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VMware

Background

Quandis uses VMware to virtualize web and application tier machines. As of this writing, two versions of VMware are in use:
  • ESX Server 3i: used by blades 1..12
  • ESXi 4: used by blads 13 and 14
Target audience: Duty Engineers.

Installing VMware Client Software

To manage VMware instances, you will need to download VMware software for versions 3 and 4, as follows:
  • Set up host file mappings to:
  • Download and install the VMware Infrastructure Client (from https://blade1.quandis.com)
    • After installation copy the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher to your desktop
  • Download and install the vSphere Client (from https://blade14.quandis.com)
    • Note: if you receive an error about Microsoft J#
      • From Control Panel, Uninstall the Microsoft J# Redistributable Package
      • Download and install an updated J# package
    • After installation create the folder "Launcher2.5" in the folder in C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\ and copy the contents of the Launcher folder from your desktop.
    • Rename the vmware shortcut on your desktop to VIC4
    • Add a new shortcut called VIC3 that points to "C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher2.5\VpxClient.exe" with a Start In folder "C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher2.5"

Managing Hardware

Our Dell server include a Dell Remote Access Controller (DRAC), which enables low level access to the hardware, including:
  • Status on hardware components (power, drives, fans, network cards, etc.)
  • A Virtual Console (as if you were in front of the machine)
  • The ability to reboot the machine
To access a DRAC, navigate to the IP address of the machine (in the case of a blade, this should be the IP address of the blade, and not the IP address of a virtual machine on the blade).  For example: https://10.11.100.101. 

Note that the blade Chassis Management Controller (CMC) is available via DRAC, and provides status on each blade's hardware from a single location.

See the CTO or COO for credentials to access these machines, or for access to the Quandis IP Address Mappings.

Managing Virtual Machines

Virtual machines are managed with the VMware client, either VIC3 or VIC4 (see installation instructions above). The Quandis IP Address Mappings document details which blades have which version of VMware.

From the VMware client, you can:
  • View a list of all VM instance installed on a machine (blade),
  • Start and stop the VM,
  • Access a virtual console (e.g. the Windows Login prompt, as if you were physically at the machine),
  • Allocate hardware resources to a VM
See the CTO or COO for credentials to access these machines, or for access to the Quandis IP Address Mappings.

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