Tag Archives: security profile

ESX4 “Web Access” 503 Service Unavailable Error

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KB ID 0000150 

Problem

If you connect to an ESX4 Server and attempt to “Log onto Web Access” you get a 503 Service Unavailable error.

This is because unlike EXS3 the web console is disabled, well not strictly true the service is usually running but the firewall (on the ESX server) is blocking it.

 

Solution

1. Log into the ESX Host with the VI Client software. (Note: If you don’t have the VI client you would normally be stuck in a Catch 22). However you can log onto the ESX Console as root and issue the following command;

[box] service vmware-webAccess start [/box]

2. Select the ESX Host > Configuration > Security Profile > Properties > Locate vSphere Web Access > Tick it.

3. Then click Options Select Start and Stop with the host > Restart.

Note: Post ESX host reboot you may see 503 Service Unavailable Errors for a few minutes go and have a cup of coffee by the time you come back it will be up.

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

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vSphere – Adding a Serial Port to a VM

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KB ID 0001039 

Problem

I wanted to perform command line access to a virtual firewall on my home ESXi server, (a Juniper Firefly vSRX) via a console session. To do that I needed to add a serial port to that VM.

Solution

1. From Within the VI client > Select the ESXi Host > Configuration > Security Profile > Firewall Section > Properties.

2. Locate and enable ‘VM serial port connected over network’ > OK.

3. From the actual VM‘s properties, (right click > Edit settings) > Add > Serial Port > Next.

4. Connect via Network > Next.

5. Select ‘Server (VM listens for connection)’ > In Port URI enter telnet://{IP-of the ESX-Server}:2001 > Next.

Note: That’s the IP of the ESX server NOT the VM, here I’m using port 2001, but you can use 23 (standard telnet), or a random port above 1024.

6. Review the settings > Finish.

7. Now on a machine that has network connectivity to the ESX server > launch a telnet session to the VM (remember to use port 2001 as telnet defaults to 23!).

Here I’m using PuTTY but you can run ‘telnet {ip-address} {port}’ from a Windows client, (providing you have telnet enabled).

8. I’m in and working.

 

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

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