1. Virtual Machines
Module 7

2. Introduction to VMware Virtualization Installing VMware ESX and ESXi
You Are Here
vSphere Environment
Operations
Introduction to VMware Virtualization
Access Control
VMware ESX and ESXi
Resource Monitoring
VMware vCenter Server
Data Protection
Networking
Scalability
Storage
High Availability
Virtual Machines
Patch Management
Installing VMware ESX and ESXi
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3. Importance
You can create a virtual machine in a number of ways. Choosing the correct method can help you save time and make the deployment process manageable and scalable.
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4. Module Lessons Lesson 1: Virtual Machine Concepts
Lesson 2: Creating a Virtual Machine
Lesson 3: Creating Templates and Clones
Lesson 4: vCenter Converter
Lesson 5: Modifying Virtual Machines
Lesson 6: Managing Virtual Machines
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5. Lesson 1: Virtual Machine Concepts
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

6. Lesson Objectives Describe a virtual machine
Display a virtual machine’s files
List the virtual machine hardware
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7. What Is a Virtual Machine?
A virtual machine is:
A set of virtual hardware on which a supported guest operating system and its applications run
A set of discrete files
A virtual machine’s configuration file describes the virtual machine’s configuration, including its virtual hardware.
Avoid using special characters and spaces in the virtual machine’s name.
virtual machine
MyVM.vmx …
guestOS = “winnetstandard”
displayName = “MyVM”
(etc.)
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8. What Files Make Up a Virtual Machine?
Filename
Description
<VM_name>.vmx
Virtual machine configuration file
<VM_name>.vmdk
File describing virtual disk characteristics
<VM_name>-flat.vmdk
Preallocated virtual disk file that contains the data
<VM_name>.nvram
Virtual machine BIOS
vmware.log, vmware-#.log
Virtual machine log file and files containing old virtual machine log entries
<VM_name>.vswp
Virtual machine swap file
<VM_name>.vmsd
File that describes the virtual machine’s snapshots
<Template_name>.vmtx
Virtual machine template configuration file
Other files exist for snapshots, raw disk mappings, NFS locks, and change tracking with VMware Data Recovery.
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9. Displaying a Virtual Machine’s Files
On the Configuration tab, click the Storage link.
Right-click a datastore to browse its files.
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10. Using the Storage Views Tab to Display Files
Click the Storage Views tab.
Select Show All Virtual Machine Files from the menu.
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11. Virtual Machine Hardware
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12. CPU and Memory Up to eight virtual CPUs (vCPUs):
VMware® Virtual SMP license required
Also depends on the number of licensed CPUs on a host and the number of processors supported by a guest operating system
Maximum memory size (up to 255GB):
Amount the guest operating system will be told that it has
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13. Virtual Disk
Sample virtual disk definition: Virtual disk size: 4GB Datastore: MyVMFS Virtual disk node: 0:0 Virtual storage adapter: LSI Logic SAS Virtual disk files: Server1.vmdk and Server1-flat.vmdk Default disk mode: Snapshots allowed Optional disk mode: Independent – persistent or nonpersistent Disk provisioning: Thick or thin
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14. Virtual Network Interface Card
Network adapters that might be available for your virtual machine:
Flexible – Can function as either a vlance or vmxnet adapter:
vlance – Also called PCNet32, supported by most 32-bit guest operating systems
vmxnet – Provides significantly better performance than vlance
e1000 – High-performance adapter available for only some guest operating systems
vmxnet2 (Enhanced vmxnet) – vmxnet adapter with enhanced performance
vmxnet3 – Builds on the vmxnet2 adapter
Whenever possible, choose vmxnet3.
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15. Other Devices CD/DVD drive: Connect to CD-ROM, DVD, or ISO image.
Floppy drive:
Connect to floppy or floppy image.
Generic SCSI devices (such as tape libraries):
Can be connected to additional SCSI adapters
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16. Virtual Machine Console
Send power changes to the virtual machine.
Access the virtual machine’s guest operating system.
Send Ctrl+Alt+Del to the guest operating system.
Press Ctrl+Alt+Ins in the virtual machine console.
