VMware vCenter Server Appliance Deployment Hung: Installed iPXE-1.0.0-1.2882051.vmw.i686.rpm

When installing an instance of a VMware vSphere vCenter Server virtual appliance, version 6.0 Update 1, I ran into an issue who's cause wasn't very apparent. While deploying the vCSA through Google Chrome, the process hung at the following step: Installed iPXE-1.0.0-1.2882051.vmw.i686.rpm. The deployment log files are located at: C:\Users\vmwareUser\AppData\Local\VMware\CIP\vcsaInstaller\sessions\session_0004\logs. The logs gave no indication of the problem. This was ultimately due to an incorrect configuration within DNS. The DNS entry was not setup for the vCSA. After creating the correct DNS entry and restarting the deployment, it completed successfully. »

8 years ago November 23rd, 2015
VMware · vSphere · vCenter Server · Chrome · vCSA 6.0 Update 1

When installing an instance of a VMware vSphere vCenter Server virtual appliance, version 6.0 Update 1, I ran into an issue who's cause wasn't very apparent. While deploying the vCSA through Google Chrome, the process hung at the following step: Installed iPXE-1.0.0-1.2882051.vmw.i686.rpm.

vCenter Server Deployment error: Installed iPXE-1.0.0-1.2882051.vmw.i686.rpm

The deployment log files are located at: C:\Users\vmwareUser\AppData\Local\VMware\CIP\vcsaInstaller\sessions\session_0004\logs. The logs gave no indication of the problem.

This was ultimately due to an incorrect configuration within DNS. The DNS entry was not setup for the vCSA. After creating the correct DNS entry and restarting the deployment, it completed successfully.

Veeam Backup & Replication 8.0: Failed to login to <ip address> by SOAP, port 443, user "root", proxy srv: port:0

Using Veeam Backup & Replication version 8.0 with a VMware vSphere 6.0 Update 1 system I ran into the error below when trying to connect to an ESXi host - Failed to login to by SOAP, port 443, user "root", proxy srv: port:0 Unknown API version format: "dev" The actual version installed was 8.0.0.817. Version 8.0.0.817 does not support VMware vCenter and ESXi 6.0, vSphere 6 support was added with Veeam Backup & Replication 8 Update 2. Update 3 is now available can be be downloaded from the following link: Veeam Backup & Replication 8.0 Update 3. After installing the update, I was able to connect Veeam Backup & Replication 8.0 to ESXi 6.0 Update 1 hosts. Veeam does not modify their download links as updates are released. As of today, the current downloadable version is still 8.0.0.817. Note that they do include a link to a Update 3 on the download page. If installing a new copy of Backup and Recovery for use with vSphere 6.0 products, first install Backup & Replication 8.0.0.817, then install »

8 years ago November 9th, 2015
Veeam · Veeam Backup & Recovery · VMware · vSphere · ESXi

Using Veeam Backup & Replication version 8.0 with a VMware vSphere 6.0 Update 1 system I ran into the error below when trying to connect to an ESXi host -

Failed to login to by SOAP, port 443, user "root", proxy srv: port:0
Unknown API version format: "dev"

Failed to login to by SOAP, port 443, user "root", proxy srv: port:0 Unknown API version format: "dev"

The actual version installed was 8.0.0.817.
Veeam Backup and Replication 8.0.0.817

Version 8.0.0.817 does not support VMware vCenter and ESXi 6.0, vSphere 6 support was added with Veeam Backup & Replication 8 Update 2. Update 3 is now available can be be downloaded from the following link: Veeam Backup & Replication 8.0 Update 3.

After installing the update, I was able to connect Veeam Backup & Replication 8.0 to ESXi 6.0 Update 1 hosts.

Veeam does not modify their download links as updates are released. As of today, the current downloadable version is still 8.0.0.817. Note that they do include a link to a Update 3 on the download page. If installing a new copy of Backup and Recovery for use with vSphere 6.0 products, first install Backup & Replication 8.0.0.817, then install Update 3.
Veeam Backup & Replication 8.0 Download

FactoryTalk ViewPoint 8.1 - HTML5 Support

FactoryTalk Viewpoint is a great way to extend FactoryTalk View SE and ME HMI applications to browser based clients. Said another way, FactoryTalk View SE and ME applications can now be viewed and controlled through a web browser on a wide array of devices. These can include: mobile devices (phones and tablets), traditional PCs and even thin clients. Rockwell supports Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Safari browsers. New with the release of FactoryTalk ViewPoint 8.1, rendering of graphics now uses HTML5; prior versions relied on Microsoft's Silverlight technology. Silverlight limited the supported client platforms that could be used with Viewpoint. New with Viewpoint 8.1, HTML5 brings the full View SE and View ME client experience to some of the most common platforms including iOS devices (iPhones and iPads), Android devices (phones and tablets), and Windows devices (PCs and Phones). Currently Mac OS X and Firefox are not listed as supported clients. Prior versions of Viewpoint, relying on Silverlight, presented a challenge because it was mainly supported on Windows based PCs and required the plug-in to be installed. Not all users have Windows based PCs or the ability/privileges to install the SIlverlight plug-in. Using HTML5 greatly increases the accessibility »

8 years ago November 9th, 2015
FactoryTalk View Point · FactoryTalk View SE · FactoryTalk View ME · Rockwell Software · Android · iOS · Windows · Internet Explorer · Chrome · Safari

FactoryTalk Viewpoint is a great way to extend FactoryTalk View SE and ME HMI applications to browser based clients. Said another way, FactoryTalk View SE and ME applications can now be viewed and controlled through a web browser on a wide array of devices. These can include: mobile devices (phones and tablets), traditional PCs and even thin clients. Rockwell supports Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Safari browsers.

