This lab is about how to configure ESXi Hypervisor. As discussed earlier, Firewall, network and security features can be configured .Direct console User interface (DCUI) is used to configure.

Note: The same tasks are implemented for two ESXi Hosts installed in previous lab.

Task1: Exploring DCUI Module

Step1: F2 is used to enter the sytem and change the settings of it.

Step2: To enter the system a user authentication set while installing needs to be provided.

Step3: Different configuration options available on ESXi are displayed.

Step4: Change the Password in “configure password” feature.

Task2: Configure a Management Network

Step1: To communicate with ESXI bringing it to our internal network is needed. select Configure Management Network and enter.

Step2: IPV4 address on ESXi needs to be set for which IPV4 configuration is opted.

Step3: select Static address and save the details of IP, Gateway and Mask.

Step4: Set the DNS and Hostname of ESXi

Step5: Save the changes.

Task3: SSH Enabling.

Step1: Troubleshooting Options.

Task2: Right hand side should have a display stating SSH is enabled if not click on Enable SSH on left side to enable.

Task4: View System Logs

Step1: View system logs option displays the menu of available logs on right.

Step2: View the syslog by pressing 1

Task4: Shutdown ESXi

Step1: Press F12 and authenticate

Step2: Confirm whether its Shutdown or Restart

Troubleshooting:

No roadblocks are faced during configuration. Since we have installed virtual ESXi, Direct F2,F12 keys doesn’t help,Press Fn+F2 key instead.

Task4 deletion step is ignored since we are using the Same ESXi Module

Critical Thinking :

This Configuring lab helped in understanding basic features available and also successful exploring .However, Configuration of firewall and Lockdown modes are not used in the lab but needs to be done for uninterrupted connectivity . In Business, For better security, authentication can be developed by implementing advanced features like Multi Factor Authentication.

In general, applications hosted will request operating systems to communicate with hardware of the system. In virtual environment since hardware is shared between different OS, we need a common system to manage the hardware resources and there comes the HYPERVISOR.

ESXI is VMWare’s hypervisor .It is type1 which means hosted on bare metal. (Type 2 is software application hosted on OS). Its includes linux kernel (VmKernel) and consumes minimal hardware space to run . In addition to above, Security features like lockdown, Firewall.. can be configured on hypervisor which inherits to the systems hosted.

Let’s see how to install ESXI .

Diagram: Architecture built in this lab

Note: The same tasks are implemented for installing two ESXi Hosts but the detailed process of one is showcased in screenshots.

create a virtual machine on the resource allocated with simple straight forward steps where hardware resources of machine like CPU,Memory, Adapters,Storage capacity are configured. Since we are creating a virtual machine with ESXI ISO which is chosen during customization hardware step in 6 simple steps.

Step1: Choose Name of Virtual machine and location to store

Step2: Resource location for storing VM is opted

Step3: For recommended configurations from VM this is most important step. Choosing the OS about to install (in this case ESXI) sets the minimum hardware as in next step per VMWare recommendations .

Step4: ISO file in datastore is accessed to install the Hypervisor.

Step5: Basic hardware as per recommendations are set which can be updated. For this lab, we are going to increase CPU to 12 and Memory to 60GB.

Step6: PowerOn Virtual Machine and install ESXi

F11 to accept the terms

Choose the partition disk for installing the Operating System.

select Language

set the root Password

Accept the warnings and continue the installation

Install

Installation progress bar to display status

Reboot to install the Hypervisor

Install VMKernel

Fully Loaded Hypervisor.

Troubleshooting:

The lab was pretty straightforward.

The warning received during installation is regarding the Hardware virtualization, which is similar to enabling virtualization feature in BIOS.

CriticalThinking:

ESXI can be used to manage available resources efficiently by running multiple applications and OS on it .Installation is pretty straightforward. Network , Storage,Server and Desktop virtualization can be handled using this VM-hypervisor. In Business, hosting dedicated resources for applications is a simple waste of money over resources and ineffective approach. Since, Virtualization not only brings every thing under one-place but easy to administrate is much preferred.