vSphere - 22

The ESX host is running so it’s time for the next step. The wizard shows the following message: “Your VMware ESX Server does not have any persistent storage. In order to run virtual machines, you must create at least one data store where virtual machines and other system files will be maintained�?. Let’s do it. I created a PDF document (datastore.pdf) with some screen shots. Then the trouble started. The final screenshot shows an error message and I thought lets use a real server instead of a desktop. I placed the USB key in a HP Proliant DL380 G5 and it wouldn’t boot from USB. When I got back to my desktop I discovered that the USB key is totally empty and doesn’t boot anymore :-( . Maybe someone at VMware can put a ghost image online? I received a lot of requests to share my copy and pbraren found out how to duplicate the USB key.

Plugins extend the capabilities of VirtualCenter by adding features and functionality not present in the base product. Generally, plugins have a server component and a client component. After the server component of a plugin is registered with a VirtualCenter server, the client component is available to all VirtualCenter clients connected to that VirtualCenter server. Users can download the client component of the plugin through the VirtualCenter client plugin manager. Users can select to enable or disable plugins installed in their VirtualCenter client. Disabling a plugin does not uninstall it from the client; it merely disables the functionality of the plugin. The VirtualCenter client interface might change after a plugin is enabled. New views, tabs, menus, and menu options related to the plugin's features are added to the interface. Existing interface items are not affected. The base product and plugins can be upgraded independent of each other. To reach the plugin manager, select Plugins > Manage Plugins.

Viktor commented on the “Loading VMware Hypervisor�? article and asked me to show more new features. Well Viktor you wish is my command ;-) To configuring a NTP server on a “normal�? ESX server you had to logon to the Service Console and manually edit some files before you could start the NTP daemon. Well in the ESX 3i version you can all do it from within the VI Client. Cool huh. In the picture you see the dialog box where this new option can be configured. Besides this new feature you should take a look at some other extras in on the configuration tab.

I got back from San Francisco and was unpacking my suitcase. I noticed the USB key I received when I picked up my T-Shirt and thought lets give it a try. This USB key contains a beta version of VMware ESX 3i – the next generation, thin hypervisor integrated into server hardware, providing the foundation for a virtual infrastructure. With this thin architecture, ESX Server 3i brings unprecedented levels of security, reliability and manageability to the IT infrastructure. I placed the memory stick in a Compaq EVO D50 desktop PC. After one or two minutes the kernel was loading and suddenly my VMware ESX Server 3i server was running.  I downloaded the new VI client version 2.1.0 build 54592 and installed it on my workstation. The next steps are configuring the storage and create a virtual machine. Stay tuned.