ESXi Stuff - Revision history

Tinker at 19:28, 23 December 2023

2023-12-23T19:28:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:28, 23 December 2023
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	<span style="color: rgb(186, 55, 42); font-size: 36pt;">WIP...</span>		<span style="color: rgb(186, 55, 42); font-size: 36pt;">WIP... <span style="font-size: 12pt;" >(tho the ship may have sailed now...)</span></span>
	= Installation =		= Installation =
	<span style="color: rgb(186, 55, 42); font-size: 24pt;">WIP...</span>		<span style="color: rgb(186, 55, 42); font-size: 24pt;">WIP...</span>
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	There are 2 ways to reach the command line under ESXi, at the console & through SSH.		There are 2 ways to reach the command line under ESXi, at the console & through SSH.

	At the console kinda sucks in most cases. (Think about it, standing in front of the rack is never a good day.)		At the console kinda sucks in most cases. (Think about it, standing in front of the rack is never a good day.)

	== Basic Concepts ==		== Basic Concepts ==

	* ESXi appears to be based on [https://www.busybox.net/ BusyBox]		* ESXi appears to be based on [https://www.busybox.net/ BusyBox]
	** So... If you're bashing your head against a wall trying to figure out how do do something low-level, check out the documentation for BusyBox.		** So... If you're bashing your head against a wall trying to figure out how do do something low-level, check out the documentation for BusyBox.
	** Basically tho... Most of the functionality is very close to typical Linux, so the man pages on a Linux machine will get you very close.		** Basically tho... Most of the functionality is very close to typical Linux, so the man pages on a Linux machine will get you very close.

	== AvailableESXi Command sets ==		== AvailableESXi Command sets ==
	ESXi has at least 2 separate command interpreters available at the command line...		ESXi has at least 2 separate command interpreters available at the command line...

	* [[ESXi - vim-cmd\|vim-cmd]]		* [[ESXi - vim-cmd{{!}}vim-cmd]]
	* [[ESXi - esxcli\|esxcli]]		* [[ESXi - esxcli{{!}}esxcli]]

	==Usability Fixes==		== Usability Fixes ==
	ESXi has a '''NON-EDITABLE''' shell profile at '''/etc/profile'''.		ESXi has a '''NON-EDITABLE''' shell profile at '''/etc/profile'''.

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	* <code>source /etc/profile.local</code>		* <code>source /etc/profile.local</code>

	enables your changes.		enables your changes.

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	* <code>/sbin/auto-backup.sh</code>		* <code>/sbin/auto-backup.sh</code>

	To tell ESXi to save the changes.		To tell ESXi to save the changes.

	===The Shell Prompt===		=== The Shell Prompt ===
	The shell prompt (when you're in a directory on a mounted volume) is fugly & useless.		The shell prompt (when you're in a directory on a mounted volume) is fugly & useless.

	* <code>vi /etc/profile.local</code>		* <code>vi /etc/profile.local</code>

	PS1="[\u@\h \e[1;33m\A \W\e[m]\$ "		PS1="[\u@\h \e[1;33m\A \W\e[m]\$ "

	(My current preference...)		(My current preference...)

	See [https://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/howto-linux-unix-bash-shell-setup-prompt.html here] or [https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/bash-shell-change-the-color-of-my-shell-prompt-under-linux-or-unix/ here] for a couple of articles about customising your prompt...		See [https://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/howto-linux-unix-bash-shell-setup-prompt.html here] or [https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/bash-shell-change-the-color-of-my-shell-prompt-under-linux-or-unix/ here] for a couple of articles about customising your prompt...

	===Useful Aliases===		=== Useful Aliases ===
	* <code>vi /etc/profile.local</code>		* <code>vi /etc/profile.local</code>

	alias ll="ls -l"		alias ll="ls -l"

	===PATH===		=== PATH ===
	By default, the execution PATH is <code>/bin:/usr/bin</code> . This is fine if you don't want to add executables elsewhere.		By default, the execution PATH is <code>/bin:/usr/bin</code> . This is fine if you don't want to add executables elsewhere.

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	* <code>vi /etc/profile.local</code>		* <code>vi /etc/profile.local</code>

	PATH=/bin:/usr/bin:/vmfs/volumes/Admin/Utilities/Scripts		PATH=/bin:/usr/bin:/vmfs/volumes/Admin/Utilities/Scripts

	(Note that '''/vmfs/volumes/Admin/Utilities/Scripts''' will be specific to your system...)		(Note that '''/vmfs/volumes/Admin/Utilities/Scripts''' will be specific to your system...)

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	Remote execution through SSH does not read the '''/etc/profile.local''' file.		Remote execution through SSH does not read the '''/etc/profile.local''' file.

