Cloning VMware ESX

[cerosunos]

Hi all,

I`m affraid, because, one of my customers has bought 60 ESX 3.01... so we need to install 60 ESX + upgrade patch of this 60 ESX.... I think the time to do that goes out of the period time.

We are thinking some solutions.

My question is?? There is any solution to do that more quickly??

Can we clone the disk?? The ESX are going to be installed over HP Blade C-Class so we have a smart array in each Blade. So can we clone the disk, one peer one?

I know the problem coul be the IPs so we can change it manually later, the same with the host name /etc/hosts, /etc/sysconfig/network

But, the question is... there is any other file in an ESX wich needs to be changed if we clone the operating system??

Well anithing you can tell us, will help a lot. So thank in advice.

[VMKR9]

You can use Ghost, you will have to remove any vmfs partitions as ghost will not recognise it. Change the files you mentioned plus /etc/vmware/esx.conf

[cerosunos]

Well in this other post http://www.vmware.com/community/message.jspa?messageID=697801#697801 tells my that is not posible to clone the ESXs, or is not recomended.

I would prefeer your option, for my 60 ESXs, but have you tried it before??

Another question. Is very very borring, patching an ESX, with more than 20 patches reported in the VMware site. Do you know another method to do it over 60 servers?

Thanks a lot... for your reply.

[chrystel]

Try VMTSPatchManager (http://www.vmts.com)

It's working with VirtualCenter as well.

[DonalB]

Just beat me to it!

there are also some other scripts that are esx server based which chieve the same thing.

Cheers

DB

[Texiwill]

Hello,

YOu can create a kickstart script that installs the ESX servers, and a %post section that would configure and apply all patches to the servers without human intervention.

Very nice way to go.

Best regards,

Edward

[twindude]

the simple way is!!

I have imaged a complete ESX system successfully and put it back up on a different piece of hardware with no problems!

This is great news to us so that we can standardize on the builds and allow us to put ESX up easier and faster!

However; this was done with Acronis TrueImage Server v9.1, which support Linux OS.

Ghost, complained and failed to do this (RED SCREENED)! Even with no vfms partion....

How to:

I booted off of the Acronis Boot Media and made an image then deployed is with the Boot Media CD.

Time was: Total of 5 minutes to "image and deploy"

[Texiwill]

Hello,

However, you were recreating an exact ESX server, if you were to use this method to clone 60 hosts, you would loose uniqueness that is required for ESX to register and work properly.

If you can find a way to reinstate uniqueness for the server then you have a great cloning solution.

This creates a very nice DR for a single host not a way to create 60 hosts from a clone.

Best regards,

Edward