© 2010 vmware inc. all rights reserved vmware esx and esxi module 3

© 2010 VMware Inc. All rights reserved

VMware ESX and ESXi

Module 3

Module 3-2


You Are Here

vSphere Environment

VMware ESX and ESXi

Introduction to VMware Virtualization

VMware vCenter Server

Networking

Storage

Virtual Machines

Operations

Access Control

Resource Monitoring

Data Protection

Scalability

High Availability

Patch Management

Installing VMware ESX and ESXi

VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Module 3-3


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.


Module 3-4


Module Lessons

Lesson 1: Overview of ESX/ESXi

Lesson 2: Configuring ESX/ESXi


Module 3-5


Lesson 1:Overview of ESX/ESXi


Module 3-6


Lesson Objectives

Identify the versions of ESX

Describe the architecture of ESX and ESXi


Module 3-7


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


Module 3-8


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


Module 3-9


ESX/ESXi Architecture


Module 3-10


Lesson Summary

Identify the versions of ESX

Describe the architecture of ESX and ESXi


Module 3-11


Lesson 2:Configuring ESX/ESXi


Module 3-12


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


Module 3-13


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/ESXiis already installed.

(Installation is discussed in a later module.)


Module 3-14


Configuring ESXi

The DCUI is similar to the BIOS of a computer with a keyboard-only user interface.


Module 3-15


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)


Module 3-16


Configuring ESXi: Management Network

The DCUI allows you to modify network settings:

Host name

IP configuration (IP address, subnet mask, default gateway)

DNS servers


Module 3-17


Configuring ESXi: Other Settings

The DCUI allows an administrator to:

Configure keyboard layout

View support information

View system logs

Enable troubleshooting services, when required


Module 3-18


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


Module 3-19


vSphere Client: Configuration Tab


Module 3-20


Viewing Processor and Memory Configuration


Module 3-21


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

Module 3-22


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.

UD

P port 123


NTP server

NTP client

NTP server

NTP server

ESX/ESXihost

Module 3-23


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)


Module 3-24


Viewing ESX/ESXi System Logs

Use the vSphere Client to view logs.

Export system logs to an archive file.

Send to VMware Support.


Module 3-25


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

Module 3-26


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


Module 3-27


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.


Module 3-28


Lab 1

In this lab, you will configure an ESXi host.

1. Connect to an ESXi host with the vSphere Client.

2. View host hardware configuration.

3. View virtual machine configuration.

4. Configure DNS and routing information for an ESXi host.

5. Configure the ESXi host as an NTP client.


Module 3-29


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


Module 3-30


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.


© 2010 vmware inc. all rights reserved vmware esx and esxi module 3

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