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VMware VirtualCenter 1.4.x Support Documentation


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VirtualCenter Template Requirements

Virtual machines to be used as sources for VirtualCenter templates must have been created by one of the following virtualization platforms:

  • Workstation version 4.x
  • GSX Server version 2.5.x
  • ESX Server version 2.x
  • VMware Server version 1.x

    • If you have older virtual machines that you plan to include in the VirtualCenter environment, you must upgrade your Workstation, GSX Server, VMware Server, or ESX Server to the supported version level and upgrade the virtual machines to the supported version level. Refer to your Workstation, GSX Server, VMware Server, or ESX Server documentation for additional information.

    Note: To be managed by VirtualCenter, ESX Server hosts must be running ESX Server version 2.0.1 or greater although virtual machines can have been created with ESX Server version 2.0 and then imported into a managed host running ESX Server version 2.0.1 or greater. Similarly GSX Server or VMware Server hosts must be running GSX Server version 3.1 or later or VMware Server 1.0 or later, although virtual machines can have been created with GSX Server 2.5.x.

    The virtual disks of virtual machines to be used as sources for VirtualCenter templates have the following requirements:

  • The Workstation and GSX Server virtual machine's directory path and configuration file must be local to VirtualCenter server.

    • The path must refer to a drive letter corresponding to a local file system. Specifically, it cannot be a network share that is mapped as a local drive.

  • VMware Server virtual machines can only be used if the VMware Server is managed by VirtualCenter.
  • ESX Server virtual machines must be managed by VirtualCenter.

    • Remove the ESX Server host from VirtualCenter after you have created the template, if needed.

  • ESX Server golden images can have their configuration file refer to virtual disks with relative paths. The virtual disks can then reside under the same directory as the configuration file.
  • Deploying a template or cloning a virtual machine that uses IDE disks to an ESX Server is not supported.
  • Virtual machines created on VMware Server or upgraded through VMware Server Console cannot be migrated or cloned back to either a GSX Server or ESX Server. Templates created from a VMware Server virtual machine cannot be deployed to either a GSX Server or ESX Server.
  • Deploying a template or cloning a virtual machine may fail due to SCSI reservation conflicts on the LUN. To prevent this, add the following line to the managed host configuration file to tell VirtualCenter to retry several more times.

    • $ echo n > /proc/vmware/config/Scsi/ConflictRetries

    Where n is the number of times to retry. The recommended number is 10.

  • The template repository, which you have the option to specify, must either be local to the managed host on which the source virtual machine resides or be on a Network Attached Storage (NAS).

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