Step By Step Vmware 5.5 Install and Configuration Guide

I’m currently building a Vmware 5.5 lab to put Zerto Virtual Replication through its paces ( check out the link on the right ), as I am doing this I thought id document it and shoot a quick video. Yes I know a lot of you out there will think this is really simple but some people do not!. I will go through the install of Vmware 5.5 and the some basic Vmware 5.5 host configuration. The actual lab I am building is two hosts sitting on Vmware Workstation 10, managed by VCenter 5.5.  Either read the article below or click on the video to watch the install.

Once the CD is popped into the host boot the host up. The first option we see is to either boot from the local drive or run the installer. Run the Vmware 5.5 installer.

Once done the installer loads into memory the files required to install Vmware 5.5. You will then be welcomed to Vmware 5.5, proceed by pressing enter. Then it will go away and scan for storage to install VMware onto. Select your storage, I normally install VMware onto SD card if possible for speed and to not waste drive space.

 Select your relevant language, set the root accounts password and then select enter to start the actual vmware 5.5 install.

 Once done the server will reboot, we are then ready to configure VMware IP, host name and relevant DNS settings. To do so login by pressing F2 and entering your Root accounts password. We then need to select Configure Management Network then IP configuration. Give your ESXI host a static address on your network.Once done select DNS configuration, enter your DNS servers IP address and also give your ESXI host a valid host name on your network. Remember in active directory to create an A record matching the details you have set here.

 Once done select enter to accept, then esacpe to leave the Configure Management Network options. To connect to your ESXi 5.5 host open up a web browser and go to the IP or host name that you allocated the ESXi host. Once done slect download vmware client and install it. Then in the VMware client enter the IP or host name you set, the username “Root” and the password you set. You will then be able to manage the ESXi host.

 Step By Step Guide To Creating Virtual Machine in VSphere 5

Yes I know this is really easy however as I was in the office having to create a test environment for a veeam replication job I thought I would screen dump it. So, If you want to learn how to build a Microsoft windows 2008 r2 server in vsphere 5 then read on.There is also a step by step video to creating a Virtual Machine at the end of the article.

Ok so first you need your media on the vsphere server or your storage.Once you log into vsphere you have the default screen as seen below.Go to Configuration and then Storage.

Now you will be able to see your storage, whether it be local or NAS/SAN etc. Right click your storage and then select browse datastore. This will bring up a screen with the menu options as seen below. Select the folder with the “+” on it and create a folder called “ISO” this is where we will store the media.

Once you have your “ISO” folder double click it. We now need to upload the media to this folder. So Click the image of the Disk with the up arrow and select upload file. Browse to your iso that you have either created or downloaded and it will upload to the storage. We are now read to start building your virtual 2008 r2 server.

Now down the left hand side of your main VI client console you will see either the name of your host or the ip address of your host. Right click it and select New Virtual Machine

You will then see the screen below, it gice you the option of either typical or custom virtual machine , a typical machine will have a CPU, hard disk, memory…you get it the usual hardware setup on it. Custom is exactly that you can add USB etc or more hard disks. Don’t worry, if you select typical you can always add more virtual hardware later. I selected typical for this guide.

Then it will ask what you would like to call this virtual machine, call it whatever you like.Next you now get asked where you would like to store this VM, im storing mine on my datastore 1 as you can see below. ( you can call your datastores anything you like).Highlight your storage and click next

Now you will get the option to select what operating system you would like to install onto your virtual machine. I require 2008r2 64bit, you choose whatever you require then click next.

You will now get asked how many virtual NICS you require. 99% of the time you need one and one only, the only time you would need two is if your server requires access to two different networks or maybes a DMZ. The other option is what network you would like to connect to, by default it will say VM network. This is a switch that is created in vsphere by default, unless you have servers or other VMs that you do not want to see each other then you will only need this default switch.You can just click next to this screen if none of the above applies.

The next screen will ask you what size hard drive you would like your operating system to be installed on. If you are not sure then look up the recommended operating system volume size you require for you OS.I like to build my server 2008 servers with a minimum of 60GB.

The next option is either Thick provisioned or Thin provisioned. Thick provisioning means immediately 60gb will be taken from my storage Thin provisioning means as and when the OS needs the drive space, it will take it until it eventually eats up then 60gb I have allocated. I recommend you NEVER thin proviosion an OS drive. It is perfectley fine to thin provision a data volume for when your files and folders grow.

Finally we get the complete screen which basically shows you a run down of the options we have selected. Pop a tick in the bottom tick box that says Edit the virtual machines before completion. If you forget to do this right click your virtual machine and select edit properties.

When you click continue the Virtual Machine is created. Once done the edit settings screen will appear where you will get the option to allocate more memory,more hard drives and more CPUS etc. Allocate resources as you require by highlighting the device and then entering the value required.. Then select ok. I require just 4 gig ( yes I know its 64 bit before the smarties have a pop! ) and a few cpu`s.

Now, you remember we uploaded you ISO image? we need to point your CD-Rom to it. You could of just pointed the VM to the hosts CD-Rom and then put the CD in there however this is quicker and easier IMO. So, select the CD-Rom on the hardware list.

Then select the Datasore ISO File option and hit browse.Then browse to your ISO file and select it. Make sure you put a tick in the box that says connect at power on. Then finally click OK.

That is it your Virtual machine is complete and ready to buidl its operating system.You will now see your virtual machine down the left hand side. Right click it and select Open Console. You will then see the screen below. Hit the > Play button and the server will start to build.Job done :).

Installation and Configuration of VMware Vcenter 5.5 Appliance Guide

 As you can see the default port is 5480 so go to your IP address and port 5480.

https://172.16.254.195:5480

Once you go to  that IP address, login, run through the basic wizard and you can set the IP address that you would like your VCenter appliance to to run on. once done we can then actually connect to the appliance to manage VM`s etc. This is ran on port 9443.

https://172.16.254.195:9443

Ill now go through some basic essentials for your Virtual appliance. The video to create a Data Center and Cluster is also below.

Virtual Appliance Creating A Data Center,Cluster and Add an ESXi Host

Before we import our hosts we need a Data Center and Cluster to pop them into.

Select Hosts and Clusters > right click your Virtual Center and select New Data Center. Enter a descriptive name for your DC and then accept.

Now we have a Data Center we can create a Cluster to import our hosts. To do so right click the Data Center you have create and select new cluster.Then give it a descriptive name and apply the settings.

We now have a new Data Center and a cluster that we can add and ESXi host into. To do so right click the Cluster you have created and select Add Host. You will be prompted to enter the IP or Host name of the host and also the Root account and password. Once done accept the thumbprint and the hosts will be imported. You are now ready to create a virtual machine. Follow the video before to see the process above carried out.

Create a Data Center and Cluster then Import a Host into VMware Virtual Appliance

Installing Your License to the Virtual Appliance

This is quite tucked away. from the home screen select VCenter Servers , your VCenter , manage thenlicensing, once there select Assign License key and enter the valid key. See the image below.