Running Vmware Esx Server On Workstation

[IcEd_RuSsIaN]

Hi

I’m recently I started studding to learn more about ESX and become VCP certified. However unfortunately I have hit a massive brick wall(repeatedly with my head because of it ). I’m hoping someone on here would be able to help with. I have tried to search the net for a solution but haven’t been able to find a def answer. I have used the guide on how to run ESX on workstation with no luck. The Guide hxxp://www.virtualization.info/2007/06/tech-how-to-run-esx-server-3-on-vmware.html

I’ve been trying to set up a lab at home with little to no success. My problem in brief is that I am un able to virtualizes any ESX servers to try VMotion, HA, DRS ect.

The plan is to have a host OS run Workstation where I can run multiple ESX serves.

I was able to pull off from work on off our old DL380 G3 2x2.8Ghz and buffed it up with 8.5G RAM, 6x18.5G HDD(at RAID 0). Also I should mention that the server physically has 9G ram modules but the host OS only picks up 8.5 for some reason.
I should mention that the server works fine with a single ESX 3.0 or 3.5 as the host.

Because I would like to virtualizes multiple ESX servers I decided to drop W2k3 Ent on the server as the host.

The Problem:

The ESX server take a [censored] off long amount of time to boot up(counted at aprox 5 hours).

I have used workstation 6 with esx 3.0.x and 3.5 and both of them have the same effect. I tried installing Workstation 6.5 to see if this makes any diff and nothing both take a [censored] off long amount of time to boot( Yes I have disabled debugging on 6.5).
I have tried the suggested steps on this website http://www.virtualization.info/2007/...on-vmware.html nothing.

Also I have tried doing the same on my main PC with different issues. The problems that I get are that the ESX server will boot quicker but then with just pink screen.
The PC is: AMD X2 5200 3Ghz,3G DDR2, 6x250G HDD(Raid 0), Asus M2N32 Vista Ed, Vista Ultimate

So the questions is how do I get the Dl380 and or my Pc to run ESX on Workstation?

Anny help or suggestions or pointers in the right direction would be highly appreciated.

[jasonboche]

Your DL380G3 doesn't meet the CPU requirement to run ESX under Workstation optimally. That is why it's taking so long for ESX to boot. You need much newer CPUs to pull that off. Each article that describes the process of running ESX on Workstation should be mentioning this. If you want the specifics, let me know. Otherwise, you're better off installing ESX directly on your DL380G3.

Sorry you wrote such a long post and you get such a crappy answer.

Jas

[crazyleo_EA]

Originally Posted by jasonboche

Your DL380G3 doesn't meet the CPU requirement to run ESX under Workstation optimally. That is why it's taking so long for ESX to boot. You need much newer CPUs to pull that off. Each article that describes the process of running ESX on Workstation should be mentioning this. If you want the specifics, let me know. Otherwise, you're better off installing ESX directly on your DL380G3.

Sorry you wrote such a long post and you get such a crappy answer.

Jas

Basicaly you'd need a virtualization enabled CPU. Any new Xeon dual or quad core will do the work for you, but you need to check if your old DL380 would support a new dual / quad core virtualization ready CPU. you'd also need to enable virtualzation support from BIOS otherwise you'll experience same issues.

[jasonboche]

Originally Posted by crazyleo_EA

Basicaly you'd need a virtualization enabled CPU. Any new Xeon dual or quad core will do the work for you, but you need to check if your old DL380 would support a new dual / quad core virtualization ready CPU. you'd also need to enable virtualzation support from BIOS otherwise you'll experience same issues.

It won't. I have a DL380G3 racked in my basement so I know exactly what hardware he has. The server is going on 4-5+ years old. It makes a fantastic file server for me though.

[IcEd_RuSsIaN]

ohhh

what about running it on my other PC? any ideas as to why it does that?? or Any ideas as to find like a log file or something.

Also on my DL380 if i installed ESX 3.5 then would i be able to run another instance of ESX 3.0 as a VM and lest say have multiple ESX VM running inside on ESX server?

[Maish]

If your CPU supports Intel VT then it will work, and it needs to be enabled in the BIOS.

Just FYI. ESX 3.5 will not work on workstation 6 only 6.5 beta 2. On 6.0 you will not be able power on a VM.

I have a VC, 2xESX hosts and an Openfiler server all working wonderfully on Workstation 6.5, VMotion HA, DRS and all.

[jasonboche]

Originally Posted by IcEd_RuSsIaN

ohhh

what about running it on my other PC? any ideas as to why it does that?? or Any ideas as to find like a log file or something.

Also on my DL380 if i installed ESX 3.5 then would i be able to run another instance of ESX 3.0 as a VM and lest say have multiple ESX VM running inside on ESX server?

