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Introduction and System Requirements

VMware GSX Server: Enterprise-Class Virtual Infrastructure for Intel-Based Servers
Welcome to VMware GSX Server
Enterprise-Class Virtual Infrastructure for Intel-Based Servers
About the Host and Guest Computers
What's New in Version 3
Features in Version 3.2
Critical Bugs Fixed in GSX Server 3.2
Features in Version 3.1
Critical Bugs Fixed in GSX Server 3.1
Features in Version 3
Host System Requirements
Server Requirements
Remote Client Requirements
Virtual Machine Specifications
Supported Guest Operating Systems
Technical Support Resources
Documentation on the Web
VMware Knowledge Base
VMware Community Forums and Newsgroups
Reporting Problems
Log Files

Installing VMware GSX Server

Installing GSX Server
Selecting Your Host System
About the VMware Virtual Machine Console on the Server
Installing VMware GSX Server on a Windows Host
Basic Installation
Default Directories
Installing the GSX Server Software on a Windows Host
Installing VMware GSX Server on a Linux Host
Basic Installation
Default Directories
Installing the GSX Server Software on a Linux Host
Installing the VMware Management Interface on a Linux Host
Installing an X Server
Before You Install on a SuSE Linux 7.1 or Higher or SLES Host
Before You Install on a SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 Host
Before You Install the VMware Management Interface on a Linux Host
Configuring Web Browsers for Use with GSX Server
Launching the VMware Virtual Machine Console from the Management Interface on an Encrypted Server
Connecting to the Management Interface on a Proxy Server
Launching Help in Netscape on a Linux System
Installing the VMware Virtual Machine Console
Installing the VMware Virtual Machine Console on a Windows Host
Installing the VMware Virtual Machine Console on a Linux Host
Installing the VMware Scripting APIs
Installing the VmPerl and VmCOM Scripting APIs on a Windows Host
Installing the VmPerl Scripting API on a Linux Host
Uninstalling VMware GSX Server
Uninstalling GSX Server on a Windows Host
Uninstalling GSX Server on a Linux Host

Upgrading VMware GSX Server

Preparing for the Upgrade
Before You Install VMware GSX Server
When You Remove an Existing Version and Install the New Version
Upgrading on a Windows Host
Upgrading on a Linux Host
Using Virtual Machines Created with Version 2 under Version 3
Creating Everything New from the Start
Using an Existing Virtual Machine without Upgrading the Virtual Hardware
Using an Existing Virtual Machine and Upgrading the Virtual Hardware
Upgrading Virtual Hardware in the Guest Operating System
Using Virtual Machines Created with Version 1 under Version 3
Upgrading Virtual Hardware in the Guest Operating System

Creating a New Virtual Machine

Setting Up a New Virtual Machine
What's in a Virtual Machine?
Creating a New Virtual Machine with the New Virtual Machine Wizard
Creating a New Virtual Machine from the VMware Management Interface
Installing a Guest Operating System
Example: Installing Windows Server 2003 as a Guest Operating System

Using VMware Tools

About VMware Tools
Installing VMware Tools
Installing VMware Tools in a Windows Virtual Machine
Installing VMware Tools in a Linux or FreeBSD Virtual Machine
Installing VMware Tools in a NetWare Virtual Machine
Executing Scripts When the Virtual Machine's Power State Changes
Issues to Consider
Configuring VMware Tools
Configuring VMware Tools in a Windows Virtual Machine
Configuring VMware Tools in a Linux or FreeBSD Virtual Machine
Configuring VMware Tools in a NetWare Virtual Machine
About the VMware Tools Service
Synchronizing the Time in the Guest with the Host Operating System
Executing Commands After You Power Off or Reset a Virtual Machine
Passing a String from the Host Operating System to the Guest Operating System
Passing Information Between the Guest Operating System and a VMware Scripting API Script

Managing Virtual Machines and the VMware GSX Server Host

Remotely Managing Virtual Machines
Changing the Port Number for VMware Virtual Machine Console Connections
Downloading the VMware Virtual Machine Console
Securing Virtual Machines and the Host
Understanding Permissions and Virtual Machines
Authenticating Users and Running Virtual Machines on a GSX Server for Windows Host
Authenticating Users and Running Virtual Machines on a GSX Server for Linux Host
Checking Permissions in the VMware Management Interface
Securing Your Remote Sessions
Identifying a Virtual Machine by Its UUID
Specifying a UUID for a Virtual Machine
Logging GSX Server Events on Windows
Backing Up Virtual Machines and the GSX Server Host
Using a Backup Agent in the Virtual Machine
Using a Backup Agent Running on the Host Operating System
Backing Up the GSX Server Host
Considerations for Backing Up Virtual Machines
Using the VMware Management Interface
Setting the Session Length for the VMware Management Interface
Logging In to the VMware Management Interface
Using the Status Monitor
Configuring a Virtual Machine
The Apache Server and the VMware Management Interface
Logging Out of the VMware Management Interface
Deleting Virtual Machines
Deleting a Virtual Machine Using the VMware Virtual Machine Console
Deleting a Virtual Machine Using the VMware Management Interface
Configuring the GSX Server Host
Securing Remote Connections with SSL
Configuring Startup and Shutdown Options for Virtual Machines
Setting User Preferences for the VMware GSX Server Host
Setting Global Preferences for VMware GSX Server
Creating Network Labels
Setting a MIME Type to Launch the VMware Virtual Machine Console
Using VirtualCenter to Manage GSX Server Virtual Machines
Creating Virtual Machines on a GSX Server Host from a VirtualCenter Client
Connecting to a GSX Server Virtual Machine from a VirtualCenter Client

