Tag Archives: vmware

vmware – replacing security server ssl cert

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This page is hard to find, but it has it all…  http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1008705

To generate and import an SSL certificate on the VDM server:

Note: Certificates are only required for client‐facing systems (that is, standard, replica, or security VDM servers).
  1. All the commands related to certificates need to be run in System Context. From a command prompt, run:at <time> (In 24 hour format) /interactive cmd.exeFor example:at 21:45 /interactive cmd.exeThis opens a new command window in System Context.
  2. On the VDM or security server, change the directory to C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware VDM\Server\jre\bin.
  3. Run the following command to create a 1024bit self-signed SSL certificate:keytool -genkey -keyalg “RSA” -keystore keys.p12 -storetype pkcs12 -validity 360To generate 2048bit certificate, run the command:keytool -genkey -keyalg “RSA” -keysize 2048 -keystore keys.p12 -storetype pkcs12 -validity 360Note: The keys.p12 file is created in the current directory.
  4. Run the following command to create a certificate signing request (CSR):keytool -certreq -keyalg “RSA” -file certificate.csr -keystore keys.p12 -storetype pkcs12 -storepass <secret> , w here <secret> is the keystore passwordNote: The certificate.csr file is created in the same location.
  5. Send the CSR file (certificate.csr) to a certificate authority and request a certificate in PKCS7 format.Note: If the certificate authority does not offer PKCS7 as a format, see Exporting into PKCS7 format in this article for information about exporting the certificate data in the appropriate format.
  6. Copy the contents of the file into a text editor and save it as certificate.p7. The content appears similar to:—–BEGIN PKCS7—–
    MIIF+AYJKoZIhvcNAQcCoIIF6TCCBeUCAQExADALBgkqhkiG9w0BBwGgggXNMIID
    LDCCApWgAwIBAgIQTpY7DsV1n1HeMGgMjMR2PzANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQUFADCBhzEL
    i7coVx71/lCBOlFmx66NyKlZK5mObgvd2dlnsAP+nnStyhVHFIpKy3nsDO4JqrIg
    EhCsdpikSpbtdo18jUubV6z1kQ71CrRQtbi/WtdqxQEEtgZCJO2lPoIWMQA=
    —–END PKCS7—–

    Note: For more information about importing certificates issued by an OpenSSL CA, see Importing certificates issued by an OpenSSL CA (1007390).

  7. Run the following command to import certificates issued by CA:keytool -import -keystore keys.p12 -storetype pkcs12 -storepass <secret> -keyalg “RSA” -trustcacerts -file certificate.p7Where <secret> is the keystore password (the password you used when exporting the certificate).
  8. To configure the View Connection Server to use the new certificate, place the new certificate and copy the keys.p12 file (the keystore file) in C:\Program Files\VMware\View Manager\Server\sslgateway\conf.
  9. Modify or create the following file:C:\ProgramFiles\VMware\View Manager\Server\sslgateway\conf\locked.properties
  10. Add the following properties:keyfile=keys.p12
    keypass=<secret>

    Where <secret> is the keystore password (the password you used when exporting the certificate).

  11. Restart the View Connection Server service.

Exporting into the PKCS7 format

To export into the PKXS7 format:
  1. Open the certificate file.
  2. Click Details > Copy to File.
  3. Click PKCS7, then select Include Details of Certificate.

    The file is saved with a .P7B extension.

vmware – virtualcenter server service fails to start on boot

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This happens when the virtualcenter service tries to start before some of its dependencies are up and running. Typically due to SQL Server not being in a running state when it tries to startup.

If your in windows 2008 you can choose the service to start automatically (delayed), and most of the time this will resolve the problem. If you want to do it properly, and in a more clean way…. you’ll need to add SQL as a dependency.

Open regedit and go to the following key;    (find the sevice name that virtual cetner is running under – vpxd in this case)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\vpxd

Open and modify the “Depend on Service” Multi-String and append the following (specific to my environment, but Adam for vmware and sqlserver)

MSSQLSERVER
ADAM_VMwareVCMSDS

So my DependOnService Multi-String now reads;

ProtectedStorage
lanmanworkstation
MSSQLSERVER
ADAM_VMwareVCMSDS

Done.

On next reboot the virtual center service will wait for its dependencies to start before it tries to start itself.

vmware – measuring iscsi write performance

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I picked this trick up off vmware support. If you’ve got your iscsi all setup you can drop to the shell (either ssh or console) and do this to measure your average write throughput.

time vmkfstools -c 10G /vmfs/volumes/san_vmfs/my_vm/fat_disk.vmdk -d eagerzeroedthick

Try larger a larger disk if this is too quick (free space permitting)

Essentially this will initiate the host to create a fat disk in the location above. You will then get a time recorded on how long it takes to execute this command. Then you can use your maths skill to work out the transfer rate…

While this is happening you can open another SSH type esxtop then press “d” and watch the (d)isk throughput on the console. Pressing “v” will show you stats per (v)irtual machine.

hyper-v to esx conversion

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V2V cold clone process for SBS / exchange / sql / DC’s etc…..    (works in vSphere)

Steps to convert from hyper-v guest to vmware guest

  • Remove hyper-v integrated services while hyper-v guest is running. (if possible)
  • Note down NIC networking details first
  • Clean shutdown hyper-v guest
  • Use StarWind Converter (free) to convert VHD to “dynamically growing VMware” image and use “IDE” as type. Note “SCSI” does NOT work if you have not got the LSI / BUS drivers in the source image, just use the default options – dynamic vmware and IDE.
  • Create VMware guest shell (virtual machine equivalent to hyper-v specs but without the disks) – remove all hard drives, iscsi controller should also disappear.
  • Upload the VMDK to same data store as virtual machine and attach to the virtual guest in the right order. They should be detected as “IDE”
  • Start new vmware guest
  • If you could not remove integrated services (i.e. hot clone), then you MUST disable hyper-v services immediately.
  • Install vmware tools – reboot
  • Remove hidden NIC and other orphaned devices, and reconfigure network card as per original.
  • Windows may need to be re-activated – do this.

Note : converting a machine to use an IDE controller will limit its performance!