A. Mikkelsen

For all us VMware fan boys/girls this toolbar is a must…

Download it from vmwaresupport.toolbar.fm

Yesterday we released version 49 of the ESXHealthScript.

Kenneth Mazie. (kcmazie aka. kcmjr) has done a huge job in updating and adding new features to the script.

• Added automatic detection for ESX 3 or ESX 4
• Added corrections for changes with ESX4
• Added Cisco CDP info listing (from user Carson)
• Added corrections to v4 tomcat server

To read more about the ESXHealthScript please visit the project web site.
https://sourceforge.net/projects/esxhealthscript/

If you are using the script, and have ideas for new features/functions, please let us know on the projects website or even better post the needed code

vLogView, helps you view and search all LOG files from each of your ESX hosts from a single application.

For more info and the latest download, visit http://xtravirt.com/xd10132

Below solution is on you own risk.

1. Download the Bios/Embedded Controller from IBM/Lenovo (Diskette version)
2. Rename the file UPDTFLSH.EXE to UPDTFLSH.EXE.OLD
3. Create a copy of QKFLASH:EXE and rename it to UPDTFLSH.EXE
4. Boot the labtop from the diskette
5. Follow normal procedure for updating BIOS/Embedded Controller
6. DON’T TURN OFF THE PC OR REMOVE POWER
7. When the BIOS/Embedded Controller is updated the PC will trun off
8. Poweron  and enter BIOS (F1) to verify that the new BIOS/Embedded Controller is installed.

David Davis has put together a list of what he thinks is some of the best free virtualization tools avaiable.

• VMware vSphere ESXi Free Edition and VMware Go
• VMware vMA, vCLI (or command-line interface), PowerCLI, and scripts from the vGhetto script repository such as vSphereHealthCheck
• Veeam Monitor (free edition), FastSCP, and Business View
• Vizioncore Wastefinder, vConvert SC and Virtualization EcoShell
• SolarWinds’ VM Monitor
• Trilead VM Explorer
• TripWire ConfigCheck
• ConfigureSoft/EMC Compliance Checker
• ESX Manager 2.3 from ESXGuide (ESX 3i and 4i are not supported)
• vKernel SearchMyVM, SnapshotMyVM, and Modeler
• Hyper9 GuessMyOS Plugin, Search Bar Plugin, and Virtualization Mobile Manager
• XtraVirt vAlarm and vLogView

I still think that he is missing a few, like

• Project Onyx (Just released in Alpha)
• ESX HealthScript (ESXi not supported)
• Ultimate Deployment Appliance (UDA)
• Daily ESX Report (Script)
• Syslog Appliance
• PowerGUI VMware Power Pack
• PowerWF Studio

See the full article at
http://searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com

Many admins have upgraded to Windows 7 and gotten into problems when trying to install the vSphere Client.

I have found a few guides to do a workaround, but the best guide is found at techhead.co.uk.
http://www.techhead.co.uk/running-vmware-vsphere-client-on-windows-7

Thanks to Kiwi Si.

Today when I needed to upgrade my VC database from MSSQL2000 to MSSQL 2005 i came upon these quick guides.

http://blog.core-it.com.au/?p=27

http://spininfo.homelinux.com/news/VirtualCenter/2008/01/06/Howto_Move_Migrate_Design_VC_DB_from_SQL2000_to_SQL2005__

If you want to add a website tab to your vCenter, then here is a quick way to do it.

http://www.ntpro.nl/blog/archives/1270-vSphere-Plugin-Wizard-Released.html

Thanks to Ricky over at virtualizeplanet.com

Have you ever needed to document how secure your ESX servers are.

If the answer is yes then take a look at these free fools (Compliance Checkers) from ConfigureSoft.com.
http://www.configuresoft.com/compliance-checker.aspx

If the answer is no I would sugest you took a look at the tools anyway……

Compliance Checker for VMware ESX, checks the compliance of VMware ESX hosts against VMware hardening guidelines and Center for Internet Security (CIS) benchmarks.

Compliance Checker for PCI DSS, checks the compliance of servers and desktops against PCI DSS v1.2 requirements as specified by PCI Security Standards Council.

VMware have released a demo on YouTube that shows a “must have” for PowerShell users who automate and manage vSphere and vCenter through PowerShell.

The project is named “Onyx” and works like a middelware between the vCenter Client and the vCenter Server.
Onyx is unfortunately still in a private beta and therefore not acceble to the Public……..

