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536 lines
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536 lines
18 KiB
HTML
<html><body>
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<h1>VMware ESX hypervisor driver</h1>
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<ul id="toc"></ul>
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<p>
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The libvirt VMware ESX driver can manage VMware ESX/ESXi 3.5/4.0 and
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VMware GSX 2.0, also called VMware Server 2.0, and possibly later
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versions.
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</p>
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<h2><a name="prereq">Deployment pre-requisites</a></h2>
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<p>
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None. Any out-of-the-box installation of ESX/GSX should work. No
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preparations are required on the server side, no libvirtd must be
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installed on the ESX server. The driver uses version 2.5 of the remote,
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SOAP based
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<a href="http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vc-sdk/visdk25pubs/ReferenceGuide/">
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VMware Virtual Infrastructure API</a> (VI API) to communicate with the
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ESX server, like the VMware Virtual Infrastructure Client does. Since
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version 4.0 this API is called
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<a href="http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vc-sdk/visdk400pubs/ReferenceGuide/">
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VMware vSphere API</a>.
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</p>
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<h2><a name="uri">Connections to the VMware ESX driver</a></h2>
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<p>
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Some example remote connection URIs for the driver are:
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</p>
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<pre>
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esx://example.com (ESX over HTTPS)
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gsx://example.com (GSX over HTTPS)
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esx://example.com/?transport=http (ESX over HTTP)
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esx://example.com/?no_verify=1 (ESX over HTTPS, but doesn't verify the server's SSL certificate)
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</pre>
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<h3><a name="uriformat">URI Format</a></h3>
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<p>
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URIs have this general form ('[...]' marks an optional part).
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</p>
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<pre>
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type://[username@]hostname[:port]/[?extraparameters]
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</pre>
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<p>
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The <code>type://</code> is either <code>esx://</code> or
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<code>gsx://</code> and the driver selects the default port depending
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on it. For ESX the default HTTPS port is 443, for GSX it is 8333. If
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the port parameter is given, it overrides the default port.
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</p>
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<h4>Extra parameters</h4>
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<p>
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Extra parameters can be added to a URI as part of the query string
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(the part following '?'). The driver understands the extra parameters
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shown below.
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</p>
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<table class="top_table">
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<tr>
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<th>Name</th>
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<th>Values</th>
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<th>Meaning</th>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td>
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<code>transport</code>
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</td>
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<td>
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<code>http</code> or <code>https</code>
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</td>
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<td>
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Overrides the default HTTPS transport. For ESX the default
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HTTP port is 80, for GSX it is 8222.
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</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td>
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<code>vcenter</code>
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</td>
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<td>
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Hostname of a VMware vCenter or <code>*</code>
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</td>
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<td>
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In order to perform a migration the driver needs to know the
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VMware vCenter for the ESX server. If set to <code>*</code>,
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the driver connects to the vCenter known to the ESX server.
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</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td>
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<code>no_verify</code>
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</td>
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<td>
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<code>0</code> or <code>1</code>
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</td>
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<td>
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If set to 1, this disables libcurl client checks of the server's
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SSL certificate. The default value it 0.
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</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td>
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<code>auto_answer</code>
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</td>
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<td>
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<code>0</code> or <code>1</code>
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</td>
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<td>
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If set to 1, the driver answers all
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<a href="#questions">questions</a> with the default answer.
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If set to 0, questions are reported as errors. The default
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value it 0.
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</td>
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</tr>
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</table>
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<h3><a name="auth">Authentication</a></h3>
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<p>
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In order to perform any useful operation the driver needs to log into
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the ESX server. Therefore, only <code>virConnectOpenAuth</code> can be
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used to connect to an ESX server, <code>virConnectOpen</code> and
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<code>virConnectOpenReadOnly</code> don't work.
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To log into an ESX server or vCenter the driver will request
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credentials using the callback passed to the
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<code>virConnectOpenAuth</code> function. The driver passes the
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hostname as challenge parameter to the callback. This enables the
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callback to distinguish between requests for ESX server and vCenter.
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</p>
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<p>
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<strong>Note</strong>: During the ongoing driver development, testing
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is done using an unrestricted <code>root</code> account. Problems may
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occur if you use a restricted account. Detailed testing with restricted
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accounts has not been done yet.
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</p>
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<h2><a name="questions">Questions blocking tasks</a></h2>
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<p>
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Some methods of the VI API start tasks, for example
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<code>PowerOnVM_Task()</code>. Such tasks may be blocked by questions
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if the ESX server detects an issue with the domain that requires user
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interaction. The ESX driver cannot prompt the user to answer a
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question, libvirt doesn't have an API for something like this.
