Switches provide connectivity between VM’s on same host or different hosts. iSCSI, NFS storage and vMotion migration are accessed by using switches. They are also used for Remote host management to access the VMkernel . In virtual environment, more than one networks can exist on single switch. Even if you have less adapters connected to ESXi hosts multiple functionalities can be grouped and assigned to virtual machines .

There are two types of switches : Standard used for single hosts and Distributed switch where up to 2000 hosts can be connected.

In this lab, We view the current switch , create a standard switch and assign this new switch(Vstorage) to existing Virtual machines.

Note: Repeat the same task for both the ESXi Hosts.

Task1: View the standard switch configuration

Step1: click on Hosts and Clusters, and in configure tab ,networking category has virtual switch features.

The below details can be obtained from the switch summary :

What is the Name of default standard switch? – VSwitch0 which is a default switch

which physical adapter is the default standard switch connected to? – It is connected to management network switch connected to host ESXi VMNIC0

Which network is your Virtual machine connected to?

VMnetwork connected to ESXi host .

Which networks are connected to the default standard switch? – VMNetwork and management network associated to ESXi Host are connected to default standard switch

Task2: Create a standard switch with a virtual machine port group

Step1: on the configure tab of ESXi host, on network at virtual switches(similar to task1) click create network adapter and select standard switch

Step2:select new switch

Step3: this pops up different network adapters which are attached to ESXi host but not assigned .select one of them

Step4:Name the Virtual switch

Step5:Review and submit

Task3: Attach your Virtual machines to new machine port

Step1: select VM under VM and templates

Step2: Actions>edit settings and Select Network Adapter to change it to production ,click ok.

Step3: Open Network and sharing center and set IP address as 172.20.11.30 and gateway and DNS as 172.20.11.10 in VM1-1 and VM2-1

Step4: open Cmd and ping the server from both the VM’s

TroubleShooting:

While creating new standard switch, Failover group should be changed to all or unused if the adapter is newly connected to ESXi host.

Critical Thinking:

Standard switches help us to maintain storage systems separately or in same ESXi but partitioned to make it more secure. Since multiple type of adapters and various networks can be hosted on single switch it needs to be carefully configured and managed to avoid overlapping of networks.

Grouping the resources helps in terms of security and management . This lab helps in categorizing different resources linked to Vcenter Server

Task1: Create a host and Cluster Folder

Step1: Right click data center > new folder>new host and cluster folder

Step2: Title for the folder as Labservers and click OK

Step3:Move the ESXi hosts to this folder

Task2: Create Virtual Machine and Template Folders

Step1: Home>VM’s and Templates

Step2: Rightclick datacenter> Newfolder>New VM and Template Folder

Step3:Name it as LabVMs

Step4: Create another folder similar to step2 and name it as Templates

Troubleshooting:

Just a simple rightclick and naming of folders will cannot cause issues.

However, few questions were asked at the end of lab:

What is the difference between Menu Commands in the dropdown menus of LabVM’s and Lab Server Folder?

Solution : Both the folders are different types LabVm’s is virtualmachine and template folder which gives you options related to virtual machines and templates like creating VM and subfolders under VM’s and templates section.

LabServer is host and cluster type with options such as adding hots and creating clusters .Subfolders can also be created for further categorization.

Critical Thinking: Categorization helps in easy administration. Consider companies which work in different sectors, this would ease administrative jobs which allows us to update the hosts under them at the same time.

Virtual machine encapsulates OS and applications resulting in a complete server or computer which can be accessed via VCSA. Section of hardware resources are allocated to Virtual machines . The resources are virtually separated in such a way that one VM doesn’t effect other VM resources.(A malicious attack to an app doesn’t impact other VM’s running on the same Host) .This helps in better management of resources and direct management.

Each VM includes set of files like configuration, boot ,data and memory ..etc which makes it easy to migrate VM’s since it is just a folder. CPU,Memory,Storage and network adapters can be added or removed from VM similar to physical system.

In this lab, we create VM and install Windows 7 in both the ESXi’s

Note: Repeat the tasks for both the ESXi’s

Deploy VM’s on ESXi Host

Task1: Create a Virtual Machine

Step1: Login to ESXi 1 “172.20.10.51” with root and Lab Password

Step2: Select Virtual machines on left menu and click create

Step3: Provide details of VM like the OS for setting the minimum hardware resource recommendations.

Step4: ESXi storage on which VM host reside needs to be selected.

Step5: Hardware of VM can be customized and OS iso is selected in CD/DVD drive.

Step6: Finish to review.

Task2: Install Guest OS and disable Windows updates.

Start VM to install the OS and follow direct steps for basic installation process.Disable updates.

Task3: Install VMWare Tools

Step1: Select the Tools file on ESXi CD/DVD adapter.

