http://vmguy.com/wordpress/index.php has posted his weekly Notable KB articles from the week
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Sorry, better late than never. Here’s last week’s collection from the 71 New/Updated KB Articles:
- Update Manager Client becomes disabled randomly
- iSCSI and Jumbo Frames configuration on ESX 3.5
- Defragmenting VirtualCenter performance data indexes on a Microsoft SQL database
- Virtualizing existing domain controllers
- VMware VirtualCenter service does not start automatically after reboot
- Moving the VirtualCenter SQL Database
- Sample configuration of virtual machine(VM) VLAN Tagging (VGT Mode) in ESX
- Sample configuration of virtual switch VLAN tagging (VST Mode) and ESX Server
- Configuring a VLAN on a portgroup
- Microsoft Windows 64bit operating systems (Vista, 2003, and 2008) randomly fail
- Troubleshooting fibre channel storage connectivity
- Troubleshooting ESX and ESXi connectivity to fibre channel arrays
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I thought the following where wroth a extensive read.
iSCSI and Jumbo Frames configuration on ESX 3.5
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KB Article
1007654
Products
VMware ESX
Product Versions
VMware ESX 3.5.x
Symptoms
Large queues are seen while monitoring Jumbo Frames
Purpose
This article provides information related to setting up an NAS and iSCSI environment with Jumbo Frames.
Caution: This is not a VMware supported configuration.
Resolution
Important Jumbo Frame Information
The following is important information to know when using Jumbo Frames:
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Any packet larger than 1500 MTU is a Jumbo Frame. ESX 3.5 supports frames up to 9kB (9000 Bytes). They are limited to data networking only (virtual machines and the VMotion network) on ESX 3i/3.5.
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Jumbo Frames must be enabled for each vSwitch or VMkernel interface through the command‐line interface on your ESX Server 3 host.
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To allow ESX Server 3 to send larger frames out onto the physical network, the network must support Jumbo Frames end to end for Jumbo Frames to be effective.
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Before enabling jumbo frames, ensure the NIC or LOM supports jumbo frames.
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VMware supports jumbo frames with the following vendors:
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Intel (82546, 82571),
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Broadcom (5708, 5706, 5709),
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Netxen (NXB-10GXxR,
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NXB-10GCX4),
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Neterion (Xframe, Xframe II, Xframe E).
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Creating a Jumbo Frames-enabled vSwitch
- Log in directly to your ESX Server 3 hosts console.
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Run the esxcfg-vswitch -m <MTU> <vSwitch> command to set the MTU size for the vSwitch.
This command sets the MTU for all uplinks on that vSwitch. Set the MTU size to the largest MTU size among all the virtual network adapters connected to the vSwitch. -
Run the esxcfg-vswitch -l command to display a list of vSwitches on the host, and check that the configuration of the vSwitch is correct.
Creating a Jumbo Frames-enabled VMkernel interface
To create a Jumbo Frames-enabled VMkernel interface:
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Log in directly to your ESX Server 3 host’s console.
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Run the esxcfg-vmknic -a -i <ip address> -n <netmask> -m <MTU> <portgroup name> command to create a VMkernel connection with Jumbo Frame
support. -
Run the esxcfg-vmknic -l command to display a list of VMkernel interfaces, and check that the configuration of the Jumbo Frame‐enabled interface is correct.
Note: ESX Server 3 supports a maximum MTU size of 9000.
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Microsoft Windows 64bit operating systems (Vista, 2003, and 2008) randomly fail
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KB Article
1006576
Products
VMware ACE
VMware ESX
VMware ESXi
VMware Fusion
VMware Player
VMware Workstation
Product Versions
Any
Symptoms
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Your Windows operating system fails or stops responding
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A computer that is running an x64-based version of Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, or Windows Server 2008 randomly restarts and generates a Stop error
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The Stop error code may be:
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0x0000001E
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0x000000D1
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or another Stop error code
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Resolution
This is a Microsoft issue caused by a patch.
This problem occurs after you install Microsoft update 932596 on the computer. For more information, refer to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950772.
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Addtionaly,
Make sure to know the proper trouble shooting method’s when running A Fiber Channel array via VMware.
Troubleshooting ESX and ESXi connectivity to fibre channel arrays
Troubleshooting fibre channel storage connectivity
These both outline it well.
Thanks to The VMguy and VMware for the content.
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