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</p>
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<p>
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The VI API provides the <code>AnswerVM()</code> method to
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programmatically answer a questions. So the driver has two options
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how to handle such a situation: either answer the questions with the
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default answer or report the question as an error and cancel the
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blocked task if possible. The
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<a href="#uriformat"><code>auto_answer</code></a> query parameter
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controls the answering behavior.
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</p>
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<h2><a name="xmlspecial">Specialties in the domain XML config</a></h2>
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<p>
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There are several specialties in the domain XML config for ESX domains.
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</p>
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<h3>Restrictions</h3>
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<p>
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There are some restrictions for some values of the domain XML config.
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The driver will complain if this restrictions are violated.
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</p>
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<ul>
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<li>
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Memory size has to be a multiple of 4096
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</li>
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<li>
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Number of virtual CPU has to be 1 or a multiple of 2
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</li>
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<li>
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Valid MAC address prefixes are <code>00:0c:29</code> and
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<code>00:50:56</code>
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</li>
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</ul>
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<h3>Datastore references</h3>
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<p>
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Storage is managed in datastores. VMware uses a special path format to
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reference files in a datastore. Basically, the datastore name is put
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into squared braces in front of the path.
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</p>
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<pre>
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[datastore] directory/filename
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</pre>
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<p>
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To define a new domain the driver converts the domain XML into a
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VMware VMX file and uploads it to a datastore known to the ESX server.
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Because multiple datastores may be known to an ESX server the driver
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needs to decide to which datastores the VMX file should be uploaded.
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The driver deduces this information from the path of the source of the
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first file-based harddisk listed in the domain XML.
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</p>
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<h3>Available hardware</h3>
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<p>
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VMware ESX supports different models of SCSI controllers and network
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cards.
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</p>
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<h4>SCSI controller models</h4>
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<dl>
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<dt><code>buslogic</code></dt>
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<dd>
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BusLogic SCSI controller for older guests.
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</dd>
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<dt><code>lsilogic</code></dt>
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<dd>
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LSI Logic SCSI controller for recent guests.
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</dd>
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</dl>
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<p>
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Here a domain XML snippet:
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</p>
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<pre>
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...
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<disk type='file' device='disk'>
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<driver name='<strong>lsilogic</strong>'/>
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<source file='[local-storage] Fedora11/Fedora11.vmdk'/>
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<target dev='sda' bus='scsi'/>
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</disk>
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...
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</pre>
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<h4>Network card models</h4>
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<dl>
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<dt><code>vlance</code></dt>
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<dd>
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AMD PCnet32 network card for older guests.
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</dd>
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<dt><code>vmxnet</code>, <code>vmxnet3</code></dt>
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<dd>
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Special VMware VMXnet network card, requires VMware tools inside
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the guest.
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</dd>
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<dt><code>e1000</code></dt>
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<dd>
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Intel E1000 network card for recent guests.
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</dd>
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</dl>
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<p>
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Here a domain XML snippet:
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</p>
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<pre>
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...
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<interface type='bridge'>
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<mac address='00:50:56:25:48:c7'/>
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<source bridge='VM Network'/>
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<model type='<strong>e1000</strong>'/>
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</interface>
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...
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</pre>
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<h2><a name="importexport">Import and export of domain XML configs</a></h2>
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<p>
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The ESX driver currently supports a native config format known as
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<code>vmware-vmx</code> to handle VMware VMX configs.
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</p>
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<h3><a name="xmlimport">Converting from VMware VMX config to domain XML config</a></h3>
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<p>
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The <code>virsh domxml-from-native</code> provides a way to convert an
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existing VMware VMX config into a domain XML config that can then be
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used by libvirt.
