V blog

When installing VirtualCenter client or server, I get an msiexec error message and the installation will fail. Came across this at a client.

The Install Shield package of VirtualCenter files is a 16-bit application that uses 8.3 file notation.
Your system may have 8.3 file name creation disabled by the Administrators or Group policy in order to increase performance on an NTFS file system.
This message is shown because there is an unknown parameter passed to the msiexec command.
Typically, this error is because the installer does not quote the %TMP% and %TEMP% variables, and if they are configured with some blank space file path, the installation fails.

Solution:

Set the %temp% environment variable to use an 8.3 naming convention path (that is, C:\temp).
You must create a new temporary folder for the installation and set the environment variables %TMP%, %TEMP% to use it:

This can be changed from Systems Properties – Advanced – Environmental Variables.

• Create a new VM using VMware Player or Workstation  that is capable of running ESX — make sure it has a USB controller
• Insert USB flash drive
• Boot the ESXi 4 ISO image
• Connect the USB drive to the VM
• Run through the ESXi installer and select the USB drive as the installation destination
• Wait for installation to complete
• Plug the flash drives into the server to test

Came across this VMware comparison with Microsoft and Citrix. Thought it would be useful to share.

I came across the above error under vSphere – ESX 4.0 running under workstation.
To fix it, add the following line to the /etc/vmware/config file in the VMware ESX Service Console:

” vmauthd.server.alwaysProxy=TRUE “

VMware has released KB articles outlining the best practices for upgrading to vSphere, installing vSphere and upgrading ESX 3.0 virtual machines to ESX 4.0 hardware.

Upgrading to ESX 4.0 and vCenter 4.0 best practices

Installing ESX 4.0 and vCenter 4.0 best practices

Upgrading an ESX 3.x virtual machine to ESX 4.0

New version of VMware View has been released. It includes following enhancements

• Performance Improvements
• Automated LDAP Data and View Composer Database Backup
• Client Information
• Improved Logging
• Edit Desktop Wizard Navigation
• USB Improvements
• Multimedia Redirection (MMR) for Windows Vista
• Adobe Flash Bandwidth Reduction
• Multi-Protocol Support

For release notes and to download, go here.

Ever wish you could restart a virtual machine or migrate it to another host from the convenience of your mobile phone? With VMware vCenter Mobile Access, you can.

VMware vCenter Mobile Access allows you to monitor and manage VMware Infrastructure from your mobile phone.

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