205
installation 50
priority preferences 123
launching from management

interface 46
process scheduler 123
launching from Netscape 128

log 23
securing connections 125
setting MIME type 128
SSL 90
X server 45
VMware Server host
backing up 95
uninstalling VMware Server 55

upgrading GSX Server 62
Windows operating system
installing Scripting APIs on 52
Windows Terminal Services, using with
virtual machines 78
Windows XP Remote Desktop, using
with virtual machines 78
Windows, supported guest operating
systems 16
Wizard
configuring 112
default virtual machine
directory 123
securing connections with SSL 112
VMware Tools
defined 197
heartbeat 104
VMware Virtual Machine Console
downloading installer 81
vmware-authd 88
See VMware Authorization Service
vmware-cmd 78
vmware-config.pl 41
vmware-serverd
add hardware 191

new virtual machine 193
Workspace preferences 118
X
X server 45
required on Linux client 12
required on Linux host 10
XFree86
required on Linux client 12
required on Linux host 10
See VMware Registration Service

VNC Viewer, using with virtual
machines 78
W
Windows host
authentication 85
configuring permissions 87
Event Viewer 94
installing GSX Server 26
installing Scripting APIs on 52
206
VMware, Inc.

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Administration Guide

VMware Server 1.0

VMware Server Administration Guide

You can find the most up-to-date technical documentation at:

VMware Server Administration Guide

VMware Server Administration Guide

VMware Server Administration Guide

Introduction and System

VMware Server Overview

VMware Server Administration Guide

Features of VMware Server

Support for 32-bit and 64-bit Guest Operating Systems

Two-Way Virtual SMP (Experimental Support)

Connect to VMware GSX Virtual Machines and Hosts

Chapter 1 Introduction and System Requirements

Upgrade and Use GSX Virtual Machines

Move Existing Virtual Machines

Compatible with VMware Workstation 5.x Virtual Machines

Configure Virtual Hardware Devices to be Automatically

Take and Revert to Snapshots in the Background

Support for VMware Virtual Machine Importer

VMware Server Administration Guide

Support for VirtualCenter

APIs Included with VMware Server

Before You Install the Release

Chapter 1 Introduction and System Requirements

Installing VMware Tools

Host System Requirements

Server Host Hardware

VMware Server Administration Guide

Host Hard Disk

Local Area Networking

Chapter 1 Introduction and System Requirements

Windows Host Operating System Requirements

Linux Host Operating System Requirements

VMware Server Administration Guide

Chapter 1 Introduction and System Requirements

VMware Server Administration Guide

Running VMware Server on Some SUSE Linux Hosts

VmPerl and VmCOM APIs

Remote Client Requirements

Chapter 1 Introduction and System Requirements

Software Requirements Windows Remote Client

Software Requirements Linux Remote Client

VMware Server Administration Guide

VmPerl and VmCOM APIs

Virtual Machine Specifications

Chapter 1 Introduction and System Requirements

Virtual IDE Drives

Virtual SCSI Devices

VMware Server Administration Guide

Virtual PCI Slots

Virtual Floppy Drives

Virtual Serial (COM) Ports

Virtual Parallel (LPT) Ports

Virtual USB ports

Virtual Mouse and Drawing Tablets

Virtual Ethernet Card

Chapter 1 Introduction and System Requirements

Virtual Sound Adapter

Supported Guest Operating Systems

Hardware Requirements for 64-bit Guest Operating Systems

VMware Server Administration Guide

Microsoft Windows 64-bit Guest Operating Systems