ESXi on Nico Maas

Cannot start Virtual Machine on ESXi 6.5

Fri, 29 Jun 2018 08:00:54 +0000

As described by JC-LAN, I had a lot of trouble with one particular “special” VMDK on a ESXi 6.5 system, which did not start after a reboot of the ESXi host.

The power-on failed with “File system specific implementation of LookupAndOpen[…] failed” - however in the end it just gave me the overall error that it failed to start the machine. As it turned out, the VMDK was corrupted.

1.) Enable SSH on the ESXi host with the corrupted VMDK - and login

[VMWare] Deploy vCenter Server Appliance to ESXi 6.5

Mon, 25 Dec 2017 13:00:22 +0000

To deploy the vCenter Server Appliance (vcsa) to an ESXi 6.5 Server, you need to grab the latest vCenter Server for Linux from http://vmware.com/go/evaluate-vsphere-en - at the moment, thats the Version 6.5.0U1d from 19.12.2017 - which equals to the file VMware-VCSA-all-6.5.0-7312210.iso. After downloading that DVD Image, just burn it to a DVD or unpack it. You can then go on with Deploying it via GUI - or via CLI.

For deploying it via GUI, just start vcsa-ui-installer\win32\installer.exe - if you’re on a Windows PC - or execute the installer / Installer.app files in the lin64 or mac folders.

[VMWare] Get and upgrade ESXi 6.5 "offline" - without paid license

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 11:00:51 +0000

As I wanted to have a very recent version of ESXi, I went to VMWares website and checked out their Products, Free Products, vSphere Hypervisor section. This, however, only presented me with a ESXi 6.5.0a ISO from 02.02.2017 - too old. However, you’ll get the much needed free license - so the visit pays off :).

So to get the latest version and updates, you need to go to http://vmware.com/go/evaluate-vsphere-en - and are presented with the 6.5.0 U1 ISO from 27.07.2017 - a lot better. With said image you can then install your server. Even if you had an old 6.5.0a install, you could download the VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Offline Bundle - which will upgrade your old 6.5.0 installation to U1 from that site.

[Freifunk] Upgrade Virtual Freifunk Router on VMWare ESXi 6.5

Fri, 01 Sep 2017 13:50:41 +0000

As I mentioned earlier, I use a virtual Freifunk Router as part of my mobile Infrastructure / Server. With this little VM, I can actually run a big-area Freifunk Network with lots of users without having to invest in new TP-Link accesspoints: I am running the VM, outputing the Freifunk LAN to a designated VLAN and use old spare Accesspoints as dumb “Media-Converters” (LAN to WIFI ;)).

But, as I only use this appliance every now and then for different kind of conventions and conferences, I need to upgrade that Appliance manually, to get it straight to the latest version without waiting or reinstalling (and droping the VPN key…).

[Freifunk] Virtual Freifunk Router on VMWare ESXi 4.1

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 19:44:33 +0000

This post was planed a LONG TIME, however - due to the fact that I could not get it working back in 2015 (See: https://github.com/freifunk-gluon/gluon/issues/496) it had been delayed. However, as I have the need to get Freifunk working as VM on a central ESXi Server - I tried it again - and it worked! Basic instruction to get it working can be found here in german: https://www.it-kl.eu/2015/08/gluon-x86-unter-vmware/

I got following equipment: ESXi 4.1 Server with multiple NICs.
Start up with getting the right image from your Freifunk Team. I got the gluon-fftr-0.8.4-x86-vmware.vmdk from the Firmware Store of my trusted guys from FFTR (https://github.com/freifunktrier/firmware_store/tree/master/firmware/stable/factory [ Trier 0.8.4 is gluon 2016.1.6-3-g9300421, it’s just 2016.1.6 + ee597c6 + Webinterface-color-patches ] )
After that, create a new VM on your VMWare ESXi Server. Choose an user definied configuration, “Other” OS and “Other (32-Bit)” Version. I gave the VM a 1 vCPU and 512 MB of RAM - but you can chose as you like. After that, you need to create two Network Devices / NICs. I chose two E1000 ones, and gave the first Interface the Freifunk LAN and added the second Interface to my common WAN (IMPORTANT!). After that, you’re not going to create an HDD.
After the creation of the VM, upload your vmdk file to the folder, edit the VM and chose the downloaded VMDK as Harddrive.

[ESXi5.5U2] Install ESXi on VMWare Host with less than 4 GB of RAM

Thu, 26 Mar 2015 15:01:31 +0000

I found this solution in the Spiceworks VMWare Forum by User ZEFiR and after testing it succesfully with ESXi 5.5 Update 2, I wanted to preserve it for future use. The Original Post can be found
https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/411970-installing-esxi-5-5-with-4gb-ram-memory_size-error?page=1#entry-3816226. Thanks a lot to ZEFiR for sharing this very useful piece of knowledge :)!

