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== Build Notes ==
* '''[[ESX3 Installation]]''' - Example, based on an old ESX v3 build guide
* '''[[ESX4i Installation]]''' - Example, bit brief in places
* [http://www.jam-software.com/heavyload/download.shtml HeavyLoad] - Load tester (stick it in a test VM, memory test doesn't really work as ESX page sharing kicks in)
 
== Build Numbers ==
ESX build numbers, note that installing subsequent patches, on top of one of the major releases below will increase the build number.
{|class="vwikitable"
|-
! ESX version  !! ESX    !! ESXi
|-
| 3.5 Update 1  || 82663  ||  82664
|-
| 3.5 Update 2 || 110268 || 110271
|-
| 3.5 Update 3 || 123630 || 123629
|-
| 3.5 Update 4 ||colspan="2"| 153875
|-
| 3.5 Update 5 ||colspan="2"| 207095
|-
| 4.0  ||colspan="2"| 164009
|-
| 4.0 Update 1 ||colspan="2"| 208167
|-
| 4.0 Update 2 ||colspan="2"| 261974
|-
| 4.0 Update 3 ||colspan="2"| 398348
|-
| 4.0 Update 4 ||colspan="2"| 504850
|-
| 4.1 ||colspan="2"| 260247
|-
| 4.1 Update 1  ||colspan="2"| 348481
|-
| 4.1 Update 2  ||colspan="2"| 502767
|-
| 4.1 Update 3 ||colspan="2"| 800380
|-
| 5.0 ||colspan="2"| 469512
|-
| 5.0 Update 1  ||colspan="2"| 623860
|-
| 5.1 ||colspan="2"| 799733
|}
 
== USB Image ==
If you're installing ESXi 4 then you don't need to do this, the installer will detect the USB stick and install to it.
 
'''Required software etc...'''
* '''''WinImage''''' - http://www.winimage.com/download.htm
* '''''DD''''' - http://www.chrysocome.net/dd
* '''''ESXi install ISO'''''
* '''''Disk Cloner''''', eg G4U - http://www.feyrer.de/g4u/
** Ideally use a cloner that ignores the actual disk contents and does a block by block copy, anything that tries to interpret the disk image may not copy it faithfully
* You must be able to connect '''two''' image files remotely to your server, a disk cloner ''CD'' ISO, and the image ''USB'' ISO (hint: use the floppy drive).
 
'''Creating the USB image file'''
# Open up the ISO with WinImage
# Extract the <code> INSTALL.TGZ </code> from the ISO
# Uncompress <code> INSTALL.TGZ </code> and locate <code> .\INSTALL\usr\lib\vmware\installer\VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0_Update_4-153875.i386.dd.bz2 </code>
# Uncompress <code> VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0_Update_4-153875.i386.dd.bz2 </code> so that you have <code> VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0_Update_4-153875.i386.dd </code>
# Create ISO image from DD image by using DD
#* <code> dd bs=1M if=VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0_Update_4-153875.i386.dd of=esx3.5ihp-usbimage.iso </code>
 
'''Deploying the USB image file'''
# Attach your disk cloner image to your server and boot
# Once the  the server is booting to the CD ISO, attach the USB ISO
# List the avaialble disks
#* <code> list </code>
# Identify the image disk (which is 750MB) and the USB disk (which will be whatever size your USB key is)
# Copy the image to the USB key
#* <code> copydisk sd1 sd0 </code>
# Disconnect all images, reboot server, cross fingers
#* <code> reboot </code>
 
== VMware CLI ==
Especially if using ESX'''i''', you'll need to install the VMware CLI on any machine you want to access the ESX command line from.  Be aware that [http://www.activestate.com/activeperl/ ActivePerl] gets installed as well, so proceed with caution if you've already got Perl installed on the machine.


