VM Creation

Create a Virtual Machine (VM) in your lab.

VMWare vSphere 6.0.0

After logging into a VM server (see IT about access) you will start by creating a VM.

• Right-click on your resource pool and choose New Virtual Machine.

Configuration

• For Configuration, choose Typical.

Name

• Give it a name. You can name it anything but I like my initials, the IP address, program it will be mainly running, and the OS (e.g. SF4_11_retain_sles11.3) so I can distinguish mine from others, then where it is, and what it is for.

Store Location

• Choose where to store the VM.

Choose OS

• Choose the OS it will be running.

Network Connection

• Choose the Network. We have found that the VMXNET 3 adapter has the best performance.

Disk Provisioning

• Create a Thin Provision disk for the OS, data should go on separate volumes which will be created later. This only uses what is needed up to the size allocated.
  • For SLES 11.3 32GB is needed for the OS.
  • For Windows 2012R2 64GB is needed for OS and updates.

Edit Settings

• Enable Edit the virtual machine settings before completion. There are some settings changes that should be made before creating the VM:
  • Remove floppy
  • Increase RAM
  • Add CPU see this for sockets vs cores [1]
  • Add Hard Disk(s) for data (i.e. for Groupwise/Exchange you'll want disks for each post office/Mailbox database, for Retain you'll want a disk each for archive, database, index and logs)
  • Point CD/DVD to Datastore ISO File of the OS to be installed
    • Enable Connect at power on

Finish

• Press Finish
• Power On the virtual machine, open the Console and begin installation of the OS.
• Once the OS is installed, install VMware Tools: found under Guest menu: Install/Upgrade VMware Tools

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