Last updated: 8 Jan 2010

Using VMware Server

VMware Server allows you to either:

• create a virtual machine (VM) to your specifications on the host computer (the real computer), start/pause/stop the VM, and install/configure/use a guest operating system inside the VM
• use an existing guest OS already installed in an existing VM

VMware Server is installed in the DOU101 classroom and in all of the Institute Labs.

• Restoring the Windows XP VM
• Starting the VMware Interface
• Adding the VM to the Inventory
• Exploring the VM
• Starting and Using the VM
• Stopping a VM
• Accessing a Windows Guest OS
• Troubleshooting Problems

Restoring the Windows XP VM

In DOU101 and the GenDev Labs, there is a zipped VM with Windows XP SP3 called:

"C:\Virtual Machines\Win_XP_Pro32_IT.zip"

Here are the steps to take to restore that Windows XP VM from the zip file:

1. Login to the real computer using your UW Net Id as normal.
2. Unzip the zipped VM into C:\Virtual Machines
   1. Using Windows Explorer, browse to C:\Virtual Machines
   2. Double-click on the Win_XP_Pro32_IT.zip file.
   3. Select menu item: Actions/Select All
   4. Click on the Extract button
   5. Extract to C:\Virtual Machines.

      After a few minutes, this should create a subfolder in that folder called Win_XP_Pro32_IT. The subfolder holds the virtual machine's definition, storage, and log files.

      As long as no one deletes the folder, you don't need to do this step again for any future logins to this computer.

Starting the VMware Interface

Management of the VM is accomplished via a web interface.

1. Start the VMware Infrastructure Web Access interface

   Either:

   • Use the shortcut: Start Menu/Programs/VMware/VMware Server/VMware Server Home Page

     OR

   • Start Internet Explorer and use this URL:

         https://localhost:8333/ui/
         

     You might be able to use Firefox, if you can install the console when prompted later on. But it also has some issues with showing the web interface. That's why we recommend using Internet Explorer.

2. Bypass a certificate error

   You should see: Certificate Error: Navigation Blocked

   Click on the link: Continue to this website (not recommended)

3. Login

   On the VMware Infrastructure Web Access page, you will be prompted for a login name and password.

   • For DOU101 classroom:

     Use the student login name and the password provided to you by the instructor.

   • For Institute Labs:

     Use your UW Net Id as a login name and your INSTTECH password.

   Click on the Log In button to log in to VMware Infrastructure Web Access. You will need to do this every time you want to manage the VM, use the VM's console, or find out information about the VM.

Adding the VM to the Inventory

A VM must be in the inventory in order to be used. This only needs to be done once.

1. Add the unzipped VM to the Inventory

   Note that the Inventory panel is empty. You need to add the VM to the inventory only once:

   1. From the Virtual Machine menu, select Add Virtual Machine to Inventory
   2. In Inventory pane, click on standard

      This is the default "datastore", which corresponds to C:\Virtual Machines.

   3. In Inventory pane, click on the VM's name (e.g., Win_XP_Pro32_IT).
   4. In Contents pane, click on the VM definition file name (e.g., Win_XP_Pro32_IT.vmx).
   5. Click OK

      The named VM should now appear in the main Inventory pane.

Exploring the VM

It can be very beneficial to your understanding of VMs to look at an existing VM and see how it was configured and can be manipulated.

1. In the Inventory pane, click on the VM's name (e.g., Win_XP_Pro32_IT)

   You should see Summary, Console and other tabs for the VM.

2. In the Summary tab, using the scroll bar, explore the panels.

   The Performance, Status, Hardware, Commands, and Relationships panels all have information that could be useful for you.

   Some of the information is changeable, but don't change it unless you are required to because any change uses more of the real computer's resources; this VM was designed to be useful enough for most tasks.

   Take special note of the Hardware panel, where one can change the configuration of or delete various hardware. It is often useful to edit the CD//DVD drive to use an ISO image vs. a real CD/DVD image, or to change the Network Adapter to use NAT or HostOnly.

   In addition, one can add new hardware via the Commands panel.

Starting and Using the VM

While there are several ways to start (and later stop or pause) the VM, we will show you the one that provides a console:

1. Click on the Console tab
2. Click in the Console window to start or power on the VM

   The first time you run this, you will see a message starting with msg.uuid.altered; click on the radio button before I copied it and then click OK.