= Build Notes =
== Security Hardening ==
== Security Hardening ==
=== Service Console ===
=== Service Console ===
Applicable to ESX only (not ESXi, as ESXi doesn't have a service console)
==== Disk Partitions ====
==== Disk Partitions ====
Suggesting partition sizing for Service Console on local disk to prevent Root partition being filled with user data
Suggesting partition sizing for Service Console on local disk to prevent Root partition being filled with user data
Line 89: Line 166:
==== Network Settings ====
==== Network Settings ====


{|cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="1"
{|class="vwikitable"
|-
|-
! Setting                  !! Default !! Preferred !! Explanantion
! Setting                  !! Default !! Preferred !! Explanantion
Line 103: Line 180:
|}
|}


 
[[Category:ESX]]
= Procedures =
== Quick commands ==
{|cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="1"
|-
|<code> vmware -v </code>                    || ESX software version and build
|}
 
=== ESX Shutdown ===
* Shutdown a host ready for power off
** <code> shutdown -h now </code>
* Restart a host
** <code> shutdown -r now </code>
 
=== High Availability Stop/Start ===
* Stop HA...
** <code>  /etc/init.d/VMWAREAAM51_vmware stop  </code>
* Start HA...
** <code>  /etc/init.d/VMWAREAAM51_vmware start  </code>
 
== VMware Managment Agent Restart ==
<pre>
service mgmt-vmware restart
Stopping VMware ESX Server Management services:
  VMware ESX Server Host Agent Services                  [ OK  ]
  VMware ESX Server Host Agent Watchdog                  [ OK  ]
  VMware ESX Server Host Agent                            [  OK  ]
Starting VMware ESX Server Management services:
  VMware ESX Server Host Agent (background)              [  OK  ]
  Availability report startup (background)                [  OK  ]
</pre>
 
If this fails to stop the service, you can try to manually kill the processes. '''Untested - don't do during day, if you use this and it works, delete this warning note.'''
 
# Determine the PID's of the processes
#* <code> ps -auxwww | grep vmware-hostd </code>
#* which should give you something like, in which case the PID's are 2807 and 2825...
#* <code> root      2807  0.0  0.3  4244  884 ?        S    Mar10  0:00 /bin/sh /usr/bin/vmware-watchdog -s hostd -u 60 -q 5 -c /usr/sbin/vmware-hostd-support /usr/sbin/vmware-hostd -u </code>
#* <code> root      2825  0.1 12.0 72304 32328 ?      S    Mar10  1:14 /usr/lib/vmware/hostd/vmware-hostd /etc/vmware/hostd/config.xml -u </code>
#* <code> root    13848  0.0  0.2  3696  556 pts/0    R    08:43  0:00 grep vmware-hostd </code>
# Kill the PID's using <code> kill -p pid </code>
#* So, for example, <code> kill -9 2807 </code> and <code> kill -9 2825 </code>
# Then reattempt the service restart
 
== VMware Web Access Restart ==
<pre>
service vmware-webAccess restart
Stopping VMware ESX Server webAccess:
  VMware ESX Server webAccess                            [FAILED]
Starting VMware ESX Server webAccess:
  VMware ESX Server webAccess                            [  OK  ]
</pre>
 
 
== Maintenance Mode ==
To put the ESX into maintenance mode with no access from the Infrastructure Client (VCP) use the following commands - use with caution
 
Put esx into maintenance mode:
<pre>
vimsh -n -e /hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter
</pre>
 
check the esx is in maintenance mode
<pre>
vimsh -n -e /hostsvc/runtimeinfo | grep inMaintenanceMode | awk ‘{print $3}’
</pre>
 
exit maintenance mode
<pre>
vimsh -n -e /hostsvc/maintenance_mode_exit
</pre>
 
 
== TCPDump Network Sniffer ==
Basic network sniffer available in Service Console
 
[http://www.tcpdump.org/tcpdump_man.html TCPDump instruction manual]
 
EG To sniff all traffic on the Service Console interface, vswif0, going to/from 159.104.227.40
 
<code> tcpdump -i vswif0 host 159.104.224.70 </code>
 
 
== Security ==
=== Password Complexity Override ===
In order to be able to change a user (or root) password to one that breaches password complexity checking
 
# Disable PAM module
#* <code> esxcfg-auth --usepamqc -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 </code>
# Disable complexity checker
#* <code> esxcfg-auth --usecrack -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 </code>
# Change password
# Re-enable PAM module
#* <code> esxcfg-auth --usepamqc=-1 -1 -1 -1  8 8 </code>
 
=== Regenerate Certificate ===
You might need to regenerate certificates if
* Change ESX host name
* Accidentally delete the certificates
 
To generate new Certificates for the ESX Server host...
# Change directories to /etc/vmware/ssl.
# Create backups of any existing certificates:
#* <code> mv rui.crt orig.rui.crt </code>
#* <code> mv rui.key orig.rui.key </code>
# Rstart the vmware-hostd process:
#* <code> service mgmt-vmware restart </code>
# Confirm that the ESX Server host generated new certificates by executing the following command comparing the time stamps of the new certificate files with orig.rui.crt and orig.rui.key
#* <code> ls -la </code>
 
 
== HBA and SAN Operations ==
=== SAN LUN ID ===
The SAN LUN ID is used by SAN admin's to identify LUN's.  It's not readily available from the GUI and has to be extracted from the vml file...
 