	One solution is to put your custom executables in the '''/bin''' folder. '''<big>BUT</big>''', this is not maintainable. It can break on reboot and will DEFINITELY break on upgrades.		One solution is to put your custom executables in the '''/bin''' folder. '''<big>BUT</big>''', this is not maintainable. It can break on reboot and will DEFINITELY break on upgrades.

	A better solution is to put a symbolic link there.		A better solution is to put a symbolic link there.
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	* <code>ln -s /vmfs/volumes/Admin/Utilities/Scripts/MyCustomCode.sh /bin</code>		* <code>ln -s /vmfs/volumes/Admin/Utilities/Scripts/MyCustomCode.sh /bin</code>

	Or...		Or...

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	* <code>ssh root@esxi1 /vmfs/volumes/Admin/Utilities/Scripts/MyCustomCode.sh</code>		* <code>ssh root@esxi1 /vmfs/volumes/Admin/Utilities/Scripts/MyCustomCode.sh</code>

	=Neat Tricks=		= Neat Tricks =
	==Copying a VM from one server to another==		== Copying a VM from one server to another ==
	Start by shutting down the VM...		Start by shutting down the VM...

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	* <code>ssh root@esxi0</code>		* <code>ssh root@esxi0</code>

	Next, copy the VM to the destination server.		Next, copy the VM to the destination server.

	* <code>scp -r /vmfs/volumes/VMs/TinkersVM root@esxi1:/vmfs/volumes/VMs</code>		* <code>scp -r /vmfs/volumes/VMs/TinkersVM root@esxi1:/vmfs/volumes/VMs</code>

	Wait a while...		Wait a while...

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	That'd be a '''Yes'''.		That'd be a '''Yes'''.

	==Messing about with the DCUI screen==		== Messing about with the DCUI screen ==

	* [https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2046347 Creating a welcome message on the DCUI screen of an ESXi host (2046347)]		* [https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2046347 Creating a welcome message on the DCUI screen of an ESXi host (2046347)]
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	* [https://williamlam.com/2010/09/how-to-add-splash-of-color-to-esxi-dcui.html How to add a splash of color to ESXi DCUI Welcome Screen]		* [https://williamlam.com/2010/09/how-to-add-splash-of-color-to-esxi-dcui.html How to add a splash of color to ESXi DCUI Welcome Screen]

	=Oddities=		= Oddities =
	==SCP Copy Stalled and/or rekeyed ciphers==		== SCP Copy Stalled and/or rekeyed ciphers ==
	See:[https://techpress.net/copy-files-between-esxi-hosts-by-using-scp-secure-copy-command-scp-copy-stalled-fix/ Copy Files between ESXi Hosts by using SCP (Secure Copy) Command / SCP Copy Stalled Fix]		See:[https://techpress.net/copy-files-between-esxi-hosts-by-using-scp-secure-copy-command-scp-copy-stalled-fix/ Copy Files between ESXi Hosts by using SCP (Secure Copy) Command / SCP Copy Stalled Fix]

Tinker: /* PATH */

2022-04-21T20:10:20Z

PATH

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:10, 21 April 2022
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	PATH=/bin:/usr/bin:/vmfs/volumes/Admin/Utilities/Scripts		PATH=/bin:/usr/bin:/vmfs/volumes/Admin/Utilities/Scripts
	~~export PATH~~

	(Note that '''/vmfs/volumes/Admin/Utilities/Scripts''' will be specific to your system...)		(Note that '''/vmfs/volumes/Admin/Utilities/Scripts''' will be specific to your system...)

Tinker: /* Laying out the Datastores */

2022-04-21T00:58:54Z

Laying out the Datastores

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:58, 20 April 2022
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	I tend to prefer splitting up my storage into at least 3 separate datastores. (On completely separate drives or RAID arrays...)		I tend to prefer splitting up my storage into at least 3 separate datastores. (On completely separate drives or RAID arrays...)
	=== An "Admin" Datastore ===		=== An "Admin" Datastore ===
	* [[ESXi Admin Utilities{{!}}Utilities]]		* [[ESXi - Admin Utilities{{!}}Utilities]]
	** Utility space for scripts & add-ons & such		** Utility space for scripts & add-ons & such
	* ISOs		* ISOs
	** ISO images & such		** ISO images & such
	* [[ESXi Admin CloneMe{{!}}CloneMe]]		* [[ESXi - Admin CloneMe{{!}}CloneMe]]
	** Baseline VMs for creating new VMs from		** Baseline VMs for creating new VMs from
	* Manager		* Manager

Tinker: /* Usability Fixes */

2022-04-21T00:56:35Z

Usability Fixes

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:56, 20 April 2022
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	** So... If you're bashing your head against a wall trying to figure out how do do something low-level, check out the documentation for BusyBox.		** So... If you're bashing your head against a wall trying to figure out how do do something low-level, check out the documentation for BusyBox.
	** Basically tho... Most of the functionality is very close to typical Linux, so the man pages on a Linux machine will get you very close.		** Basically tho... Most of the functionality is very close to typical Linux, so the man pages on a Linux machine will get you very close.

