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I repied this to this VMware Communities post titled : Which is a Best Host Operating System

Site : http://communities.vmware.com/message/1121964

The OP asked this question.
“
Hi everybody and greetings.
I need this answer from all you power users out here, and I need a definite answer and i do not want this to be an open ended debate.

I have a Pentium Dual Core Computer with 3 Gigs of RAM running Windows XP (SP3) and a dual boot with Linux (Debian and Fedora Core 10)

2 SATA Hard Drives 320 GB Each

I intend to run a few virtual guest operating systems using VMWARE Work Station latest version such as Solaris, Open Solaris, Win2K3. The question and doubt that i have in mind is —

Which is a good HOST Operating System to run these guests- WINDOWS XP or LINUX.

Please give me your answer, your advice is asked for.

Thanks & Regards
AC
“

and even though I wasn’t the 1st to answer, I did with the following rant, lol.

“

I have been working with the RCLI appliance, in a attempt to get -g and -p working.
vifs -g and vifs -p

However, I am lacking the correct command augments, so it will be trial and error.

Unless anyone knows the correct command.
‘

UPDATE:

Getting closer, to list I found this command.

HERE http://vmware.com/pdf/vi3_35/esx_3/r35u2/vi3_35_25_u2_rcli.pdf

From the guide

“
Examples for vifs
This section gives some examples for vifs. Executing vifs works only when you are
connected directly to an ESX Server 3i host. The command does not work when you
connect to a VirtualCenter Server and attempt to connect to the ESX Server 3i host
through the VirtualCenter Server.

You can execute the commands listed below on a Linux system. For corresponding
commands on a Windows system, use double quotes instead of single quotes.
The following examples for vifs require connection options. See “Specifying Options
for Remote CLI Commands” on page 19.

vifs.pl –copy ‘[myvmfs] dir_1/my_text’ ‘[myvmfs] dir_3/text’
Copies the my_text file from dir_1 to dir_3.

vifs.pl –dir ‘[myvmfs] dir_3’
Lists the contents of directory dir_3.

vifs.pl –copy ‘[myvmfs] dir_1/my_text’ ‘[myvmfs] dir_3/my_text’
–force
Copies the my_text file into dir_3. If you use this command, and a file named my_text
already exists in dir_3, the command overwrites the existing file because of the
–force option.

vifs.pl –mkdir ‘[myvmfs] new_dir’
Creates the directory called new_dir.

vifs.pl –put /root/test_put ‘[myvmfs] new_dir/test_put’
Places a copy of the local test_put file into the specified server’s new_dir directory.

vifs.pl –rm ‘[myvmfs] new_dir/test_put’
Removes the test_put file from the new_dir folder.

vifs.pl –rmdir ‘[myvmfs] new_dir’
Removes the new_dir folder.

vifs.pl –get ‘[myvmfs] dir_1/my_text’ /root/my_text
Retrieves the file my_text from the ESX Server 3i host and places it in the local
machine’s root folder.

vifs.pl –move ‘[myvmfs] dir_1/my_text’ ‘[myvmfs] dir_3/my_text’
Moves the my_text file from dir_1 to dir_3.

vifs.pl –listds
Lists the names of all datastores on the server specified in the configuration file. You can
use each name that has been returned to refer to datastore paths using square bracket
notation, as follows:
‘[my_datastore] dir/subdir/file’
“

C:Program Files (x86)VMwareVMware VI Remote CLIbin>vifs.pl –server ipaddress -D “[datastore]” lists the datastore

The command

C:Program Files (x86)VMwareVMware VI Remote CLIbin>vifs.pl –server ipaddress -g “[datastore] nst-1.8.0.iso” C:
‘chcp’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
Use of uninitialized value in numeric eq (==) at C:/Program Files (x86)/VMware/V
Mware VI Remote CLI/Perl/lib/VMware/VILib.pm line 392.
Use of uninitialized value in numeric eq (==) at C:/Program Files (x86)/VMware/V
Mware VI Remote CLI/Perl/lib/VMware/VILib.pm line 393.
Use of uninitialized value in numeric eq (==) at C:/Program Files (x86)/VMware/V
Mware VI Remote CLI/Perl/lib/VMware/VILib.pm line 394.
Enter username: root
Enter password:
Downloaded file nst-1.8.0.iso to C:/nst-1.8.0.iso successfully.