So from the following...
* <code> /vmfs/devices/disks/vml.020006000060060160c6931100cc319eea7adddd11524149442035 </code>
you need to extract the mid characters from the vml name...
* <code> /vmfs/devices/disks/vml.0200060000'''60060160c6931100cc319eea7adddd11'''524149442035 </code>
So the SAN LUN ID is <code> 60060160c6931100cc319eea7adddd11 </code>
 
=== Emulex ===
==== Find Emulex HBA Driver and Firmware Version, and WWPN ====
Doesn't require Emulex HBA utility to be installed
# <code> cd /proc/scsi/lpfc </code>
# <code>  more 1 </code> for HBA 1
# <code>  more 2 </code> for HBA 2
 
The <code> Portname </code> number is the WWPN number used to identify the HBA's by the SAN.
<pre>
[root@uklonesxp2 lpfc]# more 1
Emulex LightPulse FC SCSI 7.1.14_vmw1
Emulex LightPulse LP1050 2 Gigabit PCI Fibre Channel Adapter on PCI bus 0f devic
e 20 irq 121
SerialNum: BG70569148
Firmware Version: 1.91A1 (M2F1.91A1)
Hdw: 1001206d
VendorId: 0xf0a510df
Portname: 10:00:00:00:c9:61:73:de  Nodename: 20:00:00:00:c9:61:73:de
 
Link Up - Ready:
  PortID 0x645213
  Fabric
  Current speed 2G
</pre>
 
==== Install Emulex HBA Utility ====
Can be found at [http://www.emulex.com/vmware/support/index.jsp Emulex Lputil].
 
To install lputil (uses example of lpfcutil-7.1.14;
# Put the downloaded tgz file on the ESX server
#* EG <code> mkdir /var/updates/Emulex-lpfcutil-7.1.14 </code>
# Go into folder and extract;
#* <code> cd /var/updates/Emulex-lpfcutil-7.1.14/ </code>
#* <code> tar -xvzf Emulex-lpfcutil-7.1.14.tgz </code>
# Install;
#* <code> ./Install.sh </code>
<pre>
[root@uklonesxp2 Emulex-lpfcutil-7.1.14]# ./Install.sh
Installing Emulex HBAAPI libraries and applications...
Installation of Emulex HBAAPI libraries and utilities is completed.
</pre>
* Start the utility (on startup it should detect one or more HBA's);
* <code> /usr/sbin/lpfc/lputil </code>
<pre>
LightPulse Common Utility for Linux. Version 1.6a10 (10/7/2004).
Copyright (c) 2004, Emulex Network Systems, Inc.
 
Emulex Fibre Channel Host Adapters Detected: 1
Host Adapter 0 (lpfc0) is an LP1050 (Ready Mode)
</pre>
 
==== HBAnywhere Installation ====
# Download the Driver and Application kit for VMware from [http://www.emulex.com/downloads/emulex/cnas-and-hbas/drivers/vmware/fc-74040-pkg.html Emulex's website].
#* At time of writing the current version of package was <code>elxvmwarecorekit-esx35-4.0a45-1.i386.rpm</code>
# Copy the package to the server
#* EG <code> pscp -pw [password] elxvmwarecorekit-esx35-4.0a45-1.i386.rpm platadmn@dtcp-esxsvce01a:/home/platadmn</code>
# Install the package
#* EG <code> rpm -ivh elxvmwarecorekit-2.1a42-1.i386.rpm </code>
 
==== Check Emulex HBA Firmware Version ====
Requires the HBA Utility to be installed 1st (see above)
 
