vmware management

What is a template

Is a master copy of a virtual machine, is used to create and deploy new virtual machine
template is a map that contains what does he
usually include:
an operating system,
a set of applications
a set of virtual hardware equivalent to hardware (virtual CPU virtual disk virtual memory)
and configuration of physical servers and create new virtual machine using the wizard to create a new virtual machine compared to create a template you can configure virtual machines faster and less error-prone

How to create a template

Clone a virtual machine to a template: boot off can be
converted to a template: must be shut down,
if you clone a virtual machine to a template, you will choose to deploy virtual disk format:
the original format just like
thin provisioning
delay to zero thick-provisioned
to streamline the provisioning thick zero
if the virtual machine into a template, will not give you these options will preserve the virtual machine's disk files

Deploy a virtual machine from a template

To deploy a virtual machine, the virtual machine must provide the name, position inventory information, host, data storage and client operating system customization data.

Update Template

Vcenter server client to connect to
first convert a template to a virtual machine
and then let the virtual machine is isolated from the Internet such as no uplink virtual network to prevent users from accessing virtual machine
to virtual machine appropriate changes to change the number of NICs add cpu change memory size
after configuration is complete then the virtual machine to a template, be sure to virtual machine machine

Clone Virtual Machine

Cloning a virtual machine creates a virtual machine with the original exactly the same virtual machine.

Cloning is another option to deploy virtual machines.

Cloned virtual machine can open or close. When you open does not automatically suspend services and applications
to clone a virtual machine, you are not allowed to connect to vcenter server management host directly if you use vmware host client is unable to clone a virtual machine

In order to prevent conflicts at the same time that may occur when having a virtual machine and clone the same operating system settings deployment (eg due to duplicate computer name or IP address of the lead to conflict)
we can use the user-defined client operating system
you can customize the
virtual machine name
network settings
permission settings
windows security identifier

Then we cloned the time, you can customize the wizard to specify these settings through a client
or you can create a custom specification, vcenterserver stored in the database
after cloning when this specification is read them to configure the system, eliminating the need for us to those custom information configured for the virtual machine

Custom windows client operating system, there are some considerations:
To customize the spare operating system must be installed vmware tools
client operating system should be installed in a virtual machine SCSI node 0: 0 on the disk (hard disk master boot record)
to enable guest operating system customization, microsoft sysprep tool must be installed on vcneter server

Instant cloning

Quickly generate instant virtual machine cloning from the source, and would restore the source virtual machine in the same state
by cloning a timely manner, the user can create electricity in a power-running state of the virtual machine to another virtual machine, the virtual machine will not source cloning process lost its status
whether the processing status of the target virtual machine, the virtual devices, memory status and disk state of the source virtual machine are the same
. to avoid conflicts, the same instant cloning also allows you to customize the target virtual machine during the cloning operation virtual hardware, for example, you can customize the configuration of serial and parallel port or destination MAC address of the virtual machine virtual NICs

Instant clone is a clone of similar links shared disk-based snapshot, to provide storage efficiency.
What does that mean it: instant cloning is no longer boot from a disk image class virtual machine, but the system is created directly from a parent virtual machine that is already running in a new sub-virtual machine, the virtual machine does not need to have physical sub-mirror, reuse parent virtual machine's memory, so the child and the parent virtual machine virtual machine exactly the same in the beginning, and only when the child virtual machine memory write operation will occur for that part of the change of memory to create a copy, and then re-copy write,
use cases instant cloning:


virtual desktop infrastructure. (Because most desktop operating systems are the same, running on top of the software is almost the same, only personal data and environmental data windows are not the same)

Rapid expansion: the host vessel, Big Data and Hadoop working node.

DevTest: vm quickly and efficiently replicate and test bed with the same operating conditions.

DevOps: it can be the same operating condition from the vm copied to the production plan, and vice versa. (
Is a set of processes, methods and systems collectively, to facilitate communication, collaboration and integration between development (application / software engineering), Technical Operations and Quality Assurance (QA) department.

）

In vSphere 6.7, you can instantly clone API call to create virtual machines through.

