ESXi Servers (VMware)

We use VMware ESXi to run virtual copies of our previous physical servers.

VMware vSphere 5 Essentials PLUS for 6 CPU(s):

NH0AP-45L53-58R4N-00AR0-8X755

VMware ESXi (vSphere) v6 License Keys:

MC0RH-F4214-M8D10-F32E0-22202

1. Log on to an ESXi host using initial root user.
2. Manage → Security & users → Users → Add user
3. Host → Actions → Permissions → Add user → enter newly created user name

Each VM host can be monitored and managed from a browser by making use of VMware's vSphere HTML 5 Web Client. This interface runs on the host/hypervisor directly. It can be accessed from the links below.

Sometimes this package will prompt you to update. In most cases that update will fail. When it does you'll see an error message with a link to the package that should have downloaded. To manually install the update follow the instructions below:

1. Copy the URL from the error message or alternatively, download the update package and use an SCP/SFTP client to push the package to the host.
2. Under Host click Manage, then click Packages and finally click Install Update
3. Paste the previously copied URL or the datastore path you placed the downloaded package in and click Update

For system reboots/shutdowns, make sure to follow these steps:

• Shutdown each individual virtual machine. Do not use VMware's basic tasks, but use the virtual machine console and login to the server OS to shutdown safely.
• Shutdown or reboot VMware host.

At system start, perform these steps:

• Login to timeclock server, and verify apache and PCEntry.exe are running.
• Login to Server20081 server, and verify OfficeWatch app, Unifi controller and Timeclock Middleware are running.

Note: It's possible that the network location setting is incorrect. This manifests in subtle network connectivity changes because this setting is what tells the firewall what traffic to block. It is imperative that this is set to Domain network or Work (not Home or Public). Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center

If unable to set it to Work Network, then use these steps:

The ESXi firewall contains a number of preconfigured services that can be enabled. If the service you need to enable isn't listed there isn't an interface to do that on the vSphere Client, you must SSH into the host to add it.

Follow the instructions below or see this article on VMWare's site. Creating custom firewall rules in VMware ESXi 5.x (2008226)

To manually add a service to the firewall's list of services:

1. Backup the original firewall service list which is located at /etc/vmware/firewall/service.xml
2. Change permissions to allow editing service.xml

   chmod 0644 /etc/vmware/firewall/service.xml

3. Add the service by opening service.xml with vi and modifying the file following the examples already in the file
4. Set the file permission back to default

   chmod 1444 /etc/vmware/firewall/service.xml

5. Refresh the firewall

   esxcli network firewall refresh

   Note: This file may be overwritten on reboot.

If you have the VMware Remote Console application installed, you can access any virtual machine through a remote desktop-like interface. At the Windows Run prompt:

vmrc://[username]@[host ip]/?moid=[vm moid]

You can install the application from:

\\SERVER20081\Documents and Settings\Software Installation Backup\VMware-VMRC-9.0.0-4288332.msi