V blog

VI Client Error

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:41:24 +0000

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.

vSphere ESXi 4 on a usb flash drive

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:57:41 +0000

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

VMware Comparison

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:19:17 +0000

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

Unable to connect to the MKS: Failed to connect to server XXXXXX:902

admin — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 08:05:12 +0000

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 “

vSphere 4 Best Practices

admin — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:04:32 +0000

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

VMware View 3.1 Released

admin — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:25:22 +0000

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.

VMware vCenter Mobile Access

admin — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:06:17 +0000

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.

Click here to view the embedded video.