VMware Infrastructure 3 Release Notes - ESX Server 3.0, VirtualCenter 2.0

What's in the Release Notes

• What's New
• Before You Begin
• Security Alerts for This Release
• Known Issues
• Installation Notes for This Release
• Upgrading or Migrating to VMware Infrastructure 3

What's New

• NAS and iSCSI Support
  ESX Server 3.0 can store virtual machines on NAS and iSCSI. iSCSI LUNs, like Fibre Channel LUNs, can be formatted with the VMware file system (VMFS). Each virtual machine resides in a single directory. Network attached storage (NAS) appliances must present file systems over the NFS protocol for ESX Server to be able to use them. NFS mounts are used like VMFS with ESX Server creating one directory for each virtual machine. iSCSI enabled through a software initiator (100% implemented as a software layer over TCP/IP) is fully supported in this release.
• Clusters
  A cluster is a collection of hosts that can be managed as a single entity. The resources from all the hosts in a cluster are aggregated into a single pool. A cluster looks like a stand-alone host, but it typically has more resources available.
• VMware DRS
  VMware DRS allows resources from all hosts in a cluster to be treated as a single, aggregated pool. When changes occur in the environment, DRS can tune the resource scheduling on individual hosts as well as use VMotion to rebalance workload across hosts in the cluster. When a virtual machine is powered on, DRS calculates the optimal host on which to start it, given current resource levels and the resource configuration of the new virtual machine.
• Resource Pools
  A resource pool provides a way of subdividing the resources of a stand-alone host or a cluster into smaller pools. A resource pool is configured with a set of CPU and memory resources that are shared by the virtual machines that run in the resource pool. Resource pools can be nested.
• VMware HA
  VMware HA (HA) increases the availability of virtual machines by detecting host failures and automatically restarting virtual machines on other available hosts. HA operates on a set of ESX Server 3.0 hosts that have been grouped into a cluster with HA enabled.
• Creating 64-Bit Virtual Machines
  By default, 64-bit guests are now visible in the Virtual Infrastructure Client interface and marked as "experimental."
• Remote CD/Floppy
  Using either the Virtual Infrastructure Client or Virtual Infrastructure Web Access, a virtual machine can access a CD or floppy device from the client's machine.
• Hot-Add Virtual Disk
  ESX Server 3.0 supports adding new virtual disks to a virtual machine while it is running. This is useful with guest operating systems capable of recognizing hot-add hardware.
• New Version of the VMware File System: VMFS 3
  There is a new generation of VMFS in ESX Server 3.0. Scalability, performance, and reliability have all improved. Furthermore, subdirectories are now supported. ESX Server system will create a directory for each virtual machine and all its component files.

• VMware Consolidated Backup
  Consolidated Backup enables offloaded and impact-free backup for virtual machines running on an ESX Server system by allowing traditional file-based backup software to leverage VMware virtual machine snapshot technology and efficient SAN-based data transfer.
• Virtual Infrastructure Client
  The VirtualCenter Client has been renamed the Virtual Infrastructure Client or VI Client to convey its ability to connect to a VirtualCenter Management Server or to individual ESX Servers. When connected to VirtualCenter 2.0, the VI Client provides full monitoring and management of multihost configurations and multihost functionality, such as VMotion, DRS, and HA. When connected to ESX Server 3.0, the VI Client provides the subset of functionality needed to manage the virtual machines and configurations of single hosts. In both cases, the VI Client contains all the functionality previously available through the separate Web-based Management User Interface (MUI) in ESX Server Server 2.x and provides an interface to configure ESX Server 3.0.
• New Guest SDK Available
  The VMware Guest SDK allows software running in the guest operating system in a VMware ESX Server 3.0 virtual machine to collect certain data about the state and performance of the virtual machine. Download the Guest SDK package from www.vmware.com/support/developer/
• Tools Auto-Upgrade
  VMware Infrastructure 3 (ESX Server 3.0/VirtualCenter 2.0) supports the ability to install or upgrade VMware Tools on multiple virtual machines at the same time without needing to interact with each virtual machine. Detailed instructions are provided in the Installation and Upgrade Guide.
• Licensing Scheme

ESX Server 3.0 and VirtualCenter 2.0 introduce new licensing mechanisms based on FlexNet mechanisms. The first option is called "License Server Based" licensing and is intended to simplify license management in large, dynamic environments by allowing licenses to be managed and tracked by a license server. The second option is called "Host Based" licensing and is intended for smaller environments or customers preferring to keep ESX Server systems decoupled from a license server.

