Sunday 3 May 2020

Configuring your first ESXi host after install


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.