Run DHCP in VMware ESxi

[Hirenp09]

Hi All,

I am working on a small project for a small company. I have asked them to order a Dell server which compatible with VMware ESX. The server is 1 * quad core with 2.5GHz, 4GB RAM and 2* SCSI 500GB hard disk (RAID1).

I want to run DC, DHCP and DNS and Terminal server in virtual environment. They will have one VM with DC, DNS, DHCP and AD and 2nd VM will be a terminal server. The DC server will also act as file and print server.

Note: They have standalone clients which get an IP address from a router. It is about 5 users.

Is this possible? Will ESXi going to get an IP address from DHCP server?

Thanks

[AntonVZhbankov]

ESXi will get its address from DHCP, but IMHO it's a bad idea.

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MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[Hirenp09]

Thanks for your reply.

I was thinking not to have DHCP and use router as a dhcp.

Any suggestions would be grateful?

Regards

[Borja_Mari]

Hi,

it's a best practice to have esxi with static assigned IP, not with (dynamic) dhcp IP.

Regards/Saludos,

Pablo

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Virtually noob blog

[AntonVZhbankov]

DHCP will work fine any way, either VM with DHCP or from router. Just don't use it for ESXi.

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MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[Hirenp09]

Sorry guys that you misunderstood my message. i will off course have static IP address for ESXi box. i was just wondering that is it supported when you have single DC, DNS, DHCP and AD running in ESX.

[AntonVZhbankov]

Without any doubts. Why not?

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MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[bsti · Accepted solution]

There's no reason you can't run a Domain controller as a VM on your ESX Server. We have three now running as VMs. There's also no reason your DC can't be a DNS, AD, DHCP, etc.. server.

It's probably not the greatest of ideas for performance reasons to lump them all on one physical or virtual machine, but it's doable. Also, it's not good to put all your eggs in one basket for DR and failover reasons either. If that one machine fails, your lose all of that funcionality in one fell swoop. These principles apply to physical or virtual machines though.

Hope that helps.

[jbruelasdgo]

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-11525

Jose B Ruelas

[RParker]

> ESXi will get its address from DHCP, but IMHO it's a bad idea.

Why? What is the difference between DHCP and RESERVING the IP and MANUALLY entering the IP on ESX?

I will tell you, why it's a GREAT idea to use DHCP, for one management. I have 30 servers. I am not going to login to 30 servers, set the IP, and reserve the DNS for each one of them. Then What if we change IP segments? I can go into DHCP, change the scope for the servers from one place, centrally managed, refresh the IP and voila, 30 servers ALL get new IP.

If the DNS changes happen, well I have to AGAIN login to each of the 30 servers, manually update the hosts file, just to change a DNS.

No thanks. I am using DHCP. STATIC is an archaic way of doing things, and DHCP has improved immensely since they started with STATICs with DOS. Its time to quit doing things just for tradition. I will find MORE ways of making DHCP work than you can find arguments against, I will guarantee you that.

And this tired excuse that what if DHCP server goes down, What the ESX loses contact, if the DHCP is maintained just like any other server, you should have no problem. If you are worried about your DHCP server going down you got other issues rather than worrying about changing IP. And if the ESX loses contact, a lot of good and IP is going to do you, static or not.

I see NO problem using DHCP, considering we have used it for over 3 years, we limit management of DHCP servers, and I can manage the vkernel DHCP also on the same scope.. no MANUAL updates. I don't know about, you but I have better things to do with my time to spend my time playing with putty all day..

[Hirenp09]

Thanks to all of you for your great input. This really answers my question and clear doubts.

Have a good day

[AntonVZhbankov]

If you consider any comment as helpful - please award points

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MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[Thegr8Kenobi]

Seriously looking at using DHCP for my ESX environment. I am planning a brownfield implementation and hate the idea of going in manually to set all the networking on ESX. Planning to use Auto deploy as well. Thanks for the write up. It's given me more confidence to try this out.

Thanks