Use "License Server Based" license files to unify and simplify the license management of many separate VirtualCenter and ESX Server licenses by creating a pool of licenses centrally managed by a license server. Licenses for the VirtualCenter Management Server and for the VirtualCenter add-on features, such as the VirtualCenter Management Agent, VMotion, VMware HA, and VMware DRS are only available in this form.

"Host Based" license files are not centrally managed and not dynamically allocated but might be placed directly on individual ESX Server hosts. Only the licenses for ESX Server and VMware Consolidated backup are available in this alternative form.

• VMware Experimental Feature Support Definition
  VMware includes certain experimental features in some of our product releases. These features are there for you to test and experiment with. We do not expect these features to be used in a production environment. However, if you do encounter any issues with an experimental feature, we are interested in any feedback you are willing to share. Please submit a support request through the normal access methods. You will receive an auto-acknowledgement of your request. We cannot, however, commit to troubleshoot, provide workarounds, or provide fixes for these experimental features.

Before You Begin

ESX Server, VirtualCenter, and GSX Server Compatibility

Known Issues

kb.vmware.com/kb/xxxx

Security Alerts for This Release

The Known Issues are grouped as follows:

• Installation Issues
• Upgrade Issues
• Backup Issues
• Server Configuration Issues
• VirtualCenter, VI Client, and Web Access Issues
• Virtual Machine Management Issues
• Guest Operating System Issues
• Miscellaneous Issues

Note: Some known issues with this release are covered in the VMware Virtual Infrastructure SDK Release Notes for VMware VirtualCenter 2.0.

Note: Windows 2000 must be updated with Rollup 1 for Service Pack 4. Download this Rollup from http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/news/bulletins/rollup.mspx. Refer to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/816542/ for details. This fix is essential for VirtualCenter Server to operate correctly..

For information about third-party software and the new VMware Service Console firewall, see KB 2143. View all the Knowledge Base articles related to the ESX Server 3.0 and VirtualCenter 2.0 releases.

Installation

• Graphical Installer Might Fail to Load on IBM x445 Server with RSAII Adapter (KB 2148)
• Display Goes Blank When Installing Using Remote Interface on Intel Blade Servers (KB 2149)
• Cannot Log Onto VirtualCenter Server Using VI Client After VirtualCenter Server Upgrade or Installation (KB 2150)
• Installing ESX Server 3.0 on IBM e326 Causes Keyboard to Become Unresponsive (KB 2152)
• Cannot Install VirtualCenter Server with MSDE as Database (KB 2153)
• iLO2 Virtual Media on a ML570 G4 or DL570 G4 Fails (KB 2285)
• When Attempting to Do a BootFromSan using LPe1150, the Link Never Comes up on the HBA (KB 2288)
• ESX Server 3.0 System with More than 128 LUNs Attached Fails to Install (KB 2154)
• ESX Server Installer is Unable to See Disks if Both SAS and SCSI Controllers are Used (KB 2167)
• Customization Is Broken when WorkStation 5.x or VMI 1.5 Are Installed on the same Machine as VirtualCenter Server 2.x (KB 2297)
• USB Keyboard and Mouse Are Not Usable After Installation and Reboot of VMware ESX 3.0 Server (KB 2280)
• Virtual Machines' Raw Disks Cannot be Upgraded to RDMs by the Upgrade Script (KB 2168)

Upgrade Issues

• ESX Server 3.0 Upgrade Terminated Abnormally (KB 7992427) NEW
• Some Storage Applications May Require Firewall Ports be Opened (KB 2143) NEW
• Template Upgrades Do Not Work If the Host Is Running ESX Server 2.x (KB 2189)
• Virtual Machines Fail to Power On After a VMFS Upgrade (KB 2193)
• Cold Migrating a Virtual Machine from ESX Server 2.x to 3.0 Fails (KB 2182)
• Adding a Legacy Virtual Disk to a Virtual Machine Downgrades it to a Legacy Virtual Machine (KB 2137)
• Creating a Virtual Machine Using an Existing Disk from a Legacy Virtual Machine Can Result in Anomalies (KB 2134)
• Virtual Machines That Were Participating in Auto-Start Are no Longer Involved in Auto-Start (KB 2232)
• Installer Crashes During RPM Transaction While Upgrading ESX Server 2.x to 3.0 (KB 2195)
• ESX Server 3.0 Does Not Properly Support Upgrading Multi-Boot Installations (KB 2199)
• Legacy Templates Fail After Upgrading Shared LUNs to VMFS-3 from Another Host (KB 2247)
• Upgrade Relayout Virtual Machine Operation Fails (KB 2181)
• VirtualCenter 1.x to VirtualCenter 2.0 Database Upgrade Using Oracle 10.2.0.1 May Fail (KB 2304)
• Upgrading from VMFS-2 to VMFS-3 May Make VI Client on ESX Server Unresponsive (KB 2233)
• Unable to Connect Host Client UI to ESX Server During VMFS-2 to VMFS-3 Upgrade (KB 2252)
• Traffic Shaping Configuration Is Lost When Migrating or Upgrading Virtual Machine From ESX Server 2.x to ESX Server 3.0 (KB 2164)
• VMFS Volume Upgraded From VMFS-2 to VMFS-3 May Display as Read-Only After Upgrading (KB 2197)

