The problem: Automate loading of multiple iso image "product" onto a virtual machine.
Searching I've found that changing the iso image for a cdrom virtual drive in a virtual machine seems to be a common problem, but seldom is there any solution.
I've found references to vmware-cmd disconnectdevice/connectdevice. I've also found "legacy" script APIs that can essentially perform the same thing. However, seems this isn't available for vmware server 2 (only ESX and GSX server...). I've found that vmrun is replacement for vmware-cmd, with the exception that there are some things vmware-cmd could do that doesn't appear as an option in any documentation I can find with vmrun. The same goes for the VIX APIs. Again nothing found that helps with the connection issue.
I've already figured out how to use the writeVariable option with vmrun to modify the iso pointed to for the virtual cdrom. The only step missing in automation is the automatic re-connecting of the virtual cdrom. If I manually start a console and click on the cdrom icon in the bottom and select connect, everything works. Problem is, I want to have that accomplished programatically and prefereably not through some gui automator.
Is this just a limitation of vmware server 2 product? i.e. I need to get ESX instead? I guess an alternative is to make a giant iso so no switching is required, but that just postpones the problem. Is installation of software via iso images just so unpopular on linux that its not a frequent enough problem to address? Maybe I've just been searching too long and developed "tunnel vision". Any help/advice anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.
vmware server 2.01 on SLES 10 SP2 with guest also containing SLES 10 SP2 on x86-64 hardware.
