Vmware Vsphere Client For Mac

The new virtual watchdog timer (vWDT) is a new virtual device introduced in vSphere 7. It enables developers and administrators to have a standard way to know whether the guest operating system (OS) and applications, running inside a virtual machine, have crashed. It is an important function for clustered applications to gain high availability. In this blog post we will introduce the virtual watchdog timer, and discuss how to configure it in vSphere 7.

VMware is the global leader in virtualization software, providing desktop and server virtualization products for virtual infrastructure solutions. NSX for vSphere 6.4.6. This is the NSX Manager Appliance in Open Virtualization Appliance Format (OVA). The NSX Manager appliance packages various NSX components such as NSX Management application, Edge, Controller and Endpoint appliances and firewall, VXLan, VDR modules. Download the NSX Manager on a computer and use vSphere Client or vSphere Web Client to deploy.

Overview

A watchdog timer helps the operating system or application to recover from crashes by powering off or resetting the server if the watchdog timer has not been reset by the OS within the programmed time. When workloads run on vSphere, the virtual equivalent of the watchdog timer helps the guest OS to achieve the same goal. It does so by resetting the virtual machine if the guest OS stops responding and cannot recover on its own due insuperable operating system or application faults.

This means that if the guest operating system stops responding and cannot recover on its own due insuperable operating system or application faults, the virtual watchdog timer is not reset within the allocated time. When this happens, an virtual machine reset is issued. When the system in the virtual machine is booted again, the watchdog timer helps the guest OS to understand if the restart was caused by a crash.

The virtual watchdog device is provided by vSphere, but is configured by the guest OS. It is exposed to the guest OS through BIOS/EFI ACPI tables.

Virtual Watchdog Timer Specifications

The Watchdog Resource Table (WDRT) feature provides addresses of the following registers on the device along with information such as the maximum timer value, timer resolution and other vendor/device information which the guest OS can use to configure and operate the device. Typically, modern guest operating systems use the Watchdog Action Table (WDAT) integration. WDAT describes an abstract device and provides information such as the instructions that it offers (see below), minimum and maximum count value, timer resolution, some flags and other vendor/device information. The Guest OS uses this information to configure and operate the watchdog device.

WDAT instructions:

WATCHDOG_ACTION_RESET
WATCHDOG_ACTION_QUERY_CURRENT_COUNTDOWN_PERIOD
WATCHDOG_ACTION_QUERY_COUNTDOWN_PERIOD
WATCHDOG_ACTION_SET_COUNTDOWN_PERIOD
WATCHDOG_ACTION_QUERY_RUNNING_STATE
WATCHDOG_ACTION_SET_RUNNING_STATE
WATCHDOG_ACTION_QUERY_STOPPED_STATE
WATCHDOG_ACTION_SET_STOPPED_STATE
WATCHDOG_ACTION_QUERY_REBOOT
WATCHDOG_ACTION_SET_REBOOT
WATCHDOG_ACTION_QUERY_SHUTDOWN
WATCHDOG_ACTION_SET_SHUTDOWN
WATCHDOG_ACTION_QUERY_WATCHDOG_STATUS
WATCHDOG_ACTION_SET_WATCHDOG_STATUS

Guest OS Support

Modern server operating systems include support for watchdog timers. No additional VMware drivers are necessary on both Windows and Linux operating systems. Additional configuration may be required depending on the used guest OS. Other operating systems like FreeBSD of Mac OS X do not support a watchdog timer.

Windows 2003 supports a Watchdog Resource Table (WDRT)
Windows 2008 and later supports Watchdog Action Table (WDAT).
- The guest OST does not require additional configurations.
Linux distributions, like Ubuntu 18.04 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6, based on 4.9 or later kernel support Watchdog Action Table (WDAT).
- Verify if the wdat_wdt.ko driver is available.

How to Configure

The goal is to provide a watchdog timer that allows the guest OS to use it without the need for additional drivers. To configure a virtual machine to use a virtual watchdog timer, VM hardware version 17 (introduced with vSphere 7) and a guest operating system that supports watchdog timer devices are required.