Boot from VMware ESXi 5.5
wait “Welcome to theVMware ESXi 5.5.0 Installation” screen
Press Alt+F1 for enter console and login as “root” (no password needed)
go to:

[ESXi4.1U1] UMTS Stick on VM [ZTE MF 190 / HUAWEI E160G]

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:00:37 +0000

I needed to connect an UMTS Stick (O2 Surfstick) to an VM Machine which should serve as “Router”.
No problem - ESXi does support “USB Direct Through” - so you can easily connect an USB Stick to your VM…
At least, thats “normally” the Case:
With UMTS Sticks, this feature doesn’t work.
Why?
UMTS Sticks start up with an U3 Partition with all that needed, nice connection software….
And therefor, ESXi does see an CD Rom - which doesn’t show up within USB.
And… how to solve that?
Luckily I found this post: https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=26045
Which does contain the secret sauce:
Just connect your USB Stick to an already installed System… (your Laptop with the Connection Software and Drivers i.e.)
Look up your UMTS Stick within the Device Manager, get the COM Port.
Open Putty (9600 Baud worked for me, the Original Author does think of: 115200 kbps, 8 data bits, parity none, stop bits 1, Flow control None) with that Com Port.
Type in: AT+ZOPRT=5 and AT+ZCDRUN=8
Thats it!
Now the U3 doesn’t show up anymore, and it works!!
To reenable the feature, enter AT+ZCDRUN=9

[ESXi4.1U1] vCenter Server Startup Problems

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 09:00:01 +0000

I got the vmware virtualcenter server error 1000 odbc error on bootup of my Windows Server 2003 (64bit) which did serve my vCenter Server.
In fact this did mean in my case: The MSSQL Server didn’t boot / or too slow, so that vCenter Server came up - couldn’t access the DB and shutdown - “great!”.
Luckily, there is an solution, pointed to by this ( http://communities.vmware.com/message/1247357 ) and this Website ( http://blogs.egroup-us.com/?p=1821 )

[ESXi4.1] Update ESXi 4.1 to Update 1

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:00:34 +0000

Just found an awesome easy tutorial to upgrade ESXi 4.1 to ESXi 4.1 Update 1, that I would like to share with you:
http://www.sysprobs.com/guideserver-virtualization-update-vmware-esxi-41-update-1-vmkernel-release-build-348481

[ESXi4.1] Review

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 20:31:51 +0000

It has been sometime, but I still want to tell my experiences with ESXi 4.1.
In the beginning, I was very annoyed from the fact that you really need an 64 bit System and at least 2 Gigs of RAM.
But the rest just turned out fine, I have to admit.

Theres an upgrade path available, so you can upgrade your ESXi 3.5 Machine via an Upgrade to 4.1 without losing your Machines or the need to reinstall.
Actually - it worked, which did surprise myself in a good manner.

[ESXi 3.5] ESXi 3.5 Update 5 Install CD with oem.tgz + ssh,ftp,rsync and wget (made easy)!

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:41:53 +0000

Hello,

It has been a while since I was really doing something new with VMWare, but as I had the need to install some new Servers, I also was looking for better ways on integrating oem.tgz and other features. For that, I stumbled upon an very cool and useful Linux Build Script for ESXi, made by the User Varazir. After this How To you’re going to hold an ISO Installer with SSH, FTP, RSYNC, WGET and the Community Unified Driver Pack 1.1.0 oem.tgz in your Hands. Or an USB Stick with the same features - as Live Boot or Installer. Your choice.

ESXi 3.5 on Dell Optiplex 745

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:07:54 +0000

Exchange oem.tgz on root of ESXi 3.5 Install CD with new oem.tgz
Install with CD with OEM Community Version or IC8 oem.tgz (SATA on Normal Mode)
Boot from Knoppix 5.1, copy OEM.tz onto hda5 / Hypervisor Partition (SATA on Legacy Mode)
Boot, works!

Hints:

Use UltraISO und BurnISO to modificiate / burn the stock ISO
http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/customize_oem_tgz.php

Get Ethernetcard working again in Linux under ESXi

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:25:10 +0000

After installing Ubuntu Server on Vmware ESXi, I couldn’t find a NIC:

sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart

Reconfiguring network interfaces…

eth0: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device  
SIOCSIFADDR: No such device  
eth0: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device  
SIOCSIFNETMASK: No such device  
SIOCSIFBRDADDR: No such device  
eth0: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device  
eth0: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device  
Failed to bring up eth0.

Problem is that the ethernet MAC addresses are cached.

Eisfair von ESXi auf CF

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:31:48 +0000

ESXi Export für Workstation / Player
Erweitere Template mit VMXBuilder um IDE Festplatte, size minimum the SCSI HDD
(Vorsicht, IDE:0:0!, CD Laufwerk auf IDE:0:1 setzen!)
Booted VM mit “Ultimate Boot CD”, starte Tool “g4u” V1.17
Kopiere SCSI Disk auf IDE Disk
Editiere Template: Entferne SCSI HDD
Boote mit “Ultimate Boot CD”, DamnSmall Linux
mount /dev/hda2
sudo vi /etc/fstab: /dev/sda1 und /dev/sda2 auf /dev/hda1 und /dev/hda2 ändern
umount
boot

Bootloader

/etc/lilo.conf