ESX Server – Change The Hostname
Nov17

ESX Server – Change The Hostname

KB ID 0000276  Problem Should you wish to change the hostname of your ESX server i.e. you have it on DHCP and it’s got the hostname of Terrys-Laptop or something from your DNS server. The option will be grayed out in the VI client. Solution 1. Log onto the ESX server terminal as the root user. 2. Issue the following command, esxcfg-advcfg -s <newname> /Misc/HostName 3. then reboot the server with the following command,...

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ESX 4/5 – Grant Root User SSH Access
Nov17

ESX 4/5 – Grant Root User SSH Access

for ESXi click here KB ID 0000278  Problem ESX is built on Linux – and in the Linux environment, to root user is denied SSH access, there are valid security reasons for this, and you can SSH to the ESX box as a normal user and then issue the “su -” command to switch to root access. However, some of us still want to SSH in as root, here’s how to do it. Solution 1. Create a user on your ESX Server (Ensure the...

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ESX – Shut down from Script/Command
Nov17

ESX – Shut down from Script/Command

KB ID 0000279  Problem I was asked the question last week “How do I shutdown my ESX server remotely from script”. The client had a temperature sensor in their server room and wanted to shutdown their ESX host if it got too hot, all his Windows servers got sent an SNMP trap from the temperature sensor, and that fires off a script to shut down the Windows servers. But this left the ESX host up and running. Solution I drew a...

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VMware ESX Error “cmd addnode failed for primary node: Internal AAM error”
Nov17

VMware ESX Error “cmd addnode failed for primary node: Internal AAM error”

KB ID 0000298  Problem Seen in a Virtual Center HA environment – even after selecting “Reconfigure for HA” on the ESX host. Errors: cmd addnode failed for the primary node:Internal AAM error – agent could not start – Unknown HA error. Cannot complete the configuration of the HA agent on the host – See the task details for additional information. Other HA configuration error.   Solution 1. How...

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Upgrade ESX 3 to version 4.1.0
Nov17

Upgrade ESX 3 to version 4.1.0

to upgrade ESXi to 4.1 Click here KB ID 0000305  Problem I had to upgrade some ESX hosts from ESX 3.5 the other day, as they are a long way away, and version 4.1 is hot off the presses (at time of writing) that’s what I wanted to upgrade them to. Lessons Learned 1. At first I tried with the “Host Update Utility”. 2. But no matter what version I gave it, it gave me this error, Unsupported ESX version: esx-4.0.0...

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ESX Error: TSC: xxxxxxx cp0:0)Init: 461: The Execute Disabled/No Execute CPU feature is not enabled for this machine
Nov17

ESX Error: TSC: xxxxxxx cp0:0)Init: 461: The Execute Disabled/No Execute CPU feature is not enabled for this machine

KB ID 0000306  Problem Seen on ESX installed on HP Proliant DL380 G5, on the normal ESX console screen. Solution 1. Reboot the server and Press F9 to enter the RBSU. 2. Advanced > Processor Options > No-Execute Memory Protection > Enabled.   Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links NA

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Booting ESX VMware Guest Machines from the Network
Nov17

Booting ESX VMware Guest Machines from the Network

KB ID 0000310  Problem I do a lot of deployment testing for things like WDS, Ghost and SCCM. Now my test bed is entirely virtual, so any new technology testing, or proof of concept work is a lot easier. Anything that involves PXE booting the VM’s is not turned on by default though. Solution 1. Either from the VM itself, or from its entry in your VI client “Edit the VM’s Settings”. 2. Options tab > Boot...

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Update VMware ESXi from 4.0 to 4.1
Nov17

Update VMware ESXi from 4.0 to 4.1

for ESX click here KB ID 0000369 Problem You have an ESXi server running 4.0 and you want to update to 4.1 Note: This procedure is carried out on a stand along ESXi 4.0 host, if you have 4.0 ESXi servers managed by Virtual Center you MUST update your Virtual Center to version 4.1 FIRST. If you don’t you cannot connect to the updated 4.1 ESXi host post upgrade, if you try you will see the following error, Error: HA agent disabled...

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Cannot Delete a Virtual Machine(Another task is already in progress)
Nov17

Cannot Delete a Virtual Machine(Another task is already in progress)

KB ID 0000376  Problem When you try and delete a Virtual Machine from ESX or VSphere you see the following error. Error: Another task is already in progress. In addition, if you try and remove the VM from the inventory you will see the following error. Error: Call “VirtualMachine.Unregister” for object “{vm name}” on vCenter Server “{VCenter name}” failed.   Solution In my case the VM in...

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VMware Jumpy /Erratic mouse on Server 2008 R2 Virtual Machine
Nov17

VMware Jumpy /Erratic mouse on Server 2008 R2 Virtual Machine

KB ID 0000377  Problem Seen on Windows Server 2008 R2 running on VMware ESX/ESXi 4.0 and 4.1 Solution Firstly, I’m assuming you are running the latest version of VMware tools on the machine in question, this procedure was carried out with VMware tools version 8.3.2 and cures the problem. 1. On the affected VM Click Start > In the search run box type > devmgmt.msc {enter} 2. Expand “Display adapters” Right click...

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