By no means was this overly fast, as it took me a few minutes to copy this from the server to my workstation, the file was a 500mb iso.

However, it did work.

Alright, how to do I delete?

I try

C:Program Files (x86)VMwareVMware VI Remote CLIbin>vifs.pl –server ipdaddress -rm “[datastore] nst-1.8.0.iso”
‘chcp’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
Use of uninitialized value in numeric eq (==) at C:/Program Files (x86)/VMware/V
Mware VI Remote CLI/Perl/lib/VMware/VILib.pm line 392.
Use of uninitialized value in numeric eq (==) at C:/Program Files (x86)/VMware/V
Mware VI Remote CLI/Perl/lib/VMware/VILib.pm line 393.
Use of uninitialized value in numeric eq (==) at C:/Program Files (x86)/VMware/V
Mware VI Remote CLI/Perl/lib/VMware/VILib.pm line 394.
Enter username: root
Enter password:
Remove ‘nst-1.8.0.iso’? (y/n) : yes
Deleted file [datastore] nst-1.8.0.iso successfully.

and it worked!

Next, can I put a file on my ESXi Server?

C:Program Files (x86)VMwareVMware VI Remote CLIbin>vifs.pl –server ipaddress -p C:33.iso “[datastore] 33.iso”
‘chcp’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
Use of uninitialized value in numeric eq (==) at C:/Program Files (x86)/VMware/V
Mware VI Remote CLI/Perl/lib/VMware/VILib.pm line 392.
Use of uninitialized value in numeric eq (==) at C:/Program Files (x86)/VMware/V
Mware VI Remote CLI/Perl/lib/VMware/VILib.pm line 393.
Use of uninitialized value in numeric eq (==) at C:/Program Files (x86)/VMware/V
Mware VI Remote CLI/Perl/lib/VMware/VILib.pm line 394.
Enter username: root
Enter password:
Uploaded file C:33.iso to 33.iso successfully.

Looks ok, but when I browse there, no good. whats up? A close look at the guide says it all
“
–put
-p


Uploads a file from the machine on
which you run the Remote CLI to the
ESX Server 3i host. This operation
uses HTTP PUT.
This command can replace existing
host files but cannot create new files.
Datastore
Host,
Temp
put src_local_file_path
dst_file_path
put src_local_file_path
dst_directory_path
“

So I can replace a existing file, but not upload a new file.

Now my only question is, is their newer documentation?

Roger

I recently posted directions and pictures of my iSCSI setup for someone on the VMware VMware Communities Forum. I referred to my earlier post, See
http://rogerlunditblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/vmware-esxi-adding-iscsi-target.html

Here is the VMware Communities Forum Post, Here http://communities.vmware.com/message/1121743 His problem was titled : ESXi not connecting to MSA1510i via iSCSI

Remember also to setup two Vswitches, both with a port group, and a Vkernel for both your production network, and iSCSI network, and leave the gateway blank.

His deduction was that he had a bad nic, so remember, Always check your hardware!

I thought for those of you looking to setup a iSCSI network on ESXi or having Troubles, it could help.

Post your thoughts.

http://lonesysadmin.net has a blog post titled VMware Fault Tolerance = RAID 1

Full Link : http://lonesysadmin.net/2008/12/11/vmware-fault-tolerance-raid-1

“
Fault Tolerance is to VMs what RAID 1 is for data. Whatever happens on disk 0 happens on disk 1. So if you delete a bunch of files they disappear from both disks, and you still need to restore from backup. You only see benefits if one of the drives dies. Fault Tolerance keeps two VMs in sync that same way
“
Interesting, so think of Fault Tolerance as protection from a hardware fault.

planetvm http://planetvm.net/blog posted a reaction to the new announcement.

