Total newbie to VMware. Downloaded and installed VMware ESXi 4.1.0. There weren't any options during the install. When finished I went in via F2 and gave it an IP address and DNS servers and a root password. I installed the vSphere client to connect to the the server and that seems to work fine. I was never able to give it a hostname much less add it to my Windows Active Directory so at this point the name seems to still be localhost.
I then tried to add it as a host to MS VMM 2008 R2. Under 'Hosts', I now have ha-datacenter and 'localhost' is listed under that with no virtual machines (which is correct. The status is listed as 'OK (Limited)' rather than just 'OK' which means while it is there and manageable some tools/options are not available to me. fyi, I added it as trusted i.e. not needing certs to be shared.
I assume this is a fairly common step, adding to VMM 2008. Can anyone help point me in the right direction? Seems wrong as well that the ESXi installation is still called localhost and I can't add it to my domain; and that i need to use root for everything. I have read some docs in MS technet but felt I was spinning my wheels.
Many thanks in advance,
Andy
This link should be helpful : http://www.virtualizetips.com/2010/07/configure-vmware-esxi-4-1-for-active-directory-integration/
Also, I am not a big VMM fan, I have seen some remanants of VMM on VMs that are created via VMM versus creating them in vCenter.. just FYI. Not sure if you plan to use vCenter as well.. Once thing u can try is download the trial vCenter, install it in a VM on the ESXi host and add the vCenter to VMM and see if that gives you more options to play with,... but personally I wouldnt use VMM to manage vSphere..
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Also, when u hit F2, there should also be an option for you to assign the host name FQDN shortname etc... hope that helps..
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This should also assit you in changing hostname etc... Good luck
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Just so that you get a better idea of vitualization from VMware's perspective I would have a look at the getting started webcasts. http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-14673
Ah, of course, I see it now. Thanks—just changed the name and am reading through the blogpost you mentioned initially for adding to Active Directory.
Have you had any luck managing the host with VMM (and noting your feelings about VMM)? It’s not really an option for me as we are an MS shop and all-in with VMM.
Glad u found it.
I have used VMM once before and only did it for a few days in the lab before I got annoyed.. Plus they called vMotion live migartion and other MS terminologies.. but in all seriousness I found myself logging into vCenter more often than expected.. SO I figured to put VMM to sleep.. vCenter does a pretty good job and I think that should be leverage.. VMMcreated its own portgorups.. bottom line is that I hated it.. Take a look at this link to see what it takes to clean up after u decide not to use VMM anymore.. keep in mind these are just a few things.. but if u plan on usinf VMM only then I guess u dont have any other option...
http://www.vcritical.com/2009/01/clean-up-vcenter-with-powershell-after-scvmm-leaves/
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Bilal, yep, I have now given my installation a hostname and added it to Active Directory.
There seemed to be some disagreement in the comments at the end of the link you posted. I added the ESX Admin group in AD, and then gave my domain account admin permissions on the host and I was able to login with the username@domain.com<mailto:username@domain.com> syntax via the vSphere client. Haven’t figured out how to login directly to the ESX server itself yet without using the client but that login did work.
Still having issues within VMM though; the MS docs don’t seem to be getting me where I need to go—likely user error I suppose.
Yeah, the docs are a lil vauge and as I mentioned my expereince with VMM and vsphere wasn't all that great.
What do u mean by loging into the host directly? Do you mean sshing into the host? You can also use a vMA aapliance to manage your host but you really make a connection to vMA that makes a connection to your host. SSH is not enabled in ESXi bu default, but you can enable that.. Hopefully you are enjoying ESXi.
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