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December 2014

How to Create a Cron Job on vMA

The vMA (vSphere Management Assistant) is a virtual appliance provided by VMware that allows to manage vCenter Server or ESX Hosts and run scripts. You can also use it to run script periodically with cron. It is a small linux appliance delivered with all necessary tools out of the box. I usually deploy a vMA on each platform. This post describes how to prepare scripts to be used with cron and how to create cronjobs. The process is very similar on all vMA versions from vSphere 4.0 to vSphere 5.5.

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ESXi 5.5 - ESXCLI Command Mindmap

In vSphere 5.5 the command line interface esxcli has 3 new namespaces. The esxcli is a complete set of commands that you can use for troubleshooting, configuration or kickstart files. I have created and printed a mindmap to navigate through the namespaces more quickly. This post covers only basic namespaces, available on all ESXi 5.5 hosts. If you've installed additional software you might see more namespaces. I've also created a Mindmap for ESXi 5.1 some time ago.

ESXCLI in version 5.5 has 13 namespaces:Read More »ESXi 5.5 - ESXCLI Command Mindmap

ESXi 5.5 - ESXCLI Command Reference

ESXCLI is the most powerful command line tool on an ESXi host. You may need it for troubleshooting, configuration or for ESXi installations by using a kickstart file. I'm having this command line reference on my desktop since a couple of month and I am using it quite often. Maybe someone else is able to make use of it too. It's a collection of help pages from all esxcli commands.

Download: esxcli-550-command-reference.txt

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ESXi Issues caused by hp-ams module

I recently had strange issues with Hewlett-Packard servers. ESXi hosts randomly have shown a couple of different symptoms:

  • ESXi host unmanageable
  • ESXi host grayed out in vCenter
  • Starting host services fails with an error message:

    Call "HostServiceSystem.Restart" for object "serviceSystem-[*]" on vCenter Server * failed.

  • Cannot perform vMotion to or from the host
  • Starting virtual machine fails with an error message:

    Power On virtual machine *
    A general system error occurred: The virtual machine could not start
    VMK_NO_MEMORY

  • Restarting services in DCUI fails

    A general system error occurred: Command /bin/sh failed

  • SSH connection to the host possible, but no response after login requests
  • Local console displays an error message:

    /bin/sh cannot fork

  • Error Message received at syslog server

    sfcb-HTTPS-Daemon[*]: handleHttpRequest fork failed: Cannot allocate memory
    crond[*]: can't vfork
    cpu*:*)WARNING: Heap: *: Heap_Align(globalCartel-1, 136/136 bytes, 8 align) failed.
    cpu*:*)WARNING: Heap: *: Heap globalCartel-1 already at its maximum size. Cannot expand)

  • DCUI message log (ALT+F12) displays an error message

    WARNING: Heap: *: Heap globalCartel-1 already at its maximum size. Cannot expand.

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Unattended ESXi Installation from an USB Flash Drive

I was asked if it is possible to create an USB Flash Drive that can install ESXi on a server automatically. ESXi has a Scripted Install feature which allows to put all installation parameters into a Kickstart file to run unattended Installations. This post explains how to create an USB Flash Drive that does unattended ESXi installations. You can plug it into a Server, power it on and ESXi will be installed automatically.

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Customized ESXi Image for 4th Gen Intel NUC

Intel NUCs are small, silent, transportable and have a very low power consumption, making it a great server for your homelab. Unfortunately ESXi does not work out of the box on these small nice systems. This post describes how you can create a customized ESXi Image for a 4th Intel NUC in about 5 minutes.

4th Generation Intel NUC Models:

  • D54250WYK
  • D54250WYKH
  • D54250WYB
  • D34010WYK
  • D34010WYKH
  • D34010WYB

vsphere-esxi-on-intel-nuc-BOXD54250WYKH

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