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</p>
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<pre>
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$ cat > demo.vmx << EOF
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#!/usr/bin/vmware
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config.version = "8"
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virtualHW.version = "4"
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floppy0.present = "false"
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nvram = "Fedora11.nvram"
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deploymentPlatform = "windows"
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virtualHW.productCompatibility = "hosted"
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tools.upgrade.policy = "useGlobal"
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powerType.powerOff = "default"
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powerType.powerOn = "default"
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powerType.suspend = "default"
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powerType.reset = "default"
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displayName = "Fedora11"
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extendedConfigFile = "Fedora11.vmxf"
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scsi0.present = "true"
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scsi0.sharedBus = "none"
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scsi0.virtualDev = "lsilogic"
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memsize = "1024"
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scsi0:0.present = "true"
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scsi0:0.fileName = "/vmfs/volumes/498076b2-02796c1a-ef5b-000ae484a6a3/Fedora11/Fedora11.vmdk"
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scsi0:0.deviceType = "scsi-hardDisk"
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ide0:0.present = "true"
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ide0:0.clientDevice = "true"
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ide0:0.deviceType = "cdrom-raw"
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ide0:0.startConnected = "false"
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ethernet0.present = "true"
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ethernet0.networkName = "VM Network"
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ethernet0.addressType = "vpx"
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ethernet0.address = "00:50:56:91:48:c7"
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chipset.onlineStandby = "false"
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guestOSAltName = "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (32-Bit)"
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guestOS = "rhel5"
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uuid.bios = "50 11 5e 16 9b dc 49 d7-f1 71 53 c4 d7 f9 17 10"
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snapshot.action = "keep"
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sched.cpu.min = "0"
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sched.cpu.units = "mhz"
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sched.cpu.shares = "normal"
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sched.mem.minsize = "0"
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sched.mem.shares = "normal"
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toolScripts.afterPowerOn = "true"
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toolScripts.afterResume = "true"
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toolScripts.beforeSuspend = "true"
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toolScripts.beforePowerOff = "true"
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scsi0:0.redo = ""
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tools.syncTime = "false"
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uuid.location = "56 4d b5 06 a2 bd fb eb-ae 86 f7 d8 49 27 d0 c4"
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sched.cpu.max = "unlimited"
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sched.swap.derivedName = "/vmfs/volumes/498076b2-02796c1a-ef5b-000ae484a6a3/Fedora11/Fedora11-7de040d8.vswp"
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tools.remindInstall = "TRUE"
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EOF
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$ virsh -c esx://example.com domxml-from-native vmware-vmx demo.vmx
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Enter username for example.com [root]:
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Enter root password for example.com:
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<domain type='vmware'>
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<name>Fedora11</name>
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<uuid>50115e16-9bdc-49d7-f171-53c4d7f91710</uuid>
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<memory>1048576</memory>
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<currentMemory>1048576</currentMemory>
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<vcpu>1</vcpu>
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<os>
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<type arch='i686'>hvm</type>
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</os>
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<clock offset='utc'/>
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<on_poweroff>destroy</on_poweroff>
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<on_reboot>restart</on_reboot>
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<on_crash>destroy</on_crash>
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<devices>
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<disk type='file' device='disk'>
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<driver name='lsilogic'/>
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<source file='[local-storage] Fedora11/Fedora11.vmdk'/>
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<target dev='sda' bus='scsi'/>
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</disk>
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<interface type='bridge'>
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<mac address='00:50:56:91:48:c7'/>
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<source bridge='VM Network'/>
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</interface>
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</devices>
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</domain>
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</pre>
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<h3><a name="xmlexport">Converting from domain XML config to VMware VMX config</a></h3>
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<p>
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The <code>virsh domxml-to-native</code> provides a way to convert a
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domain XML config into a VMware VMX config.
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</p>
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<pre>
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$ cat > demo.xml << EOF
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<domain type='vmware'>
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<name>Fedora11</name>
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<uuid>50115e16-9bdc-49d7-f171-53c4d7f91710</uuid>
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<memory>1048576</memory>
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<currentMemory>1048576</currentMemory>
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<vcpu>1</vcpu>
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<os>
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<type arch='x86_64'>hvm</type>
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</os>
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<devices>
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<disk type='file' device='disk'>
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<driver name='lsilogic'/>
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<source file='[local-storage] Fedora11/Fedora11.vmdk'/>
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<target dev='sda' bus='scsi'/>
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</disk>
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<interface type='bridge'>
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<mac address='00:50:56:25:48:c7'/>
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<source bridge='VM Network'/>
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</interface>
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</devices>
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</domain>
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EOF
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$ virsh -c esx://example.com domxml-to-native vmware-vmx demo.xml
