A free course in the installation and use of the free VMware vsphere Hypervisor (ESXi)

John Borhek, VCP3, VCP4, VSP, VTSP VMsources Virtualization www.vmsources.com 1-866-644-7764

Introduction

1. Introduction / Terms and Concepts 2. Installing the VMware Hypervisor (ESXi) 3. Configure ESXi 4. Building Virtual Machines & Installing VMware Tools 5. P2V Migration with the VMware Converter 6. Creating a Virtual Router with PfSense

2010 Virtualization Centralized operations 1965 Mainframe Era Centralized operations 1995 The X86 PC revolution Server Proliferation 1980 Micro/Mini Computer

ESXi, VMware Hypervisor The basic package which is installed on hardware and makes possible virtualization. Host VMware uses this term interchangeably with ESX or ESXi Virtual Machine A container which is capable of installing and/or running an operating system Guest An operating system running on a hypervisor within a Virtual Machine container COS Console Operating System which is responsible for providing a user interface on the server itself

General Purpose (vestigial) Operating System Programs and data that provide common services for efficient execution of various application software not specific to a hypervisor. Bootstrapping A technique by which a simple computer program is required to activate a more complicated system of programs. Boot Loader A program required to bootstrap an operating system: GRUB for Linux, ntldr.exe for Windows ISO Image A disc image of an optical disc. ISO images can be created from optical discs, or can be used to recreate optical discs using software from a file.

A software layer or operating system which presents hardware to the guest operating systems. Multiple instances of a variety of operating systems may share the hardware resources of a single host. Traditional Architecture Virtual Architecture

VMware invented virtualization for the x86 platform First product VMware Workstation released in 1999 GSX (Now VMware Server) and ESX Server first released in 2001

Virtual Machine X86 hypervisor Application Host OS (Linux/Windows) Application Virtual Machine X86_64 hypervisor Management Operating System Type 2 hosted Type 1 Bare Metal

Type 2 hosted Virtualization Hypervisor runs as an application service on top of a full, traditional operating system All Virtual Machine hardware is presented by the host operating system (Windows/Linux) Type 1 Bare Metal Virtualization Hypervisor runs in conjunction or in place of a traditional operating system Actual hardware resources from host server are apportioned to Virtual Machines

In the beginning, hypervisors ran in conjunction with a traditional vestigial operating system like Windows or Linux Operating system was installed directly on hardware and was required to bootstrap hypervisor (virtualization)

Hypervisor starts first No traditional / vestigial OS Management resources (if any) run separately as a VM or application framework vsphere Management Virtual Machine Appliance (vma) X86_64 hypervisor Type 1 Bare Metal

ESXi is just the VMware Hypervisor Onboard management limited to configuration of management network IP ESX is the VMware Hypervisor and a Linux Virtual Machine called the Service Console Full command-line COS on each ESX Server Configure hypervisor Configure storage Configure networking Configure/manage Virtual Machines

Using the vsphere Client, you can: Create and run Virtual Machines Up to 4 vcpu per VM Connect to SAN (iscsi or Fibre Channel) Use NFS shares Create and manage VMware Standard vswitches May be licensed for additional VMware services at any time by purchasing a different key

Standalone use only, no vcenter server precludes the use of many VMware Services: vmotion HA DRS Fault Tolerance Clones Templates Customization Specification (sysprep) Much More..

Command line management with the vcli or vma limited to queries (read-only) Up to 256 GB RAM per Server Symmetric Multiprocessing (vsmp) limited to 4 CPU s

Use the VMware Compatibility Guide: http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/s earch.php

Many resources available online Must be true 64-bit capable hardware Will need supported NIC Intel Pro 1000 Broadcom Gigabit SCSI or supported SATA controller

Set BIOS time & date Update Firmware Enable hardware-assisted virtualization Intel VT AMD-V Configure directly-attached storage RAID 1 recommended for supported SCSI Delete pre-existing partitions (recommended)

Installing the VMware Hypervisor (ESXi)

Download the free VMware Hypervisor (ESXi) and license key Burn ISO image to CD Place CD in optical drive Power-on server and install ESXi

www.vmware.com

Burn the ISO to a blank disk. Do not extract the ISO and place the files on a disk!

Use the default option.

Hypervisor loads first

Press (Enter) to Install

Be sure to read and accept the VMware EULA

Install ESXi to a Local storage device

Press F11 to install

Installation takes just a couple of minutes!

