Louisiana VMware Users Group » Configuration

Host address lookup for server failed: No such host is known.

wsellers — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:39:51 +0000

This error is caused when your Virtual Center Client application cannot directly (over IP) connect to your ESX host. I see this a lot of times when you are installing the VMVC Client on a new workstation.

The “fix” is very easy:

1) Add your ESX hosts into DNS. -not a bad idea in the first place

*** OR ***

2) Edit your Microsoft Windows hosts file to add your ESX servers for name resolution. * Found in “C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\host” — Just edit with notepad.exe 3) Reopen your client and try again.

Now, if you are traversing a firewall, you may need to open some ports: All the ports needed are open (80, 443, 902, 903).

You may also need to take a look at this VM Communities post, if you are having problems with a “Blank” console screen: http://communities.vmware.com/message/671489 – Also, checkout http://communities.vmware.com/message/533696

Thanks, Will

Reset a lost VMware guest (Windows) password

wsellers — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:37:57 +0000

Greetings,

If you never needed to reset a forgotten/corrup Windows administrator password, here is a link and ISO that totally works great. Works fine on Windows-based VMware guests.

http://thebackroomtech.com/2009/08/12/howto-reset-a-lost-vmware-guest-password/

The direct link to the ISO I used: http://www.piotrbania.com/all/kon-boot/data/CD-konboot-v1.1-2in1.zip

The link to the Kon-Boot site: http://www.piotrbania.com/all/kon-boot/

*** As always, use this application/method at your own risk… Always remember to do backups of your sever ***

Cheers, Will

Greetings,If you never needed to reset a forgotten/corrup Windows administrator password, here is a link and ISO that totally works great. Works fine on Windows-based VMware guests.http://thebackroomtech.com/2009/08/12/howto-reset-a-lost-vmware-guest-pa…The direct link to the ISO I used: http://www.piotrbania.com/all/kon-boot/data/CD-konboot-v1.1-2in1.zipThe link to the Kon-Boot site: http://www.piotrbania.com/all/kon-boot/*** As always, use this application/method at your own risk… Always remember to do backups of your sever ***Cheers, Will

VMware vSphere Client running on Windows 7

wsellers — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:35:13 +0000

Greetings,
If you’ve gotten this error “error stating “Error parsing clients.xml file” when connecting to your vCenter server with Microsoft Windows 7 — Here is your fix: http://www.tinyint.com/index.php/2009/09/04/vsphere-client-on-windows-7/

* Note, this was fixed with vSphere 4, Update 1

Cheers, Will

Enter Maintenance Mode via Command Line Interface

wsellers — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:31:58 +0000

If you ever wanted to enter (or exit) the VMware ESX Maintenance Mode, you can do this using the VIMSH command. See below:

- To Enter Maintenance Mode on ESX HOST: vimsh -n -e /hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter

- To Exit Maintenance Mode on ESX HOST: vimsh -n -e /hostsvc/maintenance_mode_exit

Thanks, Will

How to rename a VM guest, easily.

wsellers — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:31:10 +0000

Want to rename a VM guest?!? Sure you can manually edit the *.vmx, *.vmdk files — but here is an easier way:

#1) Shutdown your VM guest. 

#2) Right click, then Rename in Virtual Center. 

#3) Right click, then choose Migrate…. Do a “cold” migration to another Datastore with enough space for your VM guest files, *.vmx *.vmdk’s, etc. 

#4) After this finishes, you can move back to the original location, if you want.. — All of your VM guests files will be properly renamed. 

#5) Power on your VM guest.

* Only thing you have to watch is to make sure you have enough free disk space on the Datastore you are moving to.

Thanks, Will