Hardware Compalibity List - Vmware

·      HCL:- Hardware Compalibity List

·                              CPU should- Intel- VT-X  and AMD- AMDV

·                              Intel should VT-X + EPT technology. Without this 64 bit Machine will not power on

But 32 bit machine will be power on

·                              AMD- should AMDV + RVI technology. Without this 64 bit Machine will not power on

But 32 bit machine will be power on.

·                              For 64 bit machine require:

Intel- VT-X + EPT

AMD- AMDV + RVI

No	ESX4	ESXi
1	Linux Base	DCUI-Direct Console User Interface
2	Patching More	Less Patches
3	Less Security	More Security

Packaging and Versions

·      ESXi Free

·      Essentials & Essentials Plus

·      Standard

·      Advanced

·      Enterprise

·      Enterprise Plus

Why is Hardware Compatibility so important?

·    ESX runs directly on your hardware

·    ESX talks directly to your devices like the video card, SATA/SCSI controller, and NIC

·    ESX is your operating system

·    ESX may run poorly or, more often, just won’t work

·    New name-brand servers will work

·    can even run ESX inside Workstation to test

The Commercial Versions of ESXi are:

·      Has a direct console instead of a full console (when compared to ESX)

·      Potentially better than using ESX

·      Take up fewer resources on that host

·      Require less patching than ESX

·      Potentially. More secure

·      Allow for all the advanced vSphere features

·      Install and Boot faster

·      Highly recommended

The Difference between ESXi free, ESXi Installable, and ESXi Embedded

·      ESXi is available in 3 versions

·      Free - unlimited use but has limitations

·       Installable - commercial version of ESXi that you download and install on your own server -                    fully    

·      supports all advanced vSphere features that you have licensed

·       Embedded - ESX image preinstalled as firmware in the factory or burned onto an external USB key

Installation Tips and Tricks

·         ESXi image and installer is called the “VMvisor”

·        Make sure VT is enabled in server BIOS

·        May need to press ESC or change boot order to boot installation CD

·         Even on a slow computer, installs and is ready to use in 5-10 min.

·        Always installs in 60 day evaluation mode

Five steps to configuring your new ESXi Server

1.        Set root password

2.        Configure IP address, SM, DG, DNS servers, hostname, and domain

3.        Add to your DNS server

4.       Add to vCenter by DNS name

5.        Optionally- configure lockdown mode and connect to SAN

What is vCenter Server

Centralized control and visibility for multiple ESX/ESXi hosts

Contains centralized license

Necessary for most advanced features of vSphere

     Advantage of vCenter

Scalability- Expansion

Automation- Automate features

Visibility- Visible

vCenter Server Software Requirements:

·      Windows 2003 Std. Ent. Or Datacentre 64 bit Sp2

·      Windows 2003 R2 Std. Ent. Or Database 64 bit Sp1

·      Windows 2008 Std. Ent. Or Database 64 bit Sp2

·      Windows 2008 R2 Std. Ent. Or Database 64 bit Sp1

·      Microsoft .Net 3.5 Sp1 framework

·      Microsoft Windows installer 4.5( if using SQL 2008 R2 express)

vCenter Server Database Requirement:

·      IBM DB2 9.5& 9.7

·      Ms Sql Server 2008 R2 Express

·      Ms Sql Server 2005

·      Ms Sql Server 2008 & 2008 R2

·      Oracle 109 & 119

If  vCenter Server failed

HA – Will Run

DRS will not run

FT- Will run

Vmotion- Will not run

Svmotion will not run-

Distributed switch – will run because distributed switch creates & manage at datacenter level

but after copy of distributed switch creates on ESXi host.

·                              Every VM centre server has its own Database

·      Every VMcentre server has unique Database

Installation Requirements and Prerequisites

Ø  2 CPU 2Ghz Intel or AMD x86

Ø  3GB RAM

Ø  2GB free on disk

Ø  SQL or Oracle DB -OR- you can install SQL Express during the install (may require more   

Ø  resources)

Ø  1Gb NIC

Installation Requirements and Prerequisites

·    Windows XP Pro SP2 (SP2 required)

·    Windows Server 2003, SP1 and SP2 32bit and 64bit all editions

·    Windows Server 2003, R2 and SP2 32bit and 64bit all editions

·    Windows Server 2008 32bit all editions

·    Windows Server 2008 64bit Standard and Enterprise editions

·     You can install vCenter in an ESX VM

·     For physical server install, you must have a physical DVD of vCenter

·     Do not reinstall vCenter if you really want to do an upgrade

·      Ensure that your vCenter server is a member of the domain and you are logged in as  administrator

·     Correct time and date (recommend NTP)

Installation Requirements and Prerequisites

•      Computer name cannot be more than 15 characters

•      vCenter server should not be AD DC

•      Account you are installing under should have-

     Member of administrator group

    Act as part of Operating System

     Log on as a service

Installation Requirements and Prerequisites

·     Must have a static IP address

·      Server must be in DNS with matching name and you must be able to resolve it from all ESX hosts

·     NTFS formatted disk

·     Know if you will use standalone or linked mode

·     You can run the installers from a network drive but not install it on a network drive

Installation Requirements and Prerequisites

·      Database is required for vCenter and Update Manager

·      Database Options-

·       Install on an existing SQL Server or Oracle DB -Install SQL Express on the local vCenter

Server

·      For larger deployments, a separate DB is recommended for vCenter and Update Manager

·       Each vCenter server must have its own DB

·      For an existing DB, check to ensure that your version is supported and that it has the necessary patches installed

·      For existing DB, you will need to create a 32-bit DSN prior to vCenter server installation

·       If you use SQL Express local option, standard DB maintenance must be performed

vCenter Server Components & Add-ons

Required

·         vCenter Server

·         .NET 3.0 SP1 Framework

·         vCenter Orchestrator

vCenter Server Components & Add-ons

Optional and on vCenter DVD

·   SQL Server Express 2005

·   vSphere Client

·   vCenter Converter Enterprise

·   vCenter Guided Consolidation

·   vCenter Update Manager

vCenter Server Components & Add-ons (

Sold Separately

·    VMotion, SVMotion, DRS, DPM, VMHA, and FT

·    Site Recovery Manager (SRM)

·    Chargeback

·    Lab Manager

·    vCenterServer Heartbeat

·    AppSpeed

·    Data Recovery

·    Capacity IQ (late 2009)

·    Config Control (late 2009)

Required Ports for vCenter

HTTPS Web = 443

HTTP Web = 80

Heartbeat for ESX hosts = 902 UDP

VSphere Client VM console = 902/903

LDAP for directory services = 389

SSL for directory services = 636

VMware vCenter Web = 8080

VMware vCenter Mgmt Web = 8443

HTTPS port – 10443

Service Management port- 10109

Linked Mode Communication port- 10111

New Licensing Changes in vSphere

·    License keys are 25 characters instead of complex files

·    No more license server - built into vCenter

·    Only License keys for each edition of vSphere - no feature keys

·    License keys has encoded CPU Qty

Advantage to installing vCenter in a VM

·    No Physical machine required

·    Can use vMotion to move it from one ESX host to another for maintenance

·    High Availability is provided if you put it in a VMHA cluster

·    Can use snapshots before upgrades, etc.

·    Can back it up with same method as other VMs.

·    ESX hosts are not 100% dependant on vCenter