Remove CD and press (Enter)

Server will reboot

Downloaded the free VMware Hypervisor (ESXi) and license key Burnt the ISO image to CD Placed CD in optical drive Powered-on server and installed ESXi

Configuring the free VMware Hypervisor

Set Password Configure Management Network Download and install the vsphere Client Connect to ESX Server Apply License to ESXi Configure NTP

Choose a secure password

The Management Network will be used to connect to ESXi with the vsphere Client.

Choose IP Configuration

Set an IP address which is part of your Management Network

Set DNS for your Management Network

Choose a hostname for your ESXi

Browse to the IP address of the ESXi Download the vsphere Client Download comes from vmware.com

Connect as: root with the password you set

Place a check mark to Install this certificate, then choose Ignore

Select: Configuration > Licensed Features > Edit

Choose: Assign a new license key to this host

Choose Enter Key Enter the license key which was provided when the VMware Hypervisor was downloaded When key is entered, allowed usage will be shown

Set ESX Server to Stratum 1 NTP time source Individual server example time.nist.gov Pool example (preferred) 0.north-america.pool.ntp.org 1.north-america.pool.ntp.org 2.north-america.pool.ntp.org Use VMware Tools to set VM time to ESX time Ensure accurate logging Prevent VM time drift

Select: Configuration > Time Configuration > Properties

Set the time manually to the correct time Choose: Options

Choose: NTP Settings > Add

Specify a NTP Server or Pool of NTP Servers

Password is set Management Network has been configured vsphere Client downloaded and installed Connected to ESX Server Configured licensing Configured NTP

Building Virtual Machines & Installing VMware Tools

What is a Virtual Machine? Create a new Virtual Machine Install the Operating System Install VMware Tools Use VMware Tools to set Virtual Machine Time

A Virtual Machine is a container which has been compared to: an efficient, isolated equivalent of a physical computer. Virtual Machines have: Hardware (CPU s, NIC s, RAM, Disk) Bios (Phoenix)

It is important to relate the operation of a Virtual Machine to its physical counterpart Do not begin to diagnose problems differently because a computer is a Virtual Machine

Right-click on the ESXi and choose: New Virtual Machine

Choose Custom configuration

Choose a name which is representative of the VM.

Choose Version 7

Choose the correct Operating System

Choosing fewer CPU s is often better than choosing too many CPU s and wasting resources.

Choose an appropriate amount of memory for your requirements ESXi uses many techniques to reclaim memory which is not actively in use. ESXi is capable of efficiently over committing memory resources

Use the adapter suggested by the New Virtual Machine Wizard, it will most likely be compatible with your OS choice. E1000 for Windows 7, Server 2008 and Linux Flexible for XP and legacy.

Use the SCSI Contriller suggested by the New Virtual Machine Wizard, it will most likely be compatible with your OS choice. LSI Logic SAS for Windows 7 / Server 2008 LSI Logic Parallel for XP / Server 2003

Choose: Create a new virtual disk

Select disk size Thin provisioned disks will only utilize allocated space on a datastore but can perform poorly No need to support clustering features with free VMware Hypervisor

Is used for Management and OS installation ONLY Not used for user/desktop connections Not encrypted should be run on secure networks only Power Off Power ON Create Snapshot Connect Floppy Connect CD/DVD/ISO Snapshot Manager

Virtual Machine must power-on before connection can be made to CD/ISO Until the VMware Tools are installed, mouse and keyboard are either IN or OUT of the console Use Ctrl + Alt to release mouse and keyboard

You can connect to: The CD/DVD on your workstation An ISO image on your workstation The CD/DVD of the ESXi An ISO image which has been uploaded to the ESXi

Choose: VM > Guest > Send Ctrl + Alt + del You can also use the key combination Ctrl + Alt + Ins

The VMware Tools are essential to efficient Virtual Machine operation and interaction Mouse and Keyboard Display improvement Memory management Time Storage Drivers much more.

Choose: VM > Guest Install/Upgrade VMware Tools

The VMware Tools packages are stored by default on each ESX and ESXi as ISO images ESXi may not have as many varieties of VMware Tools as ESX Previously connected CD/DVD/ISO is disconnected automatically

May be a good time to change computer (DNS) name or join domain before restart.

Locate VMware Tools in the System Tray

Place a check mark in Time synchronization between virtual machine and the ESX Server

Virtual Machines defined Created a new Virtual Machine Installed the Operating System Installed VMware Tools Used VMware Tools to set Virtual Machine Time

Physical to Virtual (P2V) Migrations with the VMware Converter

Download and Install the VMware Converter on a physical PC Convert the physical PC to a VM Edit the properties of the VM

Install on source PC In this case, an older XP box

Next Next

Choose I accept the terms in the License Agreement > Next Select a destination folder and choose: Next

VMware Converter Standalone can convert both local and remote PC s. To install all components choose: Local Installation

Finish and Run Client

Choose: Convert Machine

Choose Powered on machine Specify a machine This local machine

Destination type VMware Infrastructure Virtual Machine Specify Server IP User Name Password

Set Virtual Machine name

Choose datastore Set Virtual Machine to Version 7

Options Edit Networks If physical machine converts and NIC is connected, a hostname and/or IP address conflict will result!

