VMware vSphere Server Virtualization

I have recently published articles on network-oriented topics. I wanted to add some updated information on Vmware vSphere installation. In fact, we have briefly touched on Virtual Server and Storage Systems in our previous articles (see our article Data Center Virtualization Solutions ).

Virtualization Planning

Now I wanted to explainvirtualization in a little more detail. For this reason, I will try to explain the virtualization process I performed on HP DL380 Server and MSA 6000 Storage with VMware vSphere (Esxi 5.5). First, I would like to briefly say something about virtualization.

First of all, after evaluating the RAM-Processor-HDD trio on the physical server together, let’s plan how many virtual servers can be run. The most decisive component here is Ram. Although Server Operating Systems, whether Linux or Microsoft based, can run with 2 Gb base memory, the ideal base Ram capacity should be considered as minimum 8 Gb.

Hard disk planning will vary according to what you will run on the server. In other words, if we think like a directory server, Web server will be installed, a minimum of 100 Gb space per operating system will be sufficient. However, if you are going to set up a Web service type server, 50 Gb will be enough for the server that will only function as a transfer or bridge.

The Microsoft Windows Server 2012 operating system takes about 25 Gb of disk space with updates. Finally, let’s do CPU planning. Unlike the other two components, we will do CPU planning over virtualized CPUs.

Planning can be done by virtualizing both the processor and the cores. What is done here is actually a“Virtual Over Clock” process in a sense. Another important point is, can the Power Supply provide enough power? Once you have clarified this, you can use the processor down to the last transistor.

Vmware Esxi

After the planning is done, we will start VmWare installation in raw form without partitioning on local disks configured with Raid. Please visit the Vmware website to download the free Vmware Esxi version.

If your server supports usb-iso installations, insert the downloaded iso file into the server with a flash memory. If not, burn CD/DVD as bootable and proceed to the installation phase with this method.

Vmware – Vsphere Setup

VMware will ask you for some parameters before installation. Start the installation by entering the appropriate parameters. The installation of a Linux based OS will start. When the installation is finished, it will ask you for network and password information.

After determining these appropriately, the one-to-one operations on the server will be over. In the next steps, we will provide access from remote terminals thanks to the IP address you set. In the web browser address line on the PC you will manage, type the IP address you specified for your VMware Esxi server without adding anything at the beginning and end.

On the page that opens, download links for Vclient and Vcenter will be listed. As shown in the picture below, click on the Download vSphere Client link under the Getting Started heading and download the Vmware vSphere Client application.

Run the vClient application you downloaded and installed on your computer. First, you will see the Login screen.

On this screen, log in by entering the IP and username and password you gave to the server in VMware Vsphere Setup. When you log in, you will see a screen more or less like this.

From this screen, you can create new virtual servers, authorize, virtualize physical network cards, and manage connected disks. Esxi servers can be managed completely from here.

There is no management application on the server itself physically. Only simple settings such as user operations and network settings can be made on the server itself. For this reason, we will manage our Virtual Servers from the interface of the Vsphere Vclient application.

If you have a Vmware Vsphere license number, you will do the licensing process through this application. The first part of our article, the Installation section, ends here. In our next article, we will take a look at“How to Set Up Virtual Server – Host Config?”(VmWare Virtual Server Setup – Host Config).