Press Ctrl+Alt to release the pointer from the virtual machine console.
VM console icon
VM console
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17. Lesson Summary Describe a virtual machine
Display a virtual machine’s files
List the virtual machine hardware
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18. Lesson 2: Creating a Virtual Machine
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19. Lesson Objectives Provision a virtual machine:
Create the virtual machine
Install the guest operating system into the virtual machine
Install VMware Tools into the guest operating system
Describe how to import a virtual appliance
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20. Provisioning a Virtual Machine
Methods for creating virtual machines:
Use the Create New Virtual Machine wizard.
Import a virtual appliance.
Deploy a virtual machine from template.
Clone a virtual machine.
Use VMware vCenter Converter.
Use Guided Consolidation.
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21. Create New Virtual Machine Wizard
Create a new virtual machine in the VMware vCenter Server inventory.
In the Hosts and Clusters view, select a datacenter, cluster, or host.
In the VMs and Templates view, select a datacenter or folder.
Start the Create New Virtual Machine wizard.
Perform a “typical” or “custom” configuration.
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22. Choosing the Typical Configuration
Information needed for a typical configuration:
Virtual machine name and inventory location
Location in which to place the virtual machine (cluster, host, resource pool)
Datastore on which to store the virtual machine’s files
Guest operating system and version
Disk parameters for creating a new virtual disk:
Disk size
Disk-provisioning settings:
Allocate and commit space on demand (Thin Provisioning)
Support clustering features such as Fault Tolerance
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23. Choosing the Custom Configuration
Other information needed for a custom configuration:
Virtual machine version (version 7 is the latest)
Number of CPUs and size of memory
Number of NICs, network to connect to, and network adapter type
SCSI controller type
Whether to create a new disk, use an existing disk, use an RDM, or use no disk
Other disk-provisioning settings:
Whether to store the virtual disk with the virtual machine or in a different datastore
Virtual device node (for example, SCSI(0:0))
Mode-independent (persistent and nonpersistent)
For both the typical and the custom configurations:
You can edit virtual machine settings before completing the task.
For example, attach an ISO image to the virtual CD/DVD drive.
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24. Installing the Guest Operating System
Install the guest operating system into the virtual machine.
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25. Install VMware Tools into the guest operating system.
Features of VMware Tools include:
Device drivers:
SVGA display
vmxnet/vmxnet3
Balloon driver for memory management
Sync driver for quiescing I/O
Improved mouse
Virtual machine heartbeat
Time synchronization
Ability to shut down virtual machine
Install VMware Tools into the guest operating system.
VMware Tools icon
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26. Virtual Appliances Preconfigured virtual machines:
Usually designed for a single purpose (for example, a safe browser or firewall)
Deployed as an OVF template
Available from the VMware Virtual Appliance Marketplace:
Use the VMware vSphere™ Client to upload appliances into vCenter Server.
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27. Deploying an OVF Template
Another way to deploy a virtual appliance or any virtual machine stored in OVF format:
Deploy from an OVF template.
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28. Lab 8
In this lab, you will create, import, and prepare virtual machines for use.
Create a virtual machine.
Install a guest operating system in a virtual machine.
Create a virtual machine on an iSCSI VMFS datastore.
Import a virtual machine into the vCenter Server inventory.
Identify a virtual machine’s disk format and usage statistics.
Install VMware Tools into a virtual machine installed with a Windows operating system.
Enable time synchronization between a virtual machine and an ESXi host.
Copy class lab files to your virtual machine.
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29. Lesson Summary Provision a virtual machine:
Create the virtual machine
Install the guest operating system into the virtual machine
Install VMware Tools into the guest operating system
Describe how to import a virtual appliance
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30. Lesson 3: Creating Templates and Clones
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31. Lesson Objectives Create a template
Deploy a virtual machine from a template
Clone a virtual machine
Allow guest operating system customization by vCenter Server
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32. What Is a Template?
A master copy of a virtual machine used to create and provision new virtual machines
An image that typically includes a guest operating system, a set of applications, and a specific virtual machine configuration
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33. Creating a Template Clone the virtual machine to a template.
