To simplify vMotion across CPU generations VMware has introduced Enhanced vMotion Compatibility (EVC). EVC automatically configures server CPUs with Intel FlexMigration or AMD-V Extended Migration technologies… Read More »VMware vSphere 6.0 introduces Haswell EVC Mode
Check if a remote host is online and reachable.
~ # ping 8.8.8.8 PING 8.8.8.8 (8.8.8.8): 56 data bytes 64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=0 ttl=58 time=13.701 ms 64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=1 ttl=58 time=10.176 ms 64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=2 ttl=58 time=9.055 ms --- 8.8.8.8 ping statistics --- 3 packets transmitted, 3 packets received, 0% packet loss round-trip min/avg/max = 9.055/10.977/13.701 ms
Ping from a specific VMkernel adapter.
~ # ping -I vmk1 8.8.8.8 PING 8.8.8.8 (8.8.8.8): 56 data bytes 64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=0 ttl=58 time=9.991 ms 64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=1 ttl=58 time=9.270 ms
Neither new, nor special, but still not known everywhere. With the vSphere Client you can...
Read More »vSphere Client Parameters (Autologin and Change Language)
Beside NUCs and Mac minis there is another great barebone in the homelab market. Basic requirements for home server are a decent price, good performance and low power consumption. Gigabytes BRIX offers great performance and is small in size and power consumption and thus makes it a great candidate for running ESXi at home. To get started, first a look at the different models available at the moment.
BRIX: Basic Barebone, candidate for ESXi.
BRIX s: Identical to BRIX barebones but with 2.5" HDD/SDD support. Slightly larger case and a good candidate for ESXi.
BRIX Pro: High performance BRIX with 2.5" HDD/SDD support and quad-core CPU. These are the only systems with VT-d support and thus the best candidate for ESXi.
There is also a Brix Gaming series with GPU support and a BRIX Projector with an integrated projector. BRIX with AMD and Celeron CPUs are also available but these are not the best candidates for ESXi. I'm listing them here for completeness.
VMware has published an update for ESXi 5.5.
Product: VMware ESXi 5.5
Release date: February 5, 2015
Patch: ESXi550-201502001
Build: 2456374
The update resolves 3 issues:Read More »ESXi 5.5 February 2015 Patch (Build 2456374)
Intel NUCs are small, silent, transportable and have a very low power consumption, making it a great server for your homelab. On CES 2015 Intel officially presented their new Broadwell NUCs which will be available in a few weeks.
Intel NUCs are not officially supported by VMware but they have a great community support. They are proven in many homlabs or even for demonstrating Virtual SAN deployments.
In vSphere 6.0 the vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA) has been changed a lot. Joining an Active Directory Domain is now included in the infrastructure node configuration which is part of the Platform Services Controller. Please note standard AD requirements like time synchronisation and naming. You can't join an AD if you've set an IP address as name during the VCSA guided installer.
Read More »How to Join AD Domain in vCenter Server Appliance 6.0 (vCSA)
Platform Service Controller is a new component in vSphere 6.0. The PSC contains all the services that vCenter needs for its functions including Single Sign-On (SSO). This post describes how to configure AD authentication in vCenter Server 6.0.
The method shown in this post allows you to manage users and groups in your central directory. This works for both, the vCenter Server 6.0 installed on Windows Server and the vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA).
Read More »How to add AD Authentication in vCenter 6.0 (Platform Service Controller)
vCenter Server Virtual Appliance (vCSA) is still very rare in a production environment. This hasn't changed much with the enhancements in vSphere 5.5 where the embedded database scalability has been lifted. VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.0 does now support up to 1000 ESXi Hosts and 10.000 Virtual Machines with the embedded Postgres database. I hope i can deploy more vCenter Linux Appliances in the future.Read More »VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.0 (vCSA) Enhancements
VMware vSphere 6.0 offers increased scalability. You can see a comparision against previous verisons at my ESX and vCenter Configuration Maximums. Changes in VMware vSphere… Read More »VMware vSphere 6.0 Configuration Maximums
