VMware: vSphere 5.1 VDI

Install VMware ESXi Hypervisor

• Install the VMware ESXi Hypervisor from ISO (or network deployment) to a bare metal system. Very little user interaction is required during the installation. Only basic info will be requested:
  • Disk to use for installation
  • Password

Manage with vSphere Client

• Download and install the vSphere Client for Windows (Mac and Linux versions not available at the time of writing) and install on a workstation.
• Open vSphere Client and enter:
  • IP Address of ESXi Server
  • Username of root
  • Password as defined during the install of ESXi server

Enable SSH

• Within vSphere Client select the ESXi server from the tree list on the left pane
• In the right pane, select Configuration tab
• Select Security Profile under the Software section
• Under Services, click Properties...
• From the list of services, select SSH and click the Options button
• Click Start
• Select Start and stop with host and click OK
• Click OK to save and close the Services Properties dialog box

Install nVidia GRID drivers

• Download the nVidia VIB driver package for VMware/vSphere from the nVidia website.
• Copy the driver to the ESXi system

Jons-MacBook-Air: Jon$ scp NVIDIA-VMware-304.76-1OEM.510.0.0.802205.x86_64.vib root@10.50.0.0:/tmp/

• Connect the ESXi Server using SSH and the root user:

Jons-MacBook-Air: Jon$ ssh root@10.50.0.0

• Enter Maintenance Mode:

/tmp # vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter
'vim.Task:haTask-ha-host-vim.HostSystem.enterMaintenanceMode-369681837'

• Install the VIB driver:

/tmp # esxcli software vib install -v /tmp/NVIDIA-VMware-304.76-1OEM.510.0.0.802
205.x86_64.vib
Installation Result
   Message: Operation finished successfully.
   Reboot Required: false
   VIBs Installed: NVIDIA_bootbank_NVIDIA-VMware_ESXi_5.1_Host_Driver_304.76-1OEM.510.0.0.802205
   VIBs Removed:
   VIBs Skipped:

• Confirm the driver is installed:

/tmp # esxcli software vib list | grep NVIDIA
NVIDIA-VMware_ESXi_5.1_Host_Driver  304.76-1OEM.510.0.0.802205          NVIDIA  VMwareAccepted    2013-04-23

• Verify the nVidia module loads:

/tmp # esxcli system module load --module nvidia

• Verify the devices are present:

/tmp # esxcli hardware pci list -c 0x300 -m 0xff
000:004:00.0
   Address: 000:004:00.0
   Segment: 0x0000
   Bus: 0x04
   Slot: 0x00
   Function: 0x00
   VMkernel Name:
   Vendor Name: Unknown
   Device Name: Unknown
   Configured Owner: Unknown
   Current Owner: VMkernel
   Vendor ID: 0x10de
   Device ID: 0x11bf
   SubVendor ID: 0x10de
   SubDevice ID: 0x100a
   Device Class: 0x0300
   Device Class Name: VGA compatible controller
   Programming Interface: 0x00
   Revision ID: 0xa1
   Interrupt Line: 0x0b
   IRQ: 11
   Interrupt Vector: 0xb0
   PCI Pin: 0x0c
   Spawned Bus: 0x00
   Flags: 0x0201
   Module ID: -1
   Module Name: None
   Chassis: 0
   Physical Slot: 8
   Slot Description:
   Passthru Capable: true
   Parent Device: PCI 0:3:8:0
   Dependent Device: PCI 0:3:8:0
   Reset Method: Bridge reset
   FPT Sharable: true

## More devices will be listed including the onboard graphics adapter

• Exit Maintenance Mode:

/tmp # vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_exit
'vim.Task:haTask-ha-host-vim.HostSystem.exitMaintenanceMode-369681914'

• End the SSH session.

Install (import) the vCenter Server Appliance

• Obtain the vCenter Server Appliance from VMware's website. (You may need to login to obtain a copy.)
• From within vSphere Client, go to the File menu and select Deploy OVF Template. A wizard will start.
  • Enter the location of the downloaded OVF file, click Next
  • Click Next again
  • Enter a name for the appliance (or accept the default), click Next
  • Accept the Disk Format defaults, click Next
  • Click Next to import the vCenter Server Appliance
• The import will take a few minutes depending on the speed of the local drives and network
• Right click on the vCenter Server Appliance in the left pane and select Power > Power On