HP ML350, BL460c, VMware ESXi 4.0 Getting Started Manual

HP VMware ESXi 4.0
Getting Started guide

Overview

Thank you for downloading HP VMware ESXi 4.0. HP has seamlessly integrated
VMware ESXi, delivering active HP ProLiant management and consolidated lifecycle
management for a consistent, reliable ProLiant experience.

HP CIM (Common Information Module) providers proactively surface hardware
monitoring data to deliver the most up-to-date server state information possible. HP
CIM providers and VMware ESXi provide active hardware management using HP SIM
(Systems Insight Manager).

You can update VMware ESXi using the standard VMware update tools. The
integrated hypervisor installation is partitioned with redundant images, enabling a
robust upgrade and recovery process.

The

HP VMware ESXi 4.0 Getting Started Guide is for ESXi 4.0 Standalone Edition or

as a part of a HP VMware vSphere full licensed product.
The ESXi Stand-Alone Edition is well suited for single server virtualization installations

and is managed using the free VMware vSphere Client management console. HP
Technical Software Support and Update Service is optional and can be purchased as
a support pack.

If downloaded from HP, the installation ISO includes a trial license for standalone
edition. To obtain a permanent license for standalone edition, go to the

VMware

website

(https://www.vmware.com/tryvmware/?p=esxi) and register to obtain the

serial number license.
You can also upgrade HP VMware ESXi Stand-Alone Edition to any of the fully

licensed products for VMware vSphere including Essentials, Essentials Plus, Standard,
Advanced, Enterprise and Enterprise Plus editions. HP VMware vSphere products
includes one-year, 9x5 unlimited HP Technical Software Support and Update Service
and are upgradeable to a 3, 4, or 5 year Technical Software Support and Update
Service.

To learn more about license delivery and enabling enterprise entitlement, see
Activating standalone license ("Activating stand-alone license" on page 7) or
Upgrading to a full license (on page 7).

Understanding VMware infrastructure

VMware vSphere includes the following components:
Virtual machine—A virtual machine is a software-based computer capable of running

an operating system such as Microsoft® Windows® or GNU/Linux just as if the
operating system is installed on a physical machine.

Host—A host is a physical machine running platform virtualization software such as
ESXi. Hosts provide processor, memory, storage, and network resources for one or
more virtual machines.

vCenter Server—vCenter Server continuously monitors your virtual infrastructure,
automates system administration tasks, and centralizes remote management sessions. It
coordinates the resources and activities of individual hosts to efficiently distribute
virtual machines and tolerate hardware downtime across a data center.

vSphere Client—vSphere Client is the primary interface for interacting with hosts and
virtual machines. vSphere Client can manage a standalone host by connecting directly
to the host, or manage multiple hosts by connecting to a vCenter Server machine.