VCAP-DCV :: Configuring ESXi to use central syslog server on CentOS 7

Prepare the CentOS 7 as a syslog server.

0.) SSH to CentOS 7 server and login as a root user.

1.) Open port 514 on CentOS 7.(We will use udp for syslog)

# firewall-cmd --add-port=514/udp
# firewall-cmd --add-port=514/udp --permanent

2.) Edit /etc/rsyslog.conf uncommenting following 2 lines:

# vim /etc/rsyslog.conf

# Provides UDP syslog reception
$ModLoad imudp
$UDPServerRun 514

3.) Restart rsyslogd service

# systemctl restart rsyslogd

4.) SSH to ESXi server with root credentials

5.) Check if syslog is enabled in firewall ruleset

# esxcli network firewall ruleset list | grep syslog

syslog                      false

6.) If syslog is disabled run:

# esxcli network firewall ruleset set --ruleset-id=syslog --enabled=true

# esxcli network firewall refresh

# esxcli network firewall ruleset list | grep syslog
syslog                      true

7.) Configure the central syslog server IP address

# esxcli system syslog config set --loghost='udp://172.30.0.40:514'
esxcli system syslog reload

8.) Send the message to the vmkernel log to check if it received by central syslog server:

# esxcli system syslog mark -s "VMware LOG !!"

9.) On CentOS 7 server you can check message log if the message was received.

# tailf /var/log/message

10.) To troubleshoot potential isssue you can use tcpdump tool

On ESXi run : # tcpdump-uw -vv -i vmk0 dst 172.30.0.40

On CentOS 7 run : # tcpdump -n -i eno33557248 port 514

You can monitor if the messages are sent and received.

The end.

VCAP-DCV :: Scratch partition configuration CLI

This procedure describe how to configure the Scratch partition using command line. This is fast and efficient - you need just login via SSH to your ESXi host.

1.) Login over SSH to ESXi host using e.g. Putty client or your terminal

2.) List your datastores 

# ls -l /vmfs/volumes/
total 3853
drwxr-xr-x    2 root     root             2 Jan 25 14:11 261b69b6-ffae9bb2
drwxr-xr-x    1 root     root             8 Jan  1  1970 5702fb79-60862c63-10b0-00505686d3de
drwxr-xr-t    1 root     root          2240 Feb  3 22:00 586410df-c23471a2-3d4a-0050568d2637
drwxr-xr-t    1 root     root          2240 Jan 28 14:29 586ac78b-5cf531fa-ca96-0050568d14b3
drwxr-xr-t    1 root     root          1680 Jan 30 21:35 588fb028-72e8890a-70ec-0050568d14b3
drwxr-xr-x    1 root     root             8 Jan  1  1970 9f691e7f-5aef34de-7c69-e495051b6cfd
lrwxr-xr-x    1 root     root            35 Mar  5 12:18 Datastore -> 588fb028-72e8890a-70ec-0050568d14b3
lrwxr-xr-x    1 root     root            17 Mar  5 12:18 NFS1 -> 261b69b6-ffae9bb2
lrwxr-xr-x    1 root     root            17 Mar  5 12:18 NFS2 -> a0e23f58-ef2c88ee
lrwxr-xr-x    1 root     root            17 Mar  5 12:18 NFS3 -> f4efbfa1-5ca3209a
drwxr-xr-x    4 root     root             9 Jan 26 14:07 a0e23f58-ef2c88ee
drwxr-xr-x    1 root     root             8 Jan  1  1970 bba0137d-45163325-50f6-9fce85fbd663
drwxr-xr-x    8 root     root            10 Jan 30 20:40 f4efbfa1-5ca3209a
lrwxr-xr-x    1 root     root            35 Mar  5 12:18 vmfs_lun01 -> 586410df-c23471a2-3d4a-0050568d2637
lrwxr-xr-x    1 root     root            35 Mar  5 12:18 vmfs_lun02 -> 586ac78b-5cf531fa-ca96-0050568d14b3
drwxr-xr-x    1 root     root           512 Mar  5 12:18 vsan:52825487009e5756-95ec4b21262a513d

lrwxr-xr-x    1 root     root            38 Mar  5 12:18 vsanDatastore -> vsan:52825487009e5756-95ec4b21262a513d

3.) We want to set Scratch partition on vmfs_lun01

# ls -la /vmfs/volumes/vmfs_lun01
lrwxr-xr-x    1 root     root            35 Mar  5 12:22 /vmfs/volumes/vmfs_lun01 -> 586410df-c23471a2-3d4a-0050568d2637

4.) We need to create the .locker directory on the vmfs_lun01

# mkdir /vmfs/volumes/vmfs_lun01/.locker-$(hostname)

5.) Check if the directory was created:

# ls -lad /vmfs/volumes/vmfs_lun01/.locker*
drwxr-xr-x    1 root     root           280 Mar  5 12:28 /vmfs/volumes/vmfs_lun01/.locker-vesxi60-2

6.) Check the current Scratch Partition settings (in this case there is no Scratch partition configured)

[root@vesxi60-2:~] vim-cmd hostsvc/advopt/view ScratchConfig.ConfiguredScratchLocation
(vim.option.OptionValue) [
   (vim.option.OptionValue) {
      key = "ScratchConfig.ConfiguredScratchLocation",
      value = ""
   }
]

7.) Set the new Scratch partition on vmfs_lun01

# /bin/vim-cmd hostsvc/advopt/update ScratchConfig.ConfiguredScratchLocation string /vmfs/volumes/vmfs_lun01/.locker-vesxi60-2

# vim-cmd hostsvc/advopt/view ScratchConfig
(vim.option.OptionValue) [
   (vim.option.OptionValue) {
      key = "ScratchConfig.ConfiguredScratchLocation",
      value = "/vmfs/volumes/586410df-c23471a2-3d4a-0050568d2637/.locker-vesxi60-2"
   }
]

8.) Put host into Maintenance Mode and Reboot

# esxcli system maintenanceMode get

Disabled

# esxcli system maintenanceMode set -e 1

# esxcli system shutdown reboot -r "Scratch partition set"

More methods to set scratch partition you can find in VMware KB :

http:/kb.vmware.com/kb/1033696

How to mount ISO/IMG from iDRAC or CIMC to Virtual Machine

As a sysadmin sometimes you are in situation to mount some img or iso file to VM e.g. to grab the driver or to check what is in the img file and you have to use management network and iDRAC or CIMC. 

WARNING: This is not the most efficient way to e.g. install OS inside VM but in some corner scenarios it could be useful.

Please find the step-by-step procedure how to mount the iDRAC or CIMC to VM. 

Cisco C-Series servers:

1.) Activate the Virtual Device:

2.) Virtual Device activated:

3.)Choose the image file to mount over CIMC KVM console:

4.) Press Map Device button:

5.) The image is mounted:

6.) In VM choose from context menu Edit Settings.. -> Hardware tab -> Add button -> SCSI Device -> Next

7.) In SCSi Device choose CD/DVD Cisco -> Next

8.) Click Finish

9.) In hardware tab of VM we see new SCSI Device - our ISO from CIMC -> Click OK

10.) In Windows VM we see that the ISO is mounted and available

Dell Rack servers with iDRAC:

1.) Connect Virtual Media :

2.)Map CD/DVD :

3.) Choose image to mount and Map Device

4.) Click Map Device

5.) In VM choose from context menu Edit Settings.. -> Hardware tab -> Add button -> SCSI Device -> Next

6.) Choose CD/DVD iDRAC

7.) Click Finish

8.) The new device will appear in Hardware tab

9.) Inside VM GuestOS you can see that image is available:

The end...