Error when doing a search for virtual machines in the vmware client

Problem:You can search for vms when you connect to vcenter.  What is wrong? Is it your esxi host, your vcenter, your dbs?You might get An internal error occurred in the vsphere client. Details: unable to connect to the remote serverOr you might getLogon to the query service failed.A connection failure occurred (Unable to connect to the remote server)Reason:Check your servicesYou probably have the Vmware inventory service down on your...

Read More

How to run a powershell script for vmware : walkthrough

Here is a walk through on how to make and run a powershell /powercli scriptThe methods also apply to powershell but this is target towards running powercli commands for your esxi or vsphere hosts.Open Notepad.Add commands to notepad.Save file with a .ps1  extensionIn this example I named it snapscript.ps1Open your powercli shellConnect to your host or vsphere istance using the commandConnect-viserve r  HOSTorVSPHERENAMEExample:...

Read More

Vmware DRS anti affinity rules wont let you enter maintenance mode for a esxi host

You have a DRS rule that specifies that 2 vms need to be kept apart:In this case: 250-FT and 250sql3For larger clusters with multiple hosts it may not make a difference but for a small cluster of 2 hosts, it can  disrupt you  you from upgrading, rebooting , etc.You can choose yes and ignore the first message popupBut the vm wont move over via DRSThis operation would violate a virtual machine affinity/anti-affinity rule. Migrate...

Read More

Hot add of cpu and memory to a virtual machine in vcenter

Why can't you hot add cpu or memory to you esxi host's vm?Is the option grayed out?Reason: in vsphere by default a  virtual machine has it's hot add options turned offHow to enable hot add:You have to power off the vm, no choice here if the option is not enabled.Edit Vm Settings-> options-> Memory/cpu hotplugClick on enable for both options. You can see hot remove is not selectable, that is because the os of...

Read More

Installing an ftp server on your esxi host itself

Andreas Peetz setup a way to install a ftp server on you esxi hostitself.<http://www.v-front.de/2012/11/release-proftpd-ftp-server-for-vmware.html> Why is there no ftp service on a esxi host?It isn't advised to keep an ftp service on your actual host.It leaves another security hole on your host.Like Peetz says, if you want to upload files, you have many other options available, like the datstore browser or winscpSo why install an ftp...

Read More

"No bootable device" after successful ESXi 5 installation

 Did you just install esxi 5 successfully then cant boot into your host?Looks like some people on this thread were able to get it working.http://communities.vmware.com/message/2149004From ldaprat"With ESXi 5, ESX no longer uses MBR for boot, it has gone to GPT-based partitions instead.    Which is fine, if your BIOS (and mine) supported it correctly.      More details here:  http://communities.vmware.com/message/1822854?tstart=0There...

Read More

VSphere 5.1 vMotion Best Practices

This is my notes on the white paper: VMware vSphere 5.1 vMotion  Architecture, Performance and Best Practiceshttp://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/techpaper/VMware-vSphere51-vMotion-Perf.pdfAs vmotion is different slightly in 5.1 vs 5.0 due to enhancements , I wanted to go over everything to get a good handle on the new featuresThere are some diagrams in the pdf that would be good to check outMy own comments I italicized.It is for my own understanding of how vmotion in 5.1 works vs standard vmotion in 5.0 and svmotionMigrates live virtual machines,...

Read More

Move esxi hosts between vcenter datacenters without loosing vcenter history.

The standard way to move a host between vcetner datacenters would be to remove the host and readd it.  JDLangdon came up with a interesting question on trying to keep the historical data<http://communities.vmware.com/message/2147267#2147267> *note this does not apply to moving between different Vcenter instances.So I have this host, 10.250.14.1 under datacenter 250DCSuppose we want to move it to 0DCHere is the historical data...

Read More

Log errors in hostd.log : Unable to parse X value

Was looking at someone else's hostd.log and found that they had a lot of errors like this2012-11-08T13:34:34.377Z [76155B90 error 'Default' opID=HB-host-14@46810-6f9cf212-65] Unable to parse MaxRam value:2012-11-08T13:34:34.377Z [76155B90 error 'Default' opID=HB-host-14@46810-6f9cf212-65] Unable to parse MaxRamPerCpu value:2012-11-08T13:34:34.377Z [76155B90 error 'Default' opID=HB-host-14@46810-6f9cf212-65] Unable to parse MinRamPerCpu value:Looking here: http://communities.vmware.com/message/2053791Seems like the answer support gave was that...

Read More

Network problems with HP DL380p Gen8 and esxi 5

Interesting thread by Daza On the  HP DL380p Gen8 and esxi 5Here: http://communities.vmware.com/thread/408890What is interesting is I thought it would have been fixed by now since its been a few months and is HCL certified but looks like people still have the issue."Basically since the upgrade (or I should say, fresh installation of ESXi 5) there's been 2 networking based issues that have occured. 1. Randomly a vmnic will lose connectivity to the physical network.2. The physical network can no longer talk to the VM network through a...

Read More

Windows 8 installation on esxi 5.0 is doable

Lets find out.This should also work for esxi 4.1 and vmware workstation 8-6 though I haven't tried them.Virtual Machine settings Unless specially mentioned I am using the default Create the VM for windows 8Using customName itUsing virtual machine 8Guest Operating system: select other 64Giving it the e1000 adapter Choose LSI-SAS for your controllerGet bios 440 romFrom here: http://communities.vmware.com/message/2142390Upload it to the folder...

Read More