|
|
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
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:
- Login to the real computer using your UW Net Id as normal.
- Unzip the zipped VM into C:\Virtual Machines
- Using Windows Explorer, browse to C:\Virtual Machines
- Double-click on the Win_XP_Pro32_IT.zip file.
- Select menu item: Actions/Select All
- Click on the Extract button
- 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.
- 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.
- Bypass a certificate error
You should see: Certificate Error: Navigation Blocked
Click on the link: Continue to this website (not recommended)
- Login
On the VMware Infrastructure Web Access page,
you will be prompted for a login name and 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.
- 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:
- From the Virtual Machine menu, select
Add Virtual Machine to Inventory
- In Inventory pane, click on standard
This is the default "datastore", which corresponds to C:\Virtual Machines.
- In Inventory pane, click on the VM's name (e.g., Win_XP_Pro32_IT).
- In Contents pane, click on the VM definition file name
(e.g., Win_XP_Pro32_IT.vmx).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- Click on the Console tab
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- Start Remote Desktop Connection
Either:
- If present, use: Start Menu/Programs/Accessories/Remote Desktop Connection
OR
- Use the command line
- Select: Start Menu/Run
- Enter in the text box: cmd
- Start the remote desktop connection program:
"%systemroot%\system32\mstsc.exe"
- In the "Computer:" field, enter the IP address copied above.
- 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
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.
- attach it to the real machine, and wait for Windows to recognize it
- in the VMware Infrastructure Web Access's inventory window, click
on the name of the real machine (has insttech.washington.edu at the end)
- in the Summary tab, scroll down to see "Datastores"
- Click on the "standard" datastore
- 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.
- Click on "Add Datastore" and follow the prompts to add the USB
disk drive as another place that VMware can use for storage
- 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.
- 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.
- Connect the USB disk drive to the real machine
- Wait for Windows to recognize it
- Start your VM
- Using the USB button near the top toolbar's power on/off/etc. buttons,
choose the drop-down and check "Dotop USB Storage Adapter"
- Look at your guest OS to see the USB device appear.
- 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.
Change Log
8 Jan 2010 |
Added Troubleshooting Problems section |
23 Dec 2009 |
Original document |
Hours
|
Support Information
|
News
|
Policies
|
Emergencies
|