VMware Communities: a little guidance please ...

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8 Replies Last post: Nov 10, 2009 1:07 PM by Texiwill Branched to a new thread.

a little guidance please posted: Nov 6, 2009 6:02 AM

jjj0923

4 posts since
Nov 6, 2009

I'm new to virtualization and would like to start out with free products if possible so perhaps you folks can tell me what I need.

I will comments that the plethora of products in a little intimidating right now, but I'm sure there a simple solution for me.

I have 5 old compaq proliants 1850's each with dual 550 MPH cpu and about 60 gb of disk space running on Windows 2000 Server running sql server 7databases, IIS and one running exchange 5.5

I would like to migrate all of them over to a DL380G4 with 300 GB of space and 8 GB of ram.

I downloaded and installed ESX Server 3i after reading what it's supposed to do, but is just seems like a tool to get you to buy their other products and doesnt really do anything at all.

What I wnat to do is to install 5 virtual machine on this server each with about 1 GB ram and about 50 gb each and then use the VMware Migration tool to migrate these servers over to their virtual replacements.

If this all goes well, I want to bring up another DL380G4 box to server as a hot spare.

Should I nuke the ESX software off the server and install linux and multiple free copies of VMware server?

Cost is a major concern because we are a small company

what do you folks recommend?

thanks in advance.

Jeff

Re: a little guidance please

1. Nov 6, 2009 6:20 AM

in response to: jjj0923

AWo

3,658 posts since
Nov 27, 2003

Welcome to the forums!

IMHO,

jjj0923 schrieb:
I downloaded and installed ESX Server 3i after reading what it's supposed to do, but is just seems like a tool to get you to buy their other products and doesnt really do anything at all.

Hmmm, I don't agree with that. ESXi (why don't you use 4?) does nearly all which the full version also does. It lacks some comfortable features, but therefore it is free.

What I wnat to do is to install 5 virtual machine on this server each with about 1 GB ram and about 50 gb each and then use the VMware Migration tool to migrate these servers over to their virtual replacements.

Should I nuke the ESX software off the server and install linux and multiple free copies of VMware server?

If you plan to seriously use virtualization, start with ESXi as this is very close to what you get with the full version. Up to a certain number of virtualization hosts you'll better be off with the full version. That makes live easier.
Regardless if you stay with ESXi or ESX you should purchase vCenter to get things managed.

AWo
VCP / VMware vEXPERT 2009
[:o]===[o:]
=Due to lack of employees, human beings work here. - Treat them carefully, they are rare.=

Re: a little guidance please

2. Nov 6, 2009 6:43 AM

in response to: AWo

jjj0923

4 posts since
Nov 6, 2009

thanks for your answers, but how do I install vmware on the box that's running esx (I used 3 because they say 4 is strictly for 64 bit OS's)

esx has taken over the box and I don't know to install vmware on it now.

thanks

Re: a little guidance please

3. Nov 6, 2009 7:09 AM

in response to: jjj0923

AWo

3,658 posts since
Nov 27, 2003

jjj0923 schrieb:
thanks for your answers, but how do I install vmware on the box that's running esx (I used 3 because they say 4 is strictly for 64 bit OS's)

It's true that ESX needs a64 bit host, but it can run 32 bit guests.

esx has taken over the box and I don't know to install vmware on it now.

Hmm, so ESXi is installed? Do you mean a virtual guest by using the term "vmware"?

AWo
VCP / VMware vEXPERT 2009
[:o]===[o:]
=Due to lack of employees, human beings work here. - Treat them carefully, they are rare.=

Re: a little guidance please

4. Nov 6, 2009 7:14 AM

in response to: AWo

jjj0923

4 posts since
Nov 6, 2009

I'm not sure what a virtual guest is, but I do know that a virtual machine is and I want to install 5 virtual machines on the same box that's running esx

what do I need to download?

It looks like the vmware downloads are for either linux or windoze and this box is now botting up with esx?

I hope my explanation helps and thank you for you help - it is appreciated.

Re: a little guidance please

5. Nov 6, 2009 7:15 AM

in response to: jjj0923

RDPetruska

15,877 posts since
Jan 11, 2005

jjj0923 wrote:
thanks for your answers, but how do I install vmware on the box that's running esx (I used 3 because they say 4 is strictly for 64 bit OS's)

esx has taken over the box and I don't know to install vmware on it now.

thanks
If you've installed ESXi on the physical host PC and restarted it, then "vmware" IS installed on it. You need to access the ESXi Server box from another computer on the network to manage it. Point your web browser to the IP address of that host, and login. You will be able to download the VI Client from the server and install it on that 2nd PC.

Re: a little guidance please

6. Nov 6, 2009 7:18 AM

in response to: jjj0923

Troy Clavell

6,278 posts since
Oct 12, 2007

you need to manage your ESX(i) box with the client. You can download the client by pointing your favorite web browser to the IP or FQDN of your ESX(i) host. Download the client, install it, connect to your host and there you will be able to create VMs

Re: a little guidance please

7. Nov 6, 2009 7:20 AM

in response to: jjj0923

AWo

3,658 posts since
Nov 27, 2003

jjj0923 schrieb:
I'm not sure what a virtual guest is, but I do know that a virtual machine is and I want to install 5 virtual machines on the same box that's running esx

The term guest is used here for the virtual machine. The machine where ESX runs is referred to as the "host".

Read this on how to get guests running: http://pubs.vmware.com/vi3i_e35u2/admin/BSA_Creating_VMs.14.1.html

AWo
VCP / VMware vEXPERT 2009
[:o]===[o:]
=Due to lack of employees, human beings work here. - Treat them carefully, they are rare.=

Re: a little guidance please

8. Nov 10, 2009 1:07 PM

in response to: AWo

Texiwill

10,213 posts since
Jan 13, 2004

Hello,

If you use ESXi or ESX, Xen or Hyper-V you will need to also use a Management Workstation. For ESXi 3, This workstation usually running Windows would run the Virtual Infrastructure Client which would then connect to the ESXi host so that you can manage the host, import VMs, etc. Without this management workstation you cannot do much.

Best regards,
Edward L. Haletky VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009
Virtualization Practice Analyst
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