Step2: ensure that CD/DVD option of VM is set as host device and run the installation file

Install VMWare tools with default options and restart

Task4: Install Files

Similar to task 3 expand the CD/DVD and select host client on VM and Class-vsphere iso on ESXi. copy two files cpubusy.pl and iometer.exe to desktop.

Troubleshooting:

1. Hardware Virtualization needs to be enabled on ESXi hosts to install VM’s if not error would be

Solution: Bring down ESXi and enable Hardware virtualization under CPU.

2.Double check ISO images before installing .If not available download to your local system and upload to local datastore allocated .

Critical Thinking:

This lab gives basic idea of how to work with the virtual machines and customize them. Various options available to upload the data and about connecting adapters . Research about VMFolder would be much more helpful.

Two ESXi’s are installed in previous labs and Virtual machines can be created over them directly but how to manage Esxi and their VMhosts? In business generally, we tend to use more so managing from one place is a necessity. The answer to this problem is the VCenterServer appliance(VCSA). This can be hosted on ESXi or on Server based on requirement installation iso file needs to be choosed. It includes services like Vsphere client, webclient to interact with Vmhosts , syslog collected, update manager and many more.

In this lab, we deploy the VcenterServer Appliance on ESXi Host ,configure it by adding Esxi hosts and take a backup of them.

Note: As a prerequisite, we have created a virtual machine with Server 2019 installed to access the ESXi Hosts and VCSA. Set the network of Server in same range as ESXi’s.

Deploy VCenter Server on ESXi Service:

Task1: Deploy VcenterServer Appliance:

Step1: Select the ISO based on requirement (On ESXI- VCSA VIM for installing on server) in cd/dvd options of VM.

Step2:Open the drive connected to access the files inside VCSA

Step3: To run installed go to below mentioned path: Drive>VMWare VCSA>VCSA-UI-Installer>Win32>Installer, if deployed on other operating systems like IOS choose Ios instead of Win32

Step4: Running the installer gives you below options. Since, we are installing for the first time ,click install

Step5: Accept the Licence agreement

Step6: This is important since it decides the features we would like to install with appliance,Select Embeded platform service controller for entire features.

Step7: Select the IP Address of ESXi and provide credentials of ESXi host

upon successful authentication to ESXi, certificate warning is prompted.

Step8: Select the name of the VM and password. This name refers to Virtual machine created on ESXi host with VCSA.

Step9: Size of deployment and pre-requisites of ESXi hosts capacity is displayed in table, Select Tiny and default for our labs.

Step10: Choose the location (VMFS) storage to install the VCSA and check the enable thin disk mode box.

Step11: Set the Network configurations like IP Address,Mask,Gateway and DNS for VCSA.

First phase of installation is ran where pre-requisites are also verified.

Task2: Complete Setup of VcenterServer

Step1: click Next for Stage 2 installation

Step2: Synchronize time with NTP Server, which can be an ESXi Host or Server from where the time needs to be synced.

Step3: Set the credentials for logging in to WebClient

Step4: Uncheck this for reducing the prompts while using application

Step5: Finish the Appliance setup and review.

Process:

Task3: Access and Configure VCSA

Since we do not have any Licenses to configure we skip the initial steps to SSO configuration

Step1: Access the link 172.20.10.195 which is set for VCSA to use Client or WebClient.

Step2: Choose Webclient and Home>Administration>Single-Sign-on>Configuration to change password settings

Step3:Create DataCenter by rightclicking the VcenterServer

Task4: Add ESXi Hosts (Repeat for both ESXi Hosts)

Step1: Provide the IP address or host name of ESXi

Step2: Provide credentials of ESXi host

upon successful authentication

Step3:VM’s hosted on ESXi are displayed to verify

Step4: License needs to be selected.

Step5: Disable lockdown mode for easy access (Access to ESXi host with DCUI is disabled if lockdown mode is enabled)

Step6: Select Location to store the ESXi Hosts

Review:

Task5: Configure ESXi hosts as NTP Clients

Step1: Select the ESXi host which needs to be set as NTP Client

Step2: Select Configure > Time Configuration and edit

Step3: Use as NTP Client and provide the NTP Server address which is 172.20.10.10 and start the service.

Task6: Backup VCenter Server Appliance

Step1: Login to 172.20.10.195:5480 using root and lab password and select Backup Now option .

Step2: Provide the details of the FTP Location where backup can be taken

Step3: Upon Successful completion of Backup confirmation page is displayed.

Access the Server to check the files generated after backup

TroubleShooting:

Critical Thinking:

The lab helps in configuring and exploring the VCSA Module. In business use ,

1. Management of ESXi hosts and their VM’s is easily administrated with VCSA (backup,update,firewall and other services).
2. Configuring ESXi hosts as NTP Clients and VCSA is important since the logs generated in each system are with system configured time stamps, Syncing would simplify debugging.
3. Backup can help to restore in case of Failure by running through the same module.

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.