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

Configure vCenter Server Appliance

• Within vSphere Client, select vCenter Server Appliance and select the Console tab
• The local console of the appliance will be displayed including the IP Address and TCP Port to connect to the system with. Enter these details into a web browser.
• When prompted, enter the default username (root) and password (vmware), a setup wizard will start:
  • Accept the licence agreement and click Next
  • Select Set custom configuration (so you can see the available options) and click Next
  • For Database Settings accept defaults and click Next
  • For SSO Settings accept defaults and click Next
  • For Active Directory accept defaults (disabled) and click Next
  • For Review Configuration click Next
  • For Configure click Start
  • Click Close when finished
• Configure networking (if DHCP is not desired) by selecting the Networking tab
  • Click Address, change IPv4 Address Type to Static
  • Enter IP information, hostnames, DNS servers, etc
  • Click Save Settings
• Enter the new IP address (and original port number) of your vCenter Server Appliance to confirm the system is contactable.

Create an Windows Server VM to provide AD services

1. 1. This will be custom to the user environment