Managing Virtual Machines
A virtual machine is a software computer (just like a physical computer), which runs an operating system and applications. Virtual machines run on the VMware vSphere HypervisorTM. You can use the same VMware vSphere HypervisorTM to run several virtual machines. Use the vSphere Client GUI to create and manage virtual machines.
This chapter contains the following section:
•Configuring the VMware vSphere Hypervisor Default Gateway
•Downloading and Installing the vSphere Client
•Important Information About Creating Virtual Machines
•Information About vSwitches
Configuring the VMware vSphere Hypervisor Default Gateway
To manage virtual machines, configure the VMware vSphere HypervisorTM default gateway. See the following sections:
•Setting up the VMware vSphere Hypervisor Default Gateway
•Changing the VMware vSphere Hypervisor Default Gateway
Setting up the VMware vSphere Hypervisor Default Gateway
To configure the VMware vSphere HypervisorTM default gateway, use the following command:
hypervisor set ip default-gateway hypervisor-default-gateway-ip-address
SUMMARY STEPS
From the Console Manager interface, enter:
1. hypervisor set ip default-gateway hypervisor-default-gateway-ip-address
DETAILED STEPS
To perform configuration tasks on the Cisco SRE Service Module, you must enter the Cisco SRE-V command environment, and then enter the configuration commands. See the "Entering the Cisco SRE-V Command Environment" section
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Step 1 |
hypervisor set ip default-gateway hypervisor-default-gateway-ip-address Example: SRE-Module# hypervisor set ip default-gateway 20.0.0.100 |
Specifies the IP address for the default gateway. Typically, this is the IP address for the router side of the router-to-VMware vSphere HypervisorTM link. See Figure 3-2. •hypervisor-default-gateway-ip-address—IP address for the default gateway. |
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Related Topic
•Downloading and Installing the vSphere Client
Changing the VMware vSphere Hypervisor Default Gateway
To change the VMware vSphere HypervisorTM default gateway, you must first remove the existing default gateway, and then reconfigure the new default gateway.
To remove the existing VMware vSphere HypervisorTM default gateway, use the following command:
hypervisor set ip default-gateway 0.0.0.0
To reconfigure the VMware vSphere HypervisorTM default gateway, see the "Setting up the VMware vSphere Hypervisor Default Gateway" section.
SUMMARY STEPS
From the Console Manager interface, enter:
1. hypervisor set ip default-gateway 0.0.0.0
DETAILED STEPS
To perform configuration tasks on the Cisco SRE Service Module, you must enter the Cisco SRE-V command environment, and then enter the configuration commands. See the "Entering the Cisco SRE-V Command Environment" section
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Step 1 |
hypervisor set ip default-gateway 0.0.0.0 Example: SRE-Module# hypervisor set ip default-gateway 0.0.0.0 |
Removes the IP address of the default gateway from the VMware vSphere HypervisorTM. |
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Downloading and Installing the vSphere Client
To manage the virtual machine, you must download and install the vSphere Client.
The vSphere Client contains an online tutorial for first time users. It also contains embedded in-line getting started assistance, which allows you to set up your virtual infrastructure through an easy to use, step-by-step process. If you are an experienced user, you can choose to turn-off the getting started in-line assistance.
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Note To download the vSphere Client, connection to the Internet is required. Before you download the vSphere client, verify that you have network connectivity.
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To download and install the vSphere client, complete the following steps:
Step 1 Go to https://hypervisor-ip-address. You are directed to the VMware website and the Welcome page opens.
Step 2 Click Download vSphere Client, and then click Run to download the vSphere Client. The VMware vSphere Client is installed and a shortcut icon to the client appears on your desktop.
Step 3 Click the VMware vSphere Client icon to open the login window.
Step 4 To manage a single VMware vSphere HypervisorTM, enter the IP address or hostname of the VMware vSphere HypervisorTM and the username and password, and then click Login. The vSphere Client GUI opens.
