VMware Management

Serial Number Topic Page Number

1 ESXi Upgrade 2
2 Migrate ESXi Hosts from One vCenter to Another 7
3 ESXi Update 8
4 vCenter Upgrade 11
5 vCenter Update 13
6 Re-registering VMs 16
7 Replication 17
8 vRealize Operations (vROps) 19
9 VMware Appliance Management Interface (VAMI) 20
10 Resource Pools 22
11 Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and Its Issues 23
12 Decommission Process 26
13 Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) 28
14 High Availability (HA) 29
15 Fault Tolerance (FT) 30
16 Snapshots 31
17 vMotion 32
18 Storage vMotion (SVmotion) 33
19 Redundancy 34
20 Rollback 35
21 Raw Device Mapping (RDM) 36
22 Affinity and Anti-affinity Rules 38
23 Disk Management and Disk Provisioning 39
24 Lifecycle Manager 41
25 VMware vCenter 42
26 Troubleshooting in VMware Environments 44
27 VMware Files 48
28 Storage in VMware Environment 50
29 Shared Storage 52
30 Memory Reclamation 54
31 VMware Networking Overview 57
32 Failures in a VMware Environment 59
33 VMware Commands and Actions 63
34 Licensing 64
35 Support Options 65

1. ESXI UPGRADE
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ESXi Upgrade Using LCM
Pre-requisites for ESXi Upgrade Using LCM
1. Check vCenter Compatibility
 Ensure your vCenter Server is updated and compatible with the ESXi version you want to
upgrade to. vCenter should always be upgraded before ESXi hosts.
 Verify compatibility using the VMware Compatibility Guide.
2. Backup vCenter and ESXi Host Configurations
 Perform a vCenter backup before starting the upgrade.
 Also, back up the ESXi configuration as an additional safeguard:
bash
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vim-cmd hostsvc/firmware/backup_config
3. VM Backup
 Ensure that all virtual machines (VMs) are backed up before proceeding with the upgrade.
This could be through snapshots or third-party backup software like Veeam.
4. Datastore and Boot Device Space
 Confirm that your datastore and boot partition have enough space for the ESXi upgrade
files.
 Use the following command to check storage availability:
bash
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df -h
5. Place Host in Maintenance Mode
 Move all VMs off the host (using vMotion if in a cluster) or shut them down and place the
host in Maintenance Mode:
bash
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vim-cmd /hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter
6. Firmware Compatibility
 Check for any firmware updates for your server hardware, as some upgrades may require
the firmware to be updated to be compatible with the new ESXi version.

Pre-Upgrade Checks
1. Check ESXi Host Compliance
 In Lifecycle Manager, run a compliance check to verify if the current host configuration is
compatible with the new ESXi version. This step helps identify potential issues with drivers
or firmware.
2. Check vSphere HA and DRS Settings
 If using vSphere HA (High Availability) or DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler), consider
disabling HA admission control and setting DRS to manual during the upgrade to prevent
unnecessary failovers or VM migrations.
3. Validate Custom ESXi Settings
 Make note of any custom configurations (like network settings, VMkernel interfaces, syslog
configuration) as these may need to be re-applied post-upgrade.

Step-by-Step Upgrade Using VMware Lifecycle Manager

(LCM)
VMware vSphere Lifecycle Manager (formerly VUM) allows you to automate the upgrade process
for ESXi hosts in clusters or standalone setups.
Step 1: Log in to vSphere Client
 Access the vSphere Client connected to the vCenter Server.
Step 2: Navigate to Lifecycle Manager
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  From the vSphere Home, select Lifecycle Manager under the Lifecycle Operations section.
Step 3: Import the ESXi Image
 Download the latest ESXi ISO from the VMware website.
 In the Lifecycle Manager interface, go to the Image Depot and click Import.
 Browse and select the ESXi ISO image file you downloaded.
Step 4: Create an Image Baseline
 In Lifecycle Manager, go to Baselines and click New Baseline.
 Select the ESXi image that you just imported and create a new baseline for host upgrades.
Step 5: Attach the Baseline to the Hosts/Cluster
 Select the hosts or cluster you want to upgrade.
 Click Attach Baseline and select the baseline you created in the previous step.
Step 6: Run Compliance Check
 Perform a compliance scan to check the ESXi host’s readiness for the upgrade.
 Address any warnings or errors that appear, such as missing drivers, hardware compatibility
issues, or lack of space on the boot device.
Step 7: Remediate the Hosts
 After confirming compliance, click Remediate to start the upgrade.
 During remediation, Lifecycle Manager will automatically place the ESXi hosts in
Maintenance Mode, upgrade them, and reboot.
Step 8: Monitor the Upgrade Process
 You can monitor the progress in the Recent Tasks pane or under the Lifecycle Manager
section.
 Once completed, the hosts will automatically exit Maintenance Mode, or you can manually
exit if needed:
bash
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vim-cmd /hostsvc/maintenance_mode_exit
Step 9: Post-Upgrade Validation
 After the host reboots, confirm the ESXi version is updated using the vSphere Client or
SSH:
bash
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vmware -v

Post-Upgrade Tasks
1. Reapply Custom Settings
 Check if any custom settings (like NTP, syslog, or network configurations) need to be re-
applied after the upgrade.
2. Verify Datastore and Network Connections
 Ensure that datastores and network interfaces are accessible and correctly configured.
3. Update VMware Tools
 After upgrading ESXi, ensure that VMware Tools is updated on all VMs to ensure full
compatibility with the new ESXi version.
4. Check Cluster/HA Functionality
 If your host is part of a DRS or HA cluster, re-enable any admission control or automation
level settings that were disabled prior to the upgrade.
 Test HA failover and vMotion to ensure everything is functioning as expected.
5. Monitor Host Performance
 Monitor the performance and logs of the ESXi host to identify any anomalies or issues post-
upgrade.
6. Review Event Logs
Check vCenter event logs for any errors or warnings generated during the upgrade process to
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
address any post-upgrade issues.
Common Considerations
 Firmware Updates: Some environments may require firmware to be updated as part of the
upgrade process, especially for storage controllers or network adapters.
 Driver Compatibility: Ensure that all drivers (network/storage) are compatible with the new
ESXi version before proceeding with the upgrade.
 vCenter HA/Linked Mode: If using vCenter HA or Linked Mode, ensure these services
are functioning properly after the ESXi upgrade.

Upgrade ESXi Using ESXCLI

There are two main ways to upgrade ESXi using the CLI: upgrading via an offline bundle or via
online repository.

Method 1: Upgrade ESXi Using Offline Bundle (Recommended for Air-Gapped

Environments)

Step 1: Download the Offline Bundle

 Download the ESXi Offline Bundle ZIP file from the VMware Downloads page.

Step 2: Upload the Bundle to a Datastore

 Using the vSphere Client, upload the downloaded offline bundle ZIP file to one of the datastores
accessible by the ESXi host.

Step 3: Connect to the ESXi Host via SSH

 Enable SSH on the host via the vSphere Client.
 SSH into the ESXi host using a tool like PuTTY.

Step 4: List Available Offline Bundles

 Check for the offline bundle file on the datastore to ensure it was uploaded correctly:

bash
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ls /vmfs/volumes/<datastore_name>/
Step 5: Run the Upgrade Command
 Run the following esxcli command to initiate the upgrade:

bash
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esxcli software vib update -d
/vmfs/volumes/<datastore_name>/<offline_bundle.zip>
 This command updates the VIBs (VMware Installation Bundles) in the offline bundle.

Step 6: Reboot the Host

 After the upgrade is complete, reboot the host to apply the changes:

bash
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Reboot

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Method 2: Upgrade ESXi Using VMware Online Depot (Requires Internet Access)
Step-by-Step Process for ESXi Upgrade (with CLI and Datastore ZIP File)

1. Manually Place the Host in Maintenance Mode

1. Log in to the ESXi web client or vCenter.

2. Navigate to your ESXi host.
3. Select the host and click on Actions > Enter Maintenance Mode.
o This ensures that all running VMs are either powered off or migrated (if using
vCenter with vMotion).
o Wait for the host to enter maintenance mode.

2. SSH into the ESXi Host

1. Use an SSH client (e.g., Putty) to connect to your ESXi host.

o Run the following command:

bash
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ssh root@<ESXi_host_IP>

Replace <ESXi_host_IP> with the actual IP address of your ESXi host.

3. Verify the Datastore and ZIP File Location

1. You must ensure the ESXi 7.0 offline bundle (ZIP file) is correctly stored in a datastore.
o For example, the ZIP file could be stored in datastore1.
o To view your datastores, run:

bash
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esxcli storage filesystem list

This will display a list of datastores and their mount paths.

2. Assume the ZIP file (ESXi-7.0.0-15843807-depot.zip) is located in the following path:

bash
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/vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ESXi-7.0.0-15843807-depot.zip

4. Check Available Upgrade Profiles

Before applying the upgrade, you can check the available profiles in the ZIP bundle to ensure you're
using the correct one.

1. Run the following command to list all available profiles in the ZIP file:

bash
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esxcli software sources profile list -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ESXi-
7.0.0-15843807-depot.zip

You will see a list of profiles, including something like:

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ESXi-7.0.0-15843807-standard

5. Perform the Upgrade

1. After identifying the profile (e.g., ESXi-7.0.0-15843807-standard), run the following

command to start the upgrade process:

bash
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esxcli software profile update -p ESXi-7.0.0-15843807-standard -d

/vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ESXi-7.0.0-15843807-depot.zip

o -p:
Specifies the profile to be used.
o -d:
Specifies the location of the ZIP file in the datastore.
2. The upgrade will start. This process may take some time depending on your host and
environment.

6. Reboot the ESXi Host

1. Once the upgrade process is completed, reboot the ESXi host to apply the changes:

bash
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reboot

7. Verify the ESXi Version After Reboot

1. After the host has rebooted, verify that the upgrade was successful and check the ESXi
version:

bash
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vmware -v

This should display version 7.0 if the upgrade was successful.

8. Exit Maintenance Mode

1. Once you've confirmed that the ESXi host has been successfully upgraded, you can take the
host out of maintenance mode.

You can do this either:

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 o Manually via the vSphere Web Client:
 Go to the host and click Actions > Exit Maintenance Mode.

Or, via the CLI:

bash
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vim-cmd /hostsvc/maintenance_mode_exit

Post-Upgrade Tasks
1. Exit Maintenance Mode
 After the reboot, take the host out of Maintenance Mode:
bash
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vim-cmd /hostsvc/maintenance_mode_exit
2. Verify ESXi Version
 Confirm the ESXi upgrade was successful by verifying the new version:
bash
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vmware -v
3. Check Datastores and Network Connections
 Verify that the datastore and network adapters are still correctly configured and functioning post-
upgrade:
bash
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esxcli storage filesystem list
esxcli network nic list

4. Update VMware Tools

 Ensure VMware Tools on all VMs are updated to be compatible with the upgraded ESXi version.
5. Check Custom Configurations
 Reapply any custom configurations that may have been reset during the upgrade (e.g., NTP settings,
syslog, network configurations).
6. Monitor Host Performance
 Monitor the performance of the ESXi host post-upgrade to ensure there are no issues.
7. Review Event Logs
 Check the logs in vSphere Client or through the command line to ensure there are no warnings or
issues after the upgrade:
bash
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tail -f /var/log/vmkernel.log

2. Migrate ESXi Hosts from One VCenter To Another

To migrate ESXi hosts from one vCenter to another, you need to ensure minimal disruption. Here's a
high-level overview of the steps:

Prerequisites:

 Both vCenters should be operational and accessible.

 Ensure you have backup or snapshots of critical VMs before starting.

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 Check network configurations (port groups, VLANs) are consistent across both vCenters.
Steps:

1. Prepare ESXi Host:

o Disable DRS (if enabled) on the cluster hosting the ESXi hosts to prevent VM migrations
during the process.
o Ensure no running tasks (e.g., VM migrations, backups) are pending on the host.

2. Disconnect the ESXi Host from the Source vCenter:

o In the source vCenter, right-click on the host you wish to migrate and select Disconnect.
o Wait until the host is disconnected. The VMs will continue to run unaffected.

3. Remove the Host from the Source vCenter:

o Once the host is disconnected, right-click again and choose Remove from vCenter.
o The ESXi host will still function and manage the VMs, but it will no longer be associated with
the original vCenter.

4. Add the Host to the Destination vCenter:

o Log into the destination vCenter.
o Navigate to the cluster where you want to add the ESXi host.
o Right-click the cluster and select Add Host.
o Enter the host’s IP address or FQDN, credentials, and complete the process.
o The host will now be managed by the new vCenter.

5. Reconfigure the Host (If Needed):

o Ensure the networking configuration is intact.
o Reconfigure any resource pools, DRS, or HA settings if needed.
o Verify VM compatibility and check that all VMs are functioning properly in the new vCenter.

6. Post-Migration Tasks:
o Verify that the host is healthy in the new vCenter.
o Check event logs for any issues.
o Test VM migrations (vMotion, storage vMotion) if applicable.

Additional Considerations:

 Licensing: Ensure that appropriate licensing is applied on the ESXi host in the destination vCenter.
 Distributed Switches: If the ESXi hosts use distributed switches, you'll need to ensure that the same
distributed switch exists on the new vCenter or manually map the port groups.

3. ESXi UPDATE
Pre-Update Considerations

1. Backup Configuration
 Backup ESXi Configuration: Use the command line to back up the ESXi configuration. Log in via SSH
and execute:

bash
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vicfg-cfgbackup -s /path/to/backup_file
Replace /path/to/backup_file with the desired backup file path.

2. Check Compatibility
 Compatibility Guide: Check the VMware Compatibility Guide here to ensure your hardware supports
the new ESXi version. 8
3. Check for Existing VMs
 VM Status: Make sure all VMs are either powered off or migrated using vMotion if you are in a
cluster environment.

4. Plan for Downtime

 Maintenance Window: Schedule the update during a time that minimizes user impact.

Update Methods

Method 1: Using the vSphere Client

1. Log In:

o Open the vSphere Client and log in to your vCenter Server or ESXi host.
2. Select the Host:

o In the Navigator pane, select the ESXi host you wish to update.
3. Check for Updates:

o Go to Updates in the menu.

o Click Check for Updates.
4. Install Updates:

o If updates are available, select them.

o Click Install and follow the prompts to install the updates.
5. Reboot Host:

o If prompted, reboot the ESXi host.

Method 2: Using the Command Line (CLI)

1. Enable SSH:

o If not already enabled, go to the ESXi host in the vSphere Client, select Configure > System >
Services, and start the SSH service.
2. Log In via SSH:

o Use an SSH client (like PuTTY) to connect to your ESXi host.

