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Create free vApps, no clutter left behind

22 Apr

I recently read about Cameyo, a free application that allows you to install other applications and have them packaged as a single, portable executable. This is awesome for IT folks, developers, etc. Unfortunately the program can’t already be installed on your system. Below I will detail the steps to setup a virtual machine to use as your environment for creating portable executables. We’ll go one step further to setup an undo disk that will allow you to have a fresh virtual machine every time you go to create a new vApp.

If you are running Windows 7 Professional and up you have the ability to setup an XP Mode virtual machine through Virtual PC at no additional charge!

Download Cameyo

1. Setup XP Mode and Virtual PC.

a. Using IE browse to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx
b. Select your Windows version and preferred language.
c. Download Virtual PC from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx
d. Download XP Mode VM from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

2. Configure your XP Mode for your “golden image”.

a. Apply updates.
b. Install antivirus and antispyware software of choice.
c. Install any additional software (that you don’t wish to make portable in the future).
d. Perform any additional tweaking.
e. Shutdown the XP Mode VM.
f. Open your virtual machine directory (Start > search > type: virtual pc).
g. Select the XP Mode VM and right click and choose settings.
h. Here you can select the Undo Disk and choose enable. You’ll want to apply any changes you made when creating your golden image.

*Note: In the future after you mess up your XP Mode VM you can power it down, come back to this settings screen and choose “Discard changes”. Likewise, you can apply updates to Windows and antivirus definitions and come back to this screen and choose “Apply changes”

3. Create your portable application.

a. Using shared drives transfer the cameyo executable and the installer for the application you wish to make portable to the desktop of the XP Mode VM.
b. Run the cameyo executable and choose “Capture installation”.
c. Run the installer for the application.
d. When selecting installation option on during the install make sure to choose put a shortcut on the desktop so cameyo can use that.
e. When the install is finished click “Installation finished”

4. Clean your tracks

a. Copy the portable application back to your host via the shared drive
b. Shutdown the XP Mode VM (Start > run: shutdown -s -t 0)
c. Go to you virtual machine directory and back to settings for the XP Mode VM and select the undo disk. Now select “Discard changes”

Now your in vApp business!

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Posted in IT

Binding hardware iSCSI initiators in VMWare

11 Apr

When configuring iSCSI datastores you will have the option to use hardware or software iSCSI initiators.

The software iSCSI initiator will work but you will not have dedicated NICs for this traffic and may feel a performance hit on the Host that has to do the task of issuing the iSCSI commands.

When attempting to setup dynamic or static discovery in the iSCSI property of the adapter you receive the message:
“The host bus adapter is not associated with a vmknic. To configure targets the adapter should be associated with a vmknic. Refer to the VMware documentation to associate the adapter with a vmknic.”

In this example we will bind two broadcom NICs to two vmknics. There has to be a 1 to 1 relationship, so if you are using four broadcom NICs you will need to bind them to four vmknics.

First the general steps:
1) Create vmkernel port groups and assign each one to a single Broadcom vmnic
2) Determine which vmnic belongs to which Broadcom HBA
3) Bind the vmkernel port group to the associated Broadcom HBA
4) Configure the HBA to communicate with the iSCSI target.

From VMware KB
Add the Physical Network Interface as a binding to the Software iSCSI HBA Device by running the following commands. In this example, we are referencing the Software iSCSI HBA as vmhba32:

List the currently-bound Network Interfaces to the Software iSCSI HBA by running the following command:

# esxcli swiscsi vmnic list -d vmhba32

List the current available network interfaces available on the ESX Host and identify the interface(s) you wish to bind:

# esxcfg-vmknic -l

Bind the network interface(s) identified in the previous step to the Software iSCSI HBA Device:

# esxcli swiscsi nic add -n vmk0 -d vmhba32

Verify the network interface(s) were successfully bound to the HBA:

# esxcli swiscsi vmnic list -d vmhba32

Enable the Software iSCSI Adapter in the Storage Adapters section of the Configuration tab.
Enter the dynamic discovery addresses of the storage array.
At the top-right, perform a Rescan of the Software iSCSI HBA.

Note: You may repeat this process and create additional bindings

For detailed information regarding the configuration of the networking within ESX read pages 36-40 of the iSCSI SAN Configuration Guide.

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Posted in IT

HP Proliant Memory Configuration

25 Mar

When adding additional memory to an HP Proliant server or building up a new one memory type and location is important to consider.

A great tool for new builds is the DDR3 Memory Configuration Tool from HP: http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/options/tool/hp_memtool.html

If you already have memory installed and have already purchased or planned on the amount of additional memory you can follow a basic guideline to optimize your memory configuration for performance.

Depending on how many processors you have you will use one or both memory banks. In this example below we have two processor and have balanced the memory across both banks and 3 channels.

The path to follow is start with A and put your smallest memory in that slot. In this case 3A on both sides gets 2GB. Then go to B, C, D and so on. In this case 8GB in both 6B and 9C.

HP Proliant Support can offer additional advise depending on your goals, performance, power saving, etc. US: 800-334-5144

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Posted in IT

A quick trip to Chasm Lake

16 Feb

With the day off, Joe and I took on the wind and snow to visit Chasm Lake.

It was windy but sunny and clear skies. We even saw a few Ptarmigan on our way up.

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Posted in 14er

Backpacking Meals – Nutritional Value

03 Feb

When picking backpacking meals for an extended trip my main goal was to find a meal that wouldn’t leave me with an upset stomach.

I now know which Mountain House and Backpacker’s Pantry meals sit well with me. I can now narrow it down to the meal that provides me with the most nutritional value. These two brands are widely available and have very detalied nutrional values posted online.

Backpacker’s Pantry Nutrition

Mountain House Nutrition

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Posted in 14er, Backpacking