ESXi 5 installer ISO
VMware-VMvisor-Installer-5.0.0-469512.x86_64.iso
vSphere Client
VMware-viclient-all-5.0.0-455964.exe
Linux Tools ISO
VMware-tools-linux-8.6.0-425873.iso
Archive for the ‘Virtualisation’ Category
VMware vSphere 5.0 (ESXi 5.0) Officially released and available for Download
Thursday, August 25th, 2011Tweaking HP ProLiant MicroServer BIOS to support 2 additional AHCI SATA Ports for VMware ESXi 4.1/5.0, SSD
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011I’ve been experimenting with the HP ProLiant MicroServer N36L, to extend its capacity to support an additional 2 AHCI SATA Ports, from the standard IDE mode offerings, that the on-board SATA and eSATA ports offer. This will support the use of SSDs better in the future.
Storage Controllers available to VMware vSphere 4.1 U1, not there are four AHCI SATA controllers, vmhba0, vmhba34, vmhba35, and vmhba36. These correspond to the “not supported hot plug” bays.
HP ProLiant MicroServer BIOS POST before tweak!
VMware ESXi 4.1 installed on HP ProLiant MicroServer Before tweak!
and also two IDE vmhba1 and vmhba33.
VMware ESXi 4.1 installed on HP ProLiant MicroServer Before tweak!
After tweaking…a total of six AHCI SATA ports, vmhba0, vmhba33, vmhba34, vmhba35, vmhba36 and vmhba37.
HP ProLiant MicroServer BIOS POST After tweak!
VMware ESXi 4.1 installed on HP ProLiant MicroServer After tweak!
If you want more details, ping me an email or twitter, and I’ll send you the bios.
VMware ESXi 5.0 tested on HP ProLiant MicroServer N36L
Saturday, August 13th, 2011Just confirming that VMware ESXi 5.0 tests out okay on the HP ProLiant MicroServer N36L, ideal for labs or testing, I don’t expect to see this HP ProLiant MicroServer N36L on the Hardware Compatibility List, when VMware ESXi 5.0 is finally launched Q3 2011, but ideal for labs or testing, on this small low powered server.
VMware ESXi 5.0 tested on HP ProLiant MicroServer N36L
As with ESXi 4.1, no support for the “fake RAID controller”, so ESXi 5.o detects both SATA disks, and does not detect as a RAID 1 set. But the Broadcom NetXrtreme BCM5723 Gigabit Etherner network interface is supported.
New HD Video Fully Loaded HP ProLiant Microserver N36L with VMware vSphere 4.1 U1 Hypervisor
Monday, August 8th, 2011This video is part of my power consumption series coming soon…
[flv:https://andysworld.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/FullyLoadedN36L.flv 480 308]
ALL CHANGE:- NEW VMware vSphere 5 Licensing & Pricing Update
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011Just had this turn up in my inbox, All change, now I need to get my head round this change!
A micro flash (HP v165w) drive for a HP ProLiant MicroServer N36L
Sunday, July 31st, 2011For my “Skynet” project, I’ve been looking for a micro 4GB flash drive to hold the various operating systems I’ll be using, operating systems including VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) and FreeNAS, possibly also Solaris and Nexenta Community Edition. Previously I’ve used Talent flash drives, but these seem in short supply, and are usually metal, and I’ve recently read an interesting Product Advisory about the heat from metal flash drives, and also some metal flash drives have been shorting out inside HP ProLiant DL series servers, using embedded versions of VMware vSphere Hypervisor. So my requirements were to find a plastic cased, in-expensive 4GB flash drive. Enter the HP v165w 4GB Flash Drive, this version comes in many different sizes, and is very small.
HP v165w 4GB Flash Drive
HP v165w 4GB Flash Drive on Samsung NC10 Netbook keyboard (yes my keyboard really needs a clean!)
A Micro Flash drive for a Microserver!
Also manufacturered by HP (okay, PNY), so HP on HP should work okay. I found the most cheapest place on the Net, was Play.com, but I’ve had to wait over a week for delivery, delivery is free, but why they had to send them all in individual boxes, I’ll never know. So I’ve not been able to do anything with Skynet, for the last week, waiting for them to arrive.
