Using VMware vSphere With Your System

Using VMware vSphere

The virtual machines for your system are deployed with VMware vSphere. Cisco WebEx Meetings Server must be installed on VMware virtual machines, subject to the following constraints

  • Use VMware vSphere 5.0, 5.0 Update 1, or 5.1. Earlier releases of vSphere are not supported.
  • Use VMware ESXi 5.0, 5.0 Update 1, or 5.1. Use of earlier ESXi releases results in confusing error messages about unsupported hardware that do not explicitly list the problem.
  • Ensure that the DNS server configured with the ESXi host can resolve the hostnames of the virtual machines that are deployed on that ESXi host.
  • You must use VMware vCenter to manage the ESXi hosts on which the Cisco WebEx Meetings Server system is deployed.
  • When powering down a virtual machine, always select Power > Shut Down Guest for each virtual machine. (Do not use the Power Off option.

Note

For details on supported VMware configurations, see the Cisco WebEx Meetings Server System Requirements.

Configuring the ESXi Host to Use an NTP Server

The system uses the ESXi host to set the time. Configure the ESXi host to use Network Time Protocol (NTP) for clock synchronization.


Note

This is a high-level procedure. For detailed instructions, see your VMware ESXi documentation.

Important:

Be sure to set up NTP configuration from the ESXi host.

Procedure
    Step 1   Using your vSphere client, select the ESXi host in the inventory panel.
    Step 2   Select the Configuration tab and select Time Configuration in the Software section.
    Step 3   Select Properties at the top right of the panel.
    Step 4   Select NTP Client Enabled.
    Step 5   Select Options to configure the NTP server settings.

    Cisco recommends you select Start and stop with host to lessen the possibility of the ESXi host time becoming incorrect.

    Creating a Backup by using VMware vCenter

    Backups are traditional file systems that leverage VMware technology and SAN‐based data transfer. VMware® Data Recovery creates backups of virtual machines without interrupting their use or the data and services they provide. Data Recovery uses a virtual machine appliance and a client plug-in to manage and restore backups. The backup appliance is provided in open virtualization format (OVF). The Data Recovery plug-in requires the VMware vSphere Client.

    Data Recovery manages existing backups, removing backups as they become older. It also supports de-duplication to remove redundant data. Before doing any system-altering procedure, we recommend that you create a backup of each of the virtual machines by using VMware Data Recovery (available in VMware vSphere Release 5.0) or vSphere Data Protection (available in vSphere Release 5.1). (VMware Data Recovery/vSphere Data Protection is included with VMware vSphere, except in the vSphere Essentials Kit. See http:/​/​www.vmware.com/​pdf/​vdr_​11_​admin.pdf for more information.)

    Backups can also be created by using a storage server. See Configuring a Storage Server for more information.

    Virtual machine snapshots are pictures of your system at a specific point in time, and are not the same as backups. For performance reasons, we recommend that you use backups and keep your virtual machine backups in a storage location that is different from the physical drives that contain your virtual machines. For more information on snapshots and known performance issues, see Taking a Snapshot Using VMware vCenter.

    Procedure
      Step 1   Place the system in maintenance mode. For complete details, see About Maintenance Mode.

      Be sure there are no active meetings and that you have selected a time where there will be minimal impact to your users.

      Step 2   Follow the instructions in your VMware vSphere documentation and use VMware Data Recovery (called VMware vSphere Data Protection starting with vSphere Release 5.1) to create a backup of your system and each of your virtual machines.

      For complete details on this backup, see the VMware Data Recovery Administration Guide or the vSphere Data Protection Administration Guide.

      Note   

      Cisco recommends you delete backups after your system-altering procedure is complete, you have tested the system, and you are satisfied with the results.

      Taking a Snapshot by using VMware vCenter

      Virtual machine snapshots are used to quickly recover a virtual machine after a system-altering procedure. Snapshots are pictures of your system at a specific point in time, and are not the same as backups (see Creating a Backup by using VMware vCenter). We recommend that in addition to taking snapshots, that you backup your system.


      Note

      If the original virtual machine disk file is lost, you cannot recover the virtual machine with the snapshot.

      Snapshots are stored on the physical drives containing your virtual machines. If you do not delete these snapshots in a timely manner, your end users might experience degraded audio and video due to a known issue that affects virtual machine performance. Therefore, for performance reasons, we recommend that you use backups or keep your virtual machine backups in a storage location that is different from the physical drives that contain your virtual machines. Also, snapshots can be used for updates, but for system upgrades we recommend that you delete all snapshots and backup the original system. (For more information on this known issue with VMware snapshots, go to the VMware web site and read the white paper, Best Practices for Running VMware vSphere on Network Attached Storage. You can also search the VMware KnowledgeBase for snapshot impact performance for additional information.)

      Before doing most system-altering procedures, Cisco recommends that you backup your system (especially when performing an upgrade) or take a snapshot (particularly when performing an update) of each of the virtual machines. You can backup your system by using VMware Data Recovery (VMware vSphere Data Protection starting with vSphere Release 5.1) or take a snapshot of each virtual machine. (VMware Data Recovery/vSphere Data Protection is included with VMware vSphere, except in the vSphere Essentials Kit.)

      For performance reasons, be sure to keep your virtual machine snapshots in a storage location that is different from the physical drives that contain your virtual machines.

      Be sure to read the preparation section for the specific procedure. Cisco lists specific considerations for each procedure.

