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Dell VMware ESX Server 3i Solution Manual

Vmware esx server 3i
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  • Page 1 ® VMware ESX Server 3i Dell Solution Guide...
  • Page 2 Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    ....... VMware ESX Server 3i Features ....
  • Page 4 Appendix B: Enabling and Disabling the VMware ESX Server 3i Software ......Appendix C: Sample Step-by-Step Management Network Configuration .

  • Page 5: Introduction

    VMware ESX Server 3i Features Ease of Deployment VMware ESX Server 3i is sold as an OEM product pre-installed on Dell servers. Because ESX Server 3i is pre-installed, your server can be deployed within minutes by simply connecting a keyboard, monitor, and mouse, and by enabling basic Ethernet-based connectivity for management traffic;...

  • Page 6: Integrated Management And Health Monitoring

    Integrated Management and Health Monitoring Tightly integrated with the Dell PowerEdge platforms, VMware ESX Server 3i uses the standards-based Common Interface Model (CIM) to monitor (graphically) the PowerEdge server on which it is running and provide up-to- date system health information. This information is available for one or more...

  • Page 7: Improved Reliability

    Availability (HA), server local hard drives are not needed. Rapid Deployment and Provisioning Dell offers VMware ESX Server 3i pre-installed direct from the Dell factory, enabling greatly simplified data center deployment and provisioning. For the first time, VMware users have the ability to go from box to rack to processing workloads in minutes.

  • Page 8: Vmware Infrastructure Architecture

    For full support details, consult VMware’s complete Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) at www.vmware.com/resources/guides.html. To ensure processor compatibility across several servers, consult the Dell VMotion compatibility guide at www.dell.com/vmware. VMware Infrastructure Architecture VMware Infrastructure consists of the following components (see Figure 1).

  • Page 9: Diagram Components

    Figure 1. VMware Infrastructure Components Using Dell PowerEdge Systems and Storage Systems Diagram Components: • ESX Server — allows multiple operating systems to run simultaneously on a single PowerEdge system. • VirtualCenter Server — manages multiple ESX Servers and runs on Windows Server 2003.
  • Page 10 For more information on general sizing and scaling studies, see the documentation available on the Dell and VMware Alliance website at www.dell.com/vmware→ Resources→ White Papers. For articles on performance and sizing, see the VMware documentation website at www.vmware.com/support/pubs.

  • Page 11: Dell-Supported Vmware Infrastructure 3.5 Configurations

    Channel HBAs on the ESX Server host connected to separate Fibre Channel switches that provide redundant paths to SPs on the storage unit. Figure 2. VMware Infrastructure Configurations with Dell PowerEdge Systems and Dell EMC Fibre Channel SAN Solution Guide...

  • Page 12: Solution Deployment

    Figure 3). It is recommended that you use two iSCSI initiators on the ESX Server host connected to two separate Ethernet switches that provide redundant paths to SPs on the storage unit. Figure 3. VMware Infrastructure Configurations with Dell PowerEdge Systems and iSCSI SAN Solution Deployment...
  • Page 13 If the system is currently set to boot to another operating system, such as Linux or Windows, use the information in "Appendix B: Enabling and Disabling the VMware ESX Server 3i Software" on page 28 to set ESX as the primary boot operating system.
  • Page 14 IP address from your DCHP server. The next section explains how to configure this setting. NOTE: By default, ESX Server 3i does not have a password. Dell strongly recommends setting a keyboard language and server password. The next section provides information on configuring these settings.

  • Page 15: Configuring The Esx Server 3I Software

    DCUI again. If this should happen, you may need to reimage your internal storage device further resulting in the loss of your settings. Please contact Dell support if you find yourself in this situation.
  • Page 16 <ESC> to logout. Configure, Test, Reset of Management Network Services The VMware ESX Server 3i kernel supports IPv4 and IEEE 802.1Q (VLAN tagging) for all management network connections; configuration of these parameters including IP address, gateway, subnet mask, host name, and DNS servers happens through the DCUI.

  • Page 17: Management Software Installation

    VMware Infrastructure Client is available free of charge with the ESX Server 3i (and ESX Server 3) products. VirtualCenter is available for purchase from Dell. VMware has also included a 60-day trial version of VirtualCenter on the VMware ESX Server 3i Companion CD that shipped with your server.

  • Page 18: Install Virtual Infrastructure Client (Vi Client)

    Install Virtual Infrastructure Client (VI Client) 1 Download the VI Client directly from your ESX Server 3i host. Point the web browser of your Windows management server to the IP address of your ESX Server 3i host. The IP address of your server is displayed on the main screen of your server (see Figure 11).
  • Page 19 2 The browser will display a webpage (see Figure 12). Click on the “Download VMware Infrastructure client” link and install the download. Figure 12. Download VI Client Screen Figure 13. VMware Infrastructure Client Login Screen 3 Once complete, launch the VMware Infrastructure Client by specifying the IP address of your ESX Server 3i host, a user name of ‘root’...

  • Page 20: Solution Licensing

    At the end of the 60-day period, the system will continue to function at the level your purchased license warrants. You may purchase an upgrade license from Dell if you would like to continue using the trial features. The procedure below will help you install your new license code once received.
  • Page 21 1 From the main DCUI screen (see Figure 11), press <F2>. Log into your server. 2 Scroll down to the “View Support Information” menu; your license code will appear here. Dell strongly recommends recording this code in a safe place. NOTE: Figure 11 shows the server operating with an evaluation license.
  • Page 22 To make changes to your licensing configuration, you must log into the server using the VI Client and/or VirtualCenter. The steps below will show you how to make changes. Please consult the VMware ESX Server 3i documentation for VirtualCenter instructions.