3. Download Update Files:

o You can download the ESXi patch bundle (ZIP file) from the VMware Patch Download Center
or use a command line tool (like curl or wget) to download it directly to the ESXi host.
4. Update Command:

o Run the following command to update:

bash
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esxcli software profile update -p <profile_name> -d <path_to_the_zip>
o Replace <profile_name> with the specific profile you are updating to (e.g., ESXi-
7.0U2c-17867351-standard) and <path_to_the_zip> with the local path or URL of
the update ZIP file.
5. Reboot:

o After the update completes, reboot the host:

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 bash
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reboot
Method 3: Using VMware Life Cycle Manager (LCM)
1. Log In to vSphere Client:

o Access the vSphere Client and navigate to Update Manager.

2. Create a Baseline:

o Go to the Baselines and Groups tab.

o Click Create to make a new baseline and choose Host Baseline.
o Add the desired patches or extensions.
3. Attach Baseline:

o Select your ESXi host and click on Update Manager.

o Click Attach and select your created baseline.
4. Scan for Compliance:

o After attaching, click Scan to check the host's compliance with the baseline.
5. Remediate Host:

o If updates are required, click Remediate and follow the wizard to apply the updates.
o Choose to power off VMs or migrate them if required.
6. Reboot:

o A reboot may be necessary after remediation.

Post-Update Steps

1. Reboot the Host

 Ensure the host has rebooted completely before verifying the update.

2. Verify Update
 Log back into the ESXi host or vSphere Client.
 Go to the host summary page to check the ESXi version in the General section.

3. Check VMs
 Power on any VMs that were powered off or check that migrated VMs are running without issues.

4. Check Host Status

 Run the following command via SSH to check the health and status:

bash
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esxcli system health status get
Troubleshooting

 Check Logs: If the update fails, review the logs in /var/log for potential errors:

o esxupdate.log
o vmkernel.log
 Disk Space: Ensure there is sufficient disk space for the update. You can check available
space using:

bash
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 vdf -h
 Revert Configuration: If the update causes issues, you can revert to the previous
configuration using your backup:

bash
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vicfg-cfgbackup -l /path/to/backup_file

4. Vcenter Upgrade
Upgrading vCenter Server is a critical task that requires careful planning and execution. Below is a
detailed guide for upgrading vCenter Server, covering pre-upgrade preparations, the upgrade process,
and post-upgrade tasks.

Pre-Upgrade Considerations

1. Backup Configuration
 Backup vCenter Server: Ensure that you have a current backup of your vCenter Server configuration
and databases. You can use the built-in backup feature or third-party tools.
 Backup the vCenter Database: If you're using an external database (like Microsoft SQL Server or
Oracle), back up the database.

2. Check Compatibility
 Compatibility Matrix: Verify compatibility with your existing VMware environment. Check the
VMware Compatibility Guide for supported versions of ESXi, the database, and any other
components.

3. Review Release Notes

 Review the release notes for the new vCenter version to understand new features, deprecated
features, and known issues.

4. Plan for Downtime

 Schedule Maintenance Window: Plan the upgrade during a maintenance window, as vCenter Server
will be unavailable during the upgrade process.

5. Check System Requirements

 Verify that the hardware and software meet the system requirements for the new version of vCenter
Server.


Upgrade Methods

Method 1: Using the vSphere Client

1. Log In to vSphere Client:
o Open the vSphere Client and log in to the vCenter Server. 11
 2. Navigate to the Update Section:
o Click on Menu > Administration > Deployment > System Configuration.

3. Check for Updates:

o Under Nodes, select the vCenter Server you wish to upgrade.
o Click on Check for Updates to see if a new version is available.

4. Download the Update:

o If an update is available, download it. You may also need to upload the update file if not
automatically detected.

5. Install Updates:
o Follow the prompts to install the updates. This may involve multiple steps, including
reviewing the update summary.

6. Reboot:
o After installation, the vCenter Server will need to reboot.

Method 2: Using the Installer

1. Download the Installer:
o Go to the VMware Download Center and download the latest version of vCenter Server.

2. Prepare the Environment:

o Ensure all services are stopped before proceeding with the upgrade.
o Make sure to disable any custom scripts or scheduled tasks that may interfere with the
upgrade.

3. Run the Installer:

o Execute the installer on the vCenter Server machine.
o Choose the Upgrade option from the main menu.

4. Follow the Upgrade Wizard:

o Select the existing vCenter Server installation and follow the prompts.
o Review the settings, including the database connection settings, and make any necessary
adjustments.

5. Upgrade Process:
o The installer will check for any potential issues before proceeding. Address any issues as
needed.
o Click Upgrade to start the upgrade process. This may take some time.

6. Complete the Upgrade:

o Once the upgrade is complete, the installer will provide a summary of the changes made.
o Restart the vCenter Server as prompted.

Method 3: Using the Command Line (For vCenter

Server Appliance)
1. Log In via SSH:
o Access the vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) using SSH.

2. Run the Command:

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 o Use the following command to upgrade:

bash
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/opt/vmware/vcenter/vcenter-upgrade-cli upgrade --accept-eula --target-
version <target_version>

Replace <target_version> with the version number you are upgrading to.

3. Follow the Prompts:

o Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the upgrade.

Post-Upgrade Steps

1. Verify Upgrade

 Log In: Log back into the vSphere Client and verify that vCenter Server is functioning correctly.
 Check Version: Go to Menu > About to confirm the vCenter Server version.

2. Verify Services

 Ensure all services are running properly:

o Navigate to Menu > Administration > Deployment > System Configuration > Nodes and
check the status of services.

3. Test Functionality

 Test key functionalities, such as:

o Accessing the vCenter Server.
o Creating and managing VMs.
o Accessing the vSphere Web Client.

4. Review Logs

 Check the logs located in /var/log/vmware/ for any warnings or errors during the upgrade.

5. Update Plugins and Extensions

 If you have any third-party plugins or extensions, make sure they are compatible with the new
version and update them as necessary.

Troubleshooting

 If you encounter issues during the upgrade, consult the upgrade logs located in
/var/log/vmware/upgrade.log or vpxd.log for details on the errors.
 If the vCenter Server fails to start, use the backup configuration to revert to the previous version.

5. VCenter Update
Updating vCenter Server can involve several steps, depending on whether you are upgrading from an
older version or applying patches. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the update
process.

Steps to Update vCenter Server 13

1. Pre-Upgrade Preparations

Backup Your Configuration

 Backup vCenter Server: Ensure you have a current backup of the vCenter Server configuration and
its database.
 Backup External Database: If using an external database (like Microsoft SQL or Oracle), back it up as
well.

Check Compatibility

 Compatibility Matrix: Refer to the VMware Compatibility Guide to ensure that your ESXi hosts and
any other components are compatible with the new version of vCenter Server.

Review Release Notes

 Read the release notes for the new vCenter version to understand any new features, deprecated
features, and known issues.

Plan for Downtime

 Maintenance Window: Schedule the update during a period of low activity since vCenter Server will
be unavailable during the upgrade.

Check System Requirements

 Verify that your hardware meets the system requirements for the new vCenter Server version.

2. Update Methods

Method 1: Using the vSphere Client

1. Log In: Open the vSphere Client and log in to your vCenter Server.
2. Navigate to Update Section:
o Click on Menu > Administration > Deployment > System Configuration.

3. Check for Updates:

o Under Nodes, select the vCenter Server to be updated.
o Click Check for Updates.

4. Download Updates:
o If an update is available, download it.

5. Install Updates:
o Click on Install Updates and follow the prompts to complete the installation.

6. Reboot the vCenter Server:

o If prompted, restart the vCenter Server.

Method 2: Using the Installer

14
 1. Download the Installer:
o Go to the VMware Download Center and download the latest version of vCenter Server.

2. Run the Installer:

o Launch the installer on the vCenter Server machine.

3. Choose Upgrade Option:

o Select the Upgrade option from the main menu.

4. Follow the Wizard:

o The installer will guide you through the upgrade process. Review the settings and make
necessary changes to database connection settings if needed.

5. Complete the Upgrade:

o Follow the prompts until the upgrade completes.

6. Restart the vCenter Server:

o A reboot may be required once the upgrade is finished.

Method 3: Using Command Line (For vCenter Server Appliance)

1. Log In via SSH:

o Access the vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) via SSH.

2. Run Upgrade Command:

o Execute the following command:

bash
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/opt/vmware/vcenter/vcenter-upgrade-cli upgrade --accept-eula --target-
version <target_version>

Replace <target_version> with the desired version number.

3. Follow Prompts:

o Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the upgrade.

3. Post-Upgrade Steps

Verify the Upgrade

 Log in to the vSphere Client and verify that vCenter Server is functioning correctly and that the
version number is updated.

Check Services

 Ensure all necessary services are running:

o Go to Menu > Administration > Deployment > System Configuration > Nodes to check
service statuses.

Test Functionality 15
  Create and manage VMs, and ensure everything operates as expected.

Review Logs

 Check logs in /var/log/vmware/ for any warnings or errors that may have occurred during the
upgrade.

Update Plugins and Extensions

 Make sure any third-party plugins or extensions are compatible with the new version and update
them accordingly.

Troubleshooting

 If you encounter issues during the upgrade, check the logs located in
/var/log/vmware/upgrade.log or vpxd.log.
 If vCenter Server fails to start, use your backup configuration to restore the previous version.

In VMware, "re-registering" a virtual machine (VM) or service typically refers to restoring a VM or

re-linking it to the inventory if it becomes detached, or if you need to re-register certain services.
Below are the processes related to re-registering in VMware environments:

6. Re-registering
1. Re-registering a Virtual Machine in VMware vSphere

If a VM has been removed from the inventory but the files still exist in the datastore, you can re-
register the VM. This often happens when a VM has been manually deleted from the inventory but
not from disk.

Steps:

1. Access the vSphere Web Client:

o Log in to the vSphere Web Client or vCenter.

2. Browse the Datastore:

o Navigate to Storage in vSphere and browse the datastore where the VM files are stored.

3. Locate the VM's .vmx File:

o In the datastore browser, locate the directory containing the VM you want to re-register.
o Find the .vmx file (this is the configuration file for the VM).

4. Re-register the VM:

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 o Right-click on the .vmx file and select Register VM.
o The VM will be re-added to the vSphere inventory.

5. Configure the VM:

o After re-registration, you can power on the VM and reconfigure any settings as needed.

2. Re-registering vCenter Services

If any of the VMware vCenter services need to be re-registered, such as after an upgrade, corruption,
or a misconfiguration, you may need to manually re-register them.

Steps:

1. Access vCenter Appliance Management (VAMI):

o Connect to the vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) via SSH.

2. Run Service Re-registration Commands:

o You can re-register services using vmon-cli. For example, to re-register a specific service like
vsphere-ui, use:

bash
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vmon-cli -r vsphere-ui

o You can replace vsphere-ui with other service names as needed.

3. Restart the Services:

o After re-registering the service, restart it by using:

bash
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service-control --start vsphere-ui

3. Re-registering vCenter or Platform Services Controller (PSC)

If your vCenter or PSC has been unregistered due to errors or updates, you may need to re-register it
with other components like external PSC or vCenter instances.

Steps:

1. Access vCenter Server:

o SSH into the vCenter Server or PSC.

2. Run Re-registration Command:

o Use the cmsso-util command to re-register the vCenter Server with an external PSC:

bash
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/usr/lib/vmware-vmdir/bin/cmsso-util register --server-name
<PSC_or_vCenter_IP> --username administrator --password '<password>'

3. Reboot the vCenter Server:

o After re-registration, restart the vCenter server to apply the changes.

4. Re-registering VMware Tools

17
Sometimes VMware Tools may need to be reinstalled or re-registered on a guest VM if they are not
functioning correctly.

Steps:

1. Log Into the VM:

o Access the guest OS of the VM.

2. Reinstall VMware Tools:

o In the vSphere Web Client, right-click on the VM and select Guest OS > Install VMware
Tools. If it is already installed, the option will appear as Reinstall VMware Tools.
o Follow the on-screen prompts within the guest OS to reinstall or update VMware Tools.

3. Restart the VM:

o Restart the VM after the installation is complete to ensure that VMware Tools are properly
registered.

Conclusion:

Re-registering in VMware involves processes such as re-adding VMs to inventory, fixing broken
services, or re-registering components like vCenter or VMware Tools. These tasks help to restore
proper connections or functionality in a VMware infrastructure, ensuring smooth operation and
minimizing downtime.

7. Replication
Replication in VMware technology refers to the process of creating and maintaining copies of virtual
machines (VMs) across different sites or hosts for disaster recovery, load balancing, or backup
purposes. VMware provides various tools and features that facilitate VM replication, such as
VMware vSphere Replication and vSAN Replication. This ensures business continuity by
allowing you to recover VMs quickly in case of failures.

Key Concepts of VMware Replication:

1. VMware vSphere Replication

 What It Is: vSphere Replication is VMware’s native hypervisor-based replication solution. It allows
asynchronous replication of VMs from one vSphere host or site to another.
 How It Works: vSphere Replication continuously copies the state of a VM from a primary site to a
secondary site. You can configure the replication at a per-VM level and choose different Recovery
Point Objectives (RPO), depending on how frequently you want the replication to occur (ranging
from 5 minutes to 24 hours).

Key Features:

 Asynchronous Replication: Replication happens periodically rather than in real-time, reducing the
amount of network bandwidth needed.
 Per-VM Replication: You can select specific VMs to replicate based on business needs.
 Multiple Targets: You can replicate to multiple targets (e.g., from one datacenter to another or even
to the cloud).
 Recovery Point Objective (RPO): You can define the maximum data loss acceptable (e.g., RPO of 5
minutes means up to 5 minutes of data might be lost in case of a failure).
 Failover and Failback: vSphere Replication allows failover to a secondary site and, once the primary
site is restored, failback to the original environment. 18
Use Cases:

 Disaster recovery (DR)

 Datacenter migration
 Minimizing downtime in case of a hardware failure or disaster

2. VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM)

 What It Is: VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) works with vSphere Replication (or other third-
party replication solutions) to provide automated disaster recovery orchestration and testing.
 How It Works: SRM automates the failover and recovery of virtual environments in the event of a
disaster. It integrates with vSphere Replication to streamline the replication and recovery process.

Key Features:

 Automated Failover: In the event of a disaster, SRM automates the recovery process, reducing
downtime.
 Disaster Recovery Testing: SRM allows you to test DR plans in an isolated environment without
disrupting the production environment.
 Recovery Plans: You can create detailed recovery plans that define the order and behavior of VMs
during failover, ensuring critical systems are brought online first.

