My Own ESXi Server Part 13 Adding/Removing a VM to ESXi

In my previous posts, I showed how to create a new VM (Part 9 Creating a VM) and how to download a VM (Part 10 Downloading a Virtual Machine).  Before long, you will accumulate many VMs and may not need them all.

How to Remove a Virtual Machine from Inventory List

1)  Using the vSphere Client, select the VM.  Right-click and choose either Remove from Inventory or Delete from Disk.  Remove from Inventory will remove the virtual machine from the inventory list but leave the underlying directory of files in the datastore.  On the other hand, Delete from Disk will remove from inventory as well as delete the directory from the datastore.

Removing a Virtual Machine is obvious, but adding one is not!

How to Add a Virtual Machine to Inventory List

1)  Using the vSphere Client, switch to the Summary tab.

2)  Select the appropriate datastore.  Right-click and select Browse Datastore.

3)  The Datastore Browser will open up.  Navigate to the virtual machine directory you want to add.

4)  Select the .vmx file.  Right-click and select Add to Inventory.

5)  Enter a name for this virtual machine.  Click Next.

6)  Select resource pool and click Next.

7)  Click Finish.

8)  Close Datastore Browser.

9)  You should now see your VM added to the Inventory List.

Related Posts:
Part 1  The Time Has Come
Part 2  Running ESXi on VMware Fusion
Part 3  Building My ESXi Server
Part 4  Installing ESXi 4 on a USB Stick
Part 5  Installing vSphere Client on Windows
Part 6  Updating ESXi using vSphere Host Update Utility
Part 7  Browsing the VMware ESXi Datastore
Part 8  WinSCP to the Rescue
Part 9  Creating a VM
Part 10  Downloading a Virtual Machine
Part 11  Running vSphere Client from Ubuntu
Part 12  Running vSphere Client from Mac OS
Part 13  Adding/Removing a VM to ESXi
Part 14  Export in ESXi
Part 15  Deploying OVF Templates
Part 16  Adding a License Key

My Own ESXi Server Part 12 Running vSphere Client from Mac OS

VMware provides a vSphere Client for Windows only.  I showed in my last post that you can access a vSphere Client running on Windows from Ubuntu and make it appear to run as just another application.  So what about Mac OS X?  It turns out that since Remote Desktop Connection for Mac is available, we can do exactly the same as Ubuntu.  See my previous post My Own ESXi Server Part 11 Running vSphere Client from Ubuntu.

As with the Linux setup, remote desktop must be set up on the Windows system.  See my post  Remote Desktop Part 2 - Getting Back to Windows on how to configure.  I ran into one big problem in that even though I can remote desktop back into Windows XP, I could not get it to run just one application.  After all my futile efforts, I switched to using Windows 2003 Server and this worked like a charm.

How to Run vSphere Client from Mac OS

1) Start the Remote Desktop Connection for Mac app.

2) Enter the ip address or the name of the server.  Do NOT click Connect yet!

3) Go to the top menu and select RDC > Preferences

4) On the Login tab, fill in User name and domain fields.

5) On the Applications tab, check Start only the following Windows-based application.

Add the Application path and file name for vSphere Client on the Windows 2003 server. I added C:\Program Files\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\VpxClient.exe

For Working directory,

C:\Program Files\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\

6) Close the Preferences window.

7) Using the top menu , select File > Save As...

8) Enter name and click Save.

9) From now on, when you start you select File > Open a Saved Connection.. or File > Open a Recent Connection. Select the appropriate RDP connection.

10) Enter Password and click OK.

11) Click Connect.

12) Enter User name and Password for the ESXi Server, and click Login.

13) You have now successfully gained access to vSphere Client! When you are done, exit by closing the vSphere Client window.

Related Posts:
Part 1  The Time Has Come
Part 2  Running ESXi on VMware Fusion
Part 3  Building My ESXi Server
Part 4  Installing ESXi 4 on a USB Stick
Part 5  Installing vSphere Client on Windows
Part 6  Updating ESXi using vSphere Host Update Utility
Part 7  Browsing the VMware ESXi Datastore
Part 8  WinSCP to the Rescue
Part 9  Creating a VM
Part 10  Downloading a Virtual Machine
Part 11  Running vSphere Client from Ubuntu
Part 12  Running vSphere Client from Mac OS
Part 13  Adding/Removing a VM to ESXi
Part 14  Export in ESXi
Part 15  Deploying OVF Templates
Part 16  Adding a License Key

My Own ESXi Server Part 11 Running vSphere Client from Ubuntu

VMware provides vSphere Client for Windows only.  So what do you do if you run a Linux desktop?  The answer is to remote desktop into a Windows box that has a vSphere Client on it.  To make it as seamless as possible I will configure Terminal Server Client to run a single application.

