Managing VMware ESXi in the Datacenter
Dwarakanath P RaoSr Partner consultant6th November 2008
Agenda
VMware ESXi OverviewESXi Getting StartedCase Studies
What is It ?
VMware ESXi Overview
VMware ESXi
Virtual Machines
Next generation of VMware’s market-leading ESX hypervisor
What does it do?Partitions a server into virtual machinesReduces hardware, power, and cooling with the performance and features of ESX
Who can use it & How do you use it?
What is unique?Plug-and-PlayMinimal configuration. Run VMs in minutes
OS-Independent, thin architectureUnparalleled security and reliability
Full-featuredSuperior consolidation and scalabilityEasy to mange with remote toolsSimple license upgrade to VI3 Enterprise
Vision: Building Block for the Next-generation Datacenter
Plug-and-Play: Power on a new server with ESXi. The new server joins a clusterSelf-optimizing: All VMs in the cluster are automatically rebalanced taking in consideration the newly available resources
Servers Shipping with Embedded ESXiDL360 G5 DL365 G5 DL380 G5 DL385 G2
DL385 G5 DL580 G5 DL585 G2 DL585 G5
BL460c
BL465c
BL465c G5
BL480cBL680c G5
BL685c
BL685c G5
1950 III R905R900R8052950 III2900 III M605M600
HS21x3850 RX 300 S4 RX 330 S1
RS210 RS220 120Bb-m6 120Rj-2
ML370 G5
Servers Qualified for ESXi Installable
HS21x3850 LS21LS41x3455 BX620 S4
90+ Intel ESAA Platforms Variations
Select partners include
Known to work with
� If ESXi is readable by a given server’s CD ROM and installs on the attached hard disk, ESXi (hypervisor) will function on that server
� CIM Provider functionality has not been tested on servers not listed on the ESXi Installable HCL
DL360 G5 DL365 G5 DL380 G5 DL385 G2
DL385 G5 DL580 G5 DL585 G2 DL585 G5
BL460c
BL465c
BL465c G5
BL480cBL680c G5
BL685c
BL685c G5
ML370 G5
1950 III 2900 III 2950 III R805 R900 R905 M600 M605
VMware ESXi Getting Started
Hardware NeededServer
CPUMinimum: Single socket, dual coreIdeal: Dual-socket, 4 cores per CPU
Memory:Minimum: 1GBIdeal: 8+GB
NetworkMinimum: one NIC, plus one for Management interfaceIdeal: One for Management Interface plus multiple NICs for VMs
StorageLocal Storage (SATA/SAS):
Minimum: one 80GB driveIdeal:2 mirrored drives (only for ESXi Installable)plus 4 RAID5 drives for VMs
Shared StorageNFS, iSCSI, Fibre Channel: for VM storageESXi Installable requires local disk for the hypervisor
Storage
Network
Memory
CPU
Installing ESXi
VMware ESXi Embedded
Installed via SD flash or USB key internal to the server
Distributed with a new server
No Installation -- Just Turn It On!
VMware ESXi Installable
Load Installer via CD or ISO image
Simple 2-step procedure:1. Accept EULA
2. Select local drive for installation
Start Running VMs in Minutes
1. Power on server and boot into hypervisor
2. Server Console Remote Access is supported with ESXi
HP iLODell DRACIBM RAS
3. Configure Admin Password4. (optional) Modify network
configuration5. Connect VI Client
to IP AddressOr manage with VirtualCenter
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Importing a virtual appliance
Creating Virtual Machines
Import a Virtual ApplianceHundreds to choose from on the Virtual Appliance MarketplaceDownload directly via VI Client and deploy on host
Use VMware ConverterTransfer existing physical servers into virtual machinesImport existing VMware and 3rd party virtual images
Create from ScratchSpecify CPUs (1-4), Memory (1-64 GB), Disks, Network interfacesLoad OS from ISO image (over 80 supported OSes)
Manage Your ESXi Host: VI Client
Common Information Model (CIM)
Key featuresAgent-less, standards based monitoring of hardware resources
Used by VirtualCenter to provide basic hardware status information
CIM providers readable by 3rd party management tools
Manage Individual VMs
Control capabilities
Power on/off
Suspend
Captures state of VM to disk
Can resume back to same state
Snapshot
Makes point-in-time copy of virtual disk(s)
Can have multiple snapshots in a tree
Backing up Virtual Machines
Option 1: traditional backup toolsBack up a VM like you would a physical server
Option 2: back up VM as a set of filesCan view and download VM files via VI Client through Datastore Browser (can also do via RCLI), OR
Can download VM files directly from shared storage device
1. Take snapshot of VM
2. Download copies of VM files
3. Remove snapshot
More Sophisticated Features
Resource PoolsAllows you to divide resources of host in fine-grained way
Create multiple-nested resource pools according to policies, e.g.
By Application
By Department
More Sophisticated Features
Virtual NetworkingCreate multiple vSwitches and assign one or more NICs to each
Create vSwitches without NICs for internal-only traffic
Make use of VLAN tagging (if your physical network supports it)
Case Studies: VMware ESXi in Large Financial, Large Oil
Case Studies: ESXi Operational DeploymentLarge US Financial Large US Oil
Server Vendor � HP � HP
Why ESXi? (prioritized list)
� No installation; “server is now an appliance”
� Easier patching
� More secure—COS considered an OS by Bank’s security team
� More secure
� No installation required
� Easier patching
� Easier to deploy at remote sites
Deployment Process
� Purchase licensed server for HP
� Apply latest patches with VMware Update Manager
� Add to computation cluster via Virtual Center
� No local disks; all storage on SAN
� Purchase stand-alone, unlicensed ESXi USB keys from HP
� Configure key at central site� Apply latest patch
� Provide IP address
� Set root password
� Install USB key in HP server and ship to installation location
� May use local storage or SAN
Management Practice
� No reliance on HP SIM
� No reliance on third-party agents
� Has developed in-house PERL script that interacts withHP HW directly through iLO
� Script queries HP IML logs
� Reports any item that is not listed at “Informational”or “Repaired”
� Emails report to system administrators
� Relies on HP SIM hooks integrated into ESXi
� Satisfied with ESXi SIM integration
HP Systems Insight Manager—Working Together with ESXi and VirtualCenter
ESX, ESXi 3.5 Comparison
� See KB 1006543
Capability VMware ESX VMware ESXi
ServiceConsole
Privileged (unsecure), flexible Linux environment
None. VI Client, RCLI, and APIs for management
Remote CLI Service Console CLISupport for RCLI in ESX 3.5 U2
At this time, the following Service Console CLI commands have not been implemented in RCLI:•ESXcfg-claimrule•ESXcfg-info•ESXcfg-resgrp•ESXcfg-swiscsi
Scriptable Installation
KickStart support Not supported at this time. Support for post installation configuration script using RCLI-based configuration scripts.
Serial Cable Connectivity
Enabled No support at this time
SNMP VMware ESX supports SNMP With VI only
Active Directory Integration
Third-party module in Service Console
Not supported at this time
HW Inst. HW agents in Service Console Monitoring through CIM Providers
Software Patches &Updates
Linux-like patching FW-like upgrades
VI Web Access Supported Not Supported
Remote CLI Overview
A set of tools which enable execution of VI management tasks from a remote CLI environment
Commands are run from a remote system
They get executed on an ESX Server
The output is piped back in-line
A replacement for COS-based CLI and scripts
A better way to do CLI-based ESX Server management
User is authenticated
Fine-grained permissions
Auditing of tasks
Q&A
Dwarakanath P RaoSr Partner Consultant.