3. VMware vSAN Replication

 What It Is: VMware vSAN provides storage-level replication within hyperconverged infrastructure
(HCI). vSAN can mirror VMs' storage across different nodes within a cluster to ensure high availability
and redundancy.
 How It Works: vSAN replicates VM data across multiple hosts in a vSAN cluster. This ensures that if
one host or disk fails, the data is still available on another host, providing resilience at the storage
level.

Key Features:

 Storage-Level Replication: Data is mirrored at the storage level across multiple nodes.
 Local Resilience: Even in cases of individual host or disk failure, the VMs remain online because the
data is replicated across nodes.
 Integration with vSphere: vSAN replication is deeply integrated with vSphere, allowing seamless
management of VMs and storage.

Use Cases:

 Ensuring high availability in hyperconverged environments.

 Providing fault tolerance at the storage level.

4. Cloud-Based Replication (VMware Cloud Disaster Recovery)

 What It Is: VMware Cloud Disaster Recovery allows replicating on-premises VMs to VMware Cloud
on AWS or other cloud services. This hybrid cloud DR approach allows you to leverage cloud
infrastructure for disaster recovery without maintaining an additional physical site.
 How It Works: You can use vSphere Replication or other replication services to copy VMs to the
cloud, ensuring a cloud-based disaster recovery environment.

Key Features:

 On-Demand Cloud DR: Use the cloud as a secondary site for DR.
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  Cost-Efficient: You only pay for cloud resources when they are needed for failover, reducing costs.
 Scalability: Easily scale the cloud DR site without having to invest in new hardware.

Use Cases:

 Disaster recovery for businesses with limited physical infrastructure.

 Reducing the cost of maintaining a secondary DR site.

Benefits of VMware Replication:

 Disaster Recovery: Provides a fast and reliable way to recover from unexpected outages or disasters.
 Business Continuity: Minimizes downtime by ensuring that VMs are quickly available at a secondary
site.
 Flexible RPOs: You can set different recovery points based on business needs and available network
resources.
 Scalability: Easily replicate workloads between on-premises environments or to the cloud as your
business grows.
 Cost Efficiency: Replication can be done selectively at the VM level, allowing you to protect critical
workloads without overcommitting resources.

Conclusion:

VMware replication technology ensures that your critical VMs are always protected and can be
restored quickly in the event of a disaster. Whether you are using vSphere Replication, vSAN, or
cloud-based DR solutions, VMware provides a robust platform for disaster recovery and business
continuity.

8. V rops (VMware vRealize Operations)

vROps stands for VMware vRealize Operations, which is a comprehensive operations
management tool for monitoring, optimizing, and troubleshooting virtual environments like VMware
vSphere.

Key Features of vROps:

1. Performance Monitoring:
o Monitors the health, performance, and capacity of virtual machines, clusters, hosts, and
storage.
o Uses intelligent alerts and recommendations to address issues.

2. Capacity Planning:
o Helps you forecast and plan for future capacity needs.
o Provides insights into resource usage, allowing for better optimization.

3. Automated Troubleshooting:
o vROps can automatically detect anomalies in your virtual environment and suggest fixes.
o Predictive analytics are used to identify issues before they cause outages.

4. Optimization:
o Optimizes workloads by balancing VM distribution across your hosts.
o Recommends resizing VMs based on performance data.

5. Dashboards and Reporting:

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 o Provides customizable dashboards for a high-level view of your entire environment.
o Generates detailed reports to keep track of performance trends and capacity usage.

Use Case:

 Proactive Monitoring: Instead of reacting to issues after they happen, vROps helps administrators
proactively monitor and fix issues before they impact performance.
 Cost Optimization: It ensures you’re using resources efficiently, helping you save costs by reducing
over-provisioning and underutilized resources.

In summary, vROps is a powerful tool for keeping VMware environments healthy, efficient, and
well-optimized, helping organizations ensure smooth operation of their virtual infrastructure.

9. VAMI (VMware Appliance Management Interface)

The VAMI (VMware Appliance Management Interface) console is a web-based management
interface for configuring and managing VMware appliances, including the vCenter Server
Appliance (VCSA) and other VMware virtual appliances. It provides administrators with a user-
friendly way to perform various administrative tasks without needing to access the command line
interface.

Key Features of VAMI

1. Network Configuration:
o Set up and modify network settings, such as IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS
servers.
o Configure both static and dynamic (DHCP) network settings.

2. Access Settings:
o Manage the root password for the appliance.
o Configure SSH access for advanced troubleshooting and management.

3. Update Management:
o Apply updates to the appliance through the VAMI interface.
o Check for updates and install patches for the appliance.

4. Monitoring and Logs:

o View system health and resource usage (CPU, memory, disk).
o Access log files for troubleshooting purposes.

5. Backup and Restore:

o Schedule and configure backups for the vCenter Server Appliance.
o Restore the appliance from a backup when necessary.

6. NTP Configuration:
o Configure NTP settings to ensure accurate time synchronization for the appliance.

How to Access the VAMI Console

1. Obtain the URL:

o The VAMI console is accessed via a web browser using the URL format:

arduino
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 https://<VCSA-IP>:5480

o Replace <VCSA-IP> with the IP address or hostname of your vCenter Server Appliance.

2. Log In:
o Use the root user credentials to log in to the VAMI interface.

Common Tasks in VAMI

Here’s a breakdown of common tasks you can perform using the VAMI console:

1. Network Configuration
 Navigate to the Networking tab.
 Update settings for the management network and ensure proper configuration for
communication with other components in your environment.

2. Access Settings
 Go to the Access tab to change the root password or enable/disable SSH access.

3. Updates
 Click on the Update tab to check for available updates.
 Install updates directly from this interface to keep your appliance up to date.

4. Monitoring
 View system resource usage, health status, and other metrics to monitor the performance
of your appliance.

5. Backup
 Use the Backup tab to set up backup schedules and configure backup destinations.

6. Time Settings
 Navigate to the Time tab to configure NTP servers and ensure proper time synchronization.

Example Tasks Using VAMI

1. Changing Network Settings:

o Go to the Networking section, input the new IP address, subnet mask, and gateway, then
save the changes. Restart the management network for the changes to take effect.

2. Updating the Appliance:

o Check for updates, review the release notes if needed, and apply any pending updates to
ensure the appliance is running the latest version.

3. Setting Up Backups:
o In the Backup tab, configure the backup schedule, specify the backup location (local or
remote), and start the backup process.

Conclusion

The VAMI console is a vital tool for managing VMware appliances, especially the vCenter Server
Appliance. It simplifies many administrative tasks and provides a centralized interface for

22
configuration, monitoring, and maintenance. Familiarizing yourself with VAMI can significantly
enhance your efficiency in managing VMware environments. If you have any specific questions or
need more details about using the VAMI console, feel free to ask!

4o mini

10. Resource Pools

In VMware, Resource Pools are a way to allocate and manage compute resources (CPU, memory)
within a vSphere environment. Resource pools allow administrators to divide the resources of a host
or cluster into different pools, which can then be assigned to different groups of virtual machines
(VMs). This enables efficient resource management and ensures that specific VMs or groups of VMs
have access to the appropriate amount of resources.

Key Concepts of Resource Pools:

1. Hierarchical Organization:
o Resource pools are organized hierarchically. You can create parent resource pools, which can
have child resource pools nested under them.
o VMs inside a resource pool share the resources allocated to that pool, and the pools can be
nested to reflect organizational or application-level needs.

2. CPU and Memory Allocation:

o Shares: Relative priority of resource allocation when there is contention for CPU or memory.
A higher number of shares means higher priority during resource contention.
o Reservation: The guaranteed minimum amount of CPU or memory that is reserved for the
resource pool. VMs in this pool will get at least this amount of resources.
o Limit: The maximum amount of CPU or memory that the resource pool can use, even if more
resources are available.

3. Resource Distribution:
o Resource pools allow you to set limits or guarantees on CPU and memory usage to ensure
that specific VMs or applications get the resources they need.
o For example, a business-critical application can be placed in a resource pool with high
reservations and shares, ensuring it gets priority over less critical workloads.

4. Dynamic Adjustment:
o Resource pools adjust dynamically based on the number of VMs and their resource
demands.
o Resources are allocated to VMs based on the settings of their parent resource pool and the
VM's specific configuration.

Use Cases:

1. Organizational Grouping:
o Resource pools can be used to group VMs by department or function (e.g., HR, IT, Finance)
and ensure that each group gets the appropriate amount of resources.

2. Development and Testing:

o You can create separate resource pools for development, testing, and production
environments, with specific limits and reservations to ensure that development doesn’t
consume resources meant for production.
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 3. Resource Prioritization:
o Critical applications can be assigned to a high-priority resource pool to guarantee they get
the resources they need, even during peak times, while less critical apps can be placed in
pools with fewer resources.

4. Chargeback or Showback:
o Resource pools can also help in tracking resource usage and can be used for chargeback or
showback, where resource usage is billed back to departments or users.

Example of Resource Pool Allocation:

Imagine a company has a cluster of ESXi hosts and wants to allocate resources to different
departments:

 HR Resource Pool: Reservation of 8 GB RAM and 4 GHz CPU with high shares.
 IT Resource Pool: Reservation of 16 GB RAM and 6 GHz CPU with medium shares.
 Finance Resource Pool: Reservation of 12 GB RAM and 5 GHz CPU with high shares.

Within each resource pool, the VMs share the resources based on the pool’s allocation settings. If
there is resource contention (e.g., when multiple VMs are competing for CPU or memory), the
resources are distributed according to the shares setting.

Benefits:

 Granular Control: Administrators can control resource allocation at a high level without having to
manage each VM individually.
 Improved Resource Management: It ensures that important VMs always get the resources they
need, even when there’s competition for those resources.
 Flexibility: Resource pools provide flexibility to dynamically allocate resources based on the changing
needs of the virtual environment.

Conclusion:

Resource pools in VMware allow administrators to manage CPU and memory resources effectively
by grouping VMs into pools and allocating resources based on business priorities. This ensures
critical workloads always have the necessary resources and prevents less important workloads from
consuming too many resources.

11. RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) and Its Issues

In a VMware environment, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is commonly used to access and
manage virtual machines (VMs), particularly Windows-based VMs. While VMware offers native
tools like the vSphere Client or VMware Remote Console to manage VMs, RDP is often preferred
for its familiarity and ease of use. Here's how RDP works in the VMware context, along with setup
and best practices.

1. RDP Usage in VMware Environment

RDP can be used in the following scenarios within a VMware environment:

 Access Windows VMs: You can use RDP to connect to Windows VMs running on ESXi hosts.

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 Remote Administration: RDP allows system administrators to manage VMs remotely, often
alongside vSphere tools.
  Application Testing and Troubleshooting: RDP is useful for logging into remote VMs for application
deployment, testing, or troubleshooting.

2. Steps to Enable RDP on Windows VMs in VMware

Step 1: Install Windows on the VM

 Ensure that the virtual machine (VM) running on the VMware ESXi host has Windows Server or
Windows Desktop OS installed, which supports RDP.

Step 2: Enable RDP on the Windows VM

 On the Windows VM:

1. Right-click This PC and go to Properties.
2. Click Remote Settings in the left panel.
3. Under Remote Desktop, select Allow remote connections to this computer.
4. Apply the settings.

Step 3: Configure the Windows Firewall

 Ensure that the Windows Firewall on the VM allows RDP traffic through port 3389:
1. Open Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.
2. Select Inbound Rules, scroll to Remote Desktop, and ensure it is set to Allow.

Step 4: Install VMware Tools (Optional but Recommended)

 VMware Tools improves the performance and management of your VM. It provides better network
drivers, which might enhance RDP performance.

Step 5: Get the VM's IP Address

 Determine the VM's IP address by running ipconfig in the VM’s Command Prompt or finding it in
the vSphere Client under the VM's Networking tab.

Step 6: Connect via RDP from a Local Machine

 On your local machine:

1. Open Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc).
2. Enter the IP address of the VM.
3. Click Connect and provide the login credentials for the Windows VM.

3. Using RDP to Access VMs in a VMware vSphere Environment

Scenario 1: Direct Access to VMs Using Public IP

If your VMs are hosted on public-facing infrastructure:

 Assign a public IP address to the VM.

 Open the appropriate firewall ports (e.g., port 3389 for RDP).
 Secure RDP access using methods like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and strong passwords.

Scenario 2: Access VMs via VPN or Private Network

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If your VMware environment is within a private network:
  Use a VPN to connect to the network hosting the ESXi infrastructure.
 Once on the network, use RDP to access the private IP of the VM.

4. Security Best Practices for RDP in VMware

Given the security risks associated with exposing RDP to the internet, follow these best practices:

Network Level Authentication (NLA)

 Always enable NLA for RDP. This ensures the user is authenticated before the RDP session is
established, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

VPN Access

 For increased security, restrict RDP access to VMs through a VPN. This ensures that only authorized
users connected to the private network can access the VMs via RDP.

Firewall Configuration

 On ESXi hosts or any hardware firewalls, limit RDP access to specific trusted IP addresses.
 Avoid leaving RDP ports (default 3389) open to the internet. Change the port if needed and
configure port forwarding for more complex networks.

Strong Authentication

 Enforce strong password policies for users connecting via RDP.

 Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for an additional security layer when connecting to
VMs using RDP.

Monitor and Log Access

 Enable auditing and logging of all RDP access to your VMs. Use tools like Windows Event Viewer or
third-party monitoring tools to track who is accessing the VMs and when.

5. Common RDP Issues in VMware Environment

Issue 1: Can't Connect to the VM

 Solution: Check if the VM is powered on and running. Also, verify that RDP is enabled, and the
Windows firewall allows inbound RDP connections. Confirm that the VM is reachable by its IP
address using tools like ping.

Issue 2: RDP is Slow

 Solution: Ensure that VMware Tools is installed on the VM to optimize network performance. You
may also need to troubleshoot network latency or allocate more resources (CPU, RAM) to the VM.

Issue 3: Black Screen After Login

 Solution: This issue may occur if there’s a problem with the display settings or the RDP session itself.
Restart the VM, or reset the RDP session from the Task Manager if you have access.

6. Accessing Linux VMs in VMware

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While RDP is primarily a Windows-based protocol, if you need remote access to Linux-based VMs
in a VMware environment, you would typically use SSH (Secure Shell). However, you can also
install xrdp on Linux systems to enable RDP access:

1. Install xrdp on the Linux VM.

2. Enable RDP connections and ensure the firewall allows traffic on the RDP port (3389).
3. Use an RDP client to connect to the Linux VM similarly to how you would with a Windows VM.

Summary

 RDP is a powerful and convenient way to remotely manage Windows VMs in a VMware
environment.
 Ensure RDP is enabled on the VM, firewall rules are set correctly, and VMware Tools are installed for
optimal performance.
 For secure access, use VPNs, NLA, and MFA, and limit access using firewall rules.
 RDP works smoothly with Windows VMs, while SSH or xrdp can be used for Linux-based VMs.