			== AvailableESXi Command sets ==
			ESXi has at least 2 separate command interpreters available at the command line...

			* [[ESXi - vim-cmd\|vim-cmd]]
			* [[ESXi - esxcli\|esxcli]]

	==Usability Fixes==		==Usability Fixes==

Tinker: /* ESXi Command sets */

2022-04-21T00:54:40Z

ESXi Command sets

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:54, 20 April 2022
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	* <code>ssh root@esxi1 /vmfs/volumes/Admin/Utilities/Scripts/MyCustomCode.sh</code>		* <code>ssh root@esxi1 /vmfs/volumes/Admin/Utilities/Scripts/MyCustomCode.sh</code>

	~~== ESXi Command sets ==~~
	* [[ESXi - vim-cmd\|vim-cmd]]
	* [[ESXi - esxcli\|esxcli]]

	=Neat Tricks=		=Neat Tricks=

Tinker: /* ESXi from the Command Line */

2022-04-21T00:49:31Z

ESXi from the Command Line

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:49, 20 April 2022
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	= ESXi from the Command Line =		= ESXi from the Command Line =
			There are 2 ways to reach the command line under ESXi, at the console & through SSH.

			At the console kinda sucks in most cases. (Think about it, standing in front of the rack is never a good day.)

	== Basic Concepts ==		== Basic Concepts ==

Tinker: /* Laying out the Datastores */

2022-04-21T00:38:03Z

Laying out the Datastores

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:38, 20 April 2022
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	I tend to prefer splitting up my storage into at least 3 separate datastores. (On completely separate drives or RAID arrays...)		I tend to prefer splitting up my storage into at least 3 separate datastores. (On completely separate drives or RAID arrays...)
	=== An "Admin" Datastore ===		=== An "Admin" Datastore ===
	* Utilities		* [[ESXi Admin Utilities{{!}}Utilities]]
	** Utility space for scripts & add-ons & such		** Utility space for scripts & add-ons & such
	* ISOs		* ISOs
	** ISO images & such		** ISO images & such
	* CloneMe		* [[ESXi Admin CloneMe{{!}}CloneMe]]
	** Baseline VMs for creating new VMs from		** Baseline VMs for creating new VMs from
	* Manager		* Manager

Tinker: /* Laying out the Datastores */

2022-04-21T00:05:16Z

Laying out the Datastores

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:05, 20 April 2022
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	== Laying out the Datastores ==		== Laying out the Datastores ==
			I tend to prefer splitting up my storage into at least 3 separate datastores. (On completely separate drives or RAID arrays...)
	=== An "Admin" Datastore ===		=== An "Admin" Datastore ===
	* Utilities		* Utilities
			** Utility space for scripts & add-ons & such
	* ISOs		* ISOs
			** ISO images & such
	* CloneMe		* CloneMe
			** Baseline VMs for creating new VMs from
	* Manager		* Manager
			** A VM just for remoting in & managing the server

	=== A "VMs" Datastore ===		=== A "VMs" Datastore ===

			This is where I install the actual VMs.
	=== 1 (or more) "Storage" Datastores ===		=== 1 (or more) "Storage" Datastores ===
			Secondary (storage) drives for the VMs get built here.

	= Maintenance =		= Maintenance =

Tinker: /* Setup */

2022-04-20T23:33:31Z

Setup

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:33, 20 April 2022
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	<span style="color: rgb(186, 55, 42); font-size: 24pt;">WIP...</span>		<span style="color: rgb(186, 55, 42); font-size: 24pt;">WIP...</span>

	* Laying out the Datastores		== Laying out the Datastores ==
	* An "Admin" Datastore		=== An "Admin" Datastore ===
			* Utilities
			* ISOs
			* CloneMe
			* Manager

			=== A "VMs" Datastore ===

			=== 1 (or more) "Storage" Datastores ===

	= Maintenance =		= Maintenance =

Tinker: /* Setup */

2022-04-20T22:41:07Z

Setup

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:41, 20 April 2022
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	= Setup =		= Setup =
			<span style="color: rgb(186, 55, 42); font-size: 24pt;">WIP...</span>

	* Laying out the Datastores		* Laying out the Datastores
	* An "Admin" Datastore		* An "Admin" Datastore