Category: Virtualization

VMware ESXi 6.0 – Configuring Network Time Protocol

February 27, 2016
VirtualizationVMware ESXi 6.0

The following is a step by step guide on configuring Network Time Protocol (NTP) for a VMware ESXi 6.0 host.

  1. Using the VMware vSphere Client enter the authentication credentials for the root account and click Login.01
  2. On the graphical user interface (GUI) of the VMware vSphere Client select Configuration.02
  3. Under the Software Menu select Time Configuration then click Properties.03
  4. In the Time Configuration dialog box click to check box for the NTP Client Enabled option. Then click Options….08
  5. In the NTP Daemon (ntpd) Options dialog box select NTP Settings and click Add….05
  6. In the Add NTP Server dialog box add the hostname or Internet Protocol (IP) address of an NTP server. Then, click OK.06
  7. In the NTP Daemon (ntpd) Options dialog box select the check box to Restart NTP service to apply changes. Then click OK.07
  8. In the Time Configuration dialog box click OK.04
  9. On the GUI of the VMware vSphere Client verify the NTP Client is Running.09

VMware ESXi 6.0 – Configuring Name Resolution

February 25, 2016
VirtualizationVMware ESXi 6.0

The following is a step by step guide on configuring Domain Name System (DNS) resolution for a VMware ESXi 6.0 host.

  1. Using the VMware vSphere Client enter the IP address or hostname of the VMware ESXi 6.0 host and enter the authentication credentials for the root user account and click Login.01
  2. In the Security Warning dialog box select the check box to Install this certificate and do not display any secure warnings for “hostname“ then select Ignore.02
  3. On the graphical user interface (GUI) of the VMware vSphere Client select Configuration > DNS and Routing. Then, select Properties. 04
  4. In the DNS and Routing Configuration dialog box enter the Name:, Domain:, Preferred DNS server: and domain name then click OK. 05
  5. In the Gateway Not Specified dialog box click Yes. 06
  6. On the GUI of the VMware vSphere Client verify that the DNS configuration is correct.07

VMware ESXi 6.0 – Configure the ESXi Management Network

February 25, 2016
VirtualizationVMware ESXi 6.0

The following is a step by step guide for configure the ESXi Management Network for a VMware ESXi 6.0 host.

  1. On the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) press F2.10
  2. In the Authentication Required dialog box enter the root user password and press Enter. 01
  3. Select Configure Management Network and press Enter. 02
  4. Select Network Adapters and press Enter. 03
  5. On the Network Adapters dialog box select vmnic0 and vmnic1 for a fault tolerant management network. 04
  6. Select IPv4 Configuration and press Enter. 05
  7.  Select Set static IPv4 address and network configuration: and enter the IP address, subnet mask and default gateway of the host and press Enter. 06
  8. On the Configure Management Network page press Esc. 07
  9. On the Configure Management Network: Confirm dialog box press Y. 08
  10. Select Test Management Network and press Enter. 12
  11. On the Test Management Network dialog box enter the appropriate IP addresses and local hostname. Then, press Enter. 10
  12. On the Test Management Network dialog box verify that all tests have passed (i.e. OK.). 11
  13. On the System Customization page press Esc to Log Out. 09
  14. Verify the DCUI is displaying the correct IP address. 13

VMware ESXi 5.5 – Scripted Installation

June 25, 2015
AutomationScriptingVirtualizationVMware ESXi 5.5

The script below is a sample script that may be used to automate the installation of VMware ESXi 5.5. For more information click here.

#
# Sample scripted installation file
#
# Accept the VMware End User License Agreement
vmaccepteula
# Set the root password for the DCUI and Tech Support Mode
rootpw mypassword
# The install media is in the CD-ROM drive
install –firstdisk –overwritevmfs
# Set the network to DHCP on the first network adapater
network –bootproto=dhcp –device=vmnic0
# A sample post-install script
%post –interpreter=python –ignorefailure=true
import time
stampFile = open(‘/finished.stamp’, mode=’w’)
stampFile.write( time.asctime() )

VMware Workstation 11 – Accessing the BIOS

April 13, 2015
BIOSVirtualizationVMware Workstation 11

You may add the following line to the virtual machine’s configuration file (.vmx) to provide a (5) second delay from the initial post screen to enter the virtual machines BIOS settings.

 

bios.bootDelay = “5000”

 

Enjoy!

VMware ESXi 5.5 – Domain Name System (DNS) and Routing Configuration

April 1, 2015
VirtualizationVMware ESXi 5.5

You may use the following method to configure the Domain Name System (DNS) server(s) for a VMware ESXi 5.5 host.

