Change default options of a NEW VM in ESXI 5.1

[mauser_]

Hello,

i am looking for a solution to change the "default" options of a new VM created in ESXI 5.1

I want to have settings like "cpu/Memory HOT-add" default on Enabled instead of Disabled.

Maybe there are more options to change for a new vm.

Anybody who have an option to change the "default" options for new vms?

Thx

[a_p_]

I'm not aware of an option to change the defaults. What you could do is to create templates with the modified settings and use them for new VMs.

André

[mauser_]

Hi Andre,

in templates are settings applied like OS etc.

I want change the settings that are not OS-specific but are global for ALL new vms.

[Rubeck · Accepted solution]

You can edit the vSphere host file /etc/vmware/config and add the lines mem.hotadd = "TRUE" and vcpu.hotadd = "TRUE".
The settings will then be applied to any VM on that host when VMs are powered on....

I've just tried this on an ESXi 5.1 host and it seems to work just fine....

/Rubeck

[mauser_]

Hi Rubeck,

thx for the answer.

This host-file is the ESXI-hostfile and not a file at Vcenter?

So this need the be done on every host, or can this als be done on vcenter, so this will be applied to every host connected to the specified vcenter?

Thx

[Rubeck]

Ohh... Sorry. Yes, this file resides locally on each ESXi host, and you then have to edit all hosts..  (not aware of any way to apply it to all hosts through vCenter)

Be aware that the setting will be applied to all VMs on that host (if the selected guest OS supports it)... Also take a note of doing this (if doing it) as this setting might be overwritten when you apply patches etc.

/Rubeck

[mauser_]

Thx for the anwer!

My config file is now:

libdir = "/usr/lib/vmware"

authd.proxy.vim = "vmware-hostd:hostd-vmdb"

authd.proxy.nfc = "vmware-hostd:ha-nfc"

authd.proxy.nfcssl = "vmware-hostd:ha-nfcssl"

authd.proxy.vpxa-nfcssl = "vmware-vpxa:vpxa-nfcssl"

authd.proxy.vpxa-nfc = "vmware-vpxa:vpxa-nfc"

authd.fullpath = "/sbin/authd"

authd.soapServer = "TRUE"

vmauthd.server.alwaysProxy = "TRUE"

mem.hotadd = "TRUE"

vcpu.hotadd = "TRUE"

When i create a new VM on this HOST and check the settings of Memory/CPU (see attachment).

Do i need to restart some services ?

edit: I had to put the VM on!

After this it`s working!

Thx!

Is there a list available with other preconfigure settings?

[Rubeck]

The setting will be applied when the VM is powered on....  Power it on and check the settings again..  

[a_p_]

in templates are settings applied like OS etc.

I want change the settings that are not OS-specific but are global for ALL new vms.

Yes, I understand this. What I suggest is to create a new VM (without installing the OS), edit the VM's settings, then convert this VM to a template and use this template to create/provision new VMs.

André.

[mauser_]

Hi Rubeck,

Is there a list available with other preconfigure settings?

[Rubeck]

Not that I'm aware of at the moment.... But start out with applying your settings to a VM using the vSphere client (again power it on afterwards), and see what's added/removed/changed within the .vmx file of this VMs and add this to the /etc/vmware/config file... but you might be going down an unsupported route doing this..

/Rubeck

[mauser_]

Thx!