  • Page 23: Serial Number Registration And Exchange

    Please contact Dell support via your typical support channels or via support.dell.com. If you do require a new license from Dell support, but need to have the server up and running as soon as possible, you may take advantage of the onetime 60-day trial of all enterprise-level features including HA and DRS as well as VirtualCenter Server.
  • Page 24 If you see any reference to “Virtual Media” in the list, you must follow the procedure in Appendix D: Modifying Remote Access Console Virtual Media Status to disable the Dell Remote Access Console (DRAC) virtual media devices or else you will receive an error during the image recovery process.
  • Page 25 Access Console Virtual Media Status). 7 Once the recovery process completes, press ENTER to reboot your server. The server will reboot and launch the VMware ESX Server 3i software. If this does not happen, you will need to reassign order of your boot devices placing the internal storage highest in the boot order list.

  • Page 26: Appendix A: Deployment Best Practices Check List

    Appendix A: Deployment Best Practices Check List Use the following Dell deployment best practices checklist to aid the deployment of the VMware ESX Server ESX 3i software. • Rack (if applicable) and connect your PowerEdge server according to the server deployment guide.
  • Page 27 • Set host name and DNS server settings (Page 26) • (Optional) Set DNS Suffix(s) (Page 26) • Install Virtual Infrastructure Client to manage your server (Page 15) • Review licensing options (Page 17) • Record host-based licensing code, store in safe place (Page 18) ________-________-________-________-________ •...

  • Page 28: Appendix B: Enabling And Disabling The Vmware Esx Server 3I Software

    Enable One-Time Boot to ESX Server 3i, v3.5 The following instructions walk you through the process of enabling the VMware ESX Server 3i hypervisor for a one-time boot on your system. 1 Turn on your server. 2 The Dell Splash Screen appears. When the splash screen appears, press <F11>...
  • Page 29 5 Press <Enter>, then <Esc>, and then <Enter> again to save these changes. NOTICE: Dell recommends not to modify other settings unless you are familiar with the settings. Modifying settings could cause your system to fail to boot/function properly. 6 Restart your server.

  • Page 30: Appendix C: Sample Step-By-Step Management Network Configuration

    Appendix C: Sample Step-by-Step Management Network Configuration This appendix guides you through a sample management network setup with the following parameters. • Redundant management NICs (on-board NICs) • Static address of 172.17.13.211/24 (255.255.255.0) gateway: 172.17.13.1 • Host name of: EmbedESX1.VMwareFarm.lab •...
  • Page 31 Figure 19. Network Adapter Selection Screen 3 Press <ESC> to return to the main network configuration screen (Figure 10). Set Host Name, IP address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, and VLAN ID 1 With the main management network screen displayed (see Figure 10), scroll and select “VLAN (Optional)”.
  • Page 32 Figure 20. Configure VLAN ID Setting Figure 21. Configure IP Settings 3 Next, from the main network configuration screen (Figure 10), select “IP Configuration”. 4 Scroll down to “Set static IP address” line, and press SPACE to select. Enter your IP address, subnet mask, and gateway. Press ESC to exit this screen.
  • Page 33 5 From the Configure Management Network screen (see Figure 10), select “DNS Settings”. You will notice the current settings are summarized on the right of the screen; press ENTER to enter the configuration screen (see Figure 22). 6 Because you have set an IP address statically, you will not have the option to use DHCP supplied information for the primary and secondary DNS servers.

  • Page 34: Appendix D: Modifying Remote Access Console Virtual Media Status

    Appendix D: Modifying Remote Access Console Virtual Media Status In order to recover the ESX 3i image, the virtual media of the Dell Remote Access Controller must be disabled; internal storage device must be the only USB-based storage device present in the system. If you purchased the Dell...
  • Page 35 NOTE: To re-enable the virtual floppy and CD device, use the following settings (defaults): • Virtual Media: Attached • Virtual Flash: Disabled Solution Guide...

  • Page 36: Appendix E: Configuration Backup And Restore Procedures

    RCLI, see the Systems Management with VMware ESX Server 3i software on Dell PowerEdge Servers Guide as well as the VMware ESX Server 3i Setup and VMware ESX Server 3i Configuration guides. The backup and restore steps below will assume you have already imported the RCLI to a server other than the one you want to backup or restore or you have installed the Windows or Linux management APIs.
  • Page 37 EX: vicfg-cfgbackup --server 172.17.13.211 --username root –l backupdate.dat Following a successful restore, the system will reboot using the new configuration. Please consult the VMware ESX Server 3i Setup Guide for complete instructions for these backup and restore commands. Solution Guide...

  • Page 38: Appendix F: Troubleshooting

    Select “Internal USB…” or “SD Card…”, press “Enter” and <ESC>. Save your settings. Symptom: • You would like to remove the VMware ESX Server 3i data (VMFS file system) from your local volumes. Resolution: • Consult the VMware ESX Server 3i Setup guide, refer to the “Configuring Storage Behavior”...

  • Page 39: Appendix G: Related Documents

    Appendix G: Related Documents • Documents related to this and other Dell/VMware products are located at www.dell.com/vmware. Support Documents: • VMware Software Compatibility Matrix for Dell Servers • VMotion and 64-bit Virtual Machine Compatibility Guide for Dell Servers • Dell PowerVault NX1950 Configuration Guide for VMware ESX Server •...
  • Page 40 Solution Guide...

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