Read more on rtfm-ed.co.uk.
http://www.rtfm-ed.co.uk/?p=1643

Or read more on the “get-scripting podcast” blog
http://get-scripting.blogspot.com/2009/08/get-scripting-podcast-episode-12-carter.html

TeckHead.com has released a list of free tools and scriptrs for your VMware enviroment.

The list will be updated with new tools and scripts when ever new are found …

Read the list here.

After almost 2 years of silence a new version of the ESXHealthScript has surfaced.

Version 0.30 is released.

VMware have included the old and trustworthy performance monitor VMKUSAGE in VC 2.5 U4.
This time the monotor has been added to VC as a plugin.

To get access to the new plugin you have to follow this knowledge base article.

If you like me upgraded your VC without stopping the Webaccess service first you have to follow this KB article before the plugin will work.

See more screenshots at www.run-virtual.com.

Today I had to create a script that creates lists of VMs, for each of the below statements:

• CD-ROM is ‘Connected’
• CD-ROM set to ‘Connect at power on’
• CD-ROM device type set to ‘Client Device’
• CD-ROM device type set to ‘Datastore ISO file’
• Floppy is ‘Connected’
• Floppy set to ‘Connect at power on’
• Floppy device type set to ‘Client Device’
• Floppy device type set to ‘Use excisting floppy image in datastore’
• Serial Ports attached
• Parallel Ports attached

Get it here

Finally Microsoft is giving away it’s software for free.
They are starting with SharePoint Designer 2007 (formally Frontpage).
It’s a start and I’m hoping they will keep up the “good work”

Get it from Microsoft
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=baa3ad86-bfc1-4bd4-9812-d9e710d44f42

A fellow member in the Danish Usergroup has created a very simple backup script for ESX and ESXi using PowerShell and VCB.

http://www.virtualize.dk

I like that it’s small and simple.
Keep up the good work….

Have you ever needed to verify the security or hardened state of you ESX hosts?

If yes, then these tools from ConfigureSoft.com or TripWire.com will help you make the process easier.
If no, take a look at the tools anyway – it’s always nice to know if your “babies” are safe .

http://www.configuresoft.com/compliance-checker.aspx
Compliance Checker for VMware ESX, checks the compliance of VMware ESX hosts against VMware hardening guidelines and Center for Internet Security (CIS) benchmarks.

Compliance Checker for PCI DSS, checks the compliance of servers and desktops against PCI DSS v1.2 requirements as specified by PCI Security Standards Council.

TripWire ConfigCheck

http://tripwire.com/configcheck/download.cfm
Read a great how to.
http://searchvmware.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid179_gci1344980,00.html

After we have allowed Windows 2008 Servers in our VMware VI enviroment, we been having problems sysprepping Windows 2008 Server.
So here is a quick guide to sysprep a Windows 2008 server in a VMware VI enviroment.
(Use this workaround until VMware VI allows you run sysprep against a WIN2008 Server)

1. Change the source or templates Guest Operating Systemsetting to “Vista (32 bit)” or “Vista (64 bit)” depending on the installation of the Windows 2008 server installation.
2. Clone the VM or template and you are now able to customize your Win2008 server with sysprep.
3. After the cloning is done Power On the new VM and let the customization complete.
4. Shutdown the VM and change the Guest Operating Systemsetting back to “Windows Server 2008 (32/64 bit)”

The reason the above workaround works is that Vista and Server 2008 has sysprep build into the OS and the sysprep in both OS’s and are based on the same technology.

Read more here

http://www.vmwareinfo.com/2008/05/sysprep-windows-2008-in-vmware.html

http://communities.vmware.com/message/934733#934733

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc766514.aspx

Today i came across a post on Yellowbricks.com about the VIX API.

Duncan writes about how he was able to copy a file (vb script) from his labtop to all his VM’s in a single script, and then execute the script on all VM’s from the same script – and much much more.
Read more

This got me thinking, the possebilities are endless

• Install MSI packages in your VM without the use of SMS.
• Start/stop services based om a script or other thinks.
• Copy a file to/from a VM to the host that executes the script – like config or log files.
• etc….

The VIX API run not only on ESX but also on Workstation and Server versions.

So now i just have to find the time to get cracking on some code…..

I have created at PowerShell script that obtains a list of VM’s that have snapshots attached. The output is then converted to a html file using the cmdlet ConvertTo-HTML.
And just to make it easier to obtain the html file, the script mails the html file to me as an attachment.

Ths script has been updated thanks to Ryan, to be able to handle multiable snapshots on each VM.

Get the script from the Downlaod section.