I got asked about getting Static Link Aggregation working on the default Management Network on vSwitch0, which reminded me of this frustrating incident. It’s one of those quirks that you have to swallow as a quirk and make sure to remember. Link aggregation on vSwitch0 need special attention.
Author: JohnWhite
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More on DL180 G5 Host Updates
After using a CentOS LiveCD to update an HP DL180 G5 E200 storage controller’s firmware, without being able to recognize the 3TB SAS drives (625031-B21) connected to it, I went back to the well and updated the BIOS to 2010.10.25 (8 Dec 2010) using the same method. I just re-used the USB stick and added the new update in a new directory. But no joy on recognizing the drives. This step was a bit scary as the DL185 G5 has a known issue with needing to go to an intermediate BIOS level. Skipping that will brick the system. But nothing like that is anywhere in the BIOS version history for the DL180 G5. It didn’t get bricked.
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Firmware Updates on vSphere Hosts
Recently, HP and Dell have both come out with their latest generation hardware platforms (HP’s Gen8 platform and Dell’s 12th generation platform). Along with those platforms come updates to embedded management features (HP’s iLO and Dell’s iDRAC 7).
Great stuff. But sometimes in the real world, we’re faced with hardware that wasn’t manufactured this year. How does one manage those platforms in a virtualized environment?
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Clarity on Enhanced vMotion in Essentials Plus
I was at Spiceworld 2012 Austin on the 11th and 12th of October and got some clarity on the issue of vSphere 5.1 Enhanced vMotion in Essentials Plus (which doesn’t have Storage vMotion). Mike Fegan, a VMware SE, explained that on Essentials Plus, we have the option to do a standard vMotion, if we are using shared storage, or a run state plus Storage vMotion, but not a pure Storage vMotion. He later re-stated that on Spiceworks. Thanks again, Mike.
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vSphere 5.1 Announcement Annoyances
If you’ve been following the announcements and discussion after VMworld 2012, you’ll have seen the discussion of the new features during the vSphere 5.1 announcement.
I’ve been confused by the description of enhanced or share-nothing vMotion (what should you call it [internet archive wayback machine]?). (more…)
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Capacity Planner Installation Gotcha
If you are a VMware Partner and use the Capacity Planner tool, be warned that the official installation instructions are … well, they are just wrong.
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Virtual Journeyman – Hello World!
Just a quick note to explain why I’m starting yet another blog on virtualization. I’m sure my journey isn’t unique, but I wanted to document my journey for my own understanding and hopefully to help anyone who comes across the issues that I face.