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Enter username for example.com [root]:
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Enter root password for example.com:
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config.version = "8"
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virtualHW.version = "4"
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guestOS = "other-64"
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uuid.bios = "50 11 5e 16 9b dc 49 d7-f1 71 53 c4 d7 f9 17 10"
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displayName = "Fedora11"
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memsize = "1024"
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numvcpus = "1"
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scsi0.present = "true"
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scsi0.virtualDev = "lsilogic"
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scsi0:0.present = "true"
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scsi0:0.deviceType = "scsi-hardDisk"
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scsi0:0.fileName = "/vmfs/volumes/local-storage/Fedora11/Fedora11.vmdk"
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ethernet0.present = "true"
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ethernet0.networkName = "VM Network"
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ethernet0.connectionType = "bridged"
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ethernet0.addressType = "static"
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ethernet0.address = "00:50:56:25:48:C7"
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</pre>
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<h2><a name="xmlconfig">Example domain XML configs</a></h2>
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<h3>Fedora11 on x86_64</h3>
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<pre>
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<domain type='vmware'>
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<name>Fedora11</name>
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<uuid>50115e16-9bdc-49d7-f171-53c4d7f91710</uuid>
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<memory>1048576</memory>
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<currentMemory>1048576</currentMemory>
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<vcpu>1</vcpu>
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<os>
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<type arch='x86_64'>hvm</type>
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</os>
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<devices>
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<disk type='file' device='disk'>
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<source file='[local-storage] Fedora11/Fedora11.vmdk'/>
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<target dev='sda' bus='scsi'/>
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</disk>
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<interface type='bridge'>
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<mac address='00:50:56:25:48:c7'/>
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<source bridge='VM Network'/>
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</interface>
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</devices>
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</domain>
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</pre>
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<h2><a name="migration">Migration</a></h2>
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<p>
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A migration cannot be initiated on an ESX server directly, a VMware
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vCenter is necessary for this. The <code>vcenter</code> query
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parameter must be set either to the hostname or IP address of the
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vCenter managing the ESX server or to <code>*</code>. Setting it
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to <code>*</code> causes the driver to connect to the vCenter known to
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the ESX server. If the ESX server is not managed by a vCenter an error
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is reported.
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</p>
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<pre>
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esx://example.com/?vcenter=example-vcenter.com
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</pre>
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<p>
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Here an example how to migrate the domain <code>Fedora11</code> from
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ESX server <code>example-src.com</code> to ESX server
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<code>example-dst.com</code> implicitly involving vCenter
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<code>example-vcenter.com</code> using <code>virsh</code>.
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</p>
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<pre>
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$ virsh -c esx://example-src.com/?vcenter=* migrate Fedora11 esx://example-dst.com/?vcenter=*
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Enter username for example-src.com [root]:
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Enter root password for example-src.com:
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Enter username for example-vcenter.com [administrator]:
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Enter administrator password for example-vcenter.com:
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Enter username for example-dst.com [root]:
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Enter root password for example-dst.com:
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Enter username for example-vcenter.com [administrator]:
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Enter administrator password for example-vcenter.com:
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</pre>
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<h2><a name="scheduler">Scheduler configuration</a></h2>
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<p>
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The driver exposes the ESX CPU scheduler. The parameters listed below
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are available to control the scheduler.
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</p>
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<dl>
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<dt><code>reservation</code></dt>
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<dd>
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The amount of CPU resource in MHz that is guaranteed to be
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available to the domain. Valid values are 0 and greater.
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</dd>
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<dt><code>limit</code></dt>
|
|
<dd>
|
|
The CPU utilization of the domain will be
|
|
limited to this value in MHz, even if more CPU resources are
|
|
available. If the limit is set to -1, the CPU utilization of the
|
|
domain is unlimited. If the limit is not set to -1, it must be
|
|
greater than or equal to the reservation.
|
|
</dd>
|
|
<dt><code>shares</code></dt>
|
|
<dd>
|
|
Shares are used to determine relative CPU
|
|
allocation between domains. In general, a domain with more shares
|
|
gets proportionally more of the CPU resource. Valid values are 0
|
|
and greater. The special values -1, -2 and -3 represent the
|
|
predefined shares level <code>low</code>, <code>normal</code> and
|
|
<code>high</code>.
|
|
</dd>
|
|
</dl>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2><a name="tools">VMware tools</a></h2>
|
|
<p>
|
|
Some actions require installed VMware tools. If the VMware tools are
|
|
not installed in the guest and one of the actions below is to be
|
|
performed the ESX server raises an error and the driver reports it.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<code>virDomainReboot</code>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<code>virDomainShutdown</code>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2><a name="links">Links</a></h2>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<a href="http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vc-sdk/">
|
|
VMware vSphere Web Services SDK Documentation
|
|
</a>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<a href="http://www.vmware.com/pdf/esx3_memory.pdf">
|
|
The Role of Memory in VMware ESX Server 3
|
|
</a>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<a href="http://www.sanbarrow.com/vmx.html">
|
|
VMware VMX config parameters
|
|
</a>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</body></html>
|