VMware/ESXi 5.5

ESXi 5.0
Configuration locaiton /etc/ssh/sshd_config: AuthorizedKeysFile /etc/ssh/keys-%u/authorized_keys

Where authorized keys live: /etc/ssh/keys-root/authorized_keys

To copy keys over do the following ssh-copy-id -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa root@esxserver ssh root@esxserver # enter password cat ~/.ssh/authorized_keys >> /etc/ssh/keys-root/authorized_keys
 * 1) places key in wrong location for ESXi 5, so fix...

rc.local
Use: /etc/rc.local.d/local.sh

profile
Use: /etc/profile.local

Build Info
GITHASH:0 CHANGE:2262760 BRANCH:prod2013-stage-rel UID:201 VMTREE:/build/mts/release/bora-1106514/bora VMBLD:beta BUILDTAG:gobuild BUILDNUMBER:1106514
 * 1) cat /etc/vmware/.buildInfo

Beta
VMware Communities: Welcome to the vCloud Suite Beta Program - https://www.vmware.com/betaprogram/vCloudSuite
 * vSphere: http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/beta/vcloud_suite/vsphere_beta

VMware Communities: vSphere Beta - http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/beta/vcloud_suite/vsphere_beta?view=documents

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VMware Communities: 2013 Beta Program Overview kick off-v7_031213.pdf - http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-22942
 * PDF - http://communities.vmware.com/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadBody/22942-102-1-30547/2013%20Beta%20Program%20Overview%20kick%20off-v7_031213.pdf

Release Notes
Release Notes - vSphere 5.5 Beta 1 Release Notes

vSphere Installation and Setup - http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-21947

Supported Operating Systems for vCenter Server 5.5 Beta and the vSphere Web Client 5.5 Beta Server Component
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2 64 bit
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 64 bit

Note: Server 2003 is not in this list.

New Features
New Features that May Affect Fusion-io


 * Native Driver Model
 * smartd capabilities
 * vFlash Cache (direct competitor to ioTurbine)
 * ioTurbine could build a flash module based off of the vFlash Cache framework
 * vSAN

Hosted Beta
Hosted Beta - http://hostedbeta.vmwcs.com

Beta2 Refresh
Coming in Beta2 Refresh - http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-22898
 * PDF - http://communities.vmware.com/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadBody/22898-102-1-30527/Coming%20in%20Beta2%20Refresh.pdf

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Released: Monday, April 29th, 2013.

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VMware Communities: vCloud Suite Beta2 Preparation 042313.pdf - http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-23075
 * PDF - http://communities.vmware.com/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadBody/23075-102-1-30648/vCloud%20Suite%20Beta2%20Preparation%20042313.pdf

vCenter
There is no vCenter Appliance available for the RC release. There will be one for the GA release.

Example password that meets complexity: Pasword1@

Local account access is disabled by default for the fat client. Login as "administrator@vsphere.local" and add the local "administrators" group to the vsphere "administrators" group.
 * VMware KB: Unable to log into vCenter Server after upgrading to vCenter Server 5.1 -

vSphere Client and Windows XP
Warning on vSphere Client install: vsphere Client 5.5 Wen installed on a Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 host machine, the vSphere Client might fail to connect to vCenter server 5.5. See VMware Knowledge Base article 2049143.

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2049143

HA management network redundancy warning
Warning: Host currently has no management network redundancy.

Warning: This host currently has no management network redundancy

Solution:
 * 1) From the VMware Infrastructure Client, right-click on the cluster and click Edit Settings.
 * 2) Select vSphere HA and click Advanced Options.
 * 3) In the Options column, add and enter das.ignoreRedundantNetWarning
 * 4) In the Value column, enter true.
 * 5) Note: Steps 3 and 4 create a new option.
 * 6) Click OK.
 * 7) Right-click the host and click Reconfigure HA for vSphere HA. This reconfigures HA.

References:
 * VMware KB: Network redundancy message when configuring VMware High Availability in vCenter Server - http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1004700

vFlash
Get cache stats: CI=`esxcli storage vflash cache list -m vfc | head -n 1` esxcli storage vflash cache stats get -m vfc -c $CI
 * 1) Get cache object identifier

Get cache object identifier esxcli storage vflash cache list -m vfc vfc-2048367937-cache-test-1
 * 1) esxcli storage vflash cache list -m vfc

Get cache stats: esxcli storage vflash cache stats get -m vfc -c vfc-2048367937-cache-test-1
 * 1) esxcli storage vflash cache stats get -m vfc -c [cache_object_identifier]

Clear cache stats: esxcli storage vflash cache stats get -m vfc -c vfc-2048367937-cache-test-1
 * 1) esxcli storage vflash cache stats reset -m vfc -c [cache_object_identifier]

VMware Communities: Welcome to the vCloud Suite Beta Program - http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/beta/vcloud_suite?view=documents
 * VMware Communities: vFlash_Workflows.pdf - http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-22243

VMware Communities: Storage - http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/beta/vcloud_suite/vsphere_beta/storage?view=overview
 * VMware Communities: Getting Started with vFlash Storage v1 Confidential.pdf - http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-22124
 * VMware Communities: vFlash Beta Homework Confidential.pdf - http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-22047

Technical Discussions:
 * VMware Communities: vSphere Beta - Discussions - http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/beta/vcloud_suite/vsphere_beta?view=discussions

Storage | VMware vSphere Blog - VMware Blogs - http://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/storage
 * Virtual Flash (vFlash) Tech Preview | VMware vSphere Blog - VMware Blogs - http://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2012/12/virtual-flash-vflash-tech-preview.html
 * An Introduction to Flash Technology - http://cormachogan.com/2012/12/06/an-introduction-to-flash-technology/
 * VMworld session report: Tech Preview vSphere Integration with Existing Storage - http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2012/09/07/inf-sto2223-tech-preview-vsphere-integration-with-existing-storage/
 * Technical Recordings - vFlash - http://communities.vmware.com/viewbetavideo.jspa?communityID=5265&fileName=5265-VCD55BetavSphereStoragevFlashBetaOverview&baseURL=https://download2.vmware.com/software/beta/&w=980&h=600
 * "vFlash is a framework. VMware will be providing our own default software to plugin (vFC) to the framework, but other flash vendors can create their own plugins (vFlash Cache Modules) containing bespoke and proprietary algorithms for utilizing their specific cache/flash devices. The vision is to publish a set of APIs to support this, and share them with potential partners."
 * This appears to be a direct competitor to ioTurbine!

vSAN
See VMware/VSAN

vCenter Server Appliance
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k185/kennethburgener/vcenter_appliance_configuration_instructions.png

keywords
vmware esxi 5.5 esx 5 hypervisor ESXi 5.5 beta beta2 refresh