Start with BIOS/EFI boot

You can enable the virtual watchdog timer to start either by the guest OS, or by the BIOS or EFI firmware. If you chose the virtual watchdog device to start by the BIOS or EFI firmware, it starts before the guest operating system boots. Be sure you meet the requirements. If the guest OS does not support watchdog devices, then virtual machine will be constantly rebooted by the watchdog device.

Verification

The vSphere Client provides information if the virtual watchdog timer is running on the virtual machine.

To Conclude

The virtual Watchdog device capability in vSphere 7 is a great addition for VI admins and developers to understand the status of their clustered applications running on vSphere. Be sure to check all new vSphere 7 capabilities here!

We are excited about vSphere 7 and what it means for our customers and the future. Watch the vSphere 7 Launch Event replay, an event designed for vSphere Admins, hosted by theCUBE. We will continue posting new technical and product information about vSphere 7 and vSphere with Kubernetes Monday through Thursdays into May 2020. Join us by following the blog directly using the RSS feed, on Facebook, and on Twitter. Thank you, and stay safe!

Update 2

In early 2016, VMware began including the embedded HTML5 host client for managing ESXi in version 6.0 U2 from your web browser. Meant to connect to and manage single ESXi clients, it’s a great solution for users getting started with a dedicated Mac (like a quad-core mini or a Mac Pro) running VMware at MacStadium.

Update

Vmware Vsphere Client Mac Os

The venerable William Lam of virtuallyGhetto noticed we were missing ESXi Embedded Host Client. He wrote a great article on this tool explaining its use that's worth checking out. We're ready to add any other suggestions that our readers may have.

Here’s the Situation

You’ve just had a Mac mini setup with ESXi to move all of your software onto one machine. VMware ESXi is a great option to get the most out of a single server at MacStadium as it’s the only enterprise option available for virtualizing OS X, Windows, and Linux on one machine.

You’re probably using MacStadium because you personally use a Mac (let’s call it a MacBook Pro) for day-to-day work and recognize the potential of a hosted Mac. Rather than continue paying more for shared hosting at another provider (without OS X of course) you’d like one place to manage all of your servers.

The next step is obviously connecting to and managing your VMware single-server ESXi environment. This is where the VMware vSphere software suite comes into play. But wait, you've only got the MacBook Pro! Unfortunately for developers working on Apple hardware locally, there is no native VMware vSphere client available for OS X. Don’t give up, though; there are alternatives.

Will There Ever be a Desktop App for OS X?

There was a glimmer of hope for Mac users in a preview of VMware vSphere 6.0. A thick (desktop) client was included that could be installed locally by Windows and Mac users (and presumably Linux in the future). Unfortunately, it disappeared in the next release candidate and has not been seen again.

Can I Use vSphere Web Client?

In older versions of VMware vSphere, a Windows desktop was the primary means of accessing vSphere environments. Now though, more and more users are taking advantage of the vSphere web client to access vSphere.

The catch with vSphere Web Client is that it’s only accessible if you have vCenter. On a single-server solution running ESXi, that means $99/month. Don’t give up hope just yet.

What About VMware Fusion?

If you’re a recent convert to virtualization and tested the waters in VMware Fusion Pro on your local Mac machine, you’re in luck. VMware Fusion Pro for Mac includes the only truly native client for accessing your remote vSphere environment from OS X. If you’re not already using Fusion Pro is it worth it to purchase a license? At $200, it might be a hard sell for managing your single ESXi host.

Can I Use Windows on my Mac?

If you’ve got Boot Camp on your Mac, you could save all of your work to a remote or shared partition, log out, reboot into Windows, open up your shared partition or remote folder, open the vSphere client, and finally connect to vSphere and manage your virtual machines. That’s a lot of steps but it is a viable solution. You could also run a Windows VM in VMware Fusion or Workstation Player.

Is There Command Line Access?

Yes, you can partially manage your ESXi server using SSH. You’ll have to have access to a vSphere client temporarily to enable SSH access in ESXi. vCLI, the VMware vSphere Command-Line Interface, is also an alternative for management from a Linux or Windows system.

Does MacStadium Offer any Alternatives?