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Customizing the Guest Operating System, Access the machine.id from an ESX Host

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Lab Manager User's Guide Customizing the Guest Operating System Lab Manager can customize the network settings of a guest operating system that was created from a virtual machine template. These settings include the machine name, IP settings, and security identifier (SID) for Windows guest operating systems. The customization allows you to create and deploy multiple, unique virtual machines based on the same virtual machine template without a machine name or network conflicts. When you configure a virtual machine template with the prerequisites for guest customization and create a virtual machine that uses this virtual machine template, Lab Manager creates a package with guest customization tools. When you deploy and power on the virtual machine the first time, Lab Manager copies the package, runs the tools, and deletes the package from the virtual machine. You can enable or disable customization for a virtual machine template or a virtual machine. To avoid conflicts when you are not using guest customization, access the virtual machine console through Lab Manager and manually set its network parameters to unique values. By default, Lab Manager enables guest customization when you create a new template. Access the machine.id from an ESX Host The configuration file for a virtual machine, the .vmx file, contains a machine.id line. The Lab Manager server system sets the values for this line while deploying virtual machines. Enabling guest customization on a virtual machine template configures a script to run every time the system starts up. This script reads the machine.id information and determines which action to take. The Lab Manager server system does not set any actions in the machine.id line while deploying virtual machine templates. As a result, the guest customization script does not perform any customization for the virtual machine template when it starts up. The Lab Manager server system does set customization actions in the machine.id line while deploying virtual machines or changing virtual machine network settings. When these virtual machines first start up, the guest customization script performs the relevant actions. To access the machine.id line from the ESX/ESXi host 1 From the ESX/ESXi host system, open the .vmx file. 2 Find the machine.id line. Access the machine.id from a Guest Operating System If you install VMware Tools, you can access the machine.id from the guest operating system of a deployed virtual machine. To access the machine.id line from the guest operating system 1 In the left pane, click Workspaces. 2 Move the pointer over the configuration name and select Open. 3 Move the pointer over the deployed virtual machine name and select Show Console. 4 Search for machine.id from inside the guest operating system.  From a Linux guest OS, type: # vmware-guestd --cmd machine.id.get  From a Windows guest OS, navigate to the directory where VMware Tools is installed (usually C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools) and type: >VMwareService.exe -cmd machine.id.get 40 VMware, Inc.