Eight boxes of HP v165w 4GB flash drives from Play.com
Here is the micro flash drive installed in a HP ProLiant Microserver
HP v165w installed in HP ProLiant Microserver N36L
The micro server, has a purpose built bootable USB socket on the motherboard, designed for booting embedded operating systems, so the four internal SATA disks can be used to store data, so I you can install the OS on a USB stick!
The HP v165w does not have any LED, or flashing light to indicate the device is in read or write mode, for my purpose ideal, but some folk, may like this feature to see what the flash drive is doing, but personally I think it’s too small for general usage, I’ve had to attach my existing flash drive to 2.5″ hard disk spindle to stop losing it in my pocket! I’m also using this device to replace my existing HP v100w flash drives, installed in my existing DL servers, because I keep catching them and snapping them off!
HP ProLiant Microserver N36L – Got yours yet?
Wednesday, July 27th, 2011“I’m bulding Skynet, and I’m going to take over the world” – Andy, andysworld.org.uk
We all need to tighten our belts, in these uncertain times, and as electricity costs continue to rise, and it’s predicted that electricity costs will triple over the next ten years, it’s time to start costing the electricity used by our IT equipment [again!]. Many years ago, we consolidated all the servers and workstations we use by using VMware ESX 1.0, this allowed us to consolidate 20 physical servers and workstations with three large HP ProLiants, at the time they were Intel Xeon 500MHz based ProLiant 3000R, 5500R, and 6500R, these were eventually replaced with three AMD Opteron DL385 and DL585, and MSA SANs. This has reduced our electricity costs, but not far enough. The DL385 uses approximately 600 watts just for the server, it has Dual Processors, and Dual Cores and uses 16GB RAM. With newer designs, some CPUs have become very low power. We currently use VMware vSphere 4.1 U1 to provide virtualisation for Domain Controllers, Microsoft Exchange Servers, Web Servers, SQL Servers, VMware View VDI 4.5/4.6, Firewall appliances, and other development servers. This is all Production, and then we have all the same servers in a Test and Developement Lab, in total approx 48 Virtual Servers, 20 Virtual Workstations of mixed versions from Windows 95, XP, Vista and Windows 7.
HP ProLiant DL385 Box
HP ProLiant DL385 Box
Enter the HP ProLiant Microserver – full load measured (40 watts). So I’ve purchase 5 to build a new vSphere 5.0 Cluster and using vSphere VSA (Virtual SAN Array). Total Wattage for Five MicroServers – 200 Watts! The wattage per virtual machine will be much lower, resulting in a much lower electricity bill.
Delivery of 5 HP ProLiant Microservers N36L
HP ProLiant Microserver N36L (dented box!) The server was fine!
The rumour is that the HP Cashback offer of £100, will be extended to 31 August 2011, it’s due to end on the 31 July 2011.
New HD Video – Installing Cisco Unified Communications Manager 7.0 on VMware Workstation Walkthrough
Wednesday, July 27th, 2011Another short 14 minutes Video Walkthrough from the Andysworld factory, how to install Cisco Unified Communications Manager 7.0 on VMware Workstation, this is not a supported Cisco configuration, but ideal for labs or training. You will notice that the installation dectects a VMware product with a warning!
[flv:https://andysworld.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Cisco.flv 480 360]
Fancy a Free Pass to VMworld 2011
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011A fellow vExpert and Blogger – Greg Stuart over at vdestination.com, is offering a Free Pass to VMworld 2011, Hotel Expenses and $500 towards Air Fare in Las Vegas at the end of August – September 2011, head over to the blog, and respond to the questions on his blog for a chance to win.
You’ve got to be In It to Win It!
Expert of the Quarter Q2 at Experts Exchange
Thursday, July 14th, 2011Two achievements in the same month of July 2011.
1st July 2011 – vExpert 2011
I’ve not had much time to reflect on this, because I received an email out of the blue just before travelling down to Devon and Cornwall on the Friday 1st July 2011!
10 July 2011 – Q2 2011 Expert of the Quarter at Experts Exchange
So, I need a hatrick now.
?? July 2011 – ????
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