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ESXi Servers (VMware)

We are using a VMware hypervisor - ESXi version 5.5.0 to host all servers. The license below is good for up to 6 CPUs.

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

NH0AP-45L53-58R4N-00AR0-8X755
Virtual Machine Hosts (VMhosts)
  • VMHOST1: 192.168.0.33
  • VMHOST2: 192.168.0.34 (Management Interface)
  • VMHOST4: 192.168.0.35
  • VMHOST6: 192.168.0.37

The Management Interface IP address must be setup in order to configure the ESXi host remotely.

Remote Administration

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.

Host IP Address VM Management Link
VMHost1 192.168.0.33 https://vmhost1.audina.net/ui/
VMHost2 192.168.0.34 https://192.168.0.34/ui/
VMHost4 192.168.0.35 https://vmhost4.audina.net/ui/

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

VMHOST4 (Main Host)

This is the main host running the important servers.

  • IP Address = 192.168.0.35

These are the virtual machines configured for this host: VMHOST4: Virtual Machines

This is the virtual switch for this host: VMHOST4: Virtual Switch

VMHOST1 (Nakivo Backup Virtual Machine)

This host backs up all other virtual machines to itself. See more details here.

  • IP Address = 192.168.0.33
Host Shutdown

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.

VMware host shutdown

Host Startup

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 PhoneLog: Set network location to 'Work' for it to work correctly

If unable to set it to Work Network, then use these steps: Control Panel: Network Sharing Center

Configuring ESXi Firewall

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.

VMware Remote Console

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

These are the available hosts and virtual machines:

Host IP Address VM ID Link
VMHost1 192.168.0.33 https://192.168.0.33/mob/?moid=ha-folder-vm
VMHost2 192.168.0.34 https://192.168.0.34/mob/?moid=ha-folder-vm
VMHost4 192.168.0.35 https://192.168.0.35/mob/?moid=ha-folder-vm
Host Virtual Machine Remote Console Link VM Screenshot Link
VMHost4 Infusion vmrc://192.168.0.35/?moid=11 https://192.168.0.35/screen?id=11
VMHost4 Server20081 vmrc://192.168.0.35/?moid=13 https://192.168.0.35/screen?id=13
VMHost4 SWDev vmrc://192.168.0.35/?moid=9 https://192.168.0.35/screen?id=9
VMHost4 p2i-router vmrc://192.168.0.35/?moid=10 https://192.168.0.35/screen?id=10
VMHost4 OnContact vmrc://192.168.0.35/?moid=12 https://192.168.0.35/screen?id=12
VMHost4 www vmrc://192.168.0.35/?moid=8 https://192.168.0.35/screen?id=8
VMHost1 Nakivo Backup vmrc://192.168.0.33/?moid=39 https://192.168.0.33/screen?id=39