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Box293-2
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Getting write access to the VI API to allow shutting down of an ESXi server via VI Toolkit

APC Shutdown for 3i

Refering to the link above and specifically the following statement "VMware ESXi 3.5u4 was just released and the internal API seems to have been fixed and exposed VI API will have only read-only access when using the free licensed version of ESXi".

I have been doing some playing with ESXi 3.5u4 and using the VI Toolkit to connect to the 3i host. I have been unable to shutdown the ESXi host as it gives me the error "fault.RestrictedVersion.summary".

I understand the issue (see this link fault.RestrictedVersion.summary).

My question is how do I pay to make this work (what agents do I need to buy).

In my scenario (small customer under 15 users) I have a physcial terminal server and I want to implement SBS on a 3i box. I want to be able to issue a shutdown command to the 3i box from the terminal server using the VI toolkit.

So am I able to purchase an agent / license to enable write access to the API?

My initial thoughts were:

  • I need to buy a VirtualCenter host license for this 3i box.

  • Then it would no longer be free and I could "write" to the API?

  • I assume on the SBS box I wouldn't need to install virtual center, just the licensing service so I had somewhere to point the 3i box to for a license location

  • Or can the VirtualCenter host license be provided as a serial number?

Any other thoughts or suggestions?

I quite like the VI Toolkit to be able to issue the shutdown command, in turn it will shutdown the guest VM for me.

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lamw
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At a minimum you need the Foundation license which does include vCenter. That will give you full r/w access to the VI API, this limited restriction only applies to free version of ESXi as you are aware of.

This KB provides the details regarding the licensing type required for full RCLI access: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100654...

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

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lamw
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At a minimum you need the Foundation license which does include vCenter. That will give you full r/w access to the VI API, this limited restriction only applies to free version of ESXi as you are aware of.

This KB provides the details regarding the licensing type required for full RCLI access: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100654...

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

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Box293-2
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Thanks for the help.

Looks like there is no "cheap" way to shutdown an ESXi host during a power outage that is officially supported.

Sureley this functionality is stopping small businesses from even trying 3i.

I need to make a decision before implementing this for a customer. Am I happy enough that I can shutdown the guest VM (I'll get the terminal server to issue the windows shutdown command) in a power outage and hope this is OK for when the 3i host eventually loses power and turns off dirty.

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lamw
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I think there's still this Management Kit promo for ESXi: http://www.vmware.com/vmwarestore/esxi_management_kit_promo.html

Might want to check that out to see if it's still available, it's suppose to be slightly cheaper. When you're talking about paying for Foundation license's + you're getting more than just VI API r/w access. I agree, there should be a separate license for API access but then again, someone could just write up their own management suite if it was all free Smiley Wink ... though if they kept it open or limited to say only the RCLI utilities, it would make the product that much more awesome!

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

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Dave_Mishchenko
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If you do look at the management kit, I would double check to see if it provides read/write for API commands or just read-only. With the kit (and it should be on promo for $500 until the end of April ) you don't get VI Foundation licenses - just the VI agent.

With ESXi, if your VMs are all shutdown then it's pretty safe for ESXi to have a dirty shutdown. The drive that ESXi runs from is a RAM drive and its nning config is written to disk (or flash drive) every hour.

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