Hi Josh,
I am now able to do a reservation for a Windows image, and I'm moving onto
creating a Linux image.
I have some queries for my deployment as below:
a.) The Cygwin SSH service on Windows Server 2012 is setting to manual by
default when an image loads during reservation, even though I would have
set it to autostart before capturing an image. Is there a workaround to get
the service to autostart?
b.) My deployment scenario is for 300 concurrent reservations with a mix of
Windows and Linux images;
- Do I need to create all 300 computer objects in VCL and assign them
MAC addresses?
- Do I also need to generate dhcpd.conf data for all 300
computers, along with the static IP address assignment?
Thanks and regards,
CS
On Tue, 18 Aug 2020, 19:08 Josh Thompson, <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi CS,
>
> I'm not sure what would cause the ESXi error you listed. I don't remember
> seeing that before.
>
> In most cases, when VCL fails to provision a VM, it puts the computer in a
> failed state so that it won't try to provision to that one again in case
> there
> is a problem with it causing it to repeatedly fail. To change it back to
> available, go to Manage->Manage Computers->Edit Computer Profiles, and
> edit
> the computer to change the state from failed to available.
>
> Josh
>
> On Monday, August 17, 2020 5:44:53 PM EDT you wrote:
> > Hello Josh,
> >
> > After successfully capturing a base image, I attempted to reserve the
> same
> > image for the first time and the reservation failed.
> >
> > The error in ESXi tasks log was: [Modue 'CPUID' power on failed;
> Preferred
> > mode unavailable. Using Intel VT-x/EPT instead; This host does not
> support
> > EPT; Failed to start the virtual machine.]
> >
> > When I attempt to reserve the image again, even after some time I get a
> > message that "There are no available times that the selected image can be
> > used."
> >
> > Please advise me how I can make the image reservable again to continue
> > troubleshooting.
> >
> > Thanks and regards,
> > CS
> >
> > On Thu, 13 Aug 2020 at 15:49, Scania 2019 <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> > > Josh,
> > >
> > > Thanks for your reply, and I will revert should I have any questions
> along
> > > the way.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > CS
> > >
> > > On Thu, 13 Aug 2020, 15:11 Josh Thompson, <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> > >> VCL uses SSH to log in to provisioned VMs to control them, both for
> Linux
> > >> and
> > >> Windows. We use Cygwin on Windows to provide sshd. Instructions on
> > >> setting
> > >> that up on your Windows VM before capturing it can be found here:
> > >>
> > >> https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/VCL/
> > >> Install+and+Configure+Cygwin+SSHD
> > >>
> > >> VCL does require all VMs provisioned by it to have 2 network
> interfaces,
> > >> each
> > >> with their own address. One is used for VCL to manage the VM
> (private);
> > >> the
> > >> other is used for users to connect to it (public). You'll need DHCP
> > >> configured to provide IP addresses to the private network and
> configured
> > >> so
> > >> that each VM always gets the same address. Once you have created
> > >> computer
> > >> entries for your VMs under Manage->"Manage Computers"->"Edit Computer
> > >> Profiles", you can select a set of computers and then "Actions for
> > >> selected
> > >> computers"->"Generate Private dhcpd Data" to help generate the data
> > >> needed for
> > >> dhcpd.conf.
> > >>
> > >> Josh
> > >>
> > >> On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 5:37:37 PM EDT Scania 2019 wrote:
> > >> > Hi Josh,
> > >> >
> > >> > I have installed VCL in a single ESXi server, and installed a
> Windows
> > >> > Server 2012 VM for use to capture a base image. I'm facing an issue
> > >>
> > >> when I
> > >>
> > >> > try to capture the base image with error that the IP I have
> specified
> > >>
> > >> does
> > >>
> > >> > not have port 22 and 24 open for SSH.
> > >> >
> > >> > I noticed the Win2k12 VM I want to capture feom does not have IP
> > >>
> > >> addresses
> > >>
> > >> > on both NICs. Do I have to add the private IP manually?
> > >> >
> > >> > I'm also not certain with regards to SSH in the Windows server, as
> well
> > >>
> > >> as
> > >>
> > >> > the auth method that the management node will use to connect on to
> it.
> > >> >
> > >> > Please clarify these for me.