Section	Page
Lab Manager User’s Guide	1
Contents	3
About This Book	11
Getting Started with Lab Manager	13
Lab Manager Components	13
Accessing the Lab Manager Web Console	14
Set Microsoft Internet Explorer Options	15
Log In to the Web Console	15
View Performance, Usage, and Support Information	15
Setting User Preferences	16
Set Display and Lease Alert Preferences	16
Change Your User Password	17
Lab Manager Workflow	17
Adding Resources	19
Attach a Resource Pool	19
Add a Media Store	20
Add a Physical Network	20
Add a Host Spanning Transport Network	21
Adding Users and Groups	23
Import a User	23
Create a User	24
Import an LDAP Group	24
Setting Up Organizations and Workspaces	27
Create an Organization	27
Create a Workspace	28
Setting Up Network Templates	29
Create a Network Template	29
Copy a Network Template	30
Share a Network Template	30
Setting Up Virtual Machine Templates	31
Create a Virtual Machine Template	31
Importing Virtual Machine Templates	32
Import a Virtual Machine Template from vCenter	33
Import a Virtual Machine Template from SMB Storage	33
Save a Virtual Machine as a Virtual Machine Template	34
Clone a Virtual Machine Template	35
Deploying Virtual Machine Templates	35
Deploy a Virtual Machine Template with Default Settings	35
Deploy a Virtual Machine Template with Custom Settings	36
Install a Guest Operating System	36
Installing VMware Tools	36
Install VMware Tools in a Windows Guest	36
Install VMware Tools on a Linux Guest Within X with the RPM Installer	37
Install VMware Tools on a Linux Guest with the Tar Installer or RPM Installer	37
Install VMware Tools on a Solaris Guest	39
Customizing the Guest Operating System	40
Access the machine.id from an ESX Host	40
Access the machine.id from a Guest Operating System	40
Prerequisites for Guest Customization	41
Build a Microsoft Sysprep Package	41
Complete Guest Customization for Windows NT and Solaris Virtual Machine Templates	42
Complete Guest Customization for Solaris Virtual Machine Templates	43
Working with the Guest Customization SID Generation Tool	43
Select the SID Generation Tool for Lab Manager	43
Change the SID Generation Tool for a Virtual Machine Template	44
Select the SID Generation Tool for a Virtual Machine	44
Disabling Guest Customization	44
Disable Guest Customization for a Virtual Machine Template	44
Disable Guest Customization for a Virtual Machine	45
Customize Guest Customization	45
Importing Virtual Machine Templates from Lab Manager 2.x with VMware Tools and LM Tools	45
Undeploy a Virtual Machine Template	46
Share a Virtual Machine Template	46
Publishing Virtual Machine Templates	47
Check VMware Tools Status Before Publishing Virtual Machine Templates	47
Disable VMware Tools Check Before Publishing Virtual Machine Templates	47
Publish a Virtual Machine Template	47
Working with Configurations	49
Adding Configurations to a Workspace	49
Create a Workspace Configuration	50
Add a Virtual Machine Based on a Virtual Machine Template	50
Add a Virtual Machine from vCenter	51
Import a Configuration to a Workspace	52
Copy a Workspace Configuration	52
Full Clones and Linked Clones	52
Clone a Library Configuration to a Workspace	53
Adding Configurations to the Library	54
Capture a Workspace Configuration to the Library	54
Archive a Workspace Configuration to the Library	54
Clone a Library Configuration	55
Share a Configuration	55
Configuration Networking	56
Physical Networks	56
Fencing Virtual Machines	56
Fencing Connectivity	57
Virtual Networks	59
Connecting Virtual Networks to Physical Networks	59
Virtual to Physical Network Connectivity	59
Host Spanning	59
Host Spanning Networks	59
Host Spanning Transport Networks	60
Setting Up a Host Spanning	60
Deploying and Undeploying Configurations	60
Deploy a Configuration with Custom Settings	60
Deploy a Configuration with Default Settings	61
Understanding Default Deployment Settings	61
Undeploy a Configuration	62
Stopping and Starting Configuration Virtual Machines	62
Suspend a Configuration	62
Resume Operation of a Suspended Configuration	62
Power Off a Configuration	62
Power On a Configuration	63
Reset a Configuration	63
Working with Configuration Snapshots	63
Take a Configuration Snapshot	63
Revert to a Configuration Snapshot	63
Delete a Configuration Snapshot	64
Viewing Configuration Virtual Machines, Networks, and History	64
View Virtual Machines in a Configuration	64
View Configuration Networks	64
View a Configuration Diagram	65
View Configuration History	65
Add a Note to Configuration History	65
Modifying Configurations	66
Adding a Virtual Machine to a Workspace Configuration	66
Remove a Virtual Machine from a Workspace Configuration	66
Move Virtual Machines Between Workspace Configurations	66
Combine Workspace Configurations	67
Full Clones and Linked Clones	67
Add a Network to a Workspace Configuration	67
Remove a Network from a Workspace Configuration	68
Replace a Workspace Configuration Network	68
Modify Configuration Properties	68
Change Ownership of a Configuration	69
Upgrade Virtual Hardware in a Configuration	69
Discard State for a Configuration	70
Delete a Configuration	70
Using LiveLink	70
Create a LiveLink	70
Deploy a LiveLink	71
Exporting Configurations	71
Export a Configuration to vCenter	71
Export a Configuration to an SMB Share	72
Working with Virtual Machines	73
Deploying and Undeploying Virtual Machines	73
Deploy a Virtual Machine	73
Undeploy a Virtual Machine	75
Accessing Virtual Machine Consoles	75
View a Virtual Machine Console	75
View All Virtual Machine Consoles	76
Stopping and Starting Virtual Machines	76
Suspend a Virtual Machine	76
Resume a Virtual Machine	76
Power Off a Virtual Machine	76
Power On a Virtual Machine	76
Reset a Virtual Machine	77
Shut Down a Virtual Machine	77
Working with Virtual Machine Snapshots	77
Take a Snapshot of a Virtual Machine	77
Revert to a Virtual Machine Snapshot	77
Delete a Virtual Machine Snapshot	78
Managing Virtual Machines	78
Install VMware Tools	78
Insert and Swap a CD	78
Eject a CD	79
Insert and Swap a Floppy Disk	79
Eject a Floppy Disk	79
Create a Remote Desktop Connection File	79
Connect Remotely to a Virtual Machine	80
Modify Virtual Machine Properties	80
Modifying Virtual Machine Hard Disks	82
Add a Virtual Machine Hard Disk	82
Edit a Virtual Machine Hard Disk	82
Delete a Virtual Machine Hard Disk	83
Modifying Virtual Machine Network Interfaces	83
Edit Network Interface Settings	83
Reset a Network Interface MAC Address	84
Add a Network Interface	84
Delete a Network Interface	85
Upgrade Virtual Machine Version	85
Enable Memory Hot Add	85
Enable Virtual CPU Hot Add	86
Discard State for a Virtual Machine	86
Consolidate a Virtual Machine	86
Working with BEA LiquidVMs	87
Managing Resources	89
Managing Resource Pools	89