The virtual machine can either be powered on or powered off.
Convert the virtual machine to a template.
The virtual machine must be powered off.
Clone a template.
Select the template in inventory first.
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34. Viewing Templates Two ways to view templates:
Use the VMs and Templates inventory view.
Use the Virtual Machines tab in the Hosts and Clusters inventory view.
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35. Deploying a Virtual Machine from Template
To deploy a virtual machine, provide such information as virtual machine name, inventory location, host, datastore, and guest operating system customization data.
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36. Updating a Template To update a template:
Convert the template to a virtual machine.
Place the virtual machine on an isolated network to prevent user access.
Make appropriate changes to the virtual machine.
Convert the virtual machine to a template.
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37. Cloning a Virtual Machine
Cloning is an alternative to deploying a virtual machine.
A clone is an exact copy of the virtual machine.
The virtual machine being cloned can either be powered on or powered off.
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38. Customizing the Guest Operating System
VMware recommends customization of a clone’s guest operating system to prevent software and network conflicts.
During cloning or deploying from template, you have the option of running the Guest Customization wizard.
The wizard lets you create a specification that you can use to prepare the guest operating systems of virtual machines.
Specifications can be stored in the database.
You can edit specifications in the Customization Specifications Manager.
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39. Deploying Virtual Machines Across Datacenters
Virtual machine deployment is allowed across datacenters.
Clone a virtual machine from one datacenter to another.
Deploy from a template in one datacenter to a virtual machine in a different datacenter.
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40. Lab 9
In this lab, you will deploy a virtual machine from a template and clone a virtual machine.
Configure guest operating system customization on a vCenter Server system.
Create a template.
Deploy a virtual machine from a template.
Clone a virtual machine that is powered on.
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41. Lesson Summary Create a template
Deploy a virtual machine from a template
Clone a virtual machine
Allow guest operating system customization by vCenter Server
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42. Lesson 4: vCenter Converter
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43. Lesson Objectives Describe the capabilities of vCenter Converter
Import a system into vCenter Server
Perform a hot clone
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44. vCenter Converter
vCenter Converter can import physical machines, virtual machines, and system images:
Windows and Linux sources
Hyper-V virtual machine sources
A variety of third-party image formats
vCenter Converter can also export virtual machines for use in VMware hosted and managed products.
vCenter Converter allows you to:
Reduce time needed to set up new virtual machines
Migrate legacy servers to new hardware without reinstallation
Perform migrations across heterogeneous hardware
Readjust volume sizes and place volumes on separate virtual disks
Migrate disks across independent datastores
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45. vCenter Converter Components
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46. vCenter Converter Requirements
Install vCenter Converter and the vCenter Converter client only on Windows operating systems.
Allocate 525MB of disk space for vCenter Converter components:
Server files, client files, agent files, and the installation file
For hot clones, vCenter Converter requires 350MB of memory on the source machine.
vCenter Converter supports only pure IPv6 or IPv4 environments.
Certain limitations exist when you convert powered-on machines, virtual machines, third-party virtual machines, or system images.
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47. Cloning
Cloning and system reconfiguration steps are used to create and reconfigure the virtual machine:
Cloning – Copy the source physical disks for the destination virtual machine. The destination virtual disk might not be an exact copy of the source disk.
System reconfiguration – Adjust the migrated operating system to enable it to function on virtual hardware.
vCenter Converter supports hot cloning:
Hot cloning – Clone a source machine while the operating system is running. The source machine can be accessed remotely.
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48. Remote Hot Cloning of a Windows System
Stage 1: Preparing source machine for conversion
Stage 2: Preparing the virtual machine on the destination machine
Stage 3: Completing the conversion process
Stage 4: Cleaning up
vSphere Client with vCenter Converter client plug-in
vCenter Server with vCenter Converter
powered-on Windows machine
LAN
reconfiguration
agent
customization opt. VM
VSS snapshot
VSS snapshot
source volume
host
volume
source
destination
vCenter Converter creates a new virtual machine on the destination machine.
vCenter Converter installs the agent on source machine.
vCenter Converter agent copies data from the source to the destination.
vCenter Converter agent takes a VSS snapshot of the source volume.
vCenter Converter agent installs required drivers and performs the necessary steps to allow OS to boot.
vCenter Converter agent (optionally) removes all traces from the source system and/or destination VM.
vCenter Converter agent customizes the virtual machine (for example, changing IP information).