12. Decommission Process

The decommission process in VMware involves safely removing virtual machines (VMs), hosts, or
other resources from the VMware infrastructure. Below is a general step-by-step outline for
decommissioning various components in a VMware environment:

1. Decommissioning a Virtual Machine (VM)

Step 1: Power Off the VM

 Ensure the VM is no longer needed.

 Power off the VM via the vSphere Client (HTML5) or older Web Client.

Step 2: Remove VM from Inventory

 Right-click the VM and select Remove from Inventory.

 This step removes the VM from the vCenter inventory but does not delete the underlying VM files.

Step 3: Delete the VM Files (Optional)

 If the VM is no longer needed, navigate to the datastore where the VM files are stored.
 Delete the VM’s folder from the datastore to free up disk space.

Step 4: Update Documentation

 Record the decommissioning in relevant documentation or change logs.

 Ensure any services associated with the VM are transferred or shut down.

2. Decommissioning an ESXi Host

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Step 1: Migrate or Shut Down VMs

 Ensure all running VMs on the host are either migrated to other hosts using vMotion or shut down if
they are no longer needed.

Step 2: Place the Host in Maintenance Mode

 Right-click the host in vCenter and select Enter Maintenance Mode.

 This ensures that no new VMs are started on the host and prepares the host for decommissioning.

Step 3: Disconnect the Host

 In vCenter, right-click the ESXi host and choose Disconnect. This will stop vCenter from managing the
host, but it does not remove it from the inventory.

Step 4: Remove the Host from Inventory

 Right-click the host and select Remove from Inventory. This permanently removes the host from
vCenter's management.

Step 5: Shut Down the ESXi Host

 Log into the host via SSH or use the DCUI (Direct Console User Interface) to gracefully shut down the
host.
 Alternatively, use the vSphere Client to initiate the shutdown.

Step 6: Physically Decommission the Server (Optional)

 If the host is being decommissioned at the hardware level, power down the server and remove it
from the rack as needed.

3. Decommissioning a Datastore

Step 1: Migrate VMs off the Datastore

 Use Storage vMotion to migrate all VMs and their associated files to another datastore.

Step 2: Unmount the Datastore

 Go to the vSphere Client or Web Client, right-click the datastore, and select Unmount.
 Ensure no VMs or other files are actively using the datastore.

Step 3: Detach the Datastore

 After unmounting, right-click the datastore and select Detach to remove it from the inventory.

Step 4: Physically Remove the Storage (Optional)

 If the underlying storage is being decommissioned, you can now remove the physical storage from
the infrastructure.

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4. Decommissioning vCenter Components

Step 1: Migrate VMs and Data (If Applicable)

 If decommissioning a vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA), ensure that all VMs, datastores, and hosts
are managed by a different vCenter, if applicable.

Step 2: Backup vCenter Configuration

 If required, back up the vCenter configuration using native VMware backup tools or third-party
solutions.

Step 3: Power Off vCenter

 Shut down the vCenter Server Appliance or vCenter services running on a Windows server.

Step 4: Remove vCenter from DNS and Active Directory (If Integrated)

 Clean up DNS entries or any Active Directory configurations associated with vCenter.

Step 5: Remove vCenter from Inventory (Optional)

 If you are migrating to a new vCenter, unregister the old vCenter from all associated hosts and
datastores.

Best Practices for Decommissioning

 Documentation: Always document the decommissioning process, including reasons for removal,
components decommissioned, and any relevant timestamps.
 Backups: Before proceeding with decommissioning, ensure that backups are available for VMs or
configurations that may need to be recovered later.
 Change Management: Follow your organization's change management procedures, including
notifying stakeholders and getting approvals.
 Impact Analysis: Perform an analysis to ensure that decommissioning will not negatively impact
production services.

13. Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS)

Uses: Automatically balances workloads across ESXi hosts based on resource demands, ensuring
optimal performance.

Need: To prevent resource contention and ensure that all VMs receive the necessary resources,
especially in environments with fluctuating workloads.

Benefits:

 Improved performance by distributing VMs effectively.

 Reduced management overhead through automation.

Considerations:
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  Works best in larger clusters with multiple hosts and VMs.
 Monitor for overcommitment to prevent performance degradation.

Best Practices:

 Set up resource pools to manage resource allocation effectively.

 Regularly review and adjust DRS settings based on workload changes.

Enabling DRS:

1. Log in to vSphere Client.

2. Navigate to the Cluster.
3. Right-click the cluster and select Settings.
4. Under Configure, find DRS.
5. Click Edit.
6. Check the box to enable DRS.
7. Choose your DRS Automation Level (Manual, Partially Automated, Fully Automated).
8. Click OK.

14. High Availability (HA)

Uses: Automatically restarts VMs on different hosts if a host fails, minimizing downtime and
enhancing service availability.

Need: Critical for businesses that require continuous operation and cannot afford downtime.

Benefits:

 Automatic recovery from host failures.

 Simple configuration with minimal user intervention.

Considerations:

 Ensure network configuration supports VM restart across hosts.

 Set appropriate resource reservations to guarantee resources for failover.

Best Practices:

 Use Admission Control to prevent overloading a host during a failure.

 Regularly test the HA setup to ensure it works as intended.

Enabling HA:

1. Log in to vSphere Client.

2. Navigate to the Cluster.
3. Right-click the cluster and select Settings.
4. Under Configure, find vSphere HA.
5. Click Edit.
6. Check the box to enable vSphere HA.
7. Configure Admission Control settings.
8. Click OK.

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 15. Fault Tolerance (FT)
In VMware, FT stands for Fault Tolerance. VMware Fault Tolerance ensures continuous
availability of a virtual machine (VM) by creating a live shadow instance of the VM on another
host in the cluster. If the primary VM fails, the secondary VM instantly takes over without any
downtime or data loss, making it a critical feature for high availability (HA) scenarios.

Key Features of VMware Fault Tolerance (FT):

1. Continuous Availability: No downtime or data loss in case of a host failure.

2. Instant Failover: The secondary VM takes over immediately if the primary VM fails.
3. Synchronized Execution: Both the primary and secondary VMs execute in lockstep, meaning they
run identical instructions.
4. No Data Loss: Since the VMs are synchronized, the secondary VM has an up-to-date copy of the data
at all times.

How VMware Fault Tolerance Works:

 Primary VM: The VM that is running actively on one ESXi host.

 Secondary VM: A synchronized replica running on another ESXi host.
 The secondary VM is kept in a shadow state, constantly replicating the primary VM’s execution.
 If the primary VM’s host fails, the secondary VM becomes the new primary VM without interruption,
and a new secondary VM is created on another available host.

When to Use VMware FT:

 For mission-critical applications that cannot tolerate any downtime, such as financial systems,
healthcare applications, etc.
 Where high availability is critical, but even the minimal downtime caused by VMware HA (which
restarts a failed VM) is unacceptable.

Limitations of VMware FT:

1. Resource Intensive: It requires double the resources (CPU, memory) because it maintains a full copy
of the VM.
2. No vMotion for FT-protected VMs: Fault-tolerant VMs cannot be moved using vMotion while FT is
enabled.
3. Limited CPU Support: VMware FT supports only VMs with up to a certain number of virtual CPUs
(vCPUs), depending on the ESXi version.

How to Configure VMware Fault Tolerance:

Prerequisites:

 Shared storage: The primary and secondary VMs need access to shared storage (datastore).
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  Compatible vSphere environment: Both vSphere hosts must have CPUs that support VMware FT
(same architecture).
 VMs should be on the same network: The ESXi hosts should be part of the same vCenter cluster.

Steps to Enable VMware FT (vSphere Web Client):

1. Log in to vCenter and select the VM for which you want to enable FT.
2. Right-click the VM and navigate to Fault Tolerance > Turn On Fault Tolerance.
3. vCenter will verify whether the VM and hosts meet the FT requirements.
4. Click Enable FT. This will start the creation of the secondary VM on another host.
5. Once enabled, you can verify that both the primary and secondary VMs are running by checking the
Fault Tolerance tab.

Monitoring and Managing Fault Tolerance:

 FT Monitoring: In the vSphere Web Client, you can monitor the status of Fault Tolerance through
the Fault Tolerance tab of the VM.
 Turn Off FT: If you want to disable FT, right-click the VM and select Fault Tolerance > Turn Off Fault
Tolerance.
 Failover Test: You can test failover by powering off the primary VM’s host and observing the
secondary VM take over.

Best Practices for VMware FT:

1. Separate Network for FT Traffic: Use a dedicated network for FT logging to prevent traffic
bottlenecks.
2. Sufficient Resources: Ensure your cluster has enough CPU and memory resources to support both
the primary and secondary VMs.
3. Regular Health Checks: Monitor the performance and health of FT-protected VMs to ensure smooth
operation.
4. Combine FT with HA: Use VMware HA to restart the secondary VM in case both the primary and
secondary hosts fail.

VMware FT is a powerful tool to provide continuous availability for critical workloads, ensuring
there’s no service interruption even in case of hardware failure. However, because it’s resource-
intensive, it’s generally reserved for highly critical applications.

16. Snapshots
A snapshot in VMware is a point-in-time copy of a virtual machine's (VM) state and data,
including the VM's power state, disk state, and memory contents. It's a useful tool for testing,
backups, or recovery purposes because it allows you to revert to a previous state if something goes
wrong.

What a Snapshot Includes:

1. Disk State: The state of all VM's virtual disks at the time of the snapshot.
2. Memory State (optional): The state of the VM’s memory, capturing what is currently running. 32
 3. VM Settings: The current configuration settings of the VM, like CPU, RAM, etc.

When to Use Snapshots:

 Before making risky changes to the VM (e.g., applying patches, upgrading software, or performing
major configuration changes).
 For testing purposes, to create multiple temporary environments.
 During backups (though it's better to use snapshot-aware backup software).

Important Considerations:

 Snapshots are not backups: They are a temporary solution and should not be kept for long periods.
 Performance Impact: Having too many snapshots or retaining them for too long can negatively
affect VM performance.
 Consolidation: If there are multiple snapshots, they should be consolidated to merge all the
snapshot data back into the main disk.

Basic Snapshot Operations in vSphere:

1. Create a Snapshot (vSphere Web Client)

1. Log in to the vSphere Web Client.

2. Right-click the VM you want to create a snapshot for.
3. Select Snapshots > Take Snapshot.
4. Provide the following information:
o Name: Give the snapshot a meaningful name.
o Description: Optionally, provide a description of why you're taking the snapshot.
o Snapshot the VM's memory: If checked, this will capture the VM’s current memory state.
o Quiesce Guest File System: If checked, the VM’s file system will be frozen, ensuring file
system consistency (important for VMs with critical applications or databases).

5. Click OK to create the snapshot.

2. Revert to a Snapshot (vSphere Web Client)

1. Right-click the VM.

2. Select Snapshots > Revert to Latest Snapshot.
3. This will roll back the VM to the most recent snapshot you’ve taken.

3. Delete a Snapshot (vSphere Web Client)

1. Right-click the VM.

2. Select Snapshots > Snapshot Manager.
3. Select the snapshot you want to delete.
4. Click Delete or Delete All (if you want to delete all snapshots).
5. Note: Deleting a snapshot commits the changes made since that snapshot to the parent disk, so the
data is not lost.

33
 17. Vmotion
Uses: Allows live migration of running VMs from one host to another without downtime.

Need: Essential for maintenance tasks without service interruption.

Benefits:

 Zero downtime during migrations.

 Flexibility for scheduled maintenance on hosts.

Considerations:

 Ensure sufficient network bandwidth for vMotion to prevent latency.

 Easier with shared storage, as it eliminates the need to migrate VM files.

Best Practices:

 Use VMware Enhanced vMotion Compatibility (EVC) to ensure compatibility across different host
hardware.
 Schedule migrations during off-peak hours to minimize impact.

Enabling vMotion:

1. Ensure vMotion is enabled on both the source and destination hosts:

o Go to each ESXi host settings.
o Under VM Options, enable vMotion.
2. Log in to vSphere Client.
3. Right-click the VM you want to migrate.
4. Select Migrate.
5. Choose Change compute resource only and click Next.
6. Select the destination host and click Next.
7. Review your selections and click Finish.

18. Storage Vmotion (SVmotion)

Uses: Enables live migration of VM files from one datastore to another without downtime.

Need: Important for managing storage resources and ensuring optimal VM performance.

Benefits:

 Live migration of VM files without downtime.

 Helps in optimizing storage resources effectively.

Considerations:

 Ensure that the source and destination datastores are compatible.

 There can be a slight performance impact during migration.

Best Practices:
34
  Use SVMotion for datastore maintenance or to balance storage loads.
 Monitor storage performance during SVMotion to address any issues.

Enabling Storage vMotion:

1. Log in to vSphere Client.

2. Right-click the VM.
3. Select Migrate.
4. Choose Change storage only and click Next.
5. Select the target datastore and click Next.
6. Review your selections and click Finish.

19. Redundancy
Uses: Provides backup resources to ensure continuous availability of services.

Need: Necessary for critical systems where downtime must be minimized.

Benefits:

 High availability ensures critical services remain operational.

 Supports disaster recovery planning for unexpected incidents.

Considerations:

 Implementing redundancy can be costly, requiring additional hardware.

 Increases infrastructure complexity, requiring careful planning.

Best Practices:

 Regularly test redundancy configurations to ensure they work as expected.

 Implement load balancing to optimize resource utilization and enhance redundancy.

Implementing Redundancy:

1. Ensure you have multiple ESXi hosts in your cluster.

2. Configure HA for automatic failover (see steps above).
3. Set up DRS for load balancing and resource optimization (see steps above).
4. Use Storage DRS to manage datastores effectively.

Additional Information

Monitoring and Reporting

 Use vRealize Operations Manager to monitor the health, performance, and capacity of your
VMware environment. This tool provides insights into DRS, HA, and other features.

35
Backup Solutions

 Implement a robust backup strategy using solutions like VMware vSphere Data Protection (VDP) or
third-party tools to ensure data is regularly backed up and can be restored in case of failures.

Documentation and Training

 Maintain detailed documentation of your VMware environment, including configurations, changes,

and maintenance procedures. This helps in troubleshooting and planning.
 Provide regular training to your IT staff on VMware best practices and features to ensure they are
well-prepared to manage the environment effectively.

20. ROLLBACK
In VMware, a rollback typically refers to the process of reverting a virtual machine (VM), vCenter,
or ESXi host to a previous known-good state after an update, upgrade, or configuration change has
caused issues. VMware provides multiple mechanisms for rollback, depending on what component
you are trying to revert.