No, you can't run ESX as a VM inside of ESX. The only well documented method to one hypervisor inside of another hypervisor is the ESX on Workstation and you don't have the required hardware for that.

Pick up another cheap DL380G3 off ebay and then get a 3rd box to run Openfiler or run Openfiler as a VM for iSCSI storage.

[IcEd_RuSsIaN]

I downloaded the newer version of the 6.5 beta and ESX booted up on my PC. Now my problem is that workstation is constantly in debug mode and for some reason the other fixe i used one the previous version doesn’t seem to work.

Anyway i'll give a go when i get home.

Thank you for your help.

[Maish]

rename the vmware-vmx-debug.exe file (C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Workstation).

Copy vmware-vmx.exe to new name of vmware-vmx-debug.exe and restart workstation

Debug mode is gone....

[IcEd_RuSsIaN]

I've tried that but i some how still think that workstation is still actually running in debug mode. I don’t get the warning message but ESX is still slow to boot.

It's allot faster to boot on my PC in Workstation then of my DL380 in workstation but it still takes like 30-40 min.

During the booting up and one's ESX is up and running the vmware-vmx-debug.exe is using 99% of both of the CPU cores.

Also i get these weird error message that i have attached a pic off below my vmx file during Esx boot and just after.I googled the error but all i got that it's rather random between ESX versions

This is the vmx file that im running ESX off.

config.version = "8"
virtualHW.version = "7"
numvcpus = "2"
scsi0.present = "TRUE"
scsi0.virtualDev = "lsilogic"
memsize = "2608"
scsi0:0.present = "TRUE"
scsi0:0.fileName = "ESX2.vmdk"
ide1:0.present = "TRUE"
ide1:0.autodetect = "FALSE"
ide1:0.deviceType = "cdrom-image"
floppy0.autodetect = "TRUE"
ethernet0.present = "TRUE"
ethernet0.connectionType = "hostonly"
ethernet0.wakeOnPcktRcv = "FALSE"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "e1000"
usb.present = "TRUE"
ehci.present = "TRUE"
sound.present = "TRUE"
sound.fileName = "-1"
sound.autodetect = "TRUE"
svga.vramSize = "134217728"
mks.enable3d = "TRUE"
pciBridge0.present = "TRUE"
pciBridge4.present = "TRUE"
pciBridge4.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"
pciBridge4.functions = "8"
pciBridge5.present = "TRUE"
pciBridge5.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"
pciBridge5.functions = "8"
pciBridge6.present = "TRUE"
pciBridge6.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"
pciBridge6.functions = "8"
pciBridge7.present = "TRUE"
pciBridge7.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"
pciBridge7.functions = "8"
vmci0.present = "TRUE"
roamingVM.exitBehavior = "go"
displayName = "ESX2"
guestOS = "redhat"
nvram = "ESX2.nvram"
deploymentPlatform = "windows"
virtualHW.productCompatibility = "hosted"
easyInstall.removeFloppy = "FALSE"
unity.customColor = "|23000000"
tools.upgrade.policy = "useGlobal"

extendedConfigFile = "ESX2.vmxf"

floppy0.fileName = "A:"

ide1:0.fileName = "C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Workstation\linux.iso"

ethernet0.addressType = "generated"
uuid.location = "56 4d 60 89 aa be e9 51-54 e2 38 45 91 32 ee 69"
uuid.bios = "56 4d 60 89 aa be e9 51-54 e2 38 45 91 32 ee 69"
scsi0:0.redo = ""
checkpointFBSize = "134217728"
pciBridge0.pciSlotNumber = "17"
pciBridge4.pciSlotNumber = "21"
pciBridge5.pciSlotNumber = "22"
pciBridge6.pciSlotNumber = "23"
pciBridge7.pciSlotNumber = "24"
scsi0.pciSlotNumber = "16"
usb.pciSlotNumber = "32"
ethernet0.pciSlotNumber = "33"
sound.pciSlotNumber = "34"
ehci.pciSlotNumber = "35"
vmci0.pciSlotNumber = "36"
ethernet0.generatedAddress = "00:0c:29:32:ee:69"
ethernet0.generatedAddressOffset = "0"
vmci0.id = "-1858933143"


tools.remindInstall = "TRUE"
monitor_control.restrict_backdoor = "TRUE"
monitor_control.vt32 = "TRUE"
monitor_control.enable_svm = "TRUE"
monitor.virtual_exec = "harware"

tools.syncTime = "FALSE"
priority.grabbed = "high"

debugStub.linuxOffsets = "0x0,0xffffffff,0x36ed14d,0x0,0x36ed15d,0x0,0x2d1b0,0x0,0x0,0x0,0x36ed15e,0x0,0x36ed176,0x0"

ide1:0.startConnected = "FALSE"
usb.generic.autoconnect = "FALSE"
floppy0.startConnected = "FALSE"
sound.startConnected = "FALSE"