Security

• Firewall Disabled Running Service Iptables Start (KB 2160)
• Nessus Generates a Warning Indicating a VERITAS Backup Exec Security Advisory for Windows Servers (KB 2206)
• Nessus Generates a Warning for Vulnerability at Port 9 with the Ascend Router (KB 2299)

Licensing

• Some Pre-Checked Items Cannot Be Checked Back to License Pool (KB 2170)
• VC License Server Settings May Override ESX Server Host Settings (KB 2212)

• Uninstalling VCB Using Add/Remove Programs Hangs (KB 2141)
• Only One Virtual Machine Appears in Legato Networker IM GUI After Backing Up Multiple Virtual Machines (KB 2144)
• File-Level Backup of a Virtual Machine with an Uninitialized Disk Fails (KB 2147)
• Warning on VCB Disconnect from VirtualCenter Server (KB 2151)
• Using "pre-command.bat" and "post-command.bat" as Described in the README for the Netbackup Integration Module for VCB Does Not Work as Expected (KB 2249)
• File-Level Backup with VCB Fails When Attempted With Six or More Virtual Disks on the Backup Proxy (KB 2185)

• NIC Team Stops Working After ESX Server Upgrade (KB 2201)
• Service Console Networking Stops Working When Using vmxnet_console and Upgrading From ESX Server 2.x to 3 (KB 2202)
• Eleven Connections Appear on the Database Server Even Though the User Set the Maximum Number of Database Connections to a Value Less Than Ten (KB 2302)
• VMware VirtualCenter and VMware ESX Server Provide Datastore URLs with Different Formats (KB 2305)
• Using Intel e1000 NICs With Certain PCI IDs May Cause Kernel Panic (KB 2221)
• Intermittent VMotion/NFS/ISCSI Failures can be Caused by Duplicate IP Addresses on your Network (KB 2253)
• Packet Buffer Heap May Become Exhausted Temporarily Under Certain Conditions (KB 2272)
• Using Qlogic FC-HBA I/O Stalls on EMC Symmetrix (KB 2287)
• Network Connectivity Is Lost and "WARNING: Uplink: 1925: Couldn't allocate pkt for frame copy" Appears in the Log (KB 2274)
• Configuring a Duplicate IP Address for VMotion Causes an Error (KB 2224)
• Virtual Machines or Processes Hang When ISO Image Is Used from Service Console NFS Share (KB 2296)
• VirtualCenter and "esxcfg-vswitch - l" Show Different Number of Ports (KB 2091)
• After VMFS Upgrade, VMX File Must Be Edited to Address Condition Producing Errors on Virtual Machine Startup (KB 2237)
• NIC Stops Transmitting When Using Broadcom 5700 Rev 14 and 5701 Rev 15 for Heavy Traffic (KB 2242)
• VI Client Loses Connectivity to the ESX Server System Host After Adding a new NIC (KB 2243)