Running Virtual Machines

Overview of the VMware Virtual Machine Console Window
Using the Home Tab
Using Tabs
Configuring a Virtual Machine
Using the Virtual Machine Inventory
Displaying Hints
Checking the Status of VMware Tools
Creating a Screen Shot of a Virtual Machine
Connecting to Virtual Machines and GSX Server Hosts
Connecting to a Virtual Machine from a Windows Host or Client
Connecting to a Virtual Machine from a Linux Host or Client
Connecting to a Virtual Machine from the VMware Management Interface
Connecting to a Different GSX Server Host
Connecting to Older GSX Server and ESX Server Systems and Older Virtual Machines
Changing the Power State of a Virtual Machine
Using Power Options for Virtual Machines
Suspending and Resuming Virtual Machines
Shutting Down a Virtual Machine
Powering Virtual Machines On and Off When the Host Starts and Shuts Down
Controlling the Virtual Machine Display
Using Full Screen Mode
Using Quick Switch Mode
Taking Advantage of Multiple Monitors
Fitting the Console Window to the Virtual Machine
Fitting a Windows Guest Operating System's Display to the VMware Virtual Machine Console Window
Simplifying the Screen Display
Taking and Reverting to a Snapshot
Running Virtual Machines from DVD-ROM or CD-ROM Discs
Using PXE with Virtual Machines
Sharing Files Between Guest and Host Operating Systems
Sharing Files Between Two Windows Systems
Sharing Files by Connecting to a Windows System from a Linux System
Sharing Files by Connecting to a Linux System from a Windows System
Sharing Files Between Two Linux Systems
Installing Software in a Virtual Machine
Cutting, Copying and Pasting Text
Using Devices in a Virtual Machine
Adding, Configuring and Removing Devices in a Virtual Machine
Connecting and Disconnecting Removable Devices
Command Reference
Startup Options on a Linux Host
Startup Options on a Windows Host
Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Moving and Sharing Virtual Machines

Moving a VMware GSX Server 3 Virtual Machine
Virtual Machines Use Relative Paths
Preparing Your Virtual Machine for the Move
Moving a Virtual Machine to a New Host
Moving a GSX Server 2 Virtual Machine
Virtual Machines Use Relative Paths
Preparing Your Virtual Machine for the Move
Moving a Virtual Machine to a New Host
Moving Older Virtual Machines
Virtual Machines May Use Relative or Absolute Paths
Preparing Your Virtual Machine for the Move
Preparing the New Host Machine
Considerations for Moving Disks in Undoable Mode
Sharing Virtual Machines with Other Users

Using Disks in a Virtual Machine

Configuring Hard Disk Storage in a Virtual Machine
Disk Types: Virtual and Physical
Additional Information about Disk, Redo-Log, Snapshot and Lock Files
Defragmenting and Shrinking Virtual Disks
Configuring Optical and Floppy Drives
Configuring Virtual DVD-ROM and CD-ROM Drives
Configuring Virtual Floppy Drives
Adding Drives to a Virtual Machine
Adding Virtual Disks to a Virtual Machine
Adding Physical Disks to a Virtual Machine
Adding DVD-ROM or CD-ROM Drives to a Virtual Machine
Adding Floppy Drives to a Virtual Machine
Using VMware Virtual Disk Manager
Running the VMware Virtual Disk Manager Utility
Shrinking Virtual Disks with VMware Virtual Disk Manager
Examples Using the VMware Virtual Disk Manager
Configuring a Dual-Boot Computer for Use with a Virtual Machine
Configuring Dual- or Multiple-Boot Systems to Run with GSX Server
Setting Up Hardware Profiles in Virtual Machines
Running a Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 Virtual Machine from an Existing Multiple-Boot Installation
Setting Up the SVGA Video Driver for a Windows 95 Guest Operating System Booted from a Physical Disk
Setting Up the SVGA Video Driver for Use with a Windows 98 Guest Operating System Booted from a Physical Disk
Do Not Use Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Dynamic Disks as Physical Disks
Configuring Dual- or Multiple-Boot SCSI Systems to Run with VMware GSX Server on a Linux Host
Installing an Operating System onto a Physical Partition from a Virtual Machine
Configuring a Windows Host
Configuring a Linux Host
Disk Performance in Windows NT Guests on Multiprocessor Hosts
Improving Performance

Preserving the State of a Virtual Machine

Suspending and Resuming Virtual Machines
Setting the Suspended State File Directory
Taking Snapshots
What Is Captured by a Snapshot?
Ways of Using Snapshots
Snapshots and a Virtual Machine's Hard Disks
Snapshots and Other Activity in the Virtual Machine
Settings for Snapshots
Removing the Snapshot
Snapshots and Legacy Disk Modes
Snapshots and Repeatable Resume
Snapshots and Legacy Virtual Machines