# Start the utility (on startup it should detect one or more HBA's;
#* <code> /usr/sbin/lpfc/lputil </code>
# From the Main menu, enter 2, '''Adapter Revision Levels'''
#* Example shows version 1.91a5
<pre>
                  BIU: 1001206D
      Sequence Manager: 00000000
                Endec: 00000000
  Operational Firmware: SLI-2 Overlay
                Kernel: 1.40a3
      Initial Firmware: Initial Load 1.91a5 (MS1.91A5 )
                SLI-1: SLI-1 Overlay 1.91a5 (M1F1.91A5 )
                SLI-2: SLI-2 Overlay 1.91a5 (M2F1.91A5 )
Highest FC-PH Version: 4.3
  Lowest FC-PH Version: 4.3
</pre>
 
 
==== Update Emulex HBA Firmware ====
* '''Using HBA Utility''' (must be installed 1st - see above).  See the Emulex website for the latest version, eg [http://www.emulex.com/ts/downloads/lp1050/lp1050ex.jsp Emulex LP1050Ex]
 
To update the firmware (example uses LP1050Ex-mf191a5)
# Put the downloaded zip file on the UKLONVCP1 NFS Share, and unzip to a folder, eg EmulexLP1050Ex-mf191a5
# Create folder in /var/updates;
#* <code> mkdir /var/updates/EmulexLP1050Ex-mf191a5 </code>
# Copy the firmware update onto the ESX
#* <code> cp /vmfs/volumes/UKLONVCP1\ NFS\ Share/EmulexLP1050Ex-mf191a5/mf191a5.all /var/updates/EmulexLP1050Ex-mf191a5/ </code>
# Start the utility (on startup it should detect one or more HBA's;
#* <code> /usr/sbin/lpfc/lputil </code>
# From the Main menu, enter 3, '''Firmware Maintenance'''.
# If prompted, choose the HBA that is being updated.
# Enter 1, '''Load Firmware Image'''.
# Enter the full path to the firmware file, upgrade will then complete, eg
<pre>
Enter Image Filename => /var/updates/EmulexLP1050Ex-mf191a5/mf191a5.all
Opening File...
End Of File
Checksum OK!!!
Reading AIF Header #1...
Validating Checksum...
Erasing Flash ROM Sectors...
100% complete
Loading Image...
First Download
100% complete
Image Successfully Downloaded...
Reading AIF Header #2...
Validating Checksum...
Erasing Flash ROM Sectors...
100% complete
Loading Image...
First Download
100% complete
Updating Wakeup Parameters...
Image Successfully Downloaded...
Reading AIF Header #3...
End Of File
Resetting Host Adapter...
Image Successfully Downloaded...
</pre>
 
 
* '''Using HBAnywhere''' (must be installed 1st - see above)
# Download the correct firmware version from Emulex's website
#* EG for [http://www.emulex.com/downloads/emulex/cnas-and-hbas/firmware-and-boot-code/lpe11002.html LPe11002's]
# Extract, and copy file to server
# Find adapter's WWPN's
#* EG <code>/usr/sbin/hbanyware/hbacmd ListHBAs</code>
# Download new firware version to each HBA
#* EG <code>/usr/sbin/hbanyware/hbacmd download 10:00:00:00:c9:82:97:9e zf280a4.all</code>
 
 
==== EMCgrab Collection ====
# Download correct verion from EMC's website
#* At time of writing the current version file was [ftp://ftp.emc.com/pub/emcgrab/ESX/Old_Releases/v1.1/ emcgrab_ESX_v1.1.tar]
# Copy to server
#* EG <code>pscp emcgrab_ESX_v1.1.tar platadmn@dtcp-esxsvce02a:/home/platadmn</code>
# Uncompress the file
#* EG <code>tar -xvf emcgrab_ESX_v1.1.tar</code>
# Run grab (can take a few minutes, best done out of hours)
#* EG <code>./emcgrab.sh</code>
# Results can be found in <code>\emcgrab\outputs</code> folder
 
== Netflow ==
'''Netflow is available on ESX v3 only, and is an experimental feature.  Netflow v5 is sent.'''
 