3. Click on the console window again when Open the console in a new window appears.

   You should eventually see a the guest OS's (e.g., Windows XP) login screen. The login name is either itadmin for administrator access (only provided if needed), and ituser for unprivileged access. The appropriate password should be provided to you by the instructor.

   If you will be the only person using this guest OS, it is a good idea to change the password to something only you know; otherwise, other students will be able to use the VM whenever it is powered on.

Stopping a VM

You MUST stop your virtual machine when your class or lab session is over. A running VM will interfere with the next person's use of the real computer, which probably won't involve your VM.

To make sure the guest OS is in a good state for the next time you run it, you should explicitly shut down the OS using the its command or interface. If you can't do an orderly shutdown, then use the web interface to power off the VM -- at least that saves resources on the real computer.

Accessing a Windows Guest OS

Predefined Windows VMs that we provide also have Microsoft's Remote Desktop enabled. That means that unless you need to see the to watch the machine boot the OS, you don't need the console application tied to the web interface. In fact, if you know your guest OS's IP address, you don't even need to start the web interface (or more than once to get its IP address).

1. Get the VM's IP address

   In the Summary panel's Status pane, after the guest OS is fully started, you should see a value for IP Addresses, which are the guest's addresses. Copy that IP address.

2. Start Remote Desktop Connection

   Either:

   • If present, use: Start Menu/Programs/Accessories/Remote Desktop Connection

     OR

   • Use the command line
     1. Select: Start Menu/Run
     2. Enter in the text box: cmd
     3. Start the remote desktop connection program:

              "%systemroot%\system32\mstsc.exe"
              

3. In the "Computer:" field, enter the IP address copied above.
4. Click on Connect

   You should now be connected to the VM. Login using the credentials described above.

Troubleshooting Problems

• Can't Start VMware Server Home Page
• Can't Login to VMware Infrastructure Web Access
• VMware Console Shows MKS Error
• Not Enough Disk Space
• Using DVDs

Can't Start VMware Server Home Page

The answer to this problem is currently unknown. Contact Institute lab staff.

Can't Login to VMware Infrastructure Web Access

You need to know your login name and password. If you are still having problems in the labs, it could be that your INSTTECH password needs to be reset; contact Institute lab staff.

VMware Console Shows MKS Error

"MKS" stands for mouse/keyboard/screen. While the cause of this is unknown, you might be able to use Remote Desktop instead of the VMware console.

Not Enough Disk Space

• Not enough space on host machine

  The disk on some host machines is too small to handle the space needs of the OS, all of the other applications, and the VM. This space cannot be extended.

  However, you might be able to use an external USB disk drive. Your virtual machine should be powered off.

  1. attach it to the real machine, and wait for Windows to recognize it
  2. in the VMware Infrastructure Web Access's inventory window, click on the name of the real machine (has insttech.washington.edu at the end)
  3. in the Summary tab, scroll down to see "Datastores"
  4. Click on the "standard" datastore
  5. Scroll up to see the "Commands" panel, where there should be an "Add Datastore" command; if there isn't, you can't add your USB drive as an additional data store and you're done.
  6. Click on "Add Datastore" and follow the prompts to add the USB disk drive as another place that VMware can use for storage
  7. Click on your virtual machine name (you will be adding another disk to it)
  Choose the Summary tab
  In the Commands panel, choose "Add Hardware"
  Add a Hard Disk, and follow the prompts, browsing to the new data store.
  10. Once the hard disk has been configured, power up your VM and add a disk to it (depends on the operating system).
• Not enough space in virtual machine

  Inside a VM, you only have the amount of virtual disk space that was allocated at the time the VM was created. Again, an external USB drive can help, and it can be directly attached.

  1. Connect the USB disk drive to the real machine
  2. Wait for Windows to recognize it
  3. Start your VM
  4. Using the USB button near the top toolbar's power on/off/etc. buttons, choose the drop-down and check "Dotop USB Storage Adapter"
  5. Look at your guest OS to see the USB device appear.
  6. You will want to safely remove that USB drive when done.

Using DVDs

If the real machine does not have a DVD drive, if there is enough space, you can put an .iso image on the hard drive and then change the CD/DVD drive of the VM to use it.

If there isn't enough space and you have a USB disk drive with enough space, use the instructions above.

There are often external USB DVD drives available; contact Institute lab staff.

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