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Note If you are a first-time user of the VMware vSphere HypervisorTM, use esx-admin for the user name; and use change_it for the password. We highly recommend that you change the default password after the first reboot.
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Note If you purchased the Cisco SRE-V Option 3 (Hardware, plus Virtualization software, plus Microsoft Windows software), a virtual machine is provided to you by default. For Cisco SRE-V options, see Figure 1-3.
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Step 5 From the vSphere Client main page, do one of the following:
•To use the existing virtual machine that is provided to you by default with your Cisco SRE-V software Option 3, do the following:
–From the left navigation tree, click the host name to expand it, and then choose the virtual machine.
–Follow the instructions that are displayed in the right pane under the Getting Started tab. See Figure 7-1.
Figure 7-1 vSphere Client Inventory Page with a Virtual Machine Selected
•To create a new virtual machine, see the "Important Information About Creating Virtual Machines" section, and then do the following:
–From the left navigation tree, choose the host name.
–Follow the instructions that are displayed in the right pane under the Getting Started tab. See Figure 7-2.
Figure 7-2 vSphere Client Inventory Page with the Host Name Selected
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Note If you are an experienced user, you can choose to remove the Getting Started tab from your view. Go to Edit > Client Settings. The General tab is selected by default. From the Tasks pane, uncheck the Show Getting Started Tab checkbox.
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Step 6 To manage the virtual machines, use the functionality provided by the vSphere Client:
•To access the online tutorial that is embedded in the vSphere Client GUI, click Help > Tutorial.
•To access the vSphere Client online help, click Help > Help Topics.
Important Information About Creating Virtual Machines
If you purchased the Cisco SRE-V Option 3 (Hardware, plus Virtualization software, plus Microsoft Windows software), a virtual machine with VMware tools and datastore(s) is provided to you by default. You can create additional virtual machines if needed.
If you purchased the Cisco SRE-V Option 1 (Hardware only, without the Virtualization or Microsoft Windows software); or Option 2 (Hardware plus Virtualization software), you must create virtual machines.
For Cisco SRE-V options, see Figure 1-3.
See the following sections:
•Basic Workflow for Creating Virtual Machines
•Limitations for Creating Virtual Machines
•Networking Prerequisites for Creating Virtual Machines
•Installing VMware Tools
Basic Workflow for Creating Virtual Machines
1. (Optional) Create a datastore in Cisco SRE-V.
2. Create the virtual machine.
3. Install the operating system on the virtual machine.
4. Configure networking (external) for a virtual machine.
5. Configure networking (internal) for a virtual machine.
For instructions, see the vSphere Client online help.
Limitations for Creating Virtual Machines
Before creating virtual machines, note the following limitations:
•Each virtual machines has its own resource limitations, such as CPU core number and memory size.
•Virtual Symmetric Multiprocessing (vSMP) is not supported.
•Physical peripheral devices, such as serial port is not supported.
•The physical USB device, which is plugged into the USB port in the front panel of the
Cisco SRE Service Module, must not exceed 500 mA (2.5 Watt). For information about assigning USB devices to a virtual machine, see the vSphere user guide.
Related Topic
•Downloading and Installing the vSphere Client
Networking Prerequisites for Creating Virtual Machines
If you want to assign virtual machines on different VLANs, you must configure VLANs on the ISR G2. For instructions, see the "Configuring VLANs" section.
Example
description Internal switch interface connected to Service Module
ip address 50.50.50.5 255.255.255.0
ip address 60.60.60.6 255.255.255.0
Related Topic
•Downloading and Installing the vSphere Client
Installing VMware Tools
VMware Tools are a suite of utilities that enhances the performance of the virtual machine's guest operating system and improves the management of the virtual machine.
If you purchased the Cisco SRE-V Option 3 (Hardware, plus Virtualization software, plus Microsoft Windows software), a virtual machine with VMware tools is provided to you by default so you do not need to install VMware tools on that machine. But, if you create a new virtual machine, you must install VMware tools on that virtual machine.