Enable or Disable a Resource Pool	89
Modify Resource Pool Properties	90
Undeploy All Virtual Machines in a Resource Pool	90
Detach a Resource Pool	90
Managing Hosts	91
Prepare a Host	91
Enable and Disable Hosts	91
Disable and Enable Host Spanning for a Host	92
Unprepare a Host	92
Modify Host Properties	92
View Deployed Virtual Machines on a Host	93
Undeploy All Virtual Machines on a Host	93
Redeploy All Virtual Machines on a Different Host	94
Repair a Host	94
Managing Datastores	94
Delete a Datastore	95
Remove a Datastore	95
Enable and Disable Datastores	95
Disable Virtual Machine Creation in a Datastore	96
Disable Media Store Creation in a Datastore	96
Modify Datastore Properties	96
View Virtual Machine Datastore Usage	97
View Virtual Machine Datastore Directories	97
Understanding Virtual Machine Datastore Directories	98
Delete Expired Virtual Machines	99
Renew the Storage Lease for an Expired Virtual Machine	99
Delete Revert Points	99
Consolidate a Virtual Machine Based on Datastore Usage	100
Delete a Virtual Machine or Configuration Based on Datastore Usage	100
Managing Media Stores	100
Add Media Stores	100
Synchronize a Media Store	101
Enable and Disable a Media Store	101
Change the Name of a Media Store	101
Managing Physical Networks	102
Monitor IP Pool Usage for a Physical Network	102
Add or Remove IP Addresses to the IP Pool of a Physical Network	102
Modify Physical Network Properties	102
Delete a Physical Network	103
Managing Host Spanning Transport Networks	103
View Host Spanning Transport Networks	103
Disable or Enable Host Spanning	103
Enable or Disable a Host Spanning Transport Network	104
Remove a Host Spanning Transport Network	104
Modify Host Spanning Transport Network Properties	104
Managing the Media Library	105
Synchronize the Media Library with Media Store Files	105
Change Ownership of Media Files	106
Restrict Access to Media Files	106
Modify Media Properties	107
Managing Users, Groups, and Roles	109
Managing Users	109
Disable or Enable Users	109
Remove a User from an Organization	110
Delete a User from Lab Manager	110
Modify User Properties	110
View User Roles and Organizations	111
Send User Notifications	111
Managing Stranded Users	111
Reassign Ownership of All Stranded Users’ Objects	112
Reassign Ownership of a Stranded User’s Objects	112
Managing Groups	112
Remove a Group from an Organization	112
Delete a Group from Lab Manager	112
Modify Group Properties	113
Managing Roles and Rights	113
Add a Role	113
Copy a Role	114
Delete a Role	114
Modify Role Properties	114
Managing Organizations and Workspaces	115
Modifying Organization Properties	115
Modify Default User Preferences	115
Modify Default Deployment Settings	116
Modify the Users and Groups in an Organization	116
Add Members or Groups to an Organization	116
Remove Members or Groups from an Organization	116
Add or Remove the Resource Pools in an Organization	117
Add or Remove the Datastores in an Organization	117
Add or Remove the Media Stores in an Organization	117
Add or Remove the Physical Networks in an Organization	118
Add or Remove a Host Spanning Transport Network in an Organization	118
Enable or Disable an Organization	118
Delete an Organization	118
Using the Primary Workspace	119
Delete the Primary Workspace	119
Set the Primary Workspace for an Organization	119
Modify Workspace Properties	120
Modifying Users and Groups in a Workspace	120
Add Users and Groups to a Workspace	120
Remove Users and Groups from a Workspace	120
Add or Remove the Resource Pools Available to a Workspace	121
Disable a Workspace	121
Delete a Workspace	121
Managing Network Templates	123
Modify Network Template Properties	123
Change Ownership of a Network Template	123
Delete Network Templates	124
Monitor IP Pool Usage for a Virtual Network	124
Add IP Addresses to the IP Pool of a Virtual Network	124
Remove IP Addresses from the IP Pool of a Virtual Network	125
Managing Virtual Machine Templates	127
Unpublish a Virtual Machine Template	127
Export a Virtual Machine Template to an SMB Share	128
Export a Virtual Machine Template to vCenter	128
Consolidate a Virtual Machine Template	129
Discard the State for a Virtual Machine Template	129
Modify Virtual Machine Template Properties	129
Modifying Virtual Machine Template Hard Disks	131
Add a Hard Disk to a Template	131
Edit a Virtual Machine Template Hard Disk	131
Delete a Virtual Machine Template Hard Disk	132
Modifying Virtual Machine Template Network Interfaces	132
Add a Network Interface to a Virtual Machine Template	132
Edit a Virtual Machine Network Interface	133
Delete a Network Interface from a Virtual Machine Template	133
Reset a Virtual Machine Template Network Interface MAC Address	133
Upgrade Virtual Hardware	134
Change Ownership of a Virtual Machine Template	134
Delete a Virtual Machine Template	134
Delete a Virtual Machine Template with Force	134
Managing Lab Manager Settings	135
Configuring General Preferences	135
Change vCenter Lab Manager Preferences	135
Set Email Preferences	137
Set System Alert Preferences	137
Set Configuration Change Summary Preferences	138
Configuring LDAP Settings	138
Locate an LDAP Server	138
Set Up an LDAP Connection	139
Specify the LDAP Connector and Schema	140
Customize LDAP User and Group Attributes	141
Test LDAP Settings	141
Detach an LDAP Server	141
Synchronize Lab Manager with the LDAP Server	141
Configuring Lab Manager Licenses	142
View Capacity License Information	142
Add a Capacity License	142
Configuring Guest Customization Settings	142
Configuring SupportLink Settings	142
Enable SupportLink	142
Collect Support Information	143
Configuring Resource Cleanup Settings	143
Understanding Leases	143
Set Deployment and Storage Lease Maximums	144
Configuring vCenter Settings	144
Reconnect to a vCenter Server	144
Change the vCenter Server User Name and Password	144
Monitoring Lab Manager	145
Monitoring Lab Manager Operations	145
View the Activity Log	145
View Activity Details	146
Monitoring Resource Usage	146
View Resource Pool Resource Usage	146
View Workspace Resource Usage	146
View Deployed Virtual Machines	147
Roles and Rights	149
Predefined Roles	149
Datastore Rights	149
General Rights	150
Group Rights	150
High I/O Rights	150
Host Rights	151
Host Spanning Transport Networks	151
Library Configuration Rights	151
Machine Rights	152
Media Rights	153
Media Store Rights	153
Network Template Rights	153
Organization Rights	154
Physical Network Rights	154
Resource Pool Rights	154
Role Rights	155
Sharing Rights	155
User Rights	156
VM Template Rights	156
Workspace Configuration Rights	157
Workspace Rights	157
Client and Browser Support	159
Guest Operating System Support	161
Using SSMove	163
Before You Move a Datastore	163
Move a Datastore	164
Resolving Move Errors	164
Glossary	165

