Introduction and System Requirements

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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

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

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

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

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