Title: Using the VMware Cluster
Course: TAACCCT - Open Source Server Admin.- CIS 235 > Section: Course Content

USING THE COMPTECH VMWARE CLUSTER

The department has a VMware cluster that is available to all Computer Technology majors as well as anyone enrolled in a course requiring VMWare.   Each student is allocated a 30-host subnet for their use.  It is expected that all use of the cluster is for educational purposes only.   You may use the cluster to further your own technical education, but be mindful of the resources your system places on the cluster (and are then unavailable to other students).

Your network is preconfigured with a DHCP server and a router providing access to campus and the Internet.  By default, the DHCP server will handout IP addresses in the top-half of your subnet’s IP range.

Cluster systems will be automatically suspended if they are not used in two week periods (one can easily “power on” a needed suspended system when this occurs, and continue).

The cluster also includes a number of Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows XP client for general use (under the “General Use systems” folder.   You may use any of the systems that are not used by someone else (aka the systems that are powered off).  All of the General Use systems are   automatically returned to their original state when they are powered off.

Note: The vSphere Client Application uses your campus AD username and password, but magic1 & magic2 uses your TECH department username and password.

GETTING STARTED

LAUNCHING THE CLIENT (USING THE VSPHERE APPLICATION)

Steps Using VMware vSphere Client

Launch the application

(If using your own system, download and install the vSphere Client application from:

https://vm-1325.yccc.edu

Launch the VMware vSphere Client (under Start->All Programs->VMWare)

Sign-in

Set/keep the IP address/Name to “vm-1325”

Sign in using your YCCC User name (use “YCCC\loginname” for the username) your YCCC Password, and press [Login]

(Ignore any certificate error message you see at this point)

Select “VMs and Templates”

(steps below start from here)

Click on Home

Click on “VMs and Templates” which is under “Inventory”

USING AN EXISTING (GENERAL USE) SYSTEM

Using an existing (general use) system

Select a system

The General use systems are in “General Use systems”, while your own systems (after being created) will be under “Student systems” in a folder with your login name.

Power on the system

Right-click on the system name, and then Power-> Power On

(note: the web interface may say that power on failed, but it actually does power on)

Connect to the console

Right-click on the system name, and then “Open Console”

CREATING A NEW SYSTEM

Navigate to your folder

Your folder is under “Student systems” and is likely the only folder visible there.

Click on your folder.

Start the configuration process

Right-click on your folder, and then select “New Virtual Machine…”

Choose a “Typical” configuration and press [Next]

Select a name

Enter a new name for the system (it might have to be unique)

Select your folder (if not already selected)

Press [Next] to continue

Select a cluster

Click on “CompTech Cluster” as the resource location for your new system

Press [Next] to continue

CREATING A NEW SYSTEM (CONT)

Storage

Click on “Tech VM Storage” as the destination storage.

Keep the rest of the options as is (aka allow DRS, allow it to pick the Netstore)

Press [Next] to continue

Machine version

(web only)

Select “Virtual Machine Version: 8” and press [Next]

(Note: the vSphere Client does not have this option)

Select guest OS

Select an appropriate O/S Family and Version

(Note: we often use the 64-bit versions of the systems)

Press [Next] to continue

Configure the system

Depending on which program you are using, the menus look very different (and may have multiple screens).  In general…

Choose your own network (unless otherwise directed)  {an E1000 NIC is fine}

Choose 2 GB of RAM

Choose 1 CPU (Cores)

Choose 40 GB hard drive (unless otherwise directed)

Before you power on…

You will need to place a virtual CD/DVD into your new computer.  The easiest way is to right-click your virtual machine, select “Edit Settings…” and then go to your CD/DVD drive.

Choose Datastore ISO File…

Browse to ISO_Store -> Resources (select the appropriate file from the appropriate folder)

Make sure that “Connect at power on” or “Connect…” is selected

Note:  Each student is given a single license to select Microsoft operating systems via DreamSpark  (http://virtual.yccc.edu/dreamspark).   Use them wisely (or better yet, talk to your instructor first)…

CLONING OR DEPLOYING A TEMPLATE SYSTEM

Navigate to your folder

Navigate to your own folder if you are copying one of your existing systems, or navigate to “Master Template systems” for department provided systems.

(General Use systems are not clone-able)

Start the clone process

Right-click on the system to clone, and select “Clone…”

Configure the system

Continue creating the clone following the same steps as creating a new system

Leaving the console

Press [Ctrl] and [Alt] together to leave the console

Power off the system

Shutdown the computer normally as you would a physical system (or use “Shut Down Guest” under the Power menu).

Attached Files: | - Using the VMware Cluster.docx