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How To Manage VMware Server 2.0.x ?

2 min read #Server #vSphere #Administration #VMware

When VMware released the free product VMware Server 2.0.0 version, they decided to get rid of the Console client application.

Was this a good thing? Some say no, some say that it was, personally - I think it was a mistake to ditch the Console.

A bit of background.

When you install Server 2.0.x, bundled with it you get an Apache/Tomcat installation on your host.

Windows Services list with VMware Server Web Access highlighted among VMware authorization, DHCP, host agent and NAT services

Browser showing the default Apache Tomcat success page at http://10.0.0.5:8308

Now this is something that I find personally annoying. Take for example a Windows Host. Windows has IIS built in. So why do I need to add another Web server to the machine. Same goes for Linux by the way, this will install its own Web Server, regardless if you are already using Apache on you Linux host

And it uses resources..

Windows Task Manager process list with tomcat6.exe Service Runner highlighted, showing memory usage

This is the management console that you receive.

VMware Infrastructure Web Access summary for host home2 showing processors, memory, datastores and networks

There are certain use cases for running Server instead of ESXi, to name a few - non compatible hardware, access to USB devices, sound etc. that you cannot get with using ESXi

But never fear, and this is not a very well documented feature, but it is available. Some of you might have heard about a management tool that can help. It is free, it is a VMware product and most of you are already using it.

If you have not already guessed, I am talking about the vSphere Infrastructure Client.

So how would you go about doing this? Well it is pretty simple. When managing your host through the Web interface you went to the following ling (my host IP = 10.0.0.5) https://10.0.0.5:8333/ui/#

So what you should do is open the VIC and in the host field connect to the host but on port 8333 like this:

VMware vSphere Client login dialog with IP address 10.0.0.5:8333, username and password fields, and Login button

Login with your credentials and then you get a familiar screen

VMware Infrastructure Client Summary tab for a VMware Server 2.0 host showing CPU, memory and datastore details

Note the subtle differences though

VMware Server 2.0.0 build 122956 console title bar for host home2

VMware network adapter dropdown listing Bridged, HostOnly and NAT options

Processors panel showing Intel CPU 2140 at 1.6GHz, 1 socket, 2 cores, 2 logical processors

VMware Server storage view of C Drive local datastore, 153.38 GB capacity with 53.87 GB free, usage pie

VMware networking configuration showing virtual switches vmnet0 through vmnet3 with their port groups and physical adapters

VMware ESX Licensed Features page showing vmwServer edition licensed for 1, up to 4-way SMP

VMware Virtual Machine Startup and Shutdown settings, VM Jabawoki set with 180 second delays

And last but not least a remote console to a working VM

VMware console of Jabawoki Ubuntu VM booting with services starting and login prompt, summary at left

This is fully functional. You can create VM’s, change resources, Snapshots, the works!

And of course I do not need apache running and using resources.

Process list with vmware-vmx.exe, Rtvscan.exe, vmware-hostd.exe and googletalk.exe showing CPU and memory usage

Windows Services list with a red arrow pointing to the highlighted VMware Server Web Access service set to Manual

Why did I find it important to bring this to your attention? With this method it allows you use a single tool and application to manage all your virtual hosts, be they:

  • VMware Server
  • ESXi
  • vCenter

I find it useful in my mixed VMware environment.

Hope you Enjoyed the ride!