* '''To start Netflow'''
*# Load the module
*#* <code> vmkload_mod netflow </code>
*# Configure monitoring of appropriate vSwitch's to Netflow collector IP and port
*#* <code> /usr/lib/vmware/bin/vmkload_app -S -i vmktcp /usr/lib/vmware/bin/net-netflow -e vSwitch0,vSwitch1 10.20.255.31:2055 </code>
** To reconfigure the Netflow module you must stop and restart the module
 
* '''To confirm running'''
*# Check the module is running...
*#* <code> [root@esx1 root]# vmkload_mod -l | grep netflow </code>
*#* <code> netflow            0x9b4000          0x3000      0x298b640        0x1000        16 Yes </code>
*# Check the correct config is running...
*#* <code> [root@esx1 root]# ps -ef | grep netflow </code>
*#* <code> root      2413    1  0 Feb05 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/vmware/bin/vmkload_app -S -i vmktcp /usr/lib/vmware/bin/net-netflow -e vSwitch0,vSwitch1 10.20.255.31:2055 </code>
 
* '''To stop Netflow'''
*# <code> ps -ef | grep netflow </code>
*# <code> kill <pid> </code>
*# <code> vmkload_mod -u netflow </code>
 
= Troubleshooting =
== Useful paths / logfiles==
{|cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="1"
|-
! Item              !!  Path                                !!  Comments
|-
| Vmkernel logfile  || <code> /var/log/vmkernel  </code>    ||  Pretty much everything seems to be recorded here
|-
| Vmkernel warnings  || <code> /var/log/vmkwarning  </code>  ||  Virtual machine warnings
|-
| Local VM files    || <code> /vmfs/volumes/storage </code> ||  Storage name can vary, use TAB so shell selects available
|-
| SAN VM files      || <code> /vmfs/volumes/SAN </code>    ||
|-
| HA agent logs      || <code> /opt/LGTOaam512/log/ </code>  ||  Various logs of limited use
|-
|}
 
== CPU ==
=== Poor performance ===
If VM's are performing sluggishly and/or are slow to start, use <code>esxtop</code> on the ESX service console.  Look at Ready Time (%RDY), which is how long a VM is waiting for CPUs to become available.  This can creep up if the the system is pushed, or if the VM has multiple CPUs (as it needs multiple physical CPUs to become available at the same time).
 
Ideally %RDY should <5%, though <10% is normally acceptable, anything >15% is bad.
 
== Storage ==
=== Poor throughput ===
Use <code>esxtop</code> on the service console and switch to the disk monitor.  Enable views for latency, you will see values like GAVG, KAVG and DAVG.
* '''GAVG''' is the total latency on IO commands averaged over 2 seconds
* '''KAVG''' is the hypervisor IO latency averaged over 2 seconds
* '''DAVG''' is everything outside the ESX server IO latency averaged over the last 2 seconds
 
Latency occurs when the hypervisor or physical storage cannot keep pace with the demand for IO
 
 
=== Storage Monitor Log Entries ===
 
How to decode the following type of entries...
Sep  3 15:15:14 tfukesxent1 vmkernel: 85:01:23:01.532 cpu4:2264)StorageMonitor: 196: vmhba1:2:0:0 status = 2/0 0x6 0x2a 0x1
Sep  3 15:15:32 tfukesxent1 vmkernel: 85:01:23:19.391 cpu4:2253)StorageMonitor: 196: vmhba1:3:9:0 status = 2/0 0x6 0x2a 0x1
 
The status message consists of the follow four decimal and hex blocks...
{| cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="1"
|-
|''Device Status'' / ''Host Status'' || ''Sense Key'' || ''Additional Sense Code'' || ''Additional Sense Code Qualifier''
|}
 
Where the ESX Device and SAN host status' mean...
{| cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="1"
|-
! Decimal !! Device Status        !! Host Status      !! Comments
|-
| 0      || No Errors            || Host_OK          ||
|-
| 1      ||                      || Host No_Connect  ||
|-
| 2      || Check Condition      || Host_Busy_Busy  ||
|-
| 3      ||                      || Host_Timeout    ||
|-
| 4      ||                      || Host_Bad_Target  ||
|-
| 5      ||                      || Host_Abort      ||
|-
| 6      ||                      || Host_Parity      ||
|-
| 7      ||                      || Host_Error      ||
|-
| 8      || Device Busy          || Host_Reset      ||
|-
| 9      ||                      || Host_Bad_INTR    ||
|-
| 10      ||                      || Host_PassThrough ||
|-
| 11      ||                      || Host_Soft_Error  ||
|-
| 24      || Reservation Conflict ||                  ||  24/0 indicates a locking error, normally caused by too many ESX's mounting a LON, wrong config on storage array, or too many VM's on a LUN
|}
 