> > >> >
> > >> > Regards,
> > >> > CS
> > >> >
> > >> > On Fri, 1 May 2020, 19:21 Scania 2019, <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> > >> > > Hi Josh,
> > >> > >
> > >> > > Thanks for getting back to me, as well as for the installation
> > >> > > instructions.
> > >> > >
> > >> > > I will get follow up with questions if I happen to get stuck.
> > >> > >
> > >> > > Regards,
> > >> > > SC
> > >> > >
> > >> > > On Fri, 1 May 2020, 16:10 Josh Thompson, <[email protected]>
> > >>
> > >> wrote:
> > >> > >> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> > >> > >> Hash: SHA1
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> Hi SC,
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> This doesn't cover all of the exact details, but it should be a
> good
> > >> > >> start.
> > >> > >> Please follow up with any questions about the details of specific
> > >>
> > >> steps,
> > >>
> > >> > >> and
> > >> > >> we can help you through those. We also have an IRC channel on
> > >>
> > >> Freenode -
> > >>
> > >> > >> #asfvcl - you can join to get help as you work through the
> > >>
> > >> installation
> > >>
> > >> > >> (if
> > >> > >> during business hours EST time). I'm assuming you're going to
> use
> > >>
> > >> NAT
> > >>
> > >> > >> for
> > >> > >> users to connect to the 2 compute VMs. I'm a little fuzzy on
> some
> > >> > >> details of
> > >> > >> ESXi. So, I might use some terminology wrong in those parts.
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * set up 3 vswitches on the ESXi host
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * one that is generally referred to as the "private" network
> (how
> > >>
> > >> VCL
> > >>
> > >> > >> manages VMs) - plan on using 192.168.1.0/24 as the IP space for
> > >>
> > >> this one
> > >>
> > >> > >> * create a port group named "private" on this vswitch
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * one that is generally referred to as the "NAT" network -
> plan on
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> using
> > >> > >> 10.0.0.0/24 as the IP space for this one
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * create a port group named "nat" on this vswitch
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * one that is generally referred to as the "public" network -
> this
> > >>
> > >> one
> > >>
> > >> > >> will
> > >> > >> need to be connected to a NIC on the ESXi host - this will use
> > >>
> > >> whatever
> > >>
> > >> > >> public
> > >> > >> IP space you have available. I'll use YOURPUBIP in this guide
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * create a port group named "public" on this vswitch
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * create a datastore (network or local) on the ESXi host where
> the
> > >>
> > >> disk
> > >>
> > >> > >> files
> > >> > >> for the VMs will be located named "vcldatastore"
> > >> > >> * manually create a VM on ESXi installed with CentOS 7 with the
> > >>
> > >> latest
> > >>
> > >> > >> updates
> > >> > >> (CentOS 8 is not yet supported for the management node)
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * this VM will need to have 3 NICs, one on each network, use
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> 192.168.1.10
> > >> > >> for the private IP, 10.0.0.10 for the NAT IP, and give it a
> public
> > >> > >> IP
> > >> > >> (YOURPUBIP)
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * for NAT management, I think root on the management node
> needs to
> > >>
> > >> be
> > >>
> > >> > >> able
> > >> > >> to ssh to itself without a password (using identity keys). So,
> this
> > >>
> > >> will
> > >>
> > >> > >> need
> > >> > >> to be configured as well.