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During an instant cloning operation, the source virtual machine is stunned in a short time (less than 1 second). When the source virtual machine is stunned, will generate a new writable disk increments each virtual disk, and Gets a checkpoint and transfer it to a target virtual machine. then, the target virtual machine checkpoint by using a source of start after the target virtual machine is fully started, the source virtual machine continue to run.

Instant virtual machine cloning is completely independent of the vCenter Server inventory objects. You can manage real-clone virtual machine, just like ordinary virtual machine as there is no limit.
)

To delete a virtual machine

You can delete the virtual machine in the following ways:
deleted from inventory: This type of write-off will delete the virtual machine, the virtual machine will not be deleted from the data store files remain on the disk, and can re-register the virtual machine datastore
delete from disk:
all virtual machine files from the virtual machine storage data permanently deleted

Content Library

Content libraries can be shared and synchronized across vcenterserver system OVF template repository and other files
as shown in the cartoon, there are multiple instances vcenterserver global data centers in these vcenterserver instance, there may be a set of templates, iso Ying like, etc., then the difficulty is that all of these items independently of each other, different versions of files and templates are located in different vcenterserver example, the content library is the solution, OVF template, ISO image, or any other file type can be stored in a central location, you can publish templates, image files, so that other libraries can subscribe to content and download content, content library by date on a regular basis to keep content synchronized with the publisher to ensure that the latest version is available

Add the template to a content library

Library of content may include VM template, Vmware vsphere vapp templates or other objects can contain vmware in the content library, VM and vapps have multiple files, including log files, disk files, memory files and snapshot files, all in a single library items part of
what is vapp: vsphere addition to serving as a virtual platform, you can also be an application platform, and can be packaged applications to run directly on the vmware vsphere, application packaging and management vApp format called vSphere
vApp is a container species is similar to the resource pool can contain one or more virtual machines, distribution OVF format

From the content library of templates to deploy virtual machines

Library template can be used to deploy virtual machines and vApps.

Each VM template, vApp template or other type of file a library is a library item.

You can mount ISO files directly from the content repository.

The benefits of content library

** sharing and consistency: ** You have a primary vCenter Server instance, and you create a central repository for storing content OVF template, the master copy of the ISO image and other file types. You can publish this content library to other libraries allow an exact copy of the subscription and download data located anywhere in the world. When you add from the directory published, modify, or delete OVF template, Subscriber synchronize with the Publisher, the library will be updated with the latest content.

Storage Efficiency:
• implementation of distributed file management.
• The content posted to a public or subscription content.
• vCenter Server systems across sites and synchronize content.
• data storage using vSphere, vCenter backup NFS directory or content repository.
• Load ISO file directly from the content repository.
Subscribers may not always want all the content from the library to download and store release. They may not be necessary or space to store all of the available content. Content libraries can solve these problems and achieve storage efficiency.
When the publisher updates its content, will change notification to subscribers. Subscribers can choose to receive complete data may also be received only metadata. When subscribers choose to receive complete data, subscribers can choose to download the entire library or a single item.
** Security subscription: ** Because content libraries for the global subscriptions, you need to consider security issues. As a security measure, the contents of the library during the release can be password protected.
Service Content Library API is provided to allow you to programmatically create and manage content libraries. You can create a local library and publish it for the entire virtual environment.

Type of content library

Local: you control the content library, create a local database on a single vcenter server instance, you can add or remove library items
publishing: content available for subscription of the local library, the contents of the library service virtual endpoint may be other instances vcenterserver access environment, when you publish library
subscription: with a published database synchronization library, by synchronizing a published library Levin filling its content, subscription library contains runes library files that have been released or metadata-only library item, release library Subscribe to the library may be located on the same server instance vcenter, subscription libraries can be re different instances of vcenterserver up reference library released, but you can not add items to the library a subscription library, you can only be released to the local library or add items after synchronization, two libraries contain the same item, or a subscription library that contains the item metadata

Modifying Virtual Machines

Set to modify the virtual machine:
Add virtual hardware: you can then start to add some hardware virtual machine, CPU hot-plug, hot-add memory
is supported only on the operating system supports this feature, is disabled by default, to use these hot plug characteristics must be met:
• installation Tools VMware
• virtual machines must use hardware version 7 or higher
• virtual machine operating system must support hot plug CPU and memory characteristics
• Hot swap option must then virtual hardware tab CPU or memory options enable the
deleted virtual hardware: only then shut down the virtual machine, you can remove some of the hardware
virtual machine settings options
to control virtual machine CPU and memory resources

Hot Swap

Hot Swap option allows you to add resources to the virtual machine is running.