Where the Sense Key mean...
{| cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="1"
|-
! Hex !! Sense Key
|-
| 0x0 || No Sense Information
|-
| 0x1 || Last command completed but used error correction
|-
| 0x2 || Unit Not Ready
|-
| 0x3 || Medium Error
|-
| 0x4 || Hardware Error
|-
| 0x5 || ILLEGAL_REQUEST (Passive SP)
|-
| 0x6 || LUN Reset
|-
| 0x7 || Data_Protect - Access to data is blocked
|-
| 0x8 || Blank_Check - Reached an unexpected region
|-
| 0xa || Copy_Aborted
|-
| 0xb || Aborted_Command - Target aborted command
|-
| 0xc || Comparison for SEARCH DATA unsuccessful
|-
| 0xd || Volume_Overflow - Medium is full
|-
| 0xe || Source and Data on Medium do not agree
|}
 
The Additional Sense Code and Additional Sense Code Qualifier mean
{| cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="1"
|-
! Hex !! Sense Code
|-
| 0x4 || Unit Not Ready
|-
| 0x3 || Unit Not Ready - Manual Intervention Required
|-
| 0x2 || Unit Not Ready - Initializing Command Required
|-
| 0x29 || Device Power on or SCSI Reset
|}
 
[[Category:VMware]]

Latest revision as of 11:14, 24 September 2012

Build Notes

  • ESX3 Installation - Example, based on an old ESX v3 build guide
  • ESX4i Installation - Example, bit brief in places
  • HeavyLoad - Load tester (stick it in a test VM, memory test doesn't really work as ESX page sharing kicks in)

Build Numbers

ESX build numbers, note that installing subsequent patches, on top of one of the major releases below will increase the build number.

ESX version ESX ESXi
3.5 Update 1 82663 82664
3.5 Update 2 110268 110271
3.5 Update 3 123630 123629
3.5 Update 4 153875
3.5 Update 5 207095
4.0 164009
4.0 Update 1 208167
4.0 Update 2 261974
4.0 Update 3 398348
4.0 Update 4 504850
4.1 260247
4.1 Update 1 348481
4.1 Update 2 502767
4.1 Update 3 800380
5.0 469512
5.0 Update 1 623860
5.1 799733

USB Image

If you're installing ESXi 4 then you don't need to do this, the installer will detect the USB stick and install to it.

Required software etc...

  • WinImage - http://www.winimage.com/download.htm
  • DD - http://www.chrysocome.net/dd
  • ESXi install ISO
  • Disk Cloner, eg G4U - http://www.feyrer.de/g4u/
    • Ideally use a cloner that ignores the actual disk contents and does a block by block copy, anything that tries to interpret the disk image may not copy it faithfully
  • You must be able to connect two image files remotely to your server, a disk cloner CD ISO, and the image USB ISO (hint: use the floppy drive).

Creating the USB image file

  1. Open up the ISO with WinImage
  2. Extract the INSTALL.TGZ from the ISO
  3. Uncompress INSTALL.TGZ and locate .\INSTALL\usr\lib\vmware\installer\VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0_Update_4-153875.i386.dd.bz2
  4. Uncompress VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0_Update_4-153875.i386.dd.bz2 so that you have VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0_Update_4-153875.i386.dd
  5. Create ISO image from DD image by using DD
    • dd bs=1M if=VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0_Update_4-153875.i386.dd of=esx3.5ihp-usbimage.iso

Deploying the USB image file

  1. Attach your disk cloner image to your server and boot
  2. Once the the server is booting to the CD ISO, attach the USB ISO
  3. List the avaialble disks
    • list
  4. Identify the image disk (which is 750MB) and the USB disk (which will be whatever size your USB key is)
  5. Copy the image to the USB key
    • copydisk sd1 sd0
  6. Disconnect all images, reboot server, cross fingers
    • reboot

VMware CLI

Especially if using ESXi, you'll need to install the VMware CLI on any machine you want to access the ESX command line from. Be aware that ActivePerl gets installed as well, so proceed with caution if you've already got Perl installed on the machine.