VMware announce new premier invite only qualification Full Post : http://planetvm.net/blog/?p=98

“

Those people on this weeks Roundtable, my self included had a little shock, VMwares’ John Troyer calmly announced the introduction of the VVP (VMware Virtualization Professional), this is a new invite only certification in a similar mold to MVP status from Microsoft and CVP from Citrix.

Personally I think that this is a good move and can only add value.

“

At the very least , I agree that it will be interesting. I expect we will be hearing more details to come.

Thanks Tom for the post.

http://vmguy.com/wordpress/index.php posted a blog entry titled : New On-line VMWare Hardware Compatibility Search Engine
Full Link Here http://vmguy.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/297

“

Just when I had my procedure down to report the new updates to the HCL’s for you, all color-coded and everything, VMware one-upps me and improves the way they report the HCL.

Starting today, customers can go here to find the new on-line compatibility guide and search engine. From there you can search based on keyword for all hardware matching that keyword. Once you gather the results, you can print the list, save it as a PDF, or export it to Excel.

In addition, the right pane also has options for each of the HCL’s including a “What’s New” section like this one which shows all the additions in the last week to each of the HCLs.

Lastly, you can now subscribe to updates on any of the individual HCL’s with your favorite RSS reader by choosing the ones you want here .

“

Thanks VMguy!

http://professionalvmware.com posted a blog post titled Those Root’s Run Deep – Create a Second Root Account on ESX (
http://professionalvmware.com/2008/12/10/those-roots-run-deep-create-a-second-root-account-on-esx/ )

I thought this went with my eariler blog on how to add a user with root access via the client.

“

Found this in VMware’s KB 1005278

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][root@esx root]# adduser -u 0 -o -g 0 -G 0,1,2,3,4,6,10 root2
[root@esx root]# passwd root2

“

Thanks
http://professionalvmware.com
Full post here
http://professionalvmware.com/2008/12/10/those-roots-run-deep-create-a-second-root-account-on-esx/[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Jason Boche, posted a post on VMware configuration maximums ( http://www.boche.net/blog/?p=615 )

I have not read this through and through, and I wanted thank Jason for bringing it up.

“

Configuration Maximums for Virtual Infrastructure 3 is by far one of my favorite VMware documents. This is a useful document for the VMware evangelist and any VMware VI administrator to have tacked up on the wall of their office for use as a quick reference. It’s also handy for identifying platform comparison points of discussion or decision.

The document answers most of the “How many…”, “How much…” type questions about the VMware Virtual Infrastructure capabilities (ESX hypervisor, VirtualCenter, guest VMs, etc.) more than once I’ve used this document as the basis for interactive VMware trivia sessions at our local VMware User Group meetings. This is one of the documents that will most often be updated as new releases of VMware VI are released so it’s a good one to keep tabs on.

The VI3 documentation page keeps us informed as to what date the document was last updated. In addition, one of the RSS feeds I am subscribed to is VMware, Inc. This feed lets me know the moment any of the VI documents are updated (at which time I then download the updated document for my own document repository I maintain). Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) documents seem to update almost weekly which is a good indicator that VMware Engineers are hard at work in their labs certifying compatible hardware thereby expanding the list of hardware we may run our VI on.

“

Check the full post http://www.boche.net/blog/?p=615

On a side not, Jason looks to be having better bandwidth, grats Jason.

Jonathan Marrott’s VM Scripting Blog has a interesting post titled: Set Service Console Memory (Updated) ( http://communities.vmware.com/blogs/froboy/2008/01/18/set-service-console-memory-updated )

“

The service console memory should be increased if you are running apps other than the default install. This includes management agents, backups, etc. Here is a simple command that I ran across to accomplish this. It requires a reboot to take effect. I incorporate this in my kickstart script. Don’t forget to set your swap partition to be 2x the Service Console memory.
“

I came across this when I was searching for service console and I thought it was worth blogging, as I plan to use HP agents in the future. Will I need to increase the default settings? Who knows, but I thought it was good to know the commands. See http://communities.vmware.com/blogs/froboy/2008/01/18/set-service-console-memory-updated for the full commands.