Rollback in VMware: Key Scenarios

1. VMware vCenter Rollback

o If an upgrade or patch to vCenter Server fails or causes problems, you can use several
methods to roll back:
 Snapshot: Before any upgrade, it's recommended to take a snapshot of the vCenter
Server Appliance (VCSA). If the upgrade fails, you can revert the appliance to the
pre-upgrade snapshot.
 Backup: If a snapshot isn't available, you can restore the vCenter from a backup
using tools like vSphere Data Protection or third-party solutions.

2. ESXi Host Rollback

o After upgrading an ESXi host, if there are issues, you can revert the host to the previous
version of ESXi using the bootbank mechanism.
 ESXi hosts maintain a backup boot partition (bootbank) of the previous version.
After a failed upgrade, you can boot into the earlier version of ESXi from this
partition.
 Steps:
 Reboot the ESXi host.
 Press Shift + R during the boot process to access the rollback option.
 Confirm to roll back to the previous ESXi version.
 After the rollback, the host will boot into the earlier version, and you should verify
its functionality.

3. VM Rollback via Snapshots

o In the case of individual virtual machines (VMs), VMware allows the use of snapshots for
rollback. Snapshots capture the VM’s state (including disk, memory, and configuration) at a
specific point in time. If a change (like software installation or configuration) causes issues,
you can revert the VM to its earlier snapshot.
 Steps:
 In the vSphere Web Client, select the VM.
 Go to the Snapshots tab.

36
  Select the desired snapshot and click Revert to roll the VM back to that
state.

4. Rollback Distributed Switches

o VMware’s vSphere Distributed Switch (vDS) has rollback protection. If you make a
configuration change that disrupts network connectivity, vCenter can automatically roll back
to the previous vDS configuration within a few minutes.

Common VMware Rollback Methods

1. Using Snapshots:
o Snapshots are the easiest and most common method of rolling back changes on VMs.
 Ideal for rolling back application changes, configuration changes, or even minor OS
updates.
 However, do not rely on snapshots for long-term backup as they can degrade
performance if left for long periods.

2. Using Backups:
o Regular backups of vCenter, ESXi, and VMs allow you to restore from a prior state in case of
major failures or configuration problems. Backup solutions like Veeam, VMware Data
Protection, or vSphere Replication can be used.

3. ESXi Bootbank Rollback:

o For ESXi hosts, the bootbank rollback method ensures that even after failed upgrades, the
system can boot into a stable, previous version.

4. Manual Configuration Reversion:

o For distributed switches, network policies, or other configurations where snapshots are not
used, manual rollback involves manually reverting settings to a prior known-good state.

Considerations Before Rollback in VMware

 Backup: Always take a backup or snapshot before performing any major changes, upgrades, or
patches in VMware environments.
 Downtime: Be aware that rolling back systems like vCenter or ESXi may require downtime, and plan
accordingly.
 Consistency: Ensure consistency when rolling back ESXi hosts or VMs. For example, if using a
clustered environment, ensure that all relevant hosts are rolled back to compatible versions.

21. Raw Device Mapping (RDM)

Raw Device Mapping (RDM) is a VMware feature that allows a virtual machine (VM) to access a
physical disk or LUN directly, rather than through a virtual disk (VMDK) file. This feature is
particularly useful in scenarios where VMs need to interact with storage devices at a lower level,
such as when using certain applications or storage solutions that require direct access to the disk.

Key Features of RDM in VMware

1. Direct Access to Storage:

37
 o RDM provides VMs with the ability to directly access a physical storage device, enabling
applications that require low-level storage access, such as databases or clustering solutions,
to function correctly.

2. Flexibility:
o RDM allows for greater flexibility in terms of storage management. You can manage the
physical LUNs independently of the VMs using them, making it easier to maintain and
allocate storage resources.

3. Support for Clustering:

o RDM is often used in clustered environments, such as Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle RAC,
where multiple VMs need simultaneous access to the same storage resources.

4. Compatibility with Virtual Machines:

o RDM allows VMs to work with storage features, such as VMware vSphere High Availability
(HA) and VMware vSphere Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS), while still maintaining
direct access to the underlying storage.

Types of Raw Device Mapping

1. Physical Mode RDM:

o In this mode, the VM has direct access to the physical LUN. This allows the VM to perform
operations like formatting or partitioning the disk, making it suitable for applications that
require full control over the disk.

2. Virtual Mode RDM:

o In this mode, the RDM acts as a proxy for the physical disk. The VM can read and write data,
but certain operations that could affect the underlying physical disk (like formatting) are
restricted. This mode is suitable for applications that do not require full disk control but still
need direct access.

Use Cases for RDM

1. Clustering Solutions:
o RDM is commonly used in environments that require clustering solutions, allowing multiple
VMs to access the same physical disk for failover and redundancy.

2. Large Databases:
o Applications like Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle may require RDM to achieve better
performance and manageability when accessing large databases.

3. Legacy Applications:
o Some legacy applications may require direct access to physical storage devices for proper
functionality.

4. Backup and Disaster Recovery:

o RDM can be used in backup and disaster recovery scenarios, allowing backup solutions to
access raw LUNs directly for efficient data backup.

How to Configure RDM in VMware

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to configure RDM in a VMware environment:

38
1. Prepare the Storage LUN

 Ensure the LUN you want to map is configured and accessible to the ESXi host.

2. Create a RDM Mapping File

 Using the vSphere Client:

o Open the vSphere Client and navigate to the Datacenter where your VM resides.
o Right-click on the Datastore where you want to create the RDM file.
o Select New Raw Device Mapping.
o Choose the LUN you want to map and select the desired RDM mode (Physical or Virtual).
o Specify a name for the RDM file and complete the wizard.

3. Attach the RDM to the Virtual Machine

 Once the RDM mapping file is created, you can attach it to your VM:
o Right-click on the VM and select Edit Settings.
o Click Add New Device and select Raw Device Mapping.
o Choose the RDM mapping file you created earlier and specify the device mode (Physical or
Virtual).
o Complete the configuration and save your changes.

4. Power On the Virtual Machine

 Start the VM, and it will now have access to the physical disk via the RDM.

5. Format and Use the RDM (if needed)

 Depending on your configuration, you may need to format the RDM within the guest operating
system before use.

Considerations When Using RDM

 Performance: While RDM provides direct access to storage, performance may vary depending on the
underlying storage architecture and configurations.
 Backup: Regular backup procedures need to be established, as RDMs may not be backed up in the
same way as traditional VMDKs.
 Compatibility: Ensure that any applications using RDMs are compatible with direct disk access and
that your VMware environment supports RDM configurations.

22. Affinity and anti-affinity rules

Affinity and anti-affinity rules in VMware are features that help manage the placement and
scheduling of virtual machines (VMs) in a cluster. These rules are particularly useful in
environments using VMware's Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) and High Availability (HA) to
optimize resource utilization and ensure availability.

Affinity Rules

Affinity rules are used to specify that certain VMs should run on the same host or cluster. This can
be beneficial in scenarios where VMs need to communicate frequently, share resources, or maintain
a specific configuration.

39
Types of Affinity Rules:

1. VM-VM Affinity:
o This rule ensures that a specified set of VMs run on the same ESXi host.
o Use Case: Useful for clustered applications or workloads that require low latency
communication, such as database servers and application servers.

2. VM-Host Affinity:
o This rule binds specific VMs to particular hosts within a cluster, ensuring they always run on
those hosts.
o Use Case: Suitable for licensing restrictions or when specific hardware is needed for certain
VMs.

Anti-Affinity Rules

Anti-affinity rules specify that certain VMs should not run on the same host. This is critical for high
availability and fault tolerance, ensuring that if one host fails, the other VM(s) remain operational on
a different host.

Types of Anti-Affinity Rules:

1. VM-VM Anti-Affinity:
o This rule prevents specified VMs from running on the same ESXi host.
o Use Case: Essential for distributed applications where redundancy is required, such as a
multi-tier application where web and database servers are deployed across multiple hosts.

2. VM-Host Anti-Affinity:
o This is less common but allows administrators to ensure that specific VMs do not run on
certain hosts.
o Use Case: Can be used for maintenance purposes or to avoid specific hosts that might have
issues.

How to Create Affinity and Anti-Affinity Rules in VMware

Using vSphere Web Client:

1. Log in to the vSphere Web Client.

2. Navigate to the Cluster:
o Select the cluster where you want to set the rules.
3. Go to the Configure Tab:
o Click on the Configure tab for the cluster.
4. Select VM/Host Rules:
o Under DRS, click on VM/Host Rules.
5. Add Rule:
o Click Add to create a new rule.
o Specify whether you want to create an Affinity or Anti-Affinity rule.
6. Choose VMs:
o Select the VMs that the rule will apply to.
7. Set Rule Options:
o Define whether the rule is Enabled or Disabled.
o For anti-affinity rules, choose whether the rule is Must Run Together or Should Run
Together.
8. Save the Rule:
o Click OK to save your new rule.
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Considerations When Using Affinity and Anti-Affinity Rules

 Resource Utilization:
o Affinity rules can lead to resource contention if multiple VMs are bound to the same host,
potentially leading to performance issues.
o Anti-affinity rules can limit the flexibility of DRS in balancing workloads across hosts.

 High Availability:
o Anti-affinity rules are crucial for ensuring high availability. They help in spreading VMs across
different hosts, minimizing the risk of application downtime in case of host failure.

 Maintenance Mode:
o Be cautious when placing VMs in maintenance mode. Affinity and anti-affinity rules may
prevent VMs from being migrated if their placement violates the established rules.

 DRS Load Balancing:

o Consider the impact of these rules on DRS load balancing. DRS might not be able to move
VMs as efficiently if strict rules are enforced.

Conclusion

Affinity and anti-affinity rules are powerful tools in VMware environments, allowing administrators
to optimize the performance, availability, and fault tolerance of their applications. By carefully
designing and implementing these rules, organizations can ensure efficient resource utilization while
maintaining the necessary high availability and redundancy for critical workloads.

23. Disk management and disk provisioning

Disk management and disk provisioning are critical aspects of managing storage in virtualized
environments like VMware. Here’s an overview of both concepts:

Disk Management

Disk management involves monitoring, configuring, and maintaining storage devices within a
virtual environment or a physical server. It includes various tasks to ensure that disks and storage
systems function efficiently and effectively.

Key Components of Disk Management:

1. Partitioning:
o Dividing a disk into separate sections to organize data. Each partition can be formatted with
different file systems.

2. Formatting:
o Preparing a disk or partition for use by a file system. This process includes creating a file
system structure.

3. Monitoring:
o Keeping track of disk space usage, performance, health, and capacity to ensure optimal
functioning. Tools like VMware's vSphere can monitor disk I/O performance.

4. Resizing Partitions:

41
 o Adjusting the size of existing partitions as storage needs change. This can involve increasing
or decreasing the size of a virtual disk.

5. Creating and Deleting Disks:

o Adding new virtual disks for additional storage or removing disks that are no longer needed.

6. Snapshots:
o Creating a snapshot of a disk to capture its state at a particular point in time. This is useful
for backups or before making significant changes.

7. Disk Cleanup:
o Removing unnecessary files or data from disks to free up space and improve performance.

Disk Provisioning

Disk provisioning refers to the process of allocating storage space to virtual machines (VMs) or
applications. It determines how storage is allocated and managed for VMs in a virtualized
environment.

Types of Disk Provisioning:

1. Thick Provisioning:
o Allocates all the specified disk space upfront when the VM is created, regardless of whether
it is immediately used. There are two types:
 Thick Provision Lazy Zeroed: The space is allocated, but the data blocks are not
zeroed until they are written to.
 Thick Provision Eager Zeroed: The space is allocated, and all data blocks are zeroed
at the time of creation, which can improve performance for certain workloads.
o Use Case: Ideal for workloads with predictable storage needs, as it can provide better
performance for I/O-intensive applications.

2. Thin Provisioning:
o Allocates storage on demand. Initially, only the space that is actually used by the VM is
allocated, with the option to grow as needed.
o Benefits: This approach maximizes storage efficiency and can save space since not all
allocated disk space may be used at any given time.
o Use Case: Suitable for environments where storage usage is unpredictable or for workloads
that don’t require constant I/O performance.

3. Dynamic Provisioning:
o Similar to thin provisioning, where storage is allocated dynamically as data is written, but
with the added flexibility of resizing or altering the disk layout based on needs.

Considerations for Disk Management and Provisioning

 Performance: Thick provisioning can offer better performance for certain applications, but it
consumes more storage immediately. Thin provisioning can help save space but may incur
performance overhead if not monitored correctly.
 Capacity Planning: Regularly monitor disk usage to ensure that your storage infrastructure
can meet current and future needs. This includes managing the balance between allocated and
available storage.
 Backup and Recovery: Implement a robust backup strategy to protect data on virtual disks.
Regular snapshots can help with point-in-time recovery.

42
  Storage Policies: Use storage policies to automate provisioning and management based on
the requirements of specific applications or workloads.
 Monitoring Tools: Leverage monitoring tools (such as VMware vRealize Operations) to
keep track of disk performance and health, helping to identify potential issues before they
become critical.

Conclusion

Effective disk management and provisioning are essential for maintaining the performance,
efficiency, and reliability of storage resources in virtualized environments. By understanding the
differences between thick and thin provisioning and implementing best practices for disk
management, organizations can optimize their storage infrastructure to support diverse workloads
and applications.

24. Lifecycle Manager

In the context of VMware, LCM stands for Lifecycle Manager. VMware Lifecycle Manager is a
tool that helps manage the lifecycle of virtual infrastructure components, including hosts, clusters,
and virtual machines (VMs). It streamlines and automates the processes of provisioning, updating,
and managing the lifecycle of VMware environments.

Key Features of VMware Lifecycle Manager (LCM)

1. Image Management:
o Content Library: LCM utilizes a content library to store and manage software images,
including ESXi images, drivers, and other components. This allows for consistent and
repeatable deployments across the environment.
o Image Baselines: Administrators can create baselines based on the desired configuration of
hosts, including firmware, drivers, and VMware software versions.

2. Automated Updates:
o Host Update Manager: LCM automates the patching and updating process for ESXi hosts
and clusters, reducing the risk of human error and ensuring that the environment is up to
date.
o Rolling Updates: The tool supports rolling updates, allowing administrators to apply updates
to hosts in a cluster without downtime for the virtual machines running on those hosts.

3. Compliance Checking:
o LCM includes features to check the compliance of hosts against predefined baselines,
ensuring that all hosts meet organizational standards and are running the appropriate
versions of software and drivers.