Security Hardening

Service Console

Applicable to ESX only (not ESXi, as ESXi doesn't have a service console)

Disk Partitions

Suggesting partition sizing for Service Console on local disk to prevent Root partition being filled with user data 

part /boot --fstype ext3 --size 1024 --ondisk=sda --asprimary
part / --fstype ext3 --size 5120 --ondisk=sda --asprimary
part swap --size 2048 --ondisk=sda --asprimary
part /var --fstype ext3 --size 5120 --ondisk=sda
part /tmp --fstype ext3 --size 5120 --ondisk=sda
part /home --fstype ext3 --size 2048 --ondisk=sda
part None --fstype vmkcore --size 100 --ondisk sda

Local Accounts

Password Policy

No policy is implemented by default, if not using AD Integration then its sensible to apply a policy on the ESX, using the PAMQC module. Its not particularly elegant.

Active Directory Integration

Because service console authentication is Unix-based, it cannot use Active Directory to define user accounts. However, it can use Active Directory to authenticate users by matching local passwd file account name with Active directory with appropriate support of SFU (Services For Unix).

See Scott Lowe's blog for further info

Sudo

It is possible to limit the enhanced privileges that a user can gain by using sudo. This is most appropriate where there is a large number admins. However, in such an environment there is likely to be a large number of ESX's, managing the config on ESX is a headache.

Example of possible sudo config (/etc/sudoers) 

...
# Defaults specification
Defaults logfile=/var/log/sudolog

# User privilege specification
root    ALL=(ALL) ALL
User_Alias VI_JR_ADMINS=esxoper, esxoper2
User_Alias VI_ADMINS=esxadmin

Cmnd_Alias STOP=/usr/sbin/shutdown, /usr/sbin/halt, /usr/sbin/poweroff 
Cmnd_Alias REBOOT=/usr/sbin/reboot
Cmnd_Alias KILL=/usr/bin/kill 
Cmnd_Alias NTP=/usr/sbin/ntpdate, /sbin/hwclock 

VI_JR_ADMINS ALL=STOP, REBOOT, KILL, NTP
VI_ADMINS ALL=(ALL) ALL
...

Logging

It is recommended to compress and increase the maximum log file size by modifying the configuration files in the /etc/logrotate.d directory and the /etc/logrotate.conf file.

For example, changing vmkwarning to be 2096k in size, and compressed... 

[root@dtcp-esxsvce01b root]# more /etc/logrotate.d/vmkwarning
/var/log/vmkwarning{
    create 0600 root root
    missingok
    compress
    sharedscripts
    postrotate
    size 2096k
        /bin/kill -HUP `cat /var/run/syslogd.pid 2> /dev/null` 2> /dev/null || true
    endscript
}

...and changing relevent part of /etc/logrotate.conf to allow compression... 

...
# uncomment this if you want your log files compressed
compress

...

Finally, its worth redirecting sudo log activity to /var/log/sudolog, see above section on sudo.

Banners

There are three modes of direct management access to an ESX, web, ssh, and direct (local) console.

Web Access

Edit the html page /usr/lib/vmware/hostd/docroot/index.html

SSH

Edit the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file so that it knows to display a defined banner file during login... 

Banner /etc/banner

Create the banner file with the appropriate contents.

Console

Prepend your banner to the /etc/issue file

ESX

Network Settings

Setting Default Preferred Explanantion
Promiscuous Mode Reject Reject Principally used in situations where you need to perform a network traffic (snif) capture. Data from all ports propagates to all ports (VM Port group becomes a hub rather than a switch)
MAC address changes Accept Reject There are situations where allowing MAC Address Changes to Accept is required. For example; legacy applications, clustered environments, and licensing. Legacy applications may require a specific MAC addresses to be used for the application. Microsoft Clusters utilize an artificial MAC address for all servers in the cluster
Forged Transmits Accept Reject The setting affects traffic transmitted from a virtual machine. If this option is set to reject, the virtual switch compares the source MAC address being transmitted by the operating system with the effective MAC address for its virtual network adapter to see if they are the same. If the MAC addresses are different, the virtual switch drops the frame. The guest operating system will not detect that its virtual network adapter cannot send packets using the different MAC address. To protect against MAC address impersonation, all virtual switches should have forged transmissions set to reject
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