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ESX Commands – esxcfg-advcfg


Everything I find out in the VM Blogosphere about studying for the VCDX says to know your esxcfg- commands. Ok. So here I go.
The first command as I start out was the one on the top: esxcfg-advcfg.

[[email protected] root]# esxcfg-advcfg
Usage: esxcfg-advcfg []
-g|–get Get the value of the config option
-s|–set Set the value of the config option
-d|–default Reset Config option to default
-q|–quiet Suppress output
-k|–set-kernel Set a VMkernel load time option value.
-j|–get-kernel Get a VMkernel load time option value.
-m|–set-message Set DCUI welcome message.
-u|–uuid Ensure the Vmkernel system UUID is set and print it.
-h|–help Show this message.
-r|–restore Restore all advanced options from the configuration
file. (FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY).

A great wealth of info about this command (and all esxcfg- commands) from b2vGuide2vmware3. So not wanting to repeat anything written on the site. I would ask what is the common usage situation for this command?
We can see how to use the command but exactly why would I do those changes?
I guess from the looks of things this command might be the hardest one to explain.
Anyone out there able to fully explain this?

Maybe alphabetical was the wrong way to start.

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Don’t Delete anything. Ever!

Ok, so after a stressful morning I am writing mainly to tell myself never delete anything, ever again.

Anyone else, if you don’t know vmware very well, don’t try to manipulate your vmdk files. Probably should not perform this combo of commands:

1. snapshot
2. snapshot
3. revert to here.
4. extend disk
5. extend disk
6. extend disk
7. Call consultant and say you don’t know what happened it just isn’t working.

Extending a vmdk is not instant, and requires additional steps in Windows to actually see it work. Please please please start using VCB to backup your vmdk’s. Plus Backup Exec needs to do a SQL backup if you want your databse to work again.

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SRM in a box – part 0

Several people have posted about SRM in Workstation. I decided to try it out. I do not have access to any NetApp storage device so I am trying to use the EMC Celerra Simulator. Wow, pretty intensive. I am moving it all to my laptop that has more ram. Hopefully I can get all teh VM’s to boot. Then we will see what happens.

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DPM Video

Great stuff. I would be willing to put this in place for a test/dev setup. Still feel uneasy that machines might not come out of standby cleanly. I am performing Capacity Planning lately and it is amazing how much money VMware can save you when it comes to power alone.