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49. Importing a Machine vCenter Converter allows a number of sources:
Powered-on machine
VMware infrastructure virtual machine
VMware Workstation or other VMware virtual machine
Backup image or third-party virtual machine
Hyper-V Server
vCenter Converter provides flexibility in defining the destination virtual machine:
Select virtual machine name.
Select destination datastore.
Select virtual machine version.
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50. Import Machine Wizard Options (1)
Optional settings allow you to further define your destination virtual machine.
Select destination virtual machine folder.
Select from several options to copy data to destination.
Modify number of processors, amount of memory, or disk controller.
Add network adapters or connect to different networks.
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51. Import Machine Wizard Options (2)
Stop service on source or change startup mode on destination.
Synchronize source and destination, power off source or power on destination, do postconversion processing
Control CPU and network resources during conversion.
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52. Changes to Virtual Hardware
Most applications function correctly.
Watch for applications that depend on:
Specific hardware characteristics
Different serial numbers
Software licensed to MAC addresses
Special graphics cards
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53. Lab 10
In this lab, you will use vCenter Converter to create a virtual machine from an existing system.
Install vCenter Converter.
Configure vCenter Converter guest operating system customization.
Install and enable the vCenter Converter plug-in.
Prepare a system for hot cloning.
Hot-clone a system.
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54. Lesson Summary Describe the capabilities of vCenter Converter
Import a system into vCenter Server
Perform a hot clone
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55. Lesson 5: Modifying Virtual Machines
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56. Lesson Objectives Describe virtual machine settings and options
Add a hot-pluggable device
Dynamically increase the size of a virtual disk
Add a raw device mapping (RDM)
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57. Modifying Virtual Machine Settings
You can modify a virtual machine’s configuration in its Properties dialog box:
Add virtual hardware.
Some hardware can be added while the virtual machine is powered on.
Remove virtual hardware.
Set virtual machine options.
Control a virtual machine’s CPU and memory resources.
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58. Hot-Pluggable Devices
Examples of hot- pluggable devices: USB controllers, Ethernet adapters, and hard disk devices.
You can also add CPU and memory while the virtual machine is powered on.
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59. Dynamically Increasing a Virtual Disk’s Size
Format the new space within the guest operating system.
Dynamically increase a virtual disk from, for example, 2GB to 20GB.
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60. Creating an RDM
An RDM allows you to store virtual machine data directly on a LUN.
The RDM is a file on a VMware vStorage VMFS datastore that points to the raw LUN.
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61. Virtual Machine Options
VM display name
.vmx file location
VM directory
guest operating system type
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62. Options: VMware Tools Customize power button actions.
When to run VMware Tools scripts
Update checks and time sync.
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63. Advanced: Boot Options
Advanced options rarely need to be set.
Delay power on.
Boot into BIOS.
Retry after failed boot.
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64. Lab 11
In this lab, you will modify a virtual machine’s hardware and add a raw LUN to a virtual machine.
Increase the size of a VMDK file.
Adjust memory allocation on a virtual machine.
Rename a virtual machine in the vCenter Server inventory.
Add a raw LUN to a virtual machine and verify that the guest operating system can see it.
Expand a thin-provisioned virtual disk.
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65. Lesson Summary Describe virtual machine settings and options
Add a hot-pluggable device
Dynamically increase the size of a virtual disk
Add an RDM
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66. Lesson 6: Managing Virtual Machines
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67. Lesson Objectives
Take a snapshot of a virtual machine and manage multiple snapshots
Remove a virtual machine from the vCenter Server inventory and completely from disk
Describe the types of migration
Use VMware Storage vMotion to migrate a virtual machine
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68. Virtual Machine Snapshots
Snapshots allow you to preserve the state of the virtual machine so that you can return to the same state repeatedly.
