how/where do you edit a vmdk file

[blade1000]

All-

we have 3.5 ESX platform.. need to edit either vmdk or vmx file for a certain vm where I have to add an additional SCSI adapter,can't just add it from the gui -in edit settings from the VI client.

I remember seeing someone get to linux root, they logged on and fould the right vm file and added the line in there.. I have the id's and the line I need to add, just don't know what directory in Linux to look and find either the vmdk or vmx file to do this in.. I also remember that they made a copy of the original file just in case.. they used the vi editor to make the added changes..

this is for a windows 2003 server cluster and need to seup some drives on the vm..

can anyone point the way to my inquiry above?

any support would be great

thanks
blade

 

[TheLad]

Assuming you don't have VirtualCenter, there are two ways of doing this:

1) Edit the Virtual Machine's VMX file on the ESX storage location

2) Using your browser, navigate to:

https://<name

of ESX Server>/ui

where <name of ESX server> can be either the ESX server name or IP address, log in using relevant credentials, select your VM, and use Add Hardware on the right

The 2nd way might be easier to follow than the 1st

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[blade1000]

yes there is a Virtual Center Windows machine where I use my VI client and logon to.

But I can use putty -ssh IP and get to the root of linux, I have credentials etc.

so you are saying I need to modify the vmx file eh? not the vmdk file? this is where I start to lose my expertise, don;t know which file to edit..

for Windows clustering, you need a quorum disk and some others like data and logs.. so in order to do this you need to add a second scsi adapter so the you can use additional diskspace (in our case its on a Netapp)..

thanks for any additional support..

blade.

 

[TheLad]

If you have the VI Client, I would do it through here. Just from a graphical point of view you can see what you are doing more clearly.

The VMDK file is the disk file (or files) and it's size corresponds with the size you have set the VM disk to be. The VMX file is effectively the config file. You can amend it at an ESX level using VI (the Linux Text Editor, not to be confused with the Virtual Infrastructure client mentioned above) but if you have the VI Client you might as well utilise it.



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[blade1000]

hi thanks again!

I need to navigate better while at the ESX level, just dont know linux at a champion level.. where is the vmx file as far as linux directory..

so I guess i need to know how i can search for it.. is it something like /usr/bin etc etc.. not sure lol, sorry.. once I can find the file i can launch vi editor and get in the file, just need some help navigating at the esx linux level..

thanks again truly!

blade

 

[Provogeek]

More than likely, the GUI isn't letting you add the second adapter because the VM is running. To add the addapter, you need to shut the machine down first.

The path? well look in /VMFS/{VMname}

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[NortonES2]

The files should be in /vmfs/volumes/xxxxxx/virtualmachinename where xxxxxx is the directory you specified when creating the virtual machine. Though as mentioned unless you are 100% confident with linux and vi would strongly advise doing this via the GUI.

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[blade1000]

Hello and thanks to all..

Thank god for you guys here and some decent white papers, I was able to find the volumes dir in cli ESX, add the vmdk, make editions and use the vi editor (its been many years since I've touched this editor)-i have what I need now...

I truly appreciate your information, enjoy the weekend!!

blade