Working with the Virtual Services Platform : Setting Up the Virtual Services Platform
  
Setting Up the Virtual Services Platform
This section describes how to configure VSP and ESXi for the SteelHead EX. It includes the following topics:
•  Before You Begin
•  Configuring VSP
•  Using the ESXi Installation Wizard
Before You Begin
Before you launch the installation wizard, configure the disk layout for VSP. To use VSP, ensure that you have allocated disk space to VSP. For details, see Configuring Disk Management.
Configuring VSP
You can configure VSP and ESXi from the EX Features > Virtualization: Virtual Services Platform page.
A configuration wizard guides you through the initial configuration of ESXi. After you run the wizard, you can customize additional settings on this page, such as the ESXi password and VNC access. You can also monitor the VSP current status and resource allocation from this page.
Note: During the ESXi installation, an HPN virtual switch on vnic0 is created. The switch has a kernel port and a virtual machine port. This switch is used for communication within the appliance. Do not modify or delete this virtual switch.
To configure VSP
1. Choose EX Features > Virtualization: Virtual Services Platform to display the Virtual Services Platform page.
2. If you have not configured ESXi for VSP, the Virtual Services Platform page displays an information message with a Launch ESXi Installation Wizard button.
Figure: Initial Launch of Configuration Wizard
3. If necessary, run the Installation wizard.
For details, see Using the ESXi Installation Wizard.
After you have configured ESXi, the page displays a section for the ESXi wizard, displays the current status and resources, and provides access to additional settings.
Figure: Virtual Services Platform Configuration Page
4. To make additional changes after you run the Installation wizard, modify the VSP as described in the following table.
Control
Description
ESXi Reinstallation Wizard
Launches a wizard that steps you through reinstalling ESXi with new settings. When you reinstall ESXi using this wizard, the new configuration overwrites any previous configuration changes made through vSphere and vCenter with the new settings from the wizard.
The reinstallation wizard includes a Local Datastore page that asks if you want to erase and then re-create the local datastore. Use caution when selecting this option, as it deletes all data from the local datastore, including existing VMs, after you confirm. Riverbed recommends that you back up ESXi data before proceeding.
ESXi License
Click Restore Default ESXi License to replace the existing ESXi license with the default ESXi license, which does not have vCenter functionality.
ESXi Credentials
Username - Specifies the ESXi user name.
Password/Confirm Password - Specify a password. The password must meet the default ESXi password complexity requirements. Confirm the password in the Password Confirm text box.
Important: If you change the ESXi password in VNC or vSphere, you must also change it on this page. Changing the ESXi password using VNC or vSphere triggers the ESXi Communication Failed alarm in RiOS. When the passwords are not synchronized, RiOS cannot communicate with ESXi.
VNC
Enable VNC - Enables the use of a VNC (virtual network computing) client to connect to the direct console user interface (DCUI) of the ESXi server.
Port - Specify a port. By default, a VNC client uses port 5900.
Password/Confirm Password - Specify a password. The password must have a maximum of eight characters. Confirm the password in the Password Confirm text box.
For details about using VNC, see Managing Virtual Machines Using VNC.
5. Click Apply.
The system copies the settings to the ESXi configuration.
6. Click Restart VSP to restart VSP.
If you receive a warning that VSP is not in a safe state to restart, click Cancel to cancel the restart or Continue to proceed.
If you have installed a network card in slot 1 of the appliance and configured the card to use data interfaces, the VSP NIC Status table displays vmnic details. You can click an interface to view additional configuration details. For more details, see Modifying Data Interfaces.