For example, if you are testing software, snapshots allow you to back out of these changes.
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69. Taking a Snapshot
You can take a snapshot while a virtual machine is powered on, powered off, or suspended.
A snapshot captures the entire state of the virtual machine:
Memory state, settings state, and disk state
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70. Managing Snapshots
The Snapshot Manager lets you review all snapshots for the active virtual machine and act on them directly:
Revert to a snapshot.
Delete one or all snapshots.
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71. Virtual Machine Snapshot Files
A snapshot consists of a set of files: the memory state (.vmsn), the description file (-00000#.vmdk), and the delta file (-00000#- delta.vmdk).
The snapshot list file (.vmsd) keeps track of the virtual machine’s snapshots.
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72. Managing Virtual Machines with vApp
A VMware vApp:
Is a container for one or more virtual machines
Can be used to package and manage related applications
Is an object in the vCenter Server inventory
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73. vApp Characteristics You can configure a vApp:
CPU and memory allocation
IP allocation policy
Advanced settings
You can also configure the virtual machine startup and shutdown order.
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74. Removing a Virtual Machine
Two ways to remove a virtual machine:
Remove a virtual machine from the inventory.
The virtual machine’s files remain on disk.
The virtual machine can later be re-added to the inventory.
Delete a virtual machine from disk.
The virtual machine is removed from the inventory, and its files are permanently deleted from disk.
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75. Migrating Virtual Machines
Migration – Moving a virtual machine from one host or datastore to another. Types of migrations:
Cold – Migrate a virtual machine that is powered off.
Suspended – Migrate a virtual machine that is suspended.
VMware vMotion™ – Migrate a virtual machine that is powered on.
Storage vMotion – Migrate a virtual machine’s files, while the virtual machine is powered on, to a different datastore.
Concurrent migrations are possible:
A host can be involved in up to two migrations with vMotion or Storage vMotion at one time.
A maximum of eight simultaneous vMotion, cloning, deployment, or Storage vMotion accesses to a single VMFS-3 datastore is supported.
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76. Comparison of Migration Types
VM power state
Change host/ datastore?
Across datacenters?
Shared storage required?
CPU compatibility?
Cold
Off
Host or datastore or both
Yes No
Different CPU families allowed
Suspended
Must meet CPU compatibility requirements
vMotion On
Host
Storage vMotion
Datastore
N/A
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77. Storage vMotion Storage vMotion allows you to:
Perform storage maintenance and reconfiguration
Redistribute storage load
Evacuate physical storage soon to be retired
Perform storage tiering
Upgrade VMware ESX™/ESXi hosts without virtual machine downtime
Storage vMotion is storage-type independent.
Source and destination can be different storage types.
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78. Storage vMotion in Action4 5 3 1 2
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79. Migrating Virtual Machines
You can use the Migrate Virtual Machine wizard to perform both hot and cold migrations.
vMotion
Storage vMotion
Function available when virtual machine is powered off
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80. Storage vMotion Guidelines and Limitations
Plan and coordinate with administrators.
Perform during off-peak hours.
Ensure that source host has access both to source datastores and target datastores.
Limitations:
Virtual machines with snapshots cannot be migrated.
Virtual machine disks must be in persistent mode or be RDMs.
The virtual machine must be powered off to concurrently migrate to another host and datastore.
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81. Lab 12
In this lab, you will perform several virtual machine management tasks.
Unregister a virtual machine in the vCenter Server inventory.
Register a virtual machine in the vCenter Server inventory.
Unregister and delete virtual machines from disk.
Take snapshots of a virtual machine.
Revert to a snapshot.
Migrate virtual machine files with Storage vMotion.
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82. Lesson Summary
Take a snapshot of a virtual machine and manage multiple snapshots
Remove a virtual machine from the vCenter Server inventory and completely from disk
Describe the types of migration
Use Storage vMotion to migrate a virtual machine
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83. Key Points
You can use several methods to create a virtual machine. Choose the method that best fits your needs.
Deploying virtual machines from a template allows you to easily create many virtual machines.
vCenter Server provides useful features for provisioning virtual machines, such as templates, cloning, and vCenter Converter.
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