vmware command line

ESX Server System Management IIModule 4

ESX Server from theCommand LineThe command-line environment

Working with disks

Working with virtual machines

2

For ESX Server 2.0.1 2003-11-17Copyright © 2003 VMware, Inc. All rights reserved.

2

Tips for command-line use

• Install an ssh (Secure Shell) client on your desktop• Windows: PuTTY (freeware), SecureCRT (commercial)

• Know the features of the bash shell• Use arrow keys to navigate command history

• Use TAB to complete file names and commands

• Useful keystrokes:

•ctrl-A: beginning of line ctrl-E: end of line

•ctrl-W: erase previous word ctrl-U: blank this line

•ctrl-Z: suspend this job

•bg command puts suspended job in background

• Caution! ctrl-S freezes the screen; use ctrl-Q to unfreeze

3


3

Useful Service Console add-on packages

•nano: a simple text editor• An alternative to vi

• Always invoke as nano –w filename to turn off word-wrap

•lynx: a text-only Web browser• Especially useful for downloading files from Web sites to

Service Console

•ncftp: an enhanced text-only FTP client• Contains ncftpget, useful for unattended FTP downloads

•lsof: list open files• Shows what processes are using what files and ports

4


4

Working with Service Console packages•rpm –qa: list installed packages

•rpm –qi packagename : get more information about a package

•rpm –ql packagename : list files composing a package

•rpm –Uvh filename(s) : install a package• You may need to satisfy a package’s dependencies; list multiple

package filenames on command line

•rpm –e packagename : uninstalls a package• Warning: do not uninstall VMware packages!

Or use –p packagefilename in place of packagename

5


5

Partitioning disks with fdisk

• fdisk requires a device file pointing at desired diskfdisk /dev/sdb

• Enter p to print the present partition table

• Enter n to create a new partition

•Specify partition number if primary

•Specify starting cylinder

•Specify size: +1024M gives a 1 GB partition

• Enter t to change the partition type: FB for VMFS

• Enter w to save partition table to disk

• Warning: Changing partition table of a disk with mounted Linux file systems may require reboot

6


6

vmkfstools Syntax

• The option flag governs the action of the command• Either a single letter with one hyphen or a word with two

• The last argument is always a path using the VMkernel’s device space• Either a VMFS name (physical or friendly)vmhba0:1:0:5 /vmfs/vmhba0:1:0:5myvmfs /vmfs/myvmfs

• Or a VMFS name followed by a virtual disk file namevmhba0:1:0:5:a.dsk /vmfs/vmhba0:1:0:5/a.dskmyvmfs:a.dsk /vmfs/myvmfs/a.dsk

vmkfstools -? [ otherarg otherarg … ] VMkernel-path

7


7

Creating a new VMFS volume

1. Use vmkfstools –N to map from VMkernel disk to a Linux device file /dev/vsdn# vmkfstools –N vmhba0:8:0:0/dev/vsd0

2. fdisk /dev/vsd0Make a partition number 1 with type FB

•Make new VMFS volumes using MUI or command line

Whole disk

8


8

Creating a new VMFS volume (cont’d)

3. Use vmkfstools –C to build a new VMFSvmkfstools –C vmfs2 vmhba0:8:0:1

4. Use vmkfstools –S to set the volume labelvmkfstools –S VOL3 vmhba0:8:0:1

•Use vmkfstools –l to list contentsvmkfstools –l VOL3orls –l /vmfs/VOL3

9


9

Basic VMFS virtual-disk operations

• To create a new virtual disk:vmkfstools –c 4096m VOL3:webserver.dsk

• To set access rights:chown ted:finance /vmfs/VOL3/webserver.dskchmod u=rw,go= /vmfs/VOL3/webserver.dsk

• To rename a virtual diskmv /vmfs/VOL3/ws.dsk /vmfs/VOL3/webserver.dsk

• To remove a virtual diskrm /vmfs/VOL3/ws.dsk

10


10

Copying a virtual disk

• It’s safe to use the Service Console’s cp command on > 2 GB virtual disks

• Not all Service Console utilities have been customized

• Other environments may contain unsafe tools too

• Safest to handle virtual disks in their exported (“COW”) format• To export:vmkfstools –e /vmimages/ws.vmdk vmfs3:ws.dsk

11


11

Copying a virtual disk from one ESX Server to another

• Use scp to copy securelyscp /vmfs/VOL3/ws.dsk user@esx2:/vmfs/myvmfs/ws.dsk

• Always check for integrity# sum /vmfs/myvmfs/ws.dsk39678 489473 /vmfs/myvmfs/ws.dsk

# md5sum /vmfs/myvmfs/router-2.1.dsk77dfc2ba10c75b6ad0a1812805887e28 router-2.1.dsk

16-bit checksum

size in 1 KB blocks

12


12

Extending a virtual disk

• Make a backup first!