4. Simplified Deployment:
o Cluster Configuration: LCM simplifies the deployment of new clusters and hosts, ensuring
that they are configured consistently with the desired settings and policies.
o Provisioning: It enables streamlined provisioning of new ESXi hosts with the latest patches
and configurations from the content library.

5. Centralized Management:
o LCM provides a centralized interface for managing the lifecycle of all infrastructure
components, making it easier for administrators to oversee and maintain their virtual
environments.

6. Integration with vSphere: 43

 o LCM is integrated into the vSphere environment, allowing administrators to manage the
lifecycle of hosts and clusters directly from the vSphere Client.

7. Alerts and Notifications:

o The tool can send alerts and notifications about compliance status, available updates, and
the health of the infrastructure, helping administrators stay informed and take action as
needed.

Benefits of Using VMware Lifecycle Manager (LCM)

 Efficiency: Automating the lifecycle management processes reduces the time and effort required to
maintain the infrastructure, allowing administrators to focus on other tasks.
 Consistency: Ensures that all hosts and clusters are configured consistently, reducing the risk of
configuration drift and improving reliability.
 Enhanced Security: Regular updates and compliance checks help maintain a secure environment by
applying patches and updates promptly.
 Reduced Downtime: Rolling updates and automated processes minimize downtime for virtual
machines, ensuring high availability and performance.

Conclusion

VMware Lifecycle Manager (LCM) is a powerful tool that simplifies and automates the management
of the lifecycle of virtual infrastructure components. By leveraging LCM, organizations can improve
efficiency, maintain consistency, and enhance the security of their VMware environments while
minimizing downtime and operational overhead

25. VMware vCenter

VMware vCenter is a centralized management platform for managing VMware vSphere
environments. It provides a variety of tools and features to help administrators manage virtual
machines, hosts, clusters, and storage resources effectively. Here’s an overview of some key tools
and features associated with VMware vCenter:

1. vSphere Client

 Description: The primary interface for managing vSphere environments, available as a web-based
client or a legacy Windows client.
 Features:
o VM and host management
o Resource allocation and monitoring
o Storage management
o Networking configuration
o Performance monitoring and analytics

2. vCenter Server

 Description: The core component that enables centralized management of multiple ESXi hosts and
their VMs.
 Features:
o Clustering and High Availability (HA)
o Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS)
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 o VMware vMotion for live migration of VMs
o Template management for VM provisioning
o Role-based access control for security

3. VMware vSphere Update Manager (VUM)

 Description: A tool integrated with vCenter that automates patching and upgrading of ESXi hosts and
VMs.
 Features:
o Compliance checks against predefined baselines
o Scheduled and automated updates
o Rolling updates for clusters
o Integration with VMware Lifecycle Manager (LCM)

4. vCenter Operations Manager (vROps)

 Description: A performance management tool that provides advanced analytics and monitoring
capabilities.
 Features:
o Capacity planning and optimization
o Performance monitoring with dashboards
o Alerts and notifications for performance issues
o Reporting and visualization tools

5. VMware vRealize Automation

 Description: A cloud automation platform that allows users to automate the deployment and
management of VMs and applications.
 Features:
o Self-service provisioning for users
o Blueprint creation for consistent deployments
o Policy-based management for resource allocation
o Integration with public cloud services

6. vCenter Orchestrator (vRO)

 Description: A workflow automation tool that enables the automation of IT processes.

 Features:
o Creation of custom workflows for VM management
o Integration with other VMware and third-party tools
o Drag-and-drop interface for workflow design
o Event-driven automation capabilities

7. VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM)

 Description: A disaster recovery automation tool that integrates with vCenter for managing failover
and recovery.
 Features:
o Automated orchestration of disaster recovery plans
o Testing of recovery plans without impacting production
o Integration with storage replication technologies
o Continuous data protection and recovery assurance

8. vSphere Replication 45
  Description: A feature that enables the replication of VMs to another site for disaster recovery
purposes.
 Features:
o Continuous data replication
o Granular recovery point objectives (RPOs)
o Integration with VMware SRM for orchestration
o Supports both local and remote replication

9. VMware vCenter Converter

 Description: A tool for converting physical machines and other virtual machine formats into VMware
VMs.
 Features:
o Conversion of physical to virtual (P2V) and virtual to virtual (V2V)
o Simplified migration of workloads to VMware environments
o Customizable conversion options

10. vSAN (VMware Virtual SAN)

 Description: A software-defined storage solution that integrates with vCenter.

 Features:
o Hyper-converged infrastructure for managing storage resources
o Policy-based management for storage allocation
o Integration with vSphere for seamless management

Conclusion

VMware vCenter provides a robust set of tools that enhance the management of virtualized
environments. By leveraging these tools, administrators can efficiently manage resources, automate
processes, ensure high availability, and maintain the performance of their VMware infrastructures.

26. Troubleshooting in VMware environments

Here’s a detailed overview of common problems encountered in VMware environments, along with
troubleshooting steps and potential solutions for each issue.

1. VM Won’t Power On

Possible Causes:

 Insufficient resources (CPU, memory, storage)

 Disk or datastore issues
 Configuration issues
 Corrupted VM files

Troubleshooting Steps:

 Check Resource Availability:

o Ensure the ESXi host has enough CPU and memory resources.
o Verify that the datastore has sufficient free space.

 Inspect VM Configuration:
o Review the VM settings in the vSphere Client.
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 o Ensure that the VM is correctly configured with the right hardware compatibility.

 Examine Logs:
o Look into the VM’s vmware.log file for error messages.
o Check the vmkernel.log for any relevant errors.

 Run VMFS Repair:

o If the VM disk files are on a VMFS datastore, consider running the vmfs-fsck command to
repair file system issues.

2. VM Performance Issues

Possible Causes:

 Resource contention
 Misconfigured resource settings
 High I/O latency on storage
 Outdated or missing VMware Tools

Troubleshooting Steps:

 Monitor Resource Utilization:

o Use the vSphere performance charts to check CPU, memory, and disk usage.
o Identify if other VMs are consuming excessive resources.

 Check Resource Allocation:

o Ensure the VM has adequate CPU and memory assigned.
o Consider increasing resources if the VM is consistently running at high utilization.

 Evaluate Storage Performance:

o Check the datastore latency using vCenter.
o Investigate the storage backend for performance bottlenecks.

 Update VMware Tools:

o Ensure that VMware Tools are installed and up to date for optimal VM performance.

3. Network Connectivity Problems

Possible Causes:

 Misconfigured network settings

 Physical network issues
 VLAN or firewall misconfigurations

Troubleshooting Steps:

 Verify Network Adapter Configuration:

o Check the VM's network adapter settings in the vSphere Client.
o Ensure the adapter is connected to the correct virtual switch and network.

 Test Connectivity:
o Use the command line (ping, traceroute) to test connectivity from the VM to other network

47
resources.
  Inspect Physical Network:
o Check switches and routers for connectivity issues.
o Ensure proper cabling and switch port configurations.

 Check Firewall Rules:

o Verify that firewalls on the VM or host aren’t blocking traffic.

4. Storage Issues

Possible Causes:

 Datastore is full
 Datastore connectivity issues
 High I/O latency
 Snapshot issues consuming space

Troubleshooting Steps:

 Check Datastore Space:

o Monitor free space on the datastore.
o Remove unnecessary files or snapshots if the datastore is full.

 Inspect Storage Connectivity:

o Verify that the ESXi host can access the storage.
o Check for errors in the vmkernel.log.

 Analyze Storage Performance:

o Use vCenter to monitor storage latency and throughput.
o Investigate if the storage array is experiencing performance issues.

 Manage Snapshots:
o Regularly review and delete unnecessary snapshots.
o Consider consolidating snapshots if there are multiple existing ones.

5. vCenter Server Issues

Possible Causes:

 Service failures
 Database connectivity problems
 Resource contention on vCenter Server

Troubleshooting Steps:

 Check Service Status:

o Log in to the vCenter Server and verify that all services are running.
o Restart any stopped services.

 Verify Database Connectivity:

o Ensure that vCenter can connect to its database.
o Check for any database errors in the logs.

48
 Monitor Resource Usage:
o Check CPU and memory usage on the vCenter Server.
 o Consider allocating more resources or optimizing configurations.

6. Snapshot Problems

Possible Causes:

 Snapshots not deleting

 Performance degradation due to snapshots
 Inability to create snapshots

Troubleshooting Steps:

 Check for Disk Space:

o Ensure the datastore has sufficient free space to accommodate the snapshot.

 Use Snapshot Manager:

o Use the Snapshot Manager to consolidate or delete snapshots.
o If stuck, try removing the snapshot through the command line.

 Monitor Performance:
o Avoid keeping snapshots for extended periods; they can degrade performance.
o Remove unnecessary snapshots regularly.

7. Upgrade and Patch Issues

Possible Causes:

 Compatibility issues
 Insufficient resources during upgrade
 Failed upgrade process

Troubleshooting Steps:

 Check Compatibility:
o Verify that hardware and software are compatible with the desired versions.

 Backup Before Upgrade:

o Always back up configurations and VMs before applying updates.

 Verify Resource Availability:

o Ensure there are enough resources available for the upgrade process.

 Rollback Plan:
o Have a rollback plan ready in case of failure during the upgrade process.

8. VM Migration Issues (vMotion)

Possible Causes:

 Resource constraints
 Networking issues
 Incompatible CPU settings

Troubleshooting Steps: 49
  Check Resource Availability:
o Ensure the destination host has sufficient resources for the VM.

 Verify vMotion Configuration:

o Confirm that both hosts are on the same network and can communicate.

 Examine CPU Compatibility:

o Ensure that the CPU compatibility settings are matched between source and destination
hosts.

9. License Issues

Possible Causes:

 License expiration
 Incomplete license assignment

Troubleshooting Steps:

 Check License Status:

o Log in to vCenter and check the license status under "Administration."

 Reassign Licenses:
o Ensure all hosts and clusters have the correct licenses assigned.

10. Backup and Restore Issues

Possible Causes:

 Backup job failures

 Incomplete backups
 Issues restoring VMs

Troubleshooting Steps:

 Check Backup Logs:

o Review backup logs for any error messages or failures.

 Verify Backup Integrity:

o Test backups regularly to ensure they are complete and restorable.

 Examine Restore Procedures:

o Ensure the restore process is followed correctly and that required resources are available.

Conclusion

Troubleshooting VMware environments involves a structured approach to identifying and resolving

issues. By following the detailed steps outlined above for various problems, you can efficiently
address common challenges faced in managing VMware infrastructures. Regular monitoring,
documentation, and proactive maintenance are essential for minimizing issues and ensuring optimal
performance.

27. Vm Ware Files

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In VMware environments, several types of files are crucial for the operation, configuration, and
management of virtual machines and hosts. Here’s a detailed overview of these files, their functions,
and their locations:

1. Virtual Machine Files

 VMX File (.vmx):

o Description: The primary configuration file for a virtual machine.
o Location: Found in the VM’s directory on the datastore.
o Contents: Contains settings like the VM’s hardware configuration, memory allocation, and
disk information.

 VMDK File (.vmdk):

o Description: The virtual disk file that stores the VM's operating system, applications, and
data.
o Location: Located in the VM’s folder on the datastore.
o Contents: Represents the VM's hard drive and can be split into multiple files if configured
that way.

 VMX Snapshot Files (.vmsn):

o Description: Contains the state of the VM at the time of a snapshot.
o Location: Located in the VM’s directory on the datastore alongside the .vmdk and .vmx
files.
o Contents: Stores the VM's memory state and other settings.

 VMSD File (.vmsd):

o Description: Metadata file for VM snapshots.
o Location: Found in the VM's folder.
o Contents: Keeps track of snapshot information and relationships between snapshots.

 VMSN Files:
o Description: A snapshot file containing the RAM and CPU state of the VM at the time of the
snapshot.
o Location: Stored in the same directory as the VM.
o Contents: Enables restoring the VM to the exact state it was in when the snapshot was
taken.

2. Host Files

 ESXi Host Configuration Files:

o Description: Various configuration files are used by ESXi hosts for settings and custom
configurations.
o Location: Stored in the /etc/vmware/ directory on the ESXi host.
o Contents: Includes files like esx.conf, hosts, and other network configuration files.

 Log Files:
o Description: Logs for the ESXi host that help in troubleshooting and monitoring.
o Location: Found in the /var/log/ directory on the ESXi host.
o Key Log Files:
 vmkernel.log: Logs kernel-related messages and events.
 hostd.log: Logs events related to the host management agent.
 vpxa.log: Logs events related to vCenter Server agents on ESXi hosts.

3. vCenter Server Files 51

  vCenter Server Database Files:
o Description: Database files used by the vCenter Server to store configuration and
performance data.
o Location: Depends on the database type (e.g., Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, or embedded
PostgreSQL).
o Contents: Stores data about the inventory, configurations, and historical performance
metrics.

 vCenter Server Logs:

o Description: Logs generated by the vCenter Server for monitoring and troubleshooting.
o Location: On the vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA), logs can be found in
/var/log/vmware/.
o Key Log Files:
 vpxd.log: The main log for the vCenter Server service.
 vpxd-profiler.log: Performance profiling log for vCenter operations.

4. Templates and Clones

 OVF/OVA Files:
o Description: Open Virtualization Format (OVF) and Open Virtual Appliance (OVA) files are
used for packaging and distributing virtual machines.
o Contents: Include all necessary files (like VMDK) along with metadata about the VM.

 VM Templates:
o Description: A master copy of a VM used to create new VMs.
o Contents: Template files often include VMX and VMDK files configured with desired settings.

5. Additional Configuration Files

 Host Profiles:
o Description: XML files that define host configurations in a cluster.
o Usage: Used for maintaining consistent configurations across ESXi hosts.

 Resource Allocation Files:

o Description: Contains information about resource pools and their configurations.
o Usage: Used by vCenter to manage and allocate resources among VMs and hosts.

Summary

Understanding these file types and their functions is essential for effective management,
troubleshooting, and configuration in VMware environments. Each file plays a specific role in the
overall operation of virtual machines, hosts, and vCenter Server, and knowing where to find and how
to interact with these files can greatly enhance your ability to manage and troubleshoot your virtual
infrastructure. If you need more specific details or help regarding any of these files,

28. Storage in VMware environment

Storage in VMware environments is crucial for managing data used by virtual machines (VMs) and
ensuring efficient performance, reliability, and scalability. VMware provides various storage options
and features that allow administrators to configure, manage, and optimize storage for virtualized
workloads. Here’s an overview of storage concepts in VMware:

1. Storage Types
52
a. Datastores

 Description: A datastore is a logical container that holds virtual machine files, including VM disk files
(VMDK), configuration files, and snapshots. Datastores abstract the underlying physical storage
hardware.
 Types:
o VMFS (Virtual Machine File System): A high-performance cluster file system optimized for
storing virtual machine files. It supports multiple ESXi hosts accessing the same datastore
simultaneously.
o NFS (Network File System): A file-based storage solution that allows sharing of files over a
network. NFS datastores are suitable for Linux-based environments.
o vSAN (Virtual SAN): A software-defined storage solution integrated with vSphere that
aggregates local storage from ESXi hosts to create a distributed datastore.

b. Storage Protocols

 Description: Different protocols can be used to connect to storage systems, each with its advantages
and use cases.
 Common Protocols:
o iSCSI: An IP-based storage networking protocol that allows SCSI commands to be sent over a
network. It’s commonly used for connecting to SAN (Storage Area Network) devices.
o Fibre Channel: A high-speed network technology used to connect storage devices and
servers, providing a reliable and fast connection.
o NFS: As mentioned, it allows access to files over a network.

