Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of AXISHK
AXISHK

asked on

Insert VMware on HP server

For installing Esx 4 on HP proliant G380 server, should I just insert with VMware DVD, or use the HP Smart CD to startup ?
If I install ESX4 directly, can it recongize all the hardware ?

What's the normal procedure of shuting down the VMware servers if I could only connect the server through VMware client ? How can it be recongized by our HP Insight server ? Do I need to install HP Insight agent on the VMware ?

Tkx
Avatar of coolsport00
coolsport00
Flag of United States of America image

What Gen server is it? If it's G4, you won't be able to install x64bit VMs on it. You need a min of G5 (I use 380G5).

Yes, to install vSphere (once you verified compatibility of your host; see here: http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php), just insert the vSphere DVD if that's what you created and install. The install has all hardware drivers needed, thus VMware's Compat Guide matrix :)

If you install ESX4 (not ESXi), you can install HP Mgmt Agents in the service console. Go to HP's site to download the HP install file AND the instructions on how to do the install.

Regards.
~coolsport00
You can still install vSphere 4 on your host if it's G4 or less, but if you want to run x64bit VMs, you need at least a G5 model of the Proliant 380, because you need to have Intel-VT (or AMD-V) enabled in the BIOS and pre-G5 models do not have that BIOS option.

~coolsport00
Avatar of Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
Use the VMware ESX 4.x DVD.

VMware ESX 4.x will function, but there is no support for the hardware, so you will find your Server fans will run at full speed, and they are noisy!

If you want a supported Hypervisor with Agents use ESX 3.5 and the Agents here

You connect to the ESX Server using VMware vSphere Client, and Click the VM and Select Shutdown.

or you can login at the console or SSH remotely, and also shutdown the VMs.
Avatar of AXISHK
AXISHK

ASKER

For the HP Proliant, I need to configure the RAID first before installing the VMware, correct ?

Tkx
Yes, using  Array Configuration Utility (ACU) on the HP Smart Start Bootable CDROM from HP.
Avatar of AXISHK

ASKER

I have 2 x 146 & 5 x 300 hdds. So, configure 2x146 hdds and dedicate to VMware. For 5 x 300, I will use for hosting virtual machine. Correct ?

Tkx
Yes, you can, but honestly, you "could" run into issues installing ESX/ESXi on the same disks that your datastore is on. If you have some good USB drives, install ESXi on that, and then use your disks (in a RAID1) solely for datastore usage (storage for your VMs).

@hanccocka has a couple articles you can reference on how to install on USB (and even image the USB for backup).

~coolsport00
Avatar of AXISHK

ASKER

One more check, will VMware fully utiitlze the 146Gb HDD. Can I allocate remaining amount for Virtual hosts ? In this case, how much should I allocate to VMware ? Tkx
SOLUTION
Avatar of coolsport00
coolsport00
Flag of United States of America image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
If you have a DL380G7, I would recommend the following:-

1. Install ESXi 5.0 on an SD card or USB flash drive, it's supported by HP/VMware, and you can then use ALL your rotation disks for VMs. As two datastores. (makes it easier to recover from as well, if the event of RAID failure!)

Install the HP version of VMware ESXi 5.0 from here, it includes drivers and agents for your server.

https://h20392.www2.hp.com/portal/swdepot/displayProductInfo.do?productNumber=HPVM09

Here is the VMware KB on installing 5.0 on USB/SD:
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2004784

there is then no need to install on your RAID disks, and you can use ALL the storage from both RAID disks for Virtual Machines.

You can then backup your USB/SD cards as follows:-

My EE Article
How to Backup an ESXi installation on an USB Flash Drive or SD card, for security or redundancy.
The difference is you can install the latest hypervisor on that model and have all the feature enhancements vSphere has to offer, assuming appropriate licensing when that is required for a specific feature.

So, it is my recommendation as noted above to install ESXi on USB then use your disks for datastore storage.

Regards.
~coolsport00
Avatar of AXISHK

ASKER

Tkx