• Extend the virtual diskvmkfstools –X 4096M VOL3:windata.dsk

• Now the file system inside the virtual disk does not fill the medium

• Use Partition Magic or the equivalent inside the VM to extend the file system

13


13

Inspecting virtual disks from Service Console

• To identify a virtual disk:# head mydisk.dsk | file –

• To import:vmkfstools –i /vmimages/otherdisk.dsk VOL3:other.dsk

• GSX Server 2.x virtual disks can also be imported

ESX Server x86 boot sector

Workstation 4 ASCII English text

Workstation 3.xGSX Server 2.x

{nothing}

14


14

Opening virtual disks from Service Console

• To display the partition table inside a virtual disk:# vmware-mount.pl –p /vmfs/VOL3/w2k.dsk Nr Start Size Type Id System-- ----- ------- ---- --- ---------------1 63 4176837 BIOS 7 HPFS/NTFS# vmware-mount.pl –p /vmfs/VOL3/linux.dsk Nr Start Size Type Id System-- ----- ------- ---- --- ---------------1 32 81888 BIOS 83 Linux2 81920 262144 BIOS 82 Linux swap3 344064 972800 BIOS 83 Linux• Virtual disk must be in ESX format, reside in a VMFS, not powered on

15


15

Opening virtual disks from Service Console (cont’d)

• You may mount file systems from within a virtual disk onto the Service Console• Virtual disk must not be powered on

• NTFS file systems are read-only!

•vfat and ext3 file systems may be mounted read-write

• Press ctrl-C to kill vmware-mount.pl when done

# mkdir /myntfs# vmware-mount.pl /vmfs/ted/w2k.dsk 1 -t ntfs -o ro /myntfsIn another window:# ls /myntfsAUTOEXEC.BAT CONFIG.SYS IO.SYSboot.ini Documents and Settings MSDOS.SYS

16


16

VM Configuration File Syntax

• Comments begin with a # character• Blank lines are allowed

• Each other line is of the formattribute = value orclass.attribute = value

• Class can be:• A family of related items

• A device controller

• A device on a device controller

17


17

A sample configuration fileconfig.version = "6"virtualHW.version = "3"memSize = "192"numvcpus = "2"displayName = "Controller for domain TEXAS.ORG"guestOS = "win2000Serv"

ide1:0.present = "TRUE"ide1:0.startConnected = "TRUE"ide1:0.deviceType = "atapi-cdrom"ide1:0.fileName = "/dev/cdrom"

floppy0.present = "TRUE"floppy0.startConnected = "FALSE"floppy0.fileName = "/dev/fd0"

scsi0.present = "TRUE"scsi0.virtualDev = "vmxbuslogic"scsi0.sharedBus = "none"scsi0:0.present = "TRUE"scsi0:0.fileName = “VOL3:winnt.dsk"scsi0:0.mode = "persistent"

18


18

A sample configuration file (cont’d)

ethernet0.present = "TRUE"ethernet0.virtualDev = "vlance"ethernet0.connectionType = "monitor_dev"ethernet0.devName = "vmnic0"

suspend.directory = "/vmfs/VOL3"remotedisplay.depth = "8"checkpoint.cptconfigname = "rn2-52ff1bdc"

uuid.location = "56 4d 7c 66 1f 23 b5 c3-2f 50 a9 29 7f 53 72 b5"

19


19

Configuring for Terminal Services

• Windows Terminal Services and Citrix Metaframe systems run with many processes

• Windows 2000 systems benefit from a performance tweak

• Add to configuration fileworkload = "TerminalServices"

• If Citrix Metaframe XP, install Citrix hotfix XE102W014 in guest OS

20


20

Time sync for graphicsless VMs

• Normally need GUI VMware Tools agent to enable time synchronization between guest OS and Service Console

• But Linux servers often run without graphics

• To enable time sync without GUI:tools.syncTime = "TRUE"

21


21

Adjusting Remote Console keyboard repeat

• By default, virtual keyboard device in VM starts autorepeat if a physical key is not released within less than a second

• Network latency or congestion may trigger autorepeat

• Add to config file:keyboard.typematicMinDelay = 2000000

• Value in microseconds (2 million sec = 2 sec)

• Choose a value that results in satisfactory performance

22


22

Specifying autostart and autostop behavior

• Config files may contain autostart = "poweron"autostart.delay = "2" Seconds to pauseautostop = "poweroff" or…autostop = "suspend"autostop.delay = "2" Seconds to pause

• Caution! Memory page sharing is not active when suspended VMs are resumed

23


23

Starting and stopping VMs from the command line

• To stop a VM:vmware-cmd /home/ted/vmware/a/a.vmx stop mode

• To start a VM:vmware-cmd /home/ted/vmware/a/a.vmx start mode

softRun normal scripts in guest OS before shutdown or after resume;

trysoft

Try to run scripts in guest OS; use hard mechanism if VMware Tools is not accessible

hardAbrupt power-off; resume without running normal scripts

ESX Server System Management IIModule 4

Questions?

vmware command line

Technology

virtual disk file

new virtual disk

linux virtual disk

service console virtual

virtual disk mv

virtual disk rm

virtual disk vmkfstools

virtual machines