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Lab Manager User’s Guide

VMware, Inc.

Customizing the Guest Operating System

Lab Manager can customize the network settings of a guest operating system that was created from a virtual

machine template. These settings include the machine name, IP settings, and security identifier (SID) for

Windows guest operating systems. The customization allows you to create and deploy multiple, unique

virtual machines based on the same virtual machine template without a machine name or network conflicts.

When you configure a virtual machine template with the prerequisites for guest customization and create a

virtual machine that uses this virtual machine template, Lab Manager creates a package with guest

customization tools. When you deploy and power on the virtual machine the first time, Lab Manager copies

the package, runs the tools, and deletes the package from the virtual machine.

You can enable or disable customization for a virtual machine template or a virtual machine. To avoid conflicts

when you are not using guest customization, access the virtual machine console through Lab Manager and

manually set its network parameters to unique values. By default, Lab Manager enables guest customization

when you create a new template.

Access the machine.id from an ESX Host

The configuration file for a virtual machine, the

.vmx

file, contains a

machine.id

line. The Lab Manager server

system sets the values for this line while deploying virtual machines.

Enabling guest customization on a virtual machine template configures a script to run every time the system

starts up. This script reads the

machine.id

information and determines which action to take.

The Lab Manager server system does not set any actions in the

machine.id

line while deploying virtual

machine templates. As a result, the guest customization script does not perform any customization for the

virtual machine template when it starts up.

The Lab Manager server system does set customization actions in the

machine.id

line while deploying virtual

machines or changing virtual machine network settings. When these virtual machines first start up, the guest

customization script performs the relevant actions.

To access the machine.id line from the ESX/ESXi host

From the ESX/ESXi host system, open the

.vmx

file.

Find the

machine.id

line.

Access the machine.id from a Guest Operating System

If you install VMware Tools, you can access the

machine.id

from the guest operating system of a deployed

virtual machine.

To access the machine.id line from the guest operating system

In the left pane, click

Workspace

Move the pointer over the configuration name and select

Open

Move the pointer over the deployed virtual machine name and select

Show Console

Search for

machine.id

from inside the guest operating system.



From a Linux guest OS, type:

# vmware-guestd --cmd machine.id.get



From a Windows guest OS, navigate to the directory where VMware Tools is installed (usually

C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools

) and type:

>VMwareService.exe -cmd machine.id.get