2. Storage Management Features

a. Storage Policies

 Description: Storage policies define the characteristics of storage resources used by VMs, including
performance, availability, and redundancy levels.
 Use: Policies can be applied to individual VMs or VM groups to ensure they meet specific storage
requirements.

b. Snapshots

 Description: Snapshots capture the state of a VM at a specific point in time, including its disk,
memory, and device states. They allow for easy backup and recovery.
 Use Cases: Useful for testing, upgrading applications, or recovering from errors.

c. Thin Provisioning

 Description: A storage allocation method that allows VMs to use storage space only when it’s
needed, rather than reserving the entire allocated space upfront.
 Benefits: Optimizes storage usage and reduces wastage of disk space.

d. Storage DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler)

 Description: A feature that automates the placement and balancing of VMs across datastores based
on performance and space utilization.
 Benefits: Helps maintain optimal performance and efficient storage resource usage.

3. Storage Configuration

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a. Creating Datastores

1. VMFS Datastore:
o Open the vSphere Client.
o Navigate to Storage > Datastores.
o Click Create a New Datastore.
o Select VMFS and follow the prompts to specify the datastore name, size, and other settings.

2. NFS Datastore:
o Open the vSphere Client.
o Navigate to Storage > Datastores.
o Click Create a New Datastore.
o Select NFS and enter the required NFS server details, including the path.

b. Connecting to iSCSI Storage

1. Configure iSCSI Adapter:

o Navigate to Storage Adapters in the vSphere Client.
o Add a new iSCSI software adapter and configure the iSCSI target details.

2. Rescan Storage:
o After configuring the iSCSI adapter, rescan the storage to discover new datastores.

4. Monitoring and Troubleshooting Storage Issues

a. Performance Monitoring

 Use vSphere’s performance charts to monitor datastore performance metrics such as latency,
throughput, and IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second).

b. Storage Troubleshooting Steps

1. Check Datastore Status: Ensure that the datastore is online and accessible from the ESXi hosts.
2. Review Logs: Check ESXi logs and the vCenter Server logs for any errors related to storage
connectivity or performance.
3. Examine VM Configuration: Ensure that VMs are properly configured to use the intended
datastores.

5. Accessing Storage Management Tools

 vSphere Client: The primary interface for managing storage resources, creating datastores, and
configuring storage settings.
 vCenter Server: Provides centralized management for datastores and storage policies across the
virtualized environment.

6. Backup and Disaster Recovery

 VMware vSphere Replication: A feature that enables VM replication to protect data and ensure
business continuity.
 Backup Solutions: Consider third-party backup solutions or VMware’s own tools to back up VMs and
datastores.

Conclusion
54
Storage in VMware environments is a critical aspect that requires careful planning and management
to ensure optimal performance and reliability. Understanding the different storage types,
management features, and monitoring tools available in VMware can significantly enhance the
efficiency of your virtualized infrastructure. If you have specific questions or need more information
about any aspect of VMware storage, feel free to ask!

29. Shared Storage

Shared Storage is a critical component in VMware environments, particularly when using
features like vMotion and Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS). Here's a detailed breakdown of
shared storage, its types, configuration, and its significance for VM migration:

1. Importance of Shared Storage

 VM Migration: For vMotion (live migration of VMs) to work, all ESXi hosts in the cluster must have
access to the same datastore. This allows VMs to be moved seamlessly between hosts without
downtime.
 Resource Management: Shared storage enables DRS to balance workloads across hosts effectively,
allowing VMs to be relocated as resource demands fluctuate.
 High Availability: Shared storage ensures that if one host fails, VMs can be restarted on another host
with access to the same storage, enhancing availability.

2. Types of Shared Storage

a. VMFS (Virtual Machine File System)

 Description: A high-performance cluster file system developed by VMware. It is designed for storing
virtual machine files and allows multiple ESXi hosts to read and write to the same datastore
concurrently.
 Features:
o Supports locking mechanisms to manage concurrent access.
o Can handle large VMs and files (up to 62 TB).
o Optimized for virtual machine workloads.

b. NFS (Network File System)

 Description: A file-based storage protocol that allows storage devices to be shared over a network.
NFS datastores can be accessed by multiple ESXi hosts, similar to VMFS.
 Features:
o Typically easier to set up than VMFS for certain environments.
o Good for Linux-based applications and workloads.
o Supports a variety of storage backends.

c. vSAN (Virtual SAN)

 Description: A software-defined storage solution integrated with vSphere, pooling local storage from
ESXi hosts in a cluster to create a shared datastore.
 Features:
o Provides high performance and scalability.
o Simplifies storage management by abstracting physical storage resources.
o Supports storage policies for different VM needs.

3. Configuring Shared Storage in VMware

55
a. Setting Up VMFS Datastores

1. Access the vSphere Client.

2. Navigate to Storage > Datastores.
3. Create New Datastore:
o Select Create a New Datastore.
o Choose VMFS and specify the desired settings, including name, capacity, and VMFS version.
4. Rescan Hosts: Ensure all hosts in the cluster rescan for new datastores.

b. Setting Up NFS Datastores

1. Access the vSphere Client.

2. Navigate to Storage > Datastores.
3. Create New Datastore:
o Select Create a New Datastore.
o Choose NFS and enter the NFS server details and path.
4. Mounting: The NFS datastore will be mounted automatically across all hosts that have access to the
NFS server.

c. Setting Up vSAN

1. Enable vSAN on the Cluster:

o Navigate to the cluster settings in the vSphere Client.
o Select Configure > vSAN > General.
o Enable vSAN and configure the necessary settings, including storage policy.
2. Add Disks: Assign local disks from each ESXi host to the vSAN datastore.

4. Best Practices for Shared Storage

 Performance Monitoring: Regularly monitor the performance of shared storage to identify and
mitigate any bottlenecks.
 Redundancy: Consider redundancy in your storage configuration (e.g., RAID levels) to ensure data
protection and availability.
 Capacity Planning: Keep an eye on storage capacity to avoid running out of space, which can lead to
VM performance issues or failures.
 Regular Backups: Implement a backup solution to safeguard VM data stored on shared datastores.

Conclusion

Shared storage is a fundamental element of VMware environments, enabling features like vMotion
and DRS while ensuring high availability and resource efficiency. Properly configuring and
managing shared storage will lead to a more resilient and performant virtualized infrastructure

30. Memory reclamation

Memory reclamation in VMware refers to processes that free up memory resources from virtual
machines (VMs) that are not actively in use, allowing for more efficient utilization of the host's
memory resources. This is particularly important in environments where multiple VMs run on the
same physical host, as it helps maintain performance and ensures that all VMs have access to the
memory they need.

Let’s explore memory reclamation techniques in VMware with detailed examples to illustrate how

56
they work in practice.
1. Memory Ballooning

Example Scenario:

Imagine a host with 64 GB of RAM running five VMs, each allocated 16 GB. The host starts
experiencing memory pressure because the total memory usage across all VMs exceeds 64 GB.

Process:

1. Balloon Driver Activation:

o The ESXi host detects the memory pressure and triggers the balloon driver ( vmmemctl) in
each VM.
2. Memory Request:
o The balloon driver requests the guest OS to free up 4 GB of memory (total across all VMs) to
be returned to the hypervisor.
3. Guest OS Response:
o The guest OS identifies which applications can release memory (e.g., an application running
in the background) and instructs it to release 4 GB.
4. Memory Reclaimed:
o The reclaimed 4 GB is returned to the hypervisor, allowing it to allocate memory dynamically
among the VMs.

Benefits:

 VMs experience minimal disruption, as ballooning does not require shutting down or migrating VMs.

2. Transparent Page Sharing (TPS)

Example Scenario:

Assume you have 10 identical VMs running the same version of Windows Server with similar
applications installed.

Process:

1. Identifying Duplicate Pages:

o The hypervisor scans the memory pages of all running VMs. It finds that many pages contain
the same data (e.g., OS kernel files).
2. Page Sharing:
o The hypervisor consolidates these identical pages into a single physical page in memory,
allowing multiple VMs to share it.
3. Memory Reduction:
o For example, if each VM has 100 MB of identical data in memory, TPS might reduce the total
memory usage from 1 GB to 100 MB by sharing those pages.

Benefits:

 Significant memory savings occur, allowing more VMs to run on the same hardware.

Configuration Example:

1. Enabling TPS:
o Ensure that the Mem.ShareScanThreshold parameter is set appropriately in the advanced

57
settings of the ESXi host.
 o For instance, setting Mem.ShareScanThreshold to 0 can disable TPS for security reasons if
necessary.

3. Host Memory Compression

Example Scenario:

You have an ESXi host with 128 GB of RAM and are running 10 VMs, each allocated 12 GB of
memory, but the total memory usage exceeds 128 GB.

Process:

1. Memory Pressure Detection:

o The hypervisor detects that available memory is low and activates memory compression.
2. Compression of Unused Pages:
o Instead of swapping to disk, the hypervisor compresses the least used memory pages of
each VM. For instance, 4 GB of memory might be compressed down to 2 GB.
3. Memory Management:
o The hypervisor retains the compressed pages in RAM for faster access, improving
performance compared to traditional swapping.

Benefits:

 Memory compression allows for better performance during periods of memory pressure compared
to swapping, as access to compressed memory is quicker than accessing memory from disk.

4. Memory Swapping

Example Scenario:

Assuming the same ESXi host configuration as before (128 GB of RAM with a total memory
allocation of 120 GB across VMs), the host may still experience memory pressure.

Process:

1. Swapping Activation:
o When memory ballooning and compression do not free enough memory, the hypervisor will
begin to swap pages.
2. Creation of Swap Files:
o For each VM that requires memory, the hypervisor creates a swap file on the datastore. For
instance, if a VM requires an additional 4 GB of memory, its swap file is created in the VM’s
directory.
3. Page Swapping:
o The least-used memory pages of the VM are written to the swap file, freeing up that
memory for other VMs or processes.

Drawbacks:

 If the VM's working set requires constant access to the swapped memory pages, performance can
degrade significantly, leading to increased latency.

Best Practices for Memory Reclamation with Examples

1. Monitoring Memory Usage:

58
 o Example: Use the vSphere Client to monitor the Memory Usage chart for each VM. Identify
VMs with high ballooning activity and consider optimizing their memory allocation.

2. Optimizing VM Configurations:
o Example: If a VM is consistently using only 4 GB of its allocated 8 GB, consider reducing its
allocation to prevent unnecessary resource contention.

3. Installing VMware Tools:

o Example: Ensure that VMware Tools are installed and up to date on each VM to enable
ballooning and TPS functionalities effectively.

4. Using Resource Pools:

o Example: Create resource pools for different departments within an organization. This
allows prioritizing memory allocation for critical applications while still enabling efficient
reclamation.

5. Leveraging DRS:
o Example: If DRS is enabled, VMs experiencing high memory usage can be automatically
migrated to less loaded hosts in the cluster, reducing overall memory contention.

6. Planning for Growth:

o Example: When provisioning new VMs, take into account future application growth and
memory needs, allocating sufficient memory to avoid performance issues later.

Conclusion

Memory reclamation techniques such as ballooning, TPS, host memory compression, and swapping
are essential in optimizing memory usage in VMware environments. By understanding how these
techniques work and implementing best practices, administrators can ensure that their virtualized
infrastructure remains performant and efficient

31. VMware Networking Overview

Networking in VMware environments is essential for enabling communication between virtual
machines (VMs) and between VMs and external networks. VMware provides several networking
components and features to manage and configure network connections effectively.

1. Network Components

a. Virtual Switches (vSwitches)

 Description: A virtual switch allows VMs to communicate with each other and with the outside
world. It operates similarly to a physical switch.
 Types:
o Standard Virtual Switch (vSwitch): A basic virtual switch that operates at the host level.
o Distributed Virtual Switch (VDS): A centralized virtual switch that operates across multiple
hosts, allowing for better management and configuration of networking settings.

59
b. Port Groups

 Description: Port groups are logical constructs that define how VMs connect to virtual switches.
They provide a way to configure network policies that apply to all VMs connected to the port group.
 Functionality:
o Traffic Segmentation: Port groups can be used to segment network traffic for different
applications or departments within an organization.
o VLAN Configuration: Each port group can be associated with a specific VLAN ID to separate
broadcast domains, enhancing security and performance.
 Settings:
o Security Policies: Control settings such as MAC address changes and promiscuous mode.
o Traffic Shaping Policies: Manage bandwidth and prioritize traffic for VMs connected to the
port group.
 Types:
o Untagged Port Groups: Port groups that do not specify a VLAN ID. Traffic is sent without
VLAN tagging.
o Tagged Port Groups: Port groups that specify a VLAN ID, allowing traffic to be identified by
VLAN tags.

c. VM Network Adapters

 Description: Each VM has virtual network adapters that connect to port groups on the virtual switch.
 Types:
o E1000: Emulates Intel 82545EM Gigabit Ethernet NIC.
o VMXNET3: A paravirtualized network adapter optimized for performance, designed to work
with VMware's hypervisor.

2. Networking Configurations

a. Network Configuration in vSphere

 Access: Networking settings can be configured using the vSphere Client by navigating to the
Networking tab in the vCenter Server.
 Actions:
o Create or modify virtual switches and port groups.
o Configure VLAN settings for network segmentation.
o Set up traffic shaping policies to manage bandwidth usage.

b. VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks)

 Description: VLANs allow you to segment network traffic logically, improving security and reducing
broadcast traffic.
 Configuration: You can configure VLAN IDs on port groups to segregate traffic. VMs connected to the
same VLAN can communicate with each other, while traffic between different VLANs can be
restricted.

3. Network Security Features

a. Promiscuous Mode

 Description: Allows a VM to see all traffic on the network segment it’s connected to.
 Use: Useful for monitoring applications and packet analysis.

60
b. MAC Address Changes

 Description: Controls whether VMs can change their MAC addresses.