Networking

Components of the Virtual Network
Common Networking Configurations
Bridged Networking
Network Address Translation (NAT)
Host-Only Networking
Custom Networking Configurations
Changing the Networking Configuration
Adding and Modifying Virtual Network Adapters
Configuring Bridged Networking Options on a Windows Host
Enabling, Disabling, Adding and Removing Host Virtual Adapters
Advanced Networking Topics
Selecting IP Addresses on a Host-Only Network or NAT Configuration
Avoiding IP Packet Leakage in a Host-Only Network
Maintaining and Changing the MAC Address of a Virtual Machine
Controlling Routing Information for a Host-Only Network on a Linux Host
Other Potential Issues with Host-Only Networking on a Linux Host
Setting Up a Second Bridged Network Interface on a Linux Host
Configuring Bridged Networking When Using Teamed Network Interface Cards on Your Host
Setting Up Two Separate Host-Only Networks
Routing Between Two Host-Only Networks
Using Virtual Ethernet Adapters in Promiscuous Mode on a Linux Host
Understanding NAT
Using NAT
The Host Computer and the NAT Network
DHCP on the NAT Network
DNS on the NAT Network
External Access from the NAT Network
Advanced NAT Configuration
Custom NAT and DHCP Configuration on a Windows Host
Considerations for Using NAT
Using NAT with NetLogon
Sample Linux vmnetnat.conf File
Using Samba for File Sharing on a Linux Host

Configuring Devices

Using Parallel Ports
About Parallel Ports
Adding a Parallel Port in a Virtual Machine
Configuring a Parallel Port on a Linux Host
Special Notes for the Iomega Zip Drive
Using Serial Ports
Using a Serial Port on the Host Computer
Using a File on the Host Computer
Connecting an Application on the Host to a Virtual Machine
Connecting Two Virtual Machines
Special Configuration Options for Advanced Users
Examples: Debugging over a Virtual Serial Port
Keyboard Mapping on a Linux Host
Quick Answers
The Longer Story
V-Scan Code Table
Using USB Devices in a Virtual Machine
Notes on USB Support
Adding a USB Controller
Connecting USB Devices
Using USB with a Windows Host
Replacing USB 2.0 Drivers on a Windows 2000 Host
Using USB with a Linux Host
Who Has Control over a USB Device?
Disconnecting USB Devices from a Virtual Machine
Human Interface Devices
Connecting to a Generic SCSI Device
Device Support in Guest Operating Systems
Adding a Generic SCSI Device to a Virtual Machine
Generic SCSI on a Windows Host Operating System
Generic SCSI on a Linux Host Operating System

Video and Sound

Setting Screen Color Depth in a Virtual Machine
Changing Screen Color Depth on the Host
Changing Screen Color Depth in the Virtual Machine
Using Full Screen Mode on a Linux Host
Configuring Sound
Installing Sound Drivers in a Windows Server 2003 Guest Operating System
Installing Sound Drivers in Windows 9x and Windows NT Guest Operating Systems

Performance Tuning and the VMware GSX Server Host

Configuring and Maintaining the Host Computer
Configuring GSX Server
General GSX Server Options
GSX Server on a Windows Host
GSX Server on a Linux Host
Understanding Memory Usage
Memory Use on the Host
Specifying How Much RAM is Used by All Running Virtual Machines
Memory Usage on Older Linux Hosts

Performance Tuning for Virtual Machines

Allocating Memory to a Virtual Machine
Configuring Virtual Machine Memory from a Console
Configuring Virtual Machine Memory from the Management Interface
Improving Performance for Guest Operating Systems
Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Guest Operating System Performance Tips
Windows 95 and Windows 98 Guest Operating System Performance Tips
Linux Guest Operating System Performance Tips

High-Availability Configurations with VMware GSX Server

Using SCSI Reservation to Share SCSI Disks with Virtual Machines
SCSI Reservation Support
Enabling SCSI Reservation
Issues to Consider When Sharing Disks
Overview of Clustering with GSX Server
Applications That Can Use Clustering
Clustering Software
Creating a Cluster in a Box
Configuring Virtual Machines for Cluster in a Box
Creating a Two-Node Cluster with Microsoft Clustering Services on a Single GSX Server Computer
Using Network Load Balancing with GSX Server
Overview of Network Load Balancing Clusters
Creating a Multinode Network Load Balancing Cluster
Creating Two-Node Clusters Using Novell Clustering Services
Creating the First Node's Base Virtual Machine
Creating the Second Node in the Cluster
Installing the Guest Operating System and VMware Tools
Adding the Shared Disks to Both Virtual Machines
Installing Novell Clustering Services on the Cluster Nodes
Clustering Using the iSCSI Protocol
Clustering Scenarios Using iSCSI
Creating and Configuring the iSCSI Initiator Virtual Machine
Configuring the iSCSI Target in the Cluster

Glossary


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