About a month ago I got an email about problems with upgrading VMware tools on a Linux VM. When upgrading VMware tools all modifications done in /etc/fstab after the VMware tools section would be deleted. I never got the chance to actually test it myself but now a KB article popped up and confirmed the bug. Apparently the engineers are working on it so expect a fix/update in the near future. Michael Wilmsen of Wilmsen Automatisering pointed me out to this bug.
ESX
Book: Deploying the VMware Infrastructure
There’s a new book launched at VMworld Vegas 2008! This book is written by John Arrasjid(VMware), Daniel Conde(VMware), Karthik Balachandran(VMware), Gary Lamb(INX) and Steve Kaplan(INX).
You can pre-order the book via Digital-Guru, and here’s there description just to give you an idea: Deploying the VMware Infrastructure is an introduction to the world of VMware virtualization technology written by hands-on experts in the field. This booklet explains virtualization, enumerates its many benefits, and describes a set of real-world use cases. Overviews are provided for each of the VMware server virtualization, desktop virtualization, and automation and infrastructure management products; and detailed information is given about virtualizing your infrastructure-from building a VMware Infrastructure and selecting candidates for migration, to managing and optimizing the virtual environment. Other topics include security and disaster recovery, virtual desktop infrastructure, and advanced capabilities such as high availability, virtual machine snapshots and consolidated backups. This booklet is highly recommended for anyone interested in virtualizing their IT infrastructure or expanding their knowledge of VMware Infrastructure, including managers, technical staff, and those new to virtualization or VMware technology.
Practical guide to Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
VMware released a 232 page PDF titled “A Practical Guide to Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery with VMware Infrastructure”
This VMware® VMbook focuses on business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) and is intended to guide the reader through the step-by-step process to set-up a multisite VMware Infrastructure that is capable of supporting BCDR services for designated virtual machines at time of test or during an actual event that necessitated the declaration of a disaster, resulting in the activation of services in a designated BCDR site.
Be sure to pick up this one and read it, it contains a lot of valuable information for every single one of you out there!
Starting VM’s problem with 3.5 U2
As everyone probably already knows by now there’s a problem with 3.5 U2. VMware is working on a patch as we speak. There has been a KB article released, but it seems like everyone is clicking on the same link at the same moment cause it’s hard to get a decent respond.
The error message that appears:
This product has expired. Be sure that your host machine’s date and time are set correctly.
There is a more recent version available at the VMware web site: http://www.vmware.com/info?id=4.
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Module License Power on failed
In short, the workaround is simple just set the date back and you will be able to power on the VM’s again, it would be smart to set the time to correct value again as soon as you started the VM. As soon as I know more about the new 3.5 U2 update I’ll let you guys know!
And a nice work around from the VMTN forum:
Find the host where a VM is located
run ‘ vmware-cmd -l ‘ to list the vms.
issue the commands:
service ntpd stop
date -s 08/01/2008
vmware-cmd /vmfs/volumes/vm path/vmname.vmx start
service ntpd start
ESX 3.0.3 available now!
For those that are still using 3.0.2 and are not looking to upgrade to 3.5 U2 yet, VMware just released 3.0.3! Don’t expect new features to popup. Version 3.0.3 is mainly about compatability and patches:
Processors
Newly supported processors are:
- Quad-Core AMD Opteron 8300 series and 2300 series processor families (collectively code-named Barcelona)
- Dual-core Intel Xeon 5200 series processors (code-named Wolfdale)
Drivers
Upgraded drivers are:
- igb driver version 1.0.0
- Broadcom 5722 tg3 driver version upgraded from 3.43.to 3.58b
- Emulex lpfc driver version upgraded to 7.3.2_vmw10
Guest Operating Systems
Newly supported guest operating systems are:
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Data Center Edition
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.1
Enhanced Patch and Upgrade Management
Significant improvements to the following patch management utilities:
- esxupdate Utility – Support for super-bundle and rollup features in esxupdate.
- Support for VMware Update Manager.
Service Console
Update for service console from RHEL3 U8 to RHEL3 U9.
Management Agents
Support for new versions of Management Agents:
- HP Insight Manager 8.1
- Dell OpenManage Server Administrator 5.4
- IBM Director 5.20 Update 1
Backup Software
Support for additional backup software from third-party vendors:
- EMC Networker Version 7.4 SP1
- IBM Tivoli Storage Manager Version 5.5
Quality Improvements
A significant number of issues have been fixed. Some of these issues have been described in Resolved Issues in this Release.
Get it while it’s stil hot and read the complete release notes here!