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2,677 Views 9 Replies Last post: Mar 6, 2008 11:04 AM by falsehope

Stuarty1874

90 posts since
Nov 13, 2007

Currently Being Moderated

Jan 17, 2008 6:21 AM

Increase Service Console Memory via Kickstart Script

Folks, I've tried to use the following in my %POST% section of my Kickstart scripted install but it kills my host. I'm trying to increase the Service Console RAM to 800MB.

This section configures Service Console Memory to 800MB

mv -f /etc/vmware/esx.conf /tmp/esx.conf.bak

sed -e 's/boot\/memsize = \"272\"/boot\/mesize = \"800\"/g' /tmp/esx.conf.bak >> /etc/vmware/esx.conf

mv -f /boot/grub/grub.conf /tmp/grub.conf.bak

sed -e 's/uppermem 277504/uppermem 523264/g' -e 's/mem=272M/mem=800M/g' /tmp/grub.conf.bak >> /boot/grub/grub.conf

I get the attached error on reboot....

Any ideas?

Attachments:

ESX.png (19.4 K)

Tags: boot, install, installation

sbeaver

7,830 posts since
Nov 1, 2004

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1. Jan 17, 2008 6:41 AM

in response to: Stuarty1874

Re: Increase Service Console Memory via Kickstart Script

Try this

mv -f /etc/vmware/esx.conf /tmp/esx.conf.bak

sed -e 's/boot\/memsize = \"272\"/boot\/mesize = \"800\"/g' /tmp/esx.conf.bak >> /etc/vmware/esx.conf

mv -f /boot/grub/grub.conf /tmp/grub.conf.bak

sed -e 's/uppermem 277504/uppermem 818176/g' -e 's/mem=272M/mem=800M/g' /tmp/grub.conf.bak >> /boot/grub/grub.conf

uppermem is (RAM * 1024) - 1024 = uppermem

(800*1024)-1024=818176

Steve Beaver

VMware Communities User Moderator

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Steve Beaver VMware Communities User Moderator VMware vExpert 2009, 2010 and 2011 ==== Co-Author of "VMware ESX Essentials in the Virtual Data Center" (ISBN:1420070274) from Auerbach Come check out my blog: [www.virtualizationpractice.com/blog|http://www.virtualizationpractice.com/blog/] Come follow me on twitter http://www.twitter.com/sbeaver **Virtualization is a journey, not a project.**

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Stuarty1874

90 posts since
Nov 13, 2007

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2. Jan 17, 2008 7:00 AM

in response to: sbeaver

Re: Increase Service Console Memory via Kickstart Script

Wow. That was quick. I'll retest and get back to you.

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Schorschi

823 posts since
Jul 6, 2005

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3. Jan 17, 2008 7:06 PM

in response to: Stuarty1874

Re: Increase Service Console Memory via Kickstart Script

Sbeaver,

VMware recommends running esxcfg-boot as well. I don't have my snippet of code handy will post it tomorrow, but I just wanted to point this out.

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Stuarty1874

90 posts since
Nov 13, 2007

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4. Jan 18, 2008 4:38 AM

in response to: Schorschi

Re: Increase Service Console Memory via Kickstart Script

When I run this from the Service Console it works ok, but when I add it to my script it fails. I've attached a copy of my script. Any idea why this might be happening?

Attachments:

forum.cfg (4.2 K)

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Schorschi

823 posts since
Jul 6, 2005

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5. Jan 18, 2008 6:27 AM

in response to: Stuarty1874

Re: Increase Service Console Memory via Kickstart Script

Because the method VMware gave us, as the official method per VMware, and it uses esxcfg-boot, which VMware also says should not be called from kickstart, as officially no esxcfg commands should be called from kickstart (cough, some are safe but not all), we do all our customization via custom script/service we wrote, which is invoked on first reboot after OEM load.

Here are the steps VMware explicitly gave us...

sed -i 's/memSize = \"272\"/memSize = \"800\"/g' /etc/vmware/esx.conf

esxcfg-boot -g

esxcfg-boot -b

It is similar to what sbeaver noted, but this must be done outside of %post

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Byron_Zhao

131 posts since
Nov 7, 2006

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6. Jan 18, 2008 1:47 PM

in response to: Schorschi

Re: Increase Service Console Memory via Kickstart Script

Just found out this in VC 2.5. VC -> select host->Configuration->Memory->Properties.

Didn't notice if it is in VC 2.0.1.

-BZ

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Schorschi

823 posts since
Jul 6, 2005

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7. Jan 20, 2008 8:54 AM

in response to: Byron_Zhao

Re: Increase Service Console Memory via Kickstart Script

This begs the question on when the RCLI (Preferred in PowerShell set of course) will do this. If the RCLI does not do this or is not scheduled to do it in GA release, it definitely should. Also, I found what I believe is a bad bug in VC 2.5 or in 3i. See attached screen print. Doing this trick with 3i, I have server showing a NEGATIVE value for memory setting!

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Schorschi

823 posts since
Jul 6, 2005

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8. Jan 20, 2008 9:00 AM

in response to: Byron_Zhao

Re: Increase Service Console Memory via Kickstart Script

Begs the question, will this trick work in RCLI, if not if definitely should. In fact, VMwware should add this to the PowerShell bundle. Also, if you attempt this on 3i, it does not work? At least not on my 3i servers. On 3i, it displays a NEGATIVE value, and the properties interface crashes. Hey, VMware? Bug?

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