 Configuration: Can be set to Accept, Reject, or Manual to enhance security.

c. Forged Transmits

 Description: Controls whether VMs can send packets with a source MAC address different from their
assigned MAC address.
 Use: Helps prevent MAC address spoofing attacks.

4. Advanced Networking Features

a. vSphere Distributed Switch (VDS)

 Description: Provides a centralized management interface for networking across multiple hosts,
allowing for better control and efficiency.
 Features:
o Traffic monitoring and analysis.
o Network I/O control for managing bandwidth allocation.
o Support for Private VLANs and Network I/O control.

b. Network I/O Control

 Description: Allows you to prioritize network traffic for different VMs and applications, ensuring
critical services get the bandwidth they need.
 Use: Helps in environments with high network contention.

c. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

 Description: A secure communication channel over the internet that can be configured between a
VMware environment and external networks.
 Implementation: Often set up using third-party appliances or services.

5. Monitoring and Troubleshooting Network Issues

a. Performance Monitoring

 Tools: Use vSphere’s performance charts to monitor network throughput and latency.
 Log Files: Check log files for any errors related to network connectivity.

b. Network Troubleshooting Steps

1. Verify VM Network Settings: Check that the VM’s network adapter is connected to the correct port
group and that it has the right network adapter type.
2. Check vSwitch Configuration: Ensure that the virtual switch is configured correctly and that there
are no VLAN or security settings preventing communication.
3. Test Connectivity: Use tools like ping, traceroute, or network utilities to test connectivity
between VMs and external networks.
4. Examine Firewall Rules: Ensure that any firewalls (on the VM or network) are not blocking necessary
traffic.

6. Accessing VAMI for Network Configuration

 Access VAMI: Log in to the VAMI console by navigating to https://<VCSA-IP>:5480. 61

  Network Tab: Use the Networking section to view and configure network settings for the vCenter
Server Appliance, including IP settings and DNS configuration.

Conclusion

Networking in VMware is a foundational element that enables effective communication between

virtual machines, hosts, and external networks. Port groups are essential for defining network
policies and managing traffic, making them a critical component of VMware networking.
Understanding the various components, configurations, and security features is essential for
managing a robust and efficient virtualized environment.

32. Failures in a VMware environment

Comprehensive overview of various types of failures that can occur in a VMware environment,
categorized by VMs, ESXi hosts, and vCenter Server. Each category includes common failures,
symptoms, potential causes, and troubleshooting steps.

1. Virtual Machine (VM) Failures

A. Power-On Failures

 Symptoms: VM fails to power on; error messages such as “The VM failed to start.”
 Causes:
o Insufficient resources (CPU, memory).
o Corrupted VM configuration files.
o Disk space issues on the datastore.
 Troubleshooting:
o Check VM logs (vmware.log) for specific errors.
o Verify datastore availability and free space.
o Ensure the VM hardware version is compatible with the ESXi host.

B. Performance Issues

 Symptoms: Slow response times, application crashes, or high CPU/memory usage.

 Causes:
o Resource contention due to overcommitted resources.
o Inefficient application configurations.
o Network or storage bottlenecks.

 Troubleshooting:
o Monitor resource usage in vSphere Client.
o Check for memory ballooning or swapping activity.
o Optimize VM resource allocations and application settings.

C. Network Connectivity Issues

 Symptoms: VMs unable to access the network or intermittent connectivity.

 Causes:
o Misconfigured virtual switches or port groups.
o Network adapter settings (e.g., disconnected).
o VLAN issues.

 Troubleshooting:
o Check VM network adapter settings in the vSphere Client. 62
 o Validate virtual switch and port group configurations.
o Test network connectivity using ping or traceroute.

D. Snapshot Issues

 Symptoms: Snapshots failing to create, delete, or consolidate.

 Causes:
o Insufficient disk space on the datastore.
o Locked files due to a failed snapshot operation.
o Corrupted snapshot files.

 Troubleshooting:
o Check datastore space and free up space if needed.
o Use the vmware-cmd command to check snapshot status and delete any stuck snapshots.

E. Guest OS Issues

 Symptoms: Application failures, OS hangs, or blue screens.

 Causes:
o Incompatible drivers or software within the guest OS.
o Resource starvation or misconfiguration.
 Troubleshooting:
o Review guest OS logs for errors.
o Update VMware Tools to ensure compatibility.
o Check for resource allocation and adjust as needed.

2. ESXi Host Failures

A. Host Not Responding

 Symptoms: The host appears disconnected in vCenter; VMs may hang or become unresponsive.
 Causes:
o Network issues causing loss of connectivity to vCenter.
o Hardware failures (e.g., CPU, memory).
 Troubleshooting:
o Use SSH to access the host and check resource utilization.
o Review vmkernel.log for hardware errors.
o Restart management agents if the host is accessible.

B. Storage Issues

 Symptoms: Datastores become inaccessible; errors when powering on VMs.

 Causes:
o Connection issues with SAN/NAS storage.
o LUNs going offline or unmounted.
 Troubleshooting:
o Verify the status of the storage connections in the vSphere Client.
o Check storage array logs for any failures.
o Reconnect or remount datastores if necessary.

C. Hardware Failures

 Symptoms: Alerts from hardware monitoring tools; host crashes or reboots. 63

  Causes:
o Faulty components (e.g., RAM, CPU, power supply).
 Troubleshooting:
o Access the hardware management interface (e.g., iLO, iDRAC) to check hardware health.
o Replace faulty components as necessary.

D. Licensing Issues

 Symptoms: ESXi host enters evaluation mode; VMs stop functioning correctly.
 Causes:
o Expired or invalid license key.
 Troubleshooting:
o Check license status in the vSphere Client.
o Re-enter or update the license key if needed.

3. vCenter Server Failures

A. vCenter Server Unreachable

 Symptoms: Unable to log in to the vSphere Client; services not responding.

 Causes:
o vCenter services not running.
o Network issues preventing access.
 Troubleshooting:
o Check service status using the command: service-control --status.
o Restart vCenter services if they are stopped.
o Validate network settings and ensure proper connectivity.

B. Database Connection Issues

 Symptoms: Errors related to database connectivity, such as “Unable to connect to the database.”
 Causes:
o Database server down or unreachable.
o Misconfigured database connection settings.
 Troubleshooting:
o Verify database server status and connectivity.
o Check the vCenter database configuration in the vpxd.cfg file.
o Restart database services if necessary.

C. Alarms and Events Not Triggering

 Symptoms: Alerts or events not being logged or triggered as expected.

 Causes:
o Misconfigured alarm settings.
o Database issues preventing event logging.
 Troubleshooting:
o Review alarm configurations in the vSphere Client.
o Check the vCenter logs for any error messages related to alarm processing.

D. High Resource Utilization

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 Symptoms: Slow performance of the vCenter Server; timeouts when accessing the web client.
 Causes:
 o Insufficient CPU/memory allocation for the vCenter Server.
o Too many concurrent connections or tasks.
 Troubleshooting:
o Monitor resource usage on the vCenter Server VM.
o Adjust resource allocation as needed.
o Consider deploying additional vCenter Server instances in large environments.

4. Network Failures

A. Virtual Switch Configuration Issues

 Symptoms: VMs lose network connectivity; inability to communicate with other VMs or external
networks.
 Causes:
o Misconfigured virtual switches or port groups.
 Troubleshooting:
o Validate virtual switch settings and ensure proper VLAN tagging.
o Check for uplink status and connectivity.

B. Network Congestion

 Symptoms: Slow network performance; packet loss.

 Causes:
o High traffic load on the virtual switch.
 Troubleshooting:
o Monitor network usage through vSphere or third-party tools.
o Consider implementing Network I/O Control (NIOC) to manage bandwidth.

Conclusion

This comprehensive overview of potential failures in a VMware environment covers a range of

issues across VMs, ESXi hosts, vCenter Server, and networking components. By being aware of
these failures and following the troubleshooting steps outlined, administrators can quickly diagnose
and resolve issues to maintain the stability and performance of their virtual infrastructure.

33. VMware commands and actions

Here's a consolidated table that includes all the relevant VMware commands and actions, organized
by category for easy reference:

Category Command/Action Description

ESXi Host vmware -v Check ESXi version
Management
vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms List all running VMs
esxtop Monitor resource utilization
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 Category Command/Action Description
esxcli hardware status get View hardware status
esxcfg-nics -l List network interfaces
services.sh restart Restart management agents
esxcli system version get Check ESXi host version
esxcli software vib list
List installed VIBs (VMware Installation
Bundle)
esxcli software profile
install -d <image_profile> Install a new ESXi image profile
esxcli network ip interface
list List all network interfaces on the host
esxcli system maintenanceMode
set --enable Enable maintenance mode on the host
esxcli system maintenanceMode
set --disable Disable maintenance mode on the host
VM Management vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms List all VMs on the host
vim-cmd vmsvc/snapshot.get
<vmid> List snapshots for a VM
vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on <vmid> Power on a VM
vim-cmd vmsvc/power.off
<vmid> Power off a VM
vim-cmd vmsvc/power.reset
<vmid> Reset a VM
vim-cmd vmsvc/power.suspend
<vmid> Suspend a VM
vim-cmd vmsvc/migrate <vmid>
<target_host> Migrate a VM to another host
vim-cmd vmsvc/snapshot.create
<vmid> "Snapshot Name" Create a snapshot
"Description" 0 0
vim-cmd vmsvc/snapshot.revert
<vmid> <snapshotID> 0 Revert to a snapshot
./vmware-installer -u vmware-
Upgrade Process vcenter-server Uninstall vCenter Server
./vmware-installer -v Display version of installed vCenter
Access VAMI via browser at Access vCenter Server Appliance
https://<vCenter_IP>:5480 Management Interface
vCenter Upgrade: Follow the Upgrade process for vCenter Server
wizard in VAMI Appliance
Decommission vim-cmd vmsvc/power.off
<vmid> Power off the VM before decommissioning
Process
vim-cmd vmsvc/unregister
<vmid> Unregister the VM from the inventory
Remove from vCenter: Use Graphical method to remove VM from
vSphere Client to remove the VM vCenter
Delete Datastore: Ensure the VM
is not using the datastore, then Remove datastore from vCenter
delete it from the vSphere Client.
Networking esxcfg-vswitch -l List all virtual switches
esxcfg-vswitch -A
<portgroup_name> Add a new port group
<vSwitch_name>
esxcfg-vswitch -d
<portgroup_name> Remove a port group

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<vSwitch_name>
esxcfg-vswitch -p Change port group properties
 Category Command/Action Description
<portgroup_name>
<vSwitch_name>
Storage esxcli storage nfs list List NFS datastores
Management
esxcli storage vmfs snapshot
list List VMFS snapshots
esxcli storage core path list List storage paths
esxcli storage core device
list List all storage devices
esxcli system syslog config
Troubleshooting set --loghost=<ip> Configure syslog server for log management
esxtop Monitor real-time performance metrics
vim-cmd vmsvc/get.summary
<vmid> Get VM summary information
vmkping <ip> Test network connectivity
esxcli network ip interface
list Check network interface configurations
cat /var/log/vmkernel.log View kernel log for troubleshooting
vCenter Tools `Get-VM Sort-Object Name
Select Name, @{N='CPU Usage
`Get-VMHost (%)';E={($.CpuUsageMhz / $.CpuTotalMhz)
* 100}}`
Select Name, @{N='Used
`Get-Datastore (%)';E={[math]::round(($.UsedSpaceGB /
$.CapacityGB) * 100, 2)}}`
Rollback vim-cmd vmsvc/snapshot.revert
<vmid> <snapshotID> 0 Revert to a specific snapshot
Commands
vCenter Rollback: Restore the
Rollback vCenter Server to a previous state
database from backup

Conclusion

This comprehensive table combines all relevant VMware commands and actions, making it easier to
manage and troubleshoot your VMware environment.

34. Licensing
1. Licensing Overview

VMware licensing is structured to accommodate various needs, from small businesses to large
enterprises. Here are the key aspects of VMware licensing:

A. Types of Licenses

 Perpetual Licenses: One-time purchase for the right to use the software indefinitely. Typically,
maintenance and support are purchased separately.
 Subscription Licenses: Pay a recurring fee for access to the software. This includes support and
updates during the subscription period.
 Enterprise Agreements: For larger organizations, VMware offers customized licensing agreements
based on usage, volume, and specific requirements.

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B. Common VMware Products and Their Licensing

 vSphere: Licensing is based on CPU count. A license is required for each physical CPU on the host.
 vCenter Server: Separate licenses are required for vCenter Server, with editions like Standard,
Foundation, and Essentials.
 VMware Cloud: Licensing varies by service, often based on usage (e.g., compute, storage).
 VMware Horizon: Licenses can be based on user or device access.

2. License Management

Proper license management ensures compliance and optimal use of resources:

A. Viewing and Managing Licenses in vSphere

1. vSphere Client:
o Navigate to Administration > Licensing.
o Here, you can view assigned licenses, available licenses, and usage.

2. Assigning Licenses:
o To assign a license, go to vCenter > Configure > Licensing.
o Select the license you want to assign and associate it with the desired hosts or resources.

3. Updating Licenses:
o You can update licenses by removing the old license key and entering the new one in the
same Licensing section.

B. License Compliance

 Regularly review license assignments to ensure compliance with VMware's licensing policies. Non-
compliance can result in fines or restrictions on usage.

35. Support Options

VMware offers various support options to help users troubleshoot issues and ensure their
environments run smoothly:

A. VMware Support Services

1. Basic Support:
o Provides access to VMware's knowledge base, community forums, and limited technical
support.
o Available for all products and included with the purchase of licenses.

2. Production Support:
o Includes 24/7 access to technical support, faster response times, and support for critical
issues.
o Recommended for businesses with mission-critical workloads.

3. Enterprise Support:
o Tailored support for large organizations, offering customized service levels, account

o
management, and proactive support options.
Includes access to technical account managers (TAMs). 68
 4. VMware Premier Services:
o Comprehensive, personalized support for mission-critical environments, including on-site
support and customized service level agreements (SLAs).

B. VMware Knowledge Base

 The VMware Knowledge Base contains articles, how-to , and troubleshooting steps for a wide range
of issues.
 Access the Knowledge Base at VMware's Support Portal.

C. VMware Community Forums

 A platform for users to share knowledge, ask questions, and discuss best practices.
 Community forums can be accessed at VMware Communities.

D. VMware Customer Connect

 A centralized platform for managing your VMware products, support requests, and subscriptions.
 Users can access downloads, updates, and product documentation.

Conclusion

Understanding VMware licensing and support options is crucial for effective management of your
virtualized environment. Regularly review licenses, ensure compliance, and utilize support services
as needed to maintain a robust VMware infrastructure.

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