Storage

• SendTargets Processes Run by iSCSI Software Initiators May Cause ESX Server to Freeze (KB 3344257) NEW
• Some Storage Applications May Require Firewall Ports be Opened (KB 2143) NEW
• In-Place Upgrade Only for Virtual Machines with RDM Disks (KB 2204)
• ESX Server 2.1.x and 2.0.x Do Not Provide Expected Configuration or Information for Raw Disks (KB 2133)
• A Mapped SAN LUN Added to a Virtual Machine Is Not Visible from the List (KB 2216) UPDATED
• MSCS Clustering Can Trigger an Unnecessary Failover to the Backup Server on the IBM FastT Series Arrays (KB 2161)
• SAN LUNs Not Visible in VirtualCenter UI but Visible in MUI (KB 2278)
• Using HP Insight Manager 7.5.1a, Storage Controller Adapters Are Not Shown (KB 2223)
• Upgrading my VMFS-2 Volume Failed Due to Insufficient Free Space (KB 2210)
• Legacy Templates Will Fail After Upgrading the Shared LUN to VMFS-3 From Another Host (KB 2235)
• Doing Multiple vmfs Upgrades at the Same Time Just Upgrades the First One (KB 2211)
• Additional VI Clients Unable to Connect to an ESX Server Host During a VMFS2 to VMFS3 Upgrade (KB 2236)
• Cannot See the /vmimages Datastores Directory When Attempting to Mount an ISO Image on a VirtualCenter 2.0-Managed ESX Server 2.x Host (KB 2162)
• When Using Serial Ports That Are Connected to Named Pipes, Relative Paths and Locations on VMFS Cannot Be Used (KB 2192)
• Create Datastore Operation Might Fail if the Disk also Contains the ESX Server Service Console File System (KB 2240)
• Problems when Using Emulex Fibre Channel Cards in Extreme Failover Conditions (KB 2244)
• No Protection Against Deleting a Disk Backing File That Is Also Used by Another Powered-Off Virtual Machine (KB 2245)
• Disabling the Qlogic PCI Device in BIOS Results in a PSOD (KB 2209)
• NFS Mounts Are Restricted to 8 by Default (KB 2239)
• Problems with Configuring qla4010 Card when ESX Server Boots from iSCSI (KB 2207)
• System Time Accounting Incorrect for Software iSCSI (KB 2208)

• Inaccessible Virtual Machines Are Named "Unknown VM" (KB 2172)
• "A Specified Parameter Was not Correct" Error in the VI Client Interface When a Virtual Machine Is Powered On (KB 2173)
• Real-time Statistics Data Has Gaps for the Host in VirtualCenter 1.x After Being Managed by VirtualCenter 2.0 (KB 2198)
• Intermittent SSL Warnings Appear During Logoff (KB 2169)
• Server on Localized Operating System Fails to Recognize Certain Locales (KB 2178)
• After I Move a Host out of a Cluster, the VI Client Inventory Doesn't Show the Host's Virtual Machines (KB 2165)
• Error Message in VI Client Indicates That esx.conf.WRITELOCK Cannot Be Obtained (KB 2183)
• After a Host Failure, when the Host Boots Up, the HA Service Does Not Start Up and an HA Error Occurs on the Host (KB 2300)
• Browse Datastores Option of the VI Client Cannot Recognize .vmdk File Created by vmkfstools (KB 2171)
• Unable to Log Onto the VI Client (KB 2184)
• Incorrect Input Text in Configuration Wizards Can Cause Unhandled Exceptions (KB 2186)
• Export Diagnostics Option in the VI Client Might Fail to Resolve Host Names on Other Domains (KB 2187)
• VI Client Fails to Add a Host (KB 2257)
• Changes Made for Database Password or Maximum Number of Database Connections to be Created in VI Client Do Not Take Effect Until the VirtualCenter Service is Restarted (KB 2218)

• Different Error Messages for the Same Event (KB 2174)
• In Certain Fibre Channel Environments, VMotion Does Not Succeed and the Virtual Machine Remains Running on the Source Machine (KB 2265)
• Some Virtual Machines Might Not Power on Even if Their Reservation Is Less Than the Unreserved Capacity of Their Parent Resource Pool (KB 2158)
• Cannot Power On Virtual Machine That Has two or More CPUs (KB 2159)
• Creating a Virtual Machine or Disk on Host Client Fails When You Try to Create a Virtual Machine Disk Larger Than 262GB (KB 2177)
• Taking Snapshots of Upgraded Virtual Machines in Nonpersistent Mode Is Not Allowed (KB 2175)
• Floppy and CDOM Settings Are Dimmed When I Switch Between Other Hardware Options (KB 2179)
• All Paths to a LUN Are No Longer Accessible and an Infinite Abort Loop Results (KB 2298)
• Virtual Machine Startup/Shutdown Host Settings Require an Action and Delay Be Specified (KB 2190)
• Virtual Machine Startup/Shutdown Host Settings Do Not Reflect Changes to Virtual Machine Settings (KB 2194)
• Virtual Machine Cloning and Customization Operations Fail on Virtual Machines with Two Network Adapters Connected to One Network (KB 2200)
• vmware-cmd Doesn't Recognize Symbolic Links to VMFS3 (KB 2122)
• Delays When Writing to a New Virtual Disk for the First Time (KB 2191)
• System PSOD:"Spin count exceeded (EventQueue, 448) - possibile deadlock" Message (KB 2306) UPDATED
• Incorrect Error Message when a Virtual Machine Backed Up on ESX Server 2.x is Restored to ESX Server 3.x (KB 2307) UPDATED
• The Virtual Machine May Still Be Running when VmPerl::VM::stop and "vmware-cmd stop" Return (KB 2295)
• Virtual Machine Powers Off if Attempting to Connect SCSI Device in a Powered On Virtual Machine (KB 2248)
• Installing VMware Tools from Virtual Infrastructure Client Does Not Eject CDOM from a Solaris Guest (KB 2157)
• Failure to Connect to CDOM due to Incorrect Path (KB 2303) UPDATED
• Re-Editing a Virtual Machine Before a Previous Edit Completes Fails (KB 2205)
• Changing the Power Options in Virtual Machine Gives an Error Message if the Virtual Machine is Powered On (KB 2251)
• Unable to Run Tools Upgrader for Autotools Installation and Upgrade (KB 2121)
• Windows Virtual Machines with Latency-Sensitive I/O Workloads May Slow Down in Four-Way SMP Configurations (KB 2231) UPDATED
• Intermittent Virtual Machine Failures with NIS-Enabled ESX Server Hosts (KB 2255)
• VMotion Fails at 90% Progress when the Virtual Machine's Parallel Port is Set to Write to an Output File (KB 2284)
• The Virtual Machine Seems to be Installing VMware Tools but the Tools Never Get Installed (KB 2277)