1. Connect to the VMware ESXi host using the VMware vSphere Client.

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2. In the VMware vSphere Client 5.5 navigate to Configuration > DNS and Routing and click Properties….

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3. In the DNS and Routing Configuration dialog box on the DNS Configuration tab enter all of the configuration information for the host.

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4. In the DNS and Routing Configuration dialog box on the Routing tab verify that the Default gateway: is configured correctly then click OK.

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5. In the Gateway Not Specified dialog box you may safely click Yes if you are not using IPv6.

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6. The DNS and Routing page should now display all of the correct settings.

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Enjoy!

VMware ESXi 5.5 – Network Time Protocol (NTP) Configuration

April 1, 2015
Network Time ProtocolVirtualizationVMware ESXi 5.5

You may use the following method to configure the Network Time Protocol (NTP) on a VMware ESXi 5.5 host.

1. Connect to the VMware ESXi 5.5 host using the VMware vSphere Client 5.5.

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2. In the VMware vSphere Client 5.5 navigate to Configuration > Time Configuration and on the Time Configuration screen click Properties….

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3. In the Time Configuration dialog box manually configure the date and time then select the check box next to NTP Client Enabled then click Options….

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4. In the NTP Daemon (ntpd) Options dialog box select the NTP Settings option and add the NTP servers and select the check box to Restart NTP server to apply changes. Next, select the General tab then the option to Start automatically if any ports are open, and stop when all ports are closed then click OK.

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5. In the Time Configuration dialog box click OK.

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6. The Time Configuration screen should show the correct time, data, NTP Client status as Running and the NTP Servers you configured.

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Enjoy!

VMware ESXi 5.5 – Management Network Configuration

April 1, 2015
DocumentationNetworkVirtualizationVMware ESXi 5.5

You may use the following method to configure the management network on a VMware ESXi 5.5 host.

 

1. On the VMware Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) press F2.

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2. In the Authentication Required dialog box enter the root password then hit enter.

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3. On the System Customization screen select Configure Management Network.

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4. On the Configure Management Network screen verify the Network Adapters.

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5. On the Configure Management Network screen select IP Configuration.

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6. In the IP Configuration dialog box configure the static Internet Protocol (IP) address.

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7. On the Configure Management Network screen hit Esc.

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8. In the Configure Management Network: Confirm dialog box hit Y to apply the changes to the management network.

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9. On the System Customization screen select Test Management Network.

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10. In the Test Management Network dialog box enter up to (3) IP addresses to test network connectivity then hit Enter.

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11. Verify that the IP address on the DCUI is correct.

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Enjoy!

VMware ESXi 5.5 – Interactive Installation

April 1, 2015
DocumentationVirtualizationVMware ESXi 5.5

You may use the following method to perform an interactive installation and configuration of a VMware ESXi 5.5 host.

1. On the ESXi-5.5.0-20140902001-standard Boot Menu page select ESXi-5.5.0-20140902001-standard Installer.

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2. In the Welcome to the VMware ESXi 5.5.0 Installation dialog box hit Enter to continue.

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3. In the End User License Agreement (EULA) dialog box  hit F11 to accept the EULA.

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4. In the Select a Disk to Install or Upgrade dialog box verify that the correct hard disk is selected then hit Enter to continue.

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5. In the Please select a keyboard layout dialog box select US Default then hit Enter to continue.

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6. In the Enter a root password dialog box enter a password then hit Enter.

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7. In the Confirm Install dialog box hit F11.

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8. In the Installation Complete dialog box hit Enter to reboot the server.

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Enjoy!

VMware ESXi 5.5 – Interactive Installation and Configuration Checklist

April 1, 2015
DocumentationVirtualizationVMware ESXi 5.5

VMware ESXi 5.5 Installation

1. Verify that the host server’s BIOS hardware clock is configure to use UTC±0.

2. Select the correct disk to install VMware ESXi 5.5.

3. Select a keyboard layout.

4. Enter a password for the VMware ESXi root account.

5. Remove bootable media upon the completion of the installation.

 

Management Network Configuration

1. Configure the management network (with NIC teaming).

2. Test management network.

3. Verify the Internet Protocol (IP) address on the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) is correct.

 

Network Time Protocol (NTP) Configuration

1. Install the VMware vSphere client 5.5.

2. Configure NTP on the VMware ESXi 5.5 host.

 

Domain Name System (DNS)  and Routing Configuration

1. Configure the DNS servers using the VMware vSphere client 5.5.

2. Verify the default gateway is configured correctly.

3. Create Domain Name System (DNS) records for the host on your DNS server(s).