If you purchased the Cisco SRE-V Option 1 (Hardware only, without the Virtualization or Microsoft Windows software) or Option 2 (Hardware plus Virtualization software), you must install VMware tools after you create the virtual machine.
For Cisco SRE-V options, see Figure 1-3.
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Note Before you install VMware tools, make sure that you have installed the supported guest operating system on the virtual machine.
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To install VMware tools on a virtual machine, complete the following steps:
Step 1 Go to the vSphere Client GUI main page.
Step 2 From the left navigation tree, click the host name to expand it.
Step 3 Right-click the virtual machine in which you want to install VMware tools, and then choose
Power > Power On.
Step 4 Click the Console tab to make sure that the guest operating system starts successfully, and log in if necessary.
Step 5 Right-click the virtual machine in which you want to install VMware tools, choose Guest, and then choose Install/Upgrade VMware Tools. The Install VMware Tools confirmation dialog box opens.
Step 6 Click Ok in the confirmation dialog box.
Step 7 Log into the virtual machine.
Step 8 Go to Start > Open Windows Explorer.
Step 9 Under Computer, click on the VMware Tools folder, and then choose VMware Tools or VMware Tools 64 as appropriate. The VMware Installation Wizard opens.
Step 10 Follow the steps in the wizard to complete the installation.
Step 11 Click Finish.
Step 12 Choose Yes when prompted to restart your system.
Step 13 To verify the VMware tools installation status, click the Summary tab in the vSphere Client GUI. You should see VM Tools - Status OK.
For more information, see The VMware Tools Installation Guide For Operating System Specific Packages document.
Related Topic
•Downloading and Installing the vSphere Client
Information About vSwitches
The system creates the following vSwitches in the VMware vSphere HypervisorTM:
•vSwitch0—Uses the MGF interface to connect the VMware vSphere HypervisorTM and the guest virtual machines to the router. The MGF interface is sm slot/1.
The vSwitch0 contains two port groups:
–Management Network—Used by the vSphere client to connect to the VMware vSphere HypervisorTM.
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Note Do not modify the Management Network port group.
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–VM Network—Used by the guest virtual machines for sending and receiving network traffic through the Cisco ISR G2.
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Note You can modify the VM Network port group.
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•ciscoSwitchLocal—Contains the ciscoReservedLocal port group. The ciscoSwitchLocal along with the ciscoReservedLocal port group is used for internal communication within the Cisco SRE Service Module.
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Note Do not modify the ciscoSwitchLocal or the ciscoReservedLocal port group.
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•ciscoSwitch—Contains the CiscoReserved port group. The ciscoSwitch along with the CiscoReserved port group is used for the following:
–Internal communication between the Cisco ISR G2 and the Cisco SRE Service Module.
–External connection to the Cisco SRE Service Module management interface, such as SSH, CLM, and web service API.
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Note Do not modify the ciscoSwitch or the CiscoReserved port group.
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To display the vSwitches and port groups in the VMware vSphere HypervisorTM, use the show hypervisor vswitch command from the console manager interface. For details, see the "Viewing vSwitches in the VMware vSphere Hypervisor" section.
Example
SRE-Module# show hypervisor vswitch
Switch Name Num Ports Used Ports Configured Ports MTU Uplinks
vSwitch0 128 3 128 1500 vmnic2
PortGroup Name VLAN ID Used Ports Uplinks
Management Network 0 1 vmnic2
Switch Name Num Ports Used Ports Configured Ports MTU Uplinks
ciscoSwitchLocal 8 3 8 1500
PortGroup Name VLAN ID Used Ports Uplinks
Switch Name Num Ports Used Ports Configured Ports MTU Uplinks
ciscoSwitch 8 3 8 1500 vmnic1
PortGroup Name VLAN ID Used Ports Uplinks