VMware Infrastructure 3: Install and Configure Day 2

So today was day two of the VMware Infrastructure 3: Install and Configure course. It was a lot more interesting than Day 1, although still ran at a pretty slow pace. Below are some of my notes made during the course & labs:

Storage

• SAN Troubleshooting Guide available, recommended reading:
• http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_san_design_deploy.pdf
• ESX can boot from an iSCSI SAN only when using a hardware initiator (iSCSI HBA).
• ESX does not currently support TCP/IP offload engine (TOE) NIC cards (although it does support TCP session offload).
• When using a software iSCSI initiator the session is established (TCP/3260) using the Service Console network interface (CHAP & SendTargets IP address discovery). Network Connectivity is required from the service console to the iSCSI SAN (could use a 2nd service console interface, just for this purpose).

VirtualCenter

• ODBC connection from Virtual Center to SQL 2005 DB needs SQL Native Client (not SQL Server ODBC driver)
• Virtual Center SQL Login needs db_owner on vCenter and MSDB databases

Important VMware communications - e.g for firewall security policy

• VirtualCenter to License Server: 27000, 27010
• Rebates and SDK Clients to VirtualCenter: 443, 80
• VirtualCenter to ESX Hosts: 902
• VI Client to VirtualCenter: 443
• VI Client to ESX Host Remote Console: 903

• By default VirtualCenter accumulates performance data on ESX Hosts and VMs for 1 year
• Commands to check the status of, or start the ESX host process (vmware-hostd):
• service mgmt-vmware status, service mgmt-vmware start

Virtual Machines

• As a guideline deploy single CPU VMs unless a multiple CPU VM is absolutely needed (e.g. multithreaded application requirement).
• As a guideline deploy multiple CPU VMs when there is at least a 2:1 ratio between virtual and physical CPU requirements (e.g. dual core VM, have quad core Host. Quad core VM have 8 core Host).
• There is no support in ESX for virtual USB devices (even though there is in VMware Workstation).
• www.digi.com have a USB to TCP/IP (5xUSB, 1xRJ45 - 10/100Mb Ethernet) converter - called AnywhereUSB. Software can be installed in the VM which provides access to the USB device over the VM's network interface.