As we saw in a previous post, installing your first
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0 host is not a complicated task.
Once it’s installed, you will have to perform some basic
tasks, and these are generally based around networking.
Your ESXi hosts management network that you connect to,
will have been assigned a DHCP IP address, and the chances are, you’ll want to
configure a static IP address information, you’ll also want to add it to a
valid DNS zone, and also give the host a name that conforms to your naming
convention for servers.
To configure these initial settings, we can use the
Direct Console User Interface or DCUI. This involves logging in directly to the
ESXi Host. Once at the main screen press F2 and enter root username and password.
This will then
lead to the main screen.
The options are as follows:
·
Configure Password – This allows the changing of
the root password, and this requires a complex password, uppercase, lowercase,
numeric, and special characters
·
Configure Lockdown Mode – This is only available
for vCenter controlled ESXi hosts and restricts root access.
·
Configure Management Network – Allows setting
static or DHCP IP address for the management network, as well as DNS
information, hostname, and domain.
·
Restart Management network – Restarts network,
after making changes, or for troubleshooting purposes.
·
Test Management network – Sends Pings against
DNS servers, default gateway, and resolves hostname against DNS server.
·
Network Restore Options – Allows restoring both
standard, and distributed switches, as well as restoring networking to default
settings.
·
Configure Keyboard – Allows configuring language
settings for keyboard.
·
Troubleshooting options – Allows enabling local
shell, which can then be accessed by pressing Alt-F1, and exiting by Alt-F”,
and also enabling SSH, for accessing ESXi host from a remote device. Also
allows for setting of Shell, SSH, and DCUI timeouts.
·
View System Logs – Allows viewing of system logs
from DCUI
·
View Support Information – Gives details of
product, used by VMware GSS
·
Reset System Configuration – Resets ESXi Host
back to factory defaults.
The majority of configuration of an ESXi host is done via
the vSphere host Client, or a vCenter server.