In order for this setup to work, remote desktop must be set up on the Windows system.  See my post  Remote Desktop Part 2 - Getting Back to Windows on how to configure.  I ran into one big problem in that even though I can remote desktop back into Windows XP, I could not get it to run just one application.  After all my futile efforts, I switched to using Windows 2003 Server and this worked like a charm.

How to Run vSphere Client From Ubuntu

1) Start the Terminal Server Client by going to Applications > Internet > Terminal Server Client.

2) Enter the ip address or the name of the server.  Set the Protocol to RDP.  Enter a User Name and Password that has access to remote desktop into the Windows 2003 server.  Switch to the Programs tab.

3)  Check Start only the following on connection.

In the Program path and filename, add the Application path and file name for vSphere Client on the Windows 2003 server.  I added C:\Program Files\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\VpxClient.exe

In the Start in the following folder, add the working directory.  I added 

C:\Program Files\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\

Click Save As.

4)  Enter the name and click OK.

5)  Now that you have saved the connection information which can be used in the future.  Click Connect.

6) Enter User name and Password for the ESXi Server, and press Enter.

7) You have now successfully gained access to vSphere Client! When you are done, exit by closing the vSphere Client window.

Related Posts:
Part 1  The Time Has Come
Part 2  Running ESXi on VMware Fusion
Part 3  Building My ESXi Server
Part 4  Installing ESXi 4 on a USB Stick
Part 5  Installing vSphere Client on Windows
Part 6  Updating ESXi using vSphere Host Update Utility
Part 7  Browsing the VMware ESXi Datastore
Part 8  WinSCP to the Rescue
Part 9  Creating a VM
Part 10  Downloading a Virtual Machine
Part 11  Running vSphere Client from Ubuntu
Part 12  Running vSphere Client from Mac OS
Part 13  Adding/Removing a VM to ESXi
Part 14  Export in ESXi
Part 15  Deploying OVF Templates
Part 16  Adding a License Key

My Own ESXi Server Part 10 Downloading a Virtual Machine

In my previous post, I created a new virtual machine from an ISO just the same as if you had installed from a CD.  With virtual machines, you also have the option of creating a virtual machine from a the VA Marketplace.  At the VA Marketplace you will find pre-configured VMs ready for your deployment.  In this post, I will deploy a small VM called Nostalgia from the VA Marketplace.

How to Deploy a Virtual Applicance from the VA Marketplace

1)  From the main vSphere Client window, select File > Browse VA Marketplace.

2)  Scroll the list of Virtual Appliances until you find one called Nostalgia.

3)  Select Nostalgia, and click Next.

4)  Click Next.

5)  Change the name of the VM if you wish,  Click Next.

6)  Click Finish.

7)  Hopefully the deployment completed successfully.  Click Close.

8)  Your new Nostalgia virtual machine should now be in the inventory list.

9)  You can now start your VM.  Please note that you may need to read up on your VM especially for the userid and password.

I have decided to continue the series with at least the following:

Part 11  Running vSphere Client from Ubuntu
Part 12  Running vSphere Client from Mac OS
Part 13  Adding/Removing a VM to ESXi
Part 14  Export in ESXi
Part 15  Deploying OVF Templates
Part 16  Adding a License Key


Related Posts:
Part 1  The Time Has Come
Part 2  Running ESXi on VMware Fusion
Part 3  Building My ESXi Server
Part 4  Installing ESXi 4 on a USB Stick
Part 5  Installing vSphere Client on Windows
Part 6  Updating ESXi using vSphere Host Update Utility
Part 7  Browsing the VMware ESXi Datastore
Part 8  WinSCP to the Rescue
Part 9  Creating a VM
Part 10  Downloading a Virtual Machine

My Own ESXi Server Part 9 Creating a VM

Having following the previous 7 parts of My Own ESXi Server, you are now ready to create your first virtual machine (VM).