> > >> > >> * configure your ESXi host to have a NIC on the private network
> with
> > >>
> > >> an
> > >>
> > >> > >> IP of
> > >> > >> 192.168.1.11 (I'm assuming it already has a NIC on the public
> > >> > >> network
> > >> > >> that you
> > >> > >> are using to manage it)
> > >> > >> * configure the ESXi host so that you can ssh from the management
> > >>
> > >> node to
> > >>
> > >> > >> the
> > >> > >> ESXi host using identity keys (look here
> > >>
> > >> https://vcl.apache.org/docs/
> > >>
> > >> > >> vmwareconfiguration)
> > >> > >> * download and validate the VCL installation script on the
> > >> > >> management
> > >> > >> node
> > >> > >> (http://vcl.apache.org/docs/VCL251InstallGuide.html)
> > >> > >> * run the installation script
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * give a password for the admin user
> > >> > >> * specify a time zone
> > >> > >> * select the NIC with IP 192.168.1.10 for the private network
> > >> > >> * select the NIC with IP 10.0.0.10 for the public network (yes,
> > >>
> > >> this
> > >>
> > >> > >> will be
> > >> > >> NAT even though it says public)
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * install dhcpd
> > >> > >> * type 'YES' for the license agreement
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * go to https://YOURPUBIP/vcl/
> > >> > >> * login with admin and the password you entered in the
> installation
> > >> > >> script
> > >> > >> * go to Manage->Virtual Hosts->VM Host Profiles
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * select "VMware ESXi - local storage" -> Configure Profile
> > >> > >> * click the value next to "Virtual Disk Path" and change it to
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> "vcldatastore" (these values get saved just by clicking off of
> them)
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * click the value next to "VM Working Directory Path" and
> change
> > >>
> > >> it to
> > >>
> > >> > >> "vcldatastore"
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * click the value next to "VM Network 0" and change it to
> > >> > >> "private"
> > >> > >> * click the value next to "VM Network 1" and change it to "nat"
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * go to Manage->Management Nodes
> > >> > >> * click Submit for "Edit Management Node Profiles"
> > >> > >> * click Edit for localhost
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * check the box for "Use as NAT Host"
> > >> > >> * NAT Public IP Address: YOURPUBIP
> > >> > >> * NAT Internal IP Address: 10.0.0.10
> > >> > >> * click Save Changes
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * go to Manage->Manage Computers
> > >> > >> * click Submit for "Edit Computer Profiles"
> > >> > >> * click Add New Computer
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * hostname: vmhost1
> > >> > >> * public IP: 1.1.1.1 (doesn't matter what you enter as long as
> it
> > >>
> > >> is a
> > >>
> > >> > >> valid
> > >> > >> IP)
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * private IP: 192.168.1.11
> > >> > >> * state: vmhostinuse
> > >> > >> * VM Host Profile: "VMware ESXi - local storage"
> > >> > >> * RAM: whatever your host has
> > >> > >> * Cores: whatever your host has
> > >> > >> * Processor: enter something, but it's unused
> > >> > >> * Network: whatever your host has
> > >> > >> * click Add Computer
> > >> > >> * select "allComputer" then <-Add
> > >> > >> * click Close
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * click Add new Computer
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * change "Single Computer" to "Multiple Computers" at the top
> > >> > >> * Name: vm%
> > >> > >> * Start: 1
> > >> > >> * End: 2
> > >> > >> * Type: Virtual Machine
> > >> > >> * Start Public IP Address: 10.0.0.100
> > >> > >> * End Public IP Address: 10.0.0.101
> > >> > >> * Start Private IP Address: 192.168.1.100
> > >> > >> * End Private IP Address: 192.168.1.101
> > >> > >> * Start MAC Address: 00:50:56:00:00:01
> > >> > >> * Provisioning Engine: VMware
> > >> > >> * RAM: some value in MB, this will be the max value an image
> > >>
> > >> deployed
> > >>
> > >> > >> to
> > >> > >> this VM could have, the actual RAM configured for VMs deployed in
> > >>
> > >> this
> > >>
> > >> > >> slot is
> > >> > >> set on each image
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * Cores: similar information as RAM
> > >> > >> * Processor Speed: this is kind of an old leftover item from
> when
> > >>
> > >> VCL
> > >>
> > >> > >> just
> > >> > >> did bare metal provisioning. Now, it's just used in ranking the
> VMs
> > >>
> > >> that
> > >>
> > >> > >> could
> > >> > >> be used to fulfill a reservation. Just enter something like
> 3000.
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> * Network: same that you entered for the host
> > >> > >> * Connect Using NAT: checked
> > >> > >> * Nat Host: localhost
> > >> > >> * click Add Computers
> > >> > >> * select "All VM Computers" then <-Add
> > >> > >> * click Close
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> Now, you need to create your first base image. You'll need to
> > >>
> > >> manually
> > >>
> > >> > >> install Windows or Linux (CentOS 7 or Ubuntu 16 or 18) on a VM on
> > >> > >> the
> > >> > >> ESXi
> > >> > >> host. When you create the VM shell, give it 2 NICs, one on
> private
> > >>
> > >> with
> > >>
> > >> > >> mac
> > >> > >> address 00:50:56:00:00:01 and one on NAT with 00:50:56:00:00:02.