Guest Operating System

• Negative Numbers Sometimes Appear for Disk Sizes in SMC 2.1 on the Solaris 10 Operating Environment and Update 1 (KB 2215)
• Cloning a Windows Virtual Machine Can Fail if the Virtual Machine Has a Nonstandard BootExecute Value (KB 2246)
• Remote Floppy Does Not Work in Solaris 10 Operating Environment, Update 1 (KB 2220)
• Large Network Transfers Can Cause a Solaris 10 Virtual Machine's Network Connection to Hang (KB 2176)
• Solaris 10 Update 1 Virtual Machines Might Not Properly Discover and Configure the Virtual Floppy Device, Virtual Parallel Port, or Virtual Serial Port (KB 2270)
• If No DHCP Server Is Available When a Windows Virtual Machine is Customized, the Virtual Machine Might Not Be Able to Join a Domain (KB 2262)
• Solaris 10 U1 Guest Operating System Is Not Supported on EMC CLARiiON Series and Symmentrix Series Storage Arrays (KB 2289)
• Customization of a Virtual Machine on a Linux Guest Might Fail (KB 2301)
• Older Guest Operating System Exhibits Unusual Behavior (KB 2225)
• 64-Bit Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 Hangs During Installation (KB 2229)
• Storage Drivers for the VMware LSILogic Storage Adapter Are Not Available in Windows XP (KB 2241)
• Solaris Warning "Stopped tracking Time of Day Clock" (KB 2250)
• Dell PowerEdge 6850 Hosts Running ESX Server 3.0 Need A03 BIOS to Install 64-Bit Guests (KB 2087)
• Display and Mouse Problems in Solaris 10 Virtual Machines (KB 2254)
• Excessive Network Error Messages Detected in Solaris 10 Virtual Machine (KB 2258)
• Installation of 64-Bit Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Updates 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 SMP Kernel Occasionally Fails with Anaconda ImportError Message (KB 2260)
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Advanced Server 3.0 64-Bit Guest Produces Error on Intel VT Host (KB 2263)
• Blue Screen On Windows 2003 SP1 When Mounting Volumes (KB 2267)
• 64-Bit Linux Guests with Computer Using More Than 4 GB of Memory Might Experience a Guest or vmware-vmx Panic (KB 2269)

• Hewlett Packard DL760 G2 Servers Issue Warnings Whenever You Load the VMkernel (KB 2145)
• VMotion Fails to Migrate Virtual Machine When Target System Runs ESX Server Version 2.5.3 or Lower (KB 2155)
• Virtual Machine Changes to Snapshot-Consolidate Mode During Delete-All-Snapshot Operation (KB 2222)
• HA Configuration Tasks Fail and an Error Message Appears When I Configure an HA Cluster (KB 2135)
• Configuring HA Task Fails or Virtual Machine Failover Does Not Happen (KB 2259)
• Template Upgrade Fails with Error, "Name Already Exists" (KB 2196)
• VirtualCenter's Datastore Browser Does Not Display Virtual Disk Files for Virtual Machines on ESX Server 2.x Hosts (KB 2203)
• Auto-Start Is Not Run When Manually Restarting a Host in Maintenance Mode (KB 2214)
• Re-enabling Never Takes Effect If you Re-enable After the Active Directory "Enable Validation" Setting Is Disabled for a While (KB 2279)
• Disconnecting or Removing a Host Deletes a Scheduled Task (KB 2180)

Installation Notes for This Release

Upgrading or Migrating to VMware Infrastructure 3