Currently viewing the tag: "VMware"

n+1 is hogwash!

By On 15 February 2010 · 3 Comments

Too frequently I hear the expression n+1 as a model for ESX clusters to provide High Availability.  If you EVER expect to patch ESX servers without VM downtime then you need at least(†) n+2.  When running your clusters to only n+1, you can never safely put one of your hosts in Maintenance Mode; not if High Availability is important [...]

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Firewall diagram – updated to version 3

By On 22 September 2009 · 4 Comments

Dudley passed me the latest version of the Firewall diagram.  Go and grab it:

Here’s what’s new since the last download:

What’s new in v3:
Now synchronized with “VMware Network Ports Compendium v3″

What’s new in v213:
Change port range in VUM to 9000-9100 (and [...]

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ESX 3.5 patch 10 – what’s that?

By On 17 June 2009 · Leave a Comment

According to the vSphere 4.0 release notes (http://www.vmware.com/support/vsphere4/doc/vsp_esx40_vc40_rel_notes.html )

vCenter Server 4.0 becomes unresponsive in large environments if managing ESX Server 3.5 hosts prior to ESX 3.5 patch 10
vCenter Server 4.0 can become unresponsive in large environments after 30 days if it manages any ESX Server 3.5 hosts prior to ESX [...]

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Problems with Storage VMotion

By On 14 July 2008 · 1 Comment

I’ve been using the new Storage VMotion functionality fairly heavily over the last couple of months.  I have encountered a couple of significant bugs whilst using it, which have resulted in corrupted VMDK files.  Here are my two tips when using Storage VMotion, to avoid the problems I have seen:

Ensure that you have sufficient [...]

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When your mind goes blank

By On 10 July 2008 · 4 Comments

For anyone who doesn’t subscribe to Duncan Epping’s great blog, he reminded me of this great command line snippet:

Enter maintenance mode from the ESX command line:
vimsh -n -e /hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter

I have used this command several times in anger.  It is particularly useful if you can’t get to your [...]

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Version 1.2

By On 19 May 2008 · Leave a Comment

I’ve just uploaded version 1.2

There over a dozen corrections, updates, and a few small additions.  Many thanks to everyone who has emailed me since the last release, particularly Simon Price and Peter Vroomen.

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Command prompt colours

By On 16 April 2008 · 1 Comment


Here’s an old trick which works great on ESX servers (thanks to this article on Linux Journal for reminding me).  It turns your prompt different colours to highlight when you are logged in as root.

To make the prompt red when you’re running as root add this to /root/.bashrc:

[...]

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Shining glory

By On 8 March 2008 · Leave a Comment

Here is version 1.1 in all its shining glory.

I’ve made several corrections (thanks everyone), added a few extra snippets and dusted it with a sprinkling of handy tips and tricks.

The biggest change is a small 3i section. I have been wanting to do this for a while, but I haven’t had [...]

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Updates

By On 5 February 2008 · 1 Comment

I’ve made a couple of corrections, so please go and grab the update :

Correction to partition types (thanks to Arne Fokkema) Addition of SQL express with VC 2.5 (thanks to Peter Vroomen) Added check license site added PROD_VC_EXPRESS Random tidying

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The VI3 card is now ready for 1.0 status!

By On 3 February 2008 · Leave a Comment

I have spent quite a bit time over the last couple of weeks trying to tidy it up and adding in some of the 3.5 stuff which might start showing up. I haven’t had a great deal of hands-on experience with 3.5 yet, and haven’t needed to plough through the VMware documentation. Please let me [...]

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