VMware ESX and ESXi Module 3

Importance VMware® ESX™/ESXi hosts provide the physical resources used to run virtual machines. Failure to properly install and configure ESX/ESXi hosts can negatively affect the performance, operation, and administration of all virtual machines located on these hosts. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Module Lessons Lesson 1: Overview of ESX/ESXi Lesson 2: Configuring ESX/ESXi VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Lesson 1: Overview of ESX/ESXi VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Lesson Objectives Identify the versions of ESX Describe the architecture of ESX and ESXi VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

ESX/ESXi: Virtualization Platform ESX and ESXi: Are bare-metal, efficient, and reliable hypervisors running directly on the host Abstract CPU, memory, storage, and networking into multiple virtual machines VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

ESXi Installable, ESXi Embedded, and ESX ESX comes in two main versions: ESXi: Managed through either a BIOS-like direct console or the vSphere Command-Line Interface (vCLI) A high-security, small disk footprint ESXi Installable – Available as an installable CD or DVD boot image ESXi Embedded – ESX image preinstalled as firmware or burned onto an external USB key by the hardware vendor ESX: Managed through either a built-in service console or vCLI Available as an installable DVD boot image VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

ESX/ESXi Architecture VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Lesson Summary Identify the versions of ESX Describe the architecture of ESX and ESXi VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Lesson 2: Configuring ESX/ESXi VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Lesson Objectives Describe how to access the ESXi direct console user interface (DCUI) Use the VMware vSphere™ Client to access an ESX/ESXi host View or configure ESX/ESXi settings: Processor and memory configuration Licensing NTP client DNS and routing Security profile View ESX/ESXi system logs Identify user account best practices Describe how to manage ESX/ESXi from the command prompt VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Installing and Configuring ESX/ESXi ESX and ESXi Installable must be installed on supported hardware. ESXi Embedded is preinstalled in the firmware of a supported vendor’s hardware. In all cases, ESX/ESXi must be configured. This lesson assumes that ESX/ESXi is already installed. (Installation is discussed in a later module.) VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Configuring ESXi The DCUI is similar to the BIOS of a computer with a keyboard-only user interface. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Configuring ESXi: root Access The DCUI allows an administrator to: Set a root password (complex passwords only) Enable or disable lockdown mode (to prevent user access to host as root) VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Configuring ESXi: Management Network The DCUI allows you to modify network settings: Host name IP configuration (IP address, subnet mask, default gateway) DNS servers VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Configuring ESXi: Other Settings The DCUI allows an administrator to: Configure keyboard layout View support information View system logs Enable troubleshooting services, when required VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Connecting to an ESX/ESXi Host The vSphere Client is an interface used to connect remotely to an ESX/ESXi host from a Windows PC. On the vSphere Client login screen, enter: Host name or IP address of ESX/ESXi host User name root Password for user root VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

vSphere Client: Configuration Tab VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Viewing Processor and Memory Configuration VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

License Assignment Procedure Before purchasing licenses, you can install ESX/ESXi in evaluation mode: Intended for demonstration and evaluation purposes Allows software to be completely operational immediately after installation Does not require any licensing configuration Provides full functionality for 60 days VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

ESX/ESXi as an NTP Client Network Time Protocol is a client-server protocol used to synchronize a computer’s clock to a time reference. NTP is important: For accurate performance graphs For accurate time stamps in log messages So that virtual machines have a source to synchronize with An ESX/ESXi host can be configured as an NTP client. It can synchronize time with an NTP server on the Internet. NTP server NTP server NTP server UDP port 123 NTP client ESX/ESXi host VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Network Settings: DNS and Routing The DNS and Routing link allows you to change: Host name and domain DNS server addresses and search domains Default gateways: VMkernel Service console (ESX only) VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Viewing ESX/ESXi System Logs Use the vSphere Client to view logs. Export system logs to an archive file. Send to VMware Support. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Remote Access Settings: Security Profile On ESX and ESXi hosts: Remote clients are prevented from accessing services on the host. Local clients are prevented from accessing services on remote hosts. On ESXi hosts: Unless configured otherwise, daemons will start automatically: For example, Network Login Server, Remote Tech Support (SSH), Direct Console UI On ESX hosts: In the service console firewall, you can enable and disable incoming and outgoing connections for various services: For example, SSH client, SSH server, NTP client VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Managing ESX/ESXi from the Command Prompt To perform management tasks from a remote command prompt, use: VMware vSphere Command-Line Interface (vCLI): Set of commands run from a remote Linux or Windows system and executed on an ESX/ESXi host Packaged as an application VMware vSphere Management Assistant (vMA): A platform for running a variety of toolkits vCLI vSphere SDK for Perl vSphere API Packaged as a Linux-based virtual appliance VMware vSphere PowerCLI: Automation tool for administering a vSphere environment Distributed as a snap-in to Windows PowerShell VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A 25

ESX/ESXi User Account Best Practices Strictly control root privileges to the ESX/ESXi host. Use the vSphere Client to manage the ESX/ESXi host. Ideally, use vCenter Server – and thus vCenter Server user accounts – to manage hosts. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Lab 1 In this lab, you will configure an ESXi host. Connect to an ESXi host with the vSphere Client. View host hardware configuration. View virtual machine configuration. Configure DNS and routing information for an ESXi host. Configure the ESXi host as an NTP client. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A 27

Lesson Summary Describe how to access the ESXi DCUI Use the vSphere Client to access an ESX/ESXi host View or configure ESX/ESXi settings: Processor and memory configuration Licensing NTP client DNS and routing Security profile View ESX/ESXi system logs Identify user account best practices Describe how to manage ESX/ESXi from the command prompt VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Key Points There are two main versions of ESX: ESX and ESXi (which includes ESXi Installable and ESXi Embedded). ESXi hosts have a DCUI to configure items like the host name, IP settings, and keyboard layout. The vSphere Client is used to configure ESX/ESXi hosts. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A