How to Create a Virtual Machine

1)  From the main window of vSphere Client, click Create a new virtual machine.

2)  On the Configuration, click Next.

3)  Change the name of VM as you see fit and click Next.

4)  If you have multiple datastores to choose, select one and click Next.

5)  Select Guest Operating System and then Version, and click Next.

6)  Adjust the Virtual disk size and click Next.

7)  Check Edit the virtual machine settings before completion and click Continue.

8)  Select New CD/DVD.

9)  Check Connect at power on.  Check Datastore ISO File and click Browse.

10)  Browse datastore to location of the already uploaded iso and click OK.

11)  Click Finish.

12)  You should now see your VM listed in the inventory.  Please note that you still have to install the operating system.  Start the VM by selecting it and right-click and select Power > Power On.  You will need to look at the Console to see the actual screen.

13)  If you completed the OS installation, you should now have you first VM ready to use!

Related Posts:
Part 1  The Time Has Come
Part 2  Running ESXi on VMware Fusion
Part 3  Building My ESXi Server
Part 4  Installing ESXi 4 on a USB Stick
Part 5  Installing vSphere Client on Windows
Part 6  Updating ESXi using vSphere Host Update Utility
Part 7  Browsing the VMware ESXi Datastore
Part 8  WinSCP to the Rescue
Part 9  Creating a VM
Part 10  Downloading a Virtual Machine

***Updated March 26th 2010
I have decided to continue the series with at least the following:

Part 11  Running vSphere Client from Ubuntu
Part 12  Running vSphere Client from Mac OS
Part 13  Adding/Removing a VM to ESXi
Part 14  Export in ESXi
Part 15  Deploying OVF Templates
Part 16  Adding a License Key

My Own ESXi Server Part 8 WinSCP to the Rescue

As I mentioned in my previous post, I ran into some weird problems using ISO files that appeared to have successfully transferred into the datastore using vSphere Client Datastore Browse. I needed to find an alternate way to upload my ISO files.  WinSCP to the rescue!

WinSCP is an open source free SFTP client and FTP client for Windows.  Legacy SCP protocol is also supported. Its main function is safe copying of files between a local and a remote computer.

In order for WinSCP to work, SSH must first be enabled.  SSH is disable by default on ESXi 4.

How to Enable SSH on ESXi

1)  From the ESXi console, press ALT+F1 (Option+F1 using VMware Fusion).

2)  Type unsupported and hit enter.

3)  Enter the password for root.

4) Type vi /etc/inetd.conf.

5)  Using the arrow keys, scroll down until you see #ssh.

 6)  Remove the # in front of ssh.  This will un-comment this line.

7)  To save this change, press the ESC key.  Then type :wq and press enter.

8)  Restarting your ESXi server.  Type Alt+F2 (Option+F2 in VMware Fusion) to exit the console.  F12 to Restart.


Using WinSCP to Upload to Datastore

1)  Download and install WinSCP.

2)  Start WinSCP.  Fill in Host name, User name, and change File protocol to SCP.  Click Save.

2)  You can leave the default name and click OK.

3)  You will be taken to the WinSCP Login screen.  Click Login.

4)  Enter Password and click OK.

5)  You will now see a 2-pane window.  The left pane is your local computer.  The right pane is ESX server.

6)  To navigate to the datastore, in the right-pane, click on vfms, then volumes, then datastore1.

7)  You can now start copying files over by dragging and dropping!

Related Posts:
Part 1  The Time Has Come
Part 2  Running ESXi on VMware Fusion
Part 3  Building My ESXi Server
Part 4  Installing ESXi 4 on a USB Stick
Part 5  Installing vSphere Client on Windows
Part 6  Updating ESXi using vSphere Host Update Utility
Part 7  Browsing the VMware ESXi Datastore
Part 8  WinSCP to the Rescue
Part 9  Creating a VM
Part 10  Downloading a Virtual Machine

***Updated March 26th 2010
I have decided to continue the series with at least the following:

Part 11  Running vSphere Client from Ubuntu
Part 12  Running vSphere Client from Mac OS
Part 13  Adding/Removing a VM to ESXi
Part 14  Export in ESXi
Part 15  Deploying OVF Templates
Part 16  Adding a License Key