Un-check Connect at power-on

Check Install VMware Tools on the destination Virtual Machine

Choose Finish

Fast (gigabit) networks help!

11 Minutes for 20 GB!

Before powering-on any converted Virtual Machine, it is important to remove unnecessary and/or obsolete hardware. Parallel ports Serial ports Floppy drive more

Converted physical PC s or Servers often contain lots of unneeded hardware Serial Ports Floppy Disk Parallel Ports Extra CD/DVD Unneeded hardware consumes resources on both ESXi and VM

Either turn off source physical PC or- edit the hostname and IP of this VM before connecting networking Choose: OK

The VMware Tools installation will cause new hardware to be found.

Disable unnecessary services screensaver display drivers sound CD/DVD Writer etc.

VMware Converter downloaded and installed on a physical PC Converted the physical PC to a VM Edited the properties of the VM and removed unnecessary hardware Powered on converted Virtual Machine

Building a Virtual Router for an all-in-one ESXi

Why use a virtual router Download pfsense Create a Virtual Machine use as a router Configure networking for ESXi Install pfsense router Configure pfsense

Reduce physical hardware required Improve firewall/router services Firewall Rules Port Forwarding Traffic Monitoring Captive Portal

www.pfsense.org We recommend doing a new install instead of using the VMware Appliance

Pick a mirror, then download the installer: pfsense-x.x.x-release-livecd-installer.iso.gz

The file is gzipped (*.gz) so Windows native will not un-zip it. We use: 7-ZIP

Select: Configuration > Networking > Add Networking

This will be a Virtual Machine Connection Type

You will know which adapter is unclaimed because its speed will be listed as down

Label the new network WAN

Finish

The new vswitch appears right below the existing vswitch

Right-click on the ESXi and choose: New Virtual Machine

Choose Custom configuration

Choose a name that describes the Virtual Machine

Choose a datastore

Virtual Machine Version 7

Choose: Other > FreeBSD

1GB RAM is more than sufficient for pfsense

Connect 2 NIC s to the Virtual Machine Place 1 in the LAN (VM Network) Place 1 in WAN

LSI Logic Parallel

New Disk

4 GB Disk will do

SCSI Disk please

Ready to complete

Router is now included in both networks

Open Console Power-on and allow to boot to PXE on no OS found

Virtual Machine must power-on before connection can be made to pfsense ISO Until the VMware Tools are installed, mouse and keyboard are either IN or OUT of the console Use Ctrl + Alt to release mouse and keyboard

You can connect to: The CD/DVD on your workstation An ISO image on your workstation The CD/DVD of the ESXi An ISO image which has been uploaded to the ESXi

Locate pfsense ISO connect to ISO image on local disk..

Choose: VM > Guest > Send Ctrl + Alt + del You can also use the key combination Ctrl + Alt + Ins

Allow pfsense to boot or choose option 1

Until you install it, pfsense runs as a live operating system from the ISO

Do not set up VLAN s at this point (even if you use them)

Generally the adapters will appear in the order which they are added to the VM

Choose option 99

Accept

Quick/Easy Install (you can always change it later)

Yes, you are sure!

It s not like boiling water, it goes pretty quickly

Uniprocessor

Reboot

The Virtual Machine, not ESXi

Disconnect any existing router from LAN, turn off any DHCP service on LAN Plug the unused NIC on ESXi into a WAN port pfsense is now your gateway If pfsense is not on the correct network, change the LAN IP

If your provider requires static IP, configure it from the web interface later

From a LAN attached PC, do the following: Start > Run > cmd ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew Should see an IP supplied by pfsense!

Browse to the IP address of pfsense (gateway) username: admin password: pfsense

Logging in will automatically start the wizard

Set hostname and DNS

Any NTP server, the default included, will do

If pfsense is not configured for your network you can change it now

Reload should take considerably less than 120 seconds, try clicking the icon after 30

Log in with your password

Browse to: System > Packages

Click the + symbol to the right of Open-VM- Tools

Takes about 5 minutes, screen reloads several times

Downloaded pfsense Created a Virtual Machine for use as a router Configured networking for ESXi Installed pfsense router Configured pfsense

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