      Remember:

      If your system comprises multiple virtual machines, select Power > Shut Down Guest and take a snapshot of each virtual machine in your system. Label the snapshot for each virtual machine with the same prefix, for example, , so you know these snapshots were done at the same time.


      Note

      Cisco recommends you keep snapshots no longer than 24 hours. If you want to keep them longer, then create a backup instead. For more information on VMware Data Recovery (VMware vSphere Data Protection starting with vSphere Release 5.1), see Creating a Backup by using VMware vCenter.

      Procedure
        Step 1   Place the system in maintenance mode. For complete details, see About Maintenance Mode.

        Be sure there are no active meetings and that you have selected a time where there will be minimal impact to your users.

        Step 2   On VMware vCenter, select Power > Shut Down Guest for each of the virtual machines.
        Step 3   Select Snapshot > Take Snapshot for each virtual machine.
        Step 4   Enter a name for the snapshot and select OK.
        What to Do Next

        • Complete the procedure and test your system to confirm that it is successful.
        • If you need to revert to a snapshot, be sure the snapshot for each virtual machine was taken at the same time. Powering on a system with mismatched snapshots may result in possible database corruption.

        Attaching an Existing VMDK File to a New Virtual Machine

        This section describes how to attach a Virtual Machine Disk (VMDK) from an existing Admin virtual machine to a new Admin virtual machine by using VMware vCenter. This procedure is used when you expand or upgrade your system. (We reuse the system data stored on Hard disk 4 of the Admin virtual machine.)


        Caution

        Make a copy of the Hard disk 4 VMDK file and copy that file to the virtual machine folder of the Admin virtual machine in the upgraded or expanded system. If you simply attach Hard disk 4, the data is still stored in the virtual machine folder of the old Admin virtual machine. If you accidentally delete the existing Admin virtual machine in the vCenter inventory, the current system loses access to Hard disk 4.


        Note

        If you are using Direct-attached storage (DAS), you must migrate the VMDK to a logical unit number (LUN) where the new Admin virtual machine can access it.


        Note

        We refer to the Admin virtual machine before the system-altering procedure as the current Admin virtual machine. The Admin virtual machine following expansion or upgrade, is named the upgrade Admin virtual machine.

        Procedure
          Step 1   Navigate the inventory in VMware vCenter and find the current Admin virtual machine for your system.
          Step 2   Right-click the virtual machine name and select Edit Settings....

          The Virtual Machine Properties window is displayed.

          Step 3   Select the Hardware tab, then select Hard disk 4.
          Step 4   For future reference, copy and paste into another document, the Disk File location.

          This specifies the location of the VMDK in VMware vCenter.

          The string is similar to [EMC-LUN10-RAID5] webex-sysA-admin/webex-sysA-admin_3-000001.vmdk. If you have previously upgraded your system, the filename does not follow the naming convention of the existing virtual machine.
          Step 5   Write down the storage location for Hard disk 4 and the virtual machine folder name. The folder name string is similar to [EMC-LUN8-RAID5] webex-sysB-admin.
          Step 6   Close the Edit Settings... window without making any changes.
          Step 7   Change the vCenter view into the Datastore and Datastore Cluster view. Select View > Inventory > Datastores and Datastore Clusters.
          Step 8   Select the storage location where your existing Admin virtual machine is located (from Step 5) and select Browse this datastore.
          Step 9   Select the storage location where your newly deployed (for the expanded or upgraded system) Admin virtual machine is located and select Browse this datastore.
          Step 10   Arrange the two datastore browser windows (for the current and expanded or upgraded Admin virtual machine) side-by-side so that you can see both Admin virtual machine folders.
          Step 11   Open both virtual machine folders and copy the VMDK from the current Admin virtual machine folder to the expanded or updated Admin virtual machine folder.
          1. In the current Admin virtual machine folder, locate the VMDK that is associated with Hard disk 4. Refer to the file location you wrote down in Step 4 to confirm accuracy.
          2. Right-click on the file and select Copy.
          3. Right-click inside the expanded or upgraded Admin virtual machine folder and select Paste.

            When the paste operation is completed, close both datastore windows.

          4. Return the vCenter view to a list of hosts and clusters by selecting View > Inventory > Hosts and Clusters.
          Step 12   Navigate the inventory in VMware vCenter and find the expanded or upgraded Admin virtual machine for your system.
          Step 13   Right-click the expanded or updated virtual machine name and select Edit Settings....

          The Virtual Machine Properties window is displayed.

          Step 14   Select the Hardware tab, then select Hard disk 4.
          Step 15   Select Remove.

          This action does not remove the virtual disk immediately. Instead, the existing virtual disk is scheduled for removal.

          Step 16   Select Add.

          The Add Hardware wizard is displayed.

          Step 17   Select Hard Disk, then Next.
          Step 18   Select Use an existing virtual disk, then Next.
          Step 19   Select Browse, and navigate to the datastore where the expanded or upgraded Admin virtual machine is located. Navigate to the new Admin virtual machine folder. Double-click this folder, then select the virtual disk you copied over in Step 11. Select OK.
          Step 20   In the Virtual Device Node drop-down list select SCSI (0:3), then select Next.
          Step 21   Review your changes and if they are correct, select Finish. Otherwise, select Back and fix any errors.

          Once the wizard is complete, a new disk marked for addition in the Hardware tab is shown.

          Step 22   Commit both the Add and Remove operations by selecting OK.
          Step 23   View this virtual machine reconfiguration task in the VMware vCenter Recent Tasks pane to ensure there are no errors.