> > >>
> > >> You may
> > >>
> > >> > >> actually want to give it a 3rd NIC on the public network since
> NAT
> > >>
> > >> won't
> > >>
> > >> > >> have
> > >> > >> been fully set up on the management node yet so that it can get
> to
> > >> > >> outside
> > >> > >> resources. Remove this NIC before capturing the VM. Use the
> > >> > >> documentation
> > >> > >> here: http://vcl.apache.org/docs/baseimagecreation
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> After the image is captured, ensure it is added to the
> allVMimages
> > >>
> > >> image
> > >>
> > >> > >> group. Do this under Manage->Manage Images->Edit Grouping &
> > >>
> > >> Mapping. In
> > >>
> > >> > >> the
> > >> > >> "Group By Image" tab (opened by default after you have an image),
> > >>
> > >> select
> > >>
> > >> > >> the
> > >> > >> image, click Get Groups, then select "allVMimages" and click
> <-Add.
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> If everything went correctly, you should now be able to go to
> > >> > >> Reservations,
> > >> > >> click New Reservation, and reserve the image.
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> Follow up with questions as you go through the process.
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> Josh
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> On Thursday, April 30, 2020 1:37:38 PM EDT Scania 2019 wrote:
> > >> > >> > Good day,
> > >> > >> >
> > >> > >> > I have an urgent deployment I need to make as follows:
> > >> > >> >
> > >> > >> > I have one ESXI host, and in it I would like to install one vm
> > >> > >> > that
> > >> > >> > runs
> > >> > >> > the web portal, database, and management node.
> > >> > >> >
> > >> > >> > Alongside this, in the same host I would like to setup two VMs,
> > >>
> > >> which
> > >>
> > >> > >> will
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> > be the compute nodes.
> > >> > >> >
> > >> > >> > I'm therefore requesting a clear step by step how-to, with the
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> assumption
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> > that I know nothing. Hopefully this time I won't give up on
> > >>
> > >> setting up
> > >>
> > >> > >> VCL
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> > as I believe it to be a great product. Only the documentation
> is
> > >>
> > >> not
> > >>
> > >> > >> clear
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> > and in some crucial parts assumes we already have the technical
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> knowledge.
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> > Thank you in advance for your help.
> > >> > >> >
> > >> > >> > Regards,
> > >> > >> > SC
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> - --
> > >> > >> - -------------------------------
> > >> > >> Josh Thompson
> > >> > >> Systems Programmer
> > >> > >> Virtual Computing Lab (VCL)
> > >> > >> North Carolina State University
> > >> > >> my GPG/PGP key can be found at www.keyserver.net
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> All electronic mail messages in connection with State business
> which
> > >> > >> are sent to or received by this account are subject to the NC
> Public
> > >> > >> Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
> > >> > >> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> iF0EARECAB0WIQRMIdRtWXideTZDK31X8tBw1209AwUCXqwtuAAKCRBX8tBw1209
> > >> > >> A6MuAJ9JuQBlaLJkJnvqdbSxG/f0CKM2xgCfQbDTHK8+UhnO9gGOWr7Z2PIrew0=
> > >> > >> =ZWwH
> > >> > >> -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> -------------------------------
> > >> Josh Thompson
> > >> Systems Programmer
> > >> Virtual Computing Lab (VCL)
> > >> North Carolina State University
> > >>
> > >> [email protected]
> > >> 919-515-5323
> > >>
> > >> my GPG/PGP key can be found on pool.sks-keyservers.net
> > >>
> > >> All electronic mail messages in connection with State business which
> > >> are sent to or received by this account are subject to the NC Public
> > >> Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
> --
> -------------------------------
> Josh Thompson
> Systems Programmer
> Virtual Computing Lab (VCL)
> North Carolina State University
>
> [email protected]
> 919-515-5323
>
> my GPG/PGP key can be found on pool.sks-keyservers.net
>
> All electronic mail messages in connection with State business which
> are sent to or received by this account are subject to the NC Public
> Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