Examples of hot-swappable devices: USB controllers, Ethernet adapter and hard disk devices.

Through a supported guest operating system, you can also add CPU and memory when the virtual machine.

RDM

RDM file (-rdm.vmdk) enable virtual machines to access the physical LUN directly.

RDM file in the disk information package VMkernel can lock LUN, so that only one virtual machine can write data to the LUN.

When you create an RDM file you must define the following items:

1. Target LUN: RDM files are mapped LUN

2. Mapping data storage: the RDM files are stored in different virtual machines or data stored in

3. Compatibility mode:

• Physical: to develop a minimal SCSI virtualization of the mapped device, providing maximum flexibility for SAN management software, and then physical mode, vmkernel passes all SCSI commands to the device, with one exception: PEROPT LUNS command is virtualized so it can be vmkernel lun isolated islands has its virtual machine, otherwise, with all the physical characteristics of the underlying exposure will be the sword, physical models SAN management agents or other SCSI target-based software is useful for running in a virtual machine.

• Virtual: fully specify the mapping device virtualization, vmkernel only send read and write operations to the device mapping, operating system, the mapping of virtual disk files and devices in exactly the same VMFS volume, real hardware characteristics are hidden, you can advanced file locking for data protection and by simplifying the development process for a snapshot, compared to a physical mode, virtual mode across storage hardware more portable, exhibit the same behavior as a virtual disk file

4. Virtual device node

Dynamically add virtual disk capacity

You can add to the size of the virtual disk is powered on virtual machines:

• It must not have additional snapshot
• It may take the system tools for the new space available
when you expand a thin-provisioned disks, filled with virtual disks takes initially assigned to him the entire data storage space, the thin disk extended to thick provisioning disk

Thin-provisioned disk expansion

You can be thin provisioned virtual disk into a thick-provisioned disks immediately set to zero
must shut down the virtual machine
, right-click the virtual machine .vmdk file and select expansion

Type You can use VM Options tab to modify the display name of the virtual machine and install the guest operating system. The location and name of the configuration file (virtual machine directory location is also displayed. You can select text and work location profiles to copy and paste them into a document, but can only modify the display name and the guest operating system Types of.

Changing the display name will not change the name or virtual machine storage directory for all virtual machine files. When you create a virtual machine associated with the virtual machine's file and directory names based on their display name. But later change the display name does not modify file and directory names.

On the VM Options tab, you can set or change the option to run virtual machine VMware Tools scripts to control user access to the remote console, configure startup behavior, etc.

VMware Tools control panel VMware Tools virtual machine how to respond to certain external events. You can use these controls to customize the power button on the virtual machine. The virtual machine must be closed in order to change these settings.

Before each check box to turn on power on, you can configure the Check and upgrade VMware Tools to check if there is a newer tool version VMware. Upgrade VMware Tools If a newer version, the power cycle in a virtual machine. "Enabling customers with the host time synchronization" check box to make the guest operating system clock synchronized with the master.

Sometimes, you may need to set the boot options:
• When you build a virtual machine and select a guest operating system, BIOS or EFI is automatically selected depending on the operating system supports firmware. Mac OS X Server guest operating system only supports the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI). If the operating system supports BIOS and EFI, you can change the startup options as needed. However, you must do so before installing the guest operating system.

• Boot Delay panel allows you to set up a virtual machine to open delay between the start and the guest operating system. When you start multiple virtual machines, it can help guide the delay stagger virtual machine startup.

• You can use the Force BIOS Setup panel to change the BIOS settings, such as start from the CD / DVD in mandatory virtual machine. The next time the virtual machine starts, it will directly enter the BIOS. Forced entry into the BIOS and quickly press F2 to enter BIOS than opening a virtual machine, open the console much easier.

• If the virtual machine can not find the boot device, you can use the boot failure recovery panel, so that the virtual machine in 10 seconds (default) to retry boot.