Can't connect via Internet to my ESXi server. Please help

[fastwaypawel]

Hi, I have got ESXi 4.1 server at home. When I try to connect to it via Internet it's not working.

I put ESXi server in front of firewall and I still can't even ping my server.

Any ideas why?

Kind Regards,

Pawel Lenart

[jamesbowling]

What exactly are you trying to connect to? The host through the vSphere Client? The WebAccess portion? Also, is your ESXi host using DHCP from your provider or what? Need more information.

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[fastwaypawel]

Sorry for too short explanation.

Yes. Im trying to connect to ESXi using vSphere client and no luck. I'm trying to even view homepage of ESXi (via IE) and nothing. My ESXi have got static IP address but DHCP is switched on on vswitch (with range 1-112) (DHCP is also switched on on router (100 - 250)).

[jamesbowling]

Do you have any ports forwarded on your firewall to the ESXi host? And you are trying to connect to this from outside of your home network correct?

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[fastwaypawel]

Yes, I tried to run it after I forwarded ports 80 & 443. It didn't work (or even ping). I disabled my router firewall (no luck) and I even put it in front of my firewall and still no luck. I can confirm that I was able to ping other computer when I put them in front of firewall.

[jamesbowling]

Sounds like your ISP is filtering ports then. I would find out from them if they are. The other thing you could do is setup port forwarding on a high port number that forwards to those ports on your host behind your firewall. Also, you could install a VM and put the vSphere Client on it and RDP into that VM to manage the host. Most of the time 3389 is not blocked by ISPs.

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[fastwaypawel]

I'm sure ISP is not blocking port 80 because I'm able to access my Web Based interface on External HDD drive. So I should at least be able to see web based interface of ESXi but I can't see it.

[golddiggie]

As per KB article 1023990

"VMware ESXi does not support web access at this time."

I would suggest setting up either another physical box, or a VM, with the vSphere Client installed, and the RDP service enabled (best if you also have set up and AD DC for domain accounts) and connect via that. You can forward the port for RDP through your router, when you need to connect to the home ESXi server, and administrate it, when not on the LAN...

I do this in my home lab, using the dyndns.com services to ensure that I don't need to remember my public IP address (since it can change)...

VMware VCP4

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[fastwaypawel]

Thank very much for your reply but I'm already using this method to connect to my ESXi server.

I'm using dyndns as well and everything is working fine except connection to ESXi.

I still can't connect directly (this is what I need to do).

[J1mbo · Accepted solution]

Sit esxi behind your router firewall, forward 443 to esxi management IP, and ensure the management network vmkernel has the routers internal IP as its default gateway.

http://blog.peacon.co.uk

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