Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 06:34 PM

Last fall, VMware made their server virtualization software free (as in beer). This is an ideal virtualization platform for SME Server, which is binary compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, a VMware supported product.

VMware server includes a mature set of management tools, including a web-based interface and console applications for Linux and Windows systems, as well as performance optimization tools for Linux and Windows guest systems. I've got the latest version installed on my SME Server at home, and it performs flawlessly.

Without further ado, here's the how-to:

1) Make sure your smeserver is up-to-date:

[root@serverbox ~]# yum update
[root@serverbox ~]# signal-event post-upgrade
[root@serverbox ~]# signal event reboot

2) Install dependencies and the SME Server integration RPM:

[root@serverbox ~]# yum --enablerepo=base --enablerepo=updates install compat-db cpp gcc kernel-devel kernel-smp-devel xinetd xorg-x11-libs
[root@serverbox ~]# yum --enablerepo=smedev install smeserver-vmware-server

3) Download, install and configure VMware Server:

[root@serverbox ~]# wget http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmserver/VMware-server-1.0.2-39867.i386.rpm
[root@serverbox ~]# yum --enablerepo=base --enablerepo=updates localinstall VMware-server-1.0.2-39867.i386.rpm
[root@serverbox ~]# vmware-config.pl [accept the defaults or configure to your liking, you'll need to enter the serial number]

4) Install and configure the optional management interface:

[root@serverbox ~]# wget http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmserver/VMware-mui-1.0.2-39867.tar.gz
[root@serverbox ~]# tar -zxf VMware-mui-1.0.2-39867.tar.gz
[root@serverbox ~]# cd vmware-mui-distrib
[root@serverbox vmware-mui-distrib]# ./vmware-install.pl
[root@serverbox vmware-mui-distrib]# cd
[root@serverbox ~]# vmware-mui-config.pl [accept the defaults or configure to your liking]
[root@serverbox ~]# ln -s /etc/rc.d/init.d/e-smith-service /etc/rc7.d/S91httpd.vmware
[root@serverbox ~]# db configuration set httpd.vmware service status enabled
[root@serverbox ~]# signal-event console-save

5) Complete the upgrade and reboot the smeserver:

[root@serverbox ~]# signal-event post-upgrade
[root@serverbox ~]# signal event reboot

That's it! You should now be able to access the management interface at https://smeserver.ip.address:8333. Log in as admin to view, as root to make changes. You can download the Linux and Windows versions of the VMware server console from the management interface. Install on your workstation, then log into VMware server as root at the smeserver ip address.