New with the release of FactoryTalk ViewPoint 8.1, rendering of graphics now uses HTML5; prior versions relied on Microsoft's Silverlight technology. Silverlight limited the supported client platforms that could be used with Viewpoint. New with Viewpoint 8.1, HTML5 brings the full View SE and View ME client experience to some of the most common platforms including iOS devices (iPhones and iPads), Android devices (phones and tablets), and Windows devices (PCs and Phones). Currently Mac OS X and Firefox are not listed as supported clients.

Prior versions of Viewpoint, relying on Silverlight, presented a challenge because it was mainly supported on Windows based PCs and required the plug-in to be installed. Not all users have Windows based PCs or the ability/privileges to install the SIlverlight plug-in. Using HTML5 greatly increases the accessibility of FactoryTalk View SE and ME applications both on and off the plant floor.

VMware vCSA 6.0 Update 1 nobody's password

When trying to update a VMware vCenter Server Appliance to 6.0 Update 1 via SSH, I ran into an authentication problem. I logged into a VMware vCenter Server Appliance via SSH and tried to update it to 6.0 Update 1 by entering the following command: Command> software-packages install --iso --acceptEulas I was then requested to enter a password for nobody Command> software-packages install --iso --acceptEulas nobody's password: The problem was that I logged in with a VMware SSO account, Administrator@vsphere.local, and actually needed to login with the vCSA's root account. What is the nobody account? On Unix based systems like Linux, it is an account with limited permissions. »

8 years ago October 30th, 2015
VMware · vCSA · vCSA 6.0 Update 1 · ssh · vCenter Server

When trying to update a VMware vCenter Server Appliance to 6.0 Update 1 via SSH, I ran into an authentication problem.

I logged into a VMware vCenter Server Appliance via SSH and tried to update it to 6.0 Update 1 by entering the following command:

Command> software-packages install --iso --acceptEulas

I was then requested to enter a password for nobody

Command> software-packages install --iso --acceptEulas
nobody's password:

The problem was that I logged in with a VMware SSO account, Administrator@vsphere.local, and actually needed to login with the vCSA's root account.

What is the nobody account?
On Unix based systems like Linux, it is an account with limited permissions.

Remotely installing ESXi with HP iLO 4

The following process outlines installing ESXi 6.0 remotely on an HP ProLiant Gen9 server. The server used in the following example is an DL360. It is using an internal USB flash drive for it's peristant ESXi installtion. Download the HP Customized ESXi installer at the following link VMware ESXi 6.0 Installable HP Customized ISO Image. Find the Hostname, Username, and Password for the iLO device. This can be found by pulling the front pull-out tab from the server. The tab has a I on the front. Determine the iLO's Ethernet IP address. The iLO's default IP configuration is set for DHCP. Its address can be determined by plugging it into a network with a DHCP server, then pinging by its host name. If a DHCP server is unavailable, a static IP address can be set locally through the standard console. Login to the iLO 4 web interface through a web browser. Open a browser and enter the iLO URL, https://ipaddress. Once logged in, you will be presented with the iLO Information Overview screen. Open The Remote Console. In the left pane navigation pane, expand Remote Console, Select Remote Console, and then finally select Launch in the right »

9 years ago October 25th, 2015
HP · iLO · ESXi · DL360 Gen9 · Remote Install · VMware · Virtualization

The following process outlines installing ESXi 6.0 remotely on an HP ProLiant Gen9 server. The server used in the following example is an DL360. It is using an internal USB flash drive for it's peristant ESXi installtion.

Download the HP Customized ESXi installer at the following link VMware ESXi 6.0 Installable HP Customized ISO Image.
Find the Hostname, Username, and Password for the iLO device.
This can be found by pulling the front pull-out tab from the server. The tab has a I on the front.
Determine the iLO's Ethernet IP address.
The iLO's default IP configuration is set for DHCP. Its address can be determined by plugging it into a network with a DHCP server, then pinging by its host name. If a DHCP server is unavailable, a static IP address can be set locally through the standard console.
Login to the iLO 4 web interface through a web browser.
Open a browser and enter the iLO URL, https://ipaddress.

Once logged in, you will be presented with the iLO Information Overview screen. HP iLO Information Overview

Open The Remote Console.
In the left pane navigation pane, expand Remote Console, Select Remote Console, and then finally select Launch in the right pane.

You may need to confirm running the Integrated Remote Console application. Run Integrated Remote Console application

The Integrated Remote Console application will load.

Mount ESXi Install Media.
Click Virtual Drives then Select Image File.
Browse to the ESXi VMware ESXi 6.0 Installable HP Customized ISO Image that was downloaded in Step 1 and select open.
Restart the server.
Select Power Switch, then Click Cold Boot.

The server will restart and load the ESXi installer.

Install ESXi.
Press Enter to start the installer.

Press F11 to accepts the End User License Agreement. ESXi Accept EULA

Select the install location. In the example ESXi will be installed on an HP flash drive, HP part number: 726718-S21. ESXi Installer Select Install Drive

Confirm erasing the flash drive. ESXi Installer Confirm Erase

Set preferred language. ESXi Installer Set Preferred Language

Set root password. ESXi Installer Set Root Password

Press F11 to initiate the install. ESXi Installer Initiate Install

Once the install has successfully completed, Press Enter to reboot the server. ESXi Installer Reboot Server
A confirmation message will be displayed. ESXi Installer Reboot Confirm

Congratulations! ESXi has been successfully installed.

Paul Waldman