Add a user to the Domain using dsadd

Use the following to add a new user to the Domain

dsadd user "CN=the_username,OU=the_ou,DC=the_sub_domain,DC=the_tl_domain" -pwd the_password -upn the_username -display the_displayname -desc "The Description" -mustchpwd no -pwdneverexpires yes

Configuring SNMP on ESXi

ESXi SNMP Setup

SNMP Setup for ESXi must be configured using the Vsphere Command line Interface.
http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vcli/

Configure SNMP Community.

vicfg-snmp.pl --server esxi_servername.domain -c community_name

Set  the Target Trap address

vicfg-snmp.pl --server esxi_servername.domain -t trap_server_ip/community_name

Enable SNMP

vicfg-snmp.pl --server esxi_servername.domain --enable

View SNMP Setup

vicfg-snmp.pl --server esxi_servername.domain  --show

Install ESXi 4.1 from USB Drive

Have just installed ESXi 4.1 from a USB drive onto an IBM x3550 M3.

Below is the process I followed....

Format your USB drive FAT32

Download UNetbootin http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ which makes bootable Linux based USB drives.

Run UNetbootin, Select the ESXI 4.1 iso image and your USB drive, Click OK

Click Yes to overwrite

Click Exit.

From here I followed the following blog http://www.ivobeerens.nl/?p=699

Edit syslinux.cfg file to add ks=usb and --- modtgz.

append vmkboot.gz ks=usb --- vmkernel.gz --- sys.vgz --- cim.vgz --- ienviron.vgz --- install.vgz --- mod.tgz

Then create a file called  ks.cfg and add below.

More commands for scripted installtion can be found here http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r41/vsp_41_esxi_i_vc_setup_guide.pdf.
Below config asks if you want to use DHCP before installing ESXi.
If you choose to add network settings then a machine may boot with USB and install ESXi without any prompts.

 

# Accept the VMware End User License Agreement

vmaccepteula

# Set the root password for the DCUI and Tech Support Mode

rootpw password

# Choose the first discovered disk to install onto

autopart --firstdisk --overwritevmfs

# The installation media is in the USB drive

install usb

reboot

Download Ivo's mod.tgz file and copy it to the root of your USB drive.http://www.ivobeerens.nl/wp-content/uploads/mod.tgz

You should now be good to go.

Warning ESXi will install on the first discovered disk make sure your Server isn't connected to any drives or  SAN Luns that you don't want blown away.

Vmware Cold Clone from USB

Below is one way you can cold clone  a server via USB. Not pretty but it works....

Install  BartPE http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

Follow instructions here to created a USB Bootable version of BartPE http://www.911cd.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=10806

Take a copy of the coldclone.iso  - rename it to bartpe.iso and copy to your USB drive overwriting the original bartpe.iso

Image Backup of USB Drive

Found a great tool for creating and restoring images to a USB drive called "USB Image Tool".

Creates a full backup of your USB drive along with file system format - very handy if your making bootable USB images.

http://www.alexpage.de/