VMware GSX Server 3 Administration Instruction Manual

Administration Guide
TM

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Table of Contents
3
Introduction and System Requirements ____________________________9
VMware GSX Server: Enterprise-Class Virtual Infrastructure
for x86-Based Servers ____________________________________________10
Welcome to VMware GSX Server ___________________________________12
Enterprise-Class Virtual Infrastructure for Intel-Based Servers ___________13
What’s New in Version 3 __________________________________________14
Features in Version 3.2 _________________________________________14
Critical Bugs Fixed in GSX Server 3.2 ______________________________15
Features in Version 3.1 _________________________________________15
Critical Bugs Fixed in GSX Server 3.1 ______________________________16
Features in Version 3 __________________________________________17
Before You Install the Release ___________________________________21
If You Are Upgrading from an Earlier Version of GSX Server _____________23
Reinstall VMware Tools _________________________________________23
Host System Requirements ________________________________________24
Server Requirements __________________________________________24
Remote Client Requirements ____________________________________30
Virtual Machine Specifications _____________________________________32
Supported Guest Operating Systems ________________________________35
Technical Support Resources ______________________________________37
Self-Service Support __________________________________________37
Online and Telephone Support __________________________________37
Support Offerings ____________________________________________37
Reporting Problems ___________________________________________37
Log Files ____________________________________________________39
Installing VMware GSX Server ___________________________________ 43
Selecting Your Host System _____________________________________43
About the VMware Virtual Machine Console on the Server _____________44
Installing VMware GSX Server on a Windows Host ______________________45
Basic Installation ______________________________________________46
Default Directories ____________________________________________48
Installing the GSX Server Software on a Windows Host ________________48
Installing VMware GSX Server on a Linux Host _________________________55
Basic Installation ______________________________________________56

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Default Directories ____________________________________________58
Installing the GSX Server Software on a Linux Host ___________________59
Installing the VMware Management Interface on a Linux Host __________63
Installing an X Server __________________________________________64
Before You Install on a SuSE Linux 7.1 or Higher or SLES Host ___________64
Before You Install on a SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 Host _____________65
Before You Install the VMware Management Interface
on a Linux Host ______________________________________________65
Configuring Web Browsers for Use with GSX Server _____________________67
Launching the VMware Virtual Machine Console
from the Management Interface on an Encrypted Server ______________67
Connecting to the Management Interface on a Proxy Server ___________68
Launching Help in Netscape on a Linux System _____________________69
Installing the VMware Virtual Machine Console ________________________70
Installing the VMware Virtual Machine Console
on a Windows Host ___________________________________________70
Installing the VMware Virtual Machine Console on a Linux Host _________73
Installing the VMware Scripting APIs ________________________________75
Installing the VmPerl and VmCOM Scripting APIs
on a Windows Host ___________________________________________75
Installing the VmPerl Scripting API on a Linux Host ___________________78
Uninstalling VMware GSX Server ___________________________________80
Uninstalling GSX Server on a Windows Host ________________________80
Uninstalling GSX Server on a Linux Host ___________________________85
Upgrading VMware GSX Server _________________________________ 87
Preparing for the Upgrade ________________________________________88
Before You Install VMware GSX Server _____________________________88
When You Remove an Existing Version and Install the New Version ______90
Upgrading on a Windows Host ____________________________________91
Upgrading on a Linux Host ________________________________________92
Using Virtual Machines Created with Version 2 under Version 3 ____________93
Creating Everything New from the Start ___________________________93
Using an Existing Virtual Machine without Upgrading
the Virtual Hardware __________________________________________93
Using an Existing Virtual Machine and Upgrading
the Virtual Hardware __________________________________________94
Upgrading Virtual Hardware in the Guest Operating System ___________94

5
Using Virtual Machines Created with Version 1 under Version 3 ___________103
Upgrading Virtual Hardware in the Guest Operating System __________103
Managing Virtual Machines and the VMware GSX Server Host _______ 107
Remotely Managing Virtual Machines ______________________________108
Changing the Port Number
for VMware Virtual Machine Console Connections __________________109
Downloading the VMware Virtual Machine Console _________________111
Securing Virtual Machines and the Host _____________________________114
Understanding Permissions and Virtual Machines ___________________114
Authenticating Users and Running Virtual Machines
on a GSX Server for Windows Host ______________________________117
Authenticating Users and Running Virtual Machines
on a GSX Server for Linux Host __________________________________119
Checking Permissions in the VMware Management Interface __________121
Securing Your Remote Sessions _________________________________121
Identifying a Virtual Machine by Its UUID ____________________________123
Specifying a UUID for a Virtual Machine ___________________________124
Logging GSX Server Events on Windows ____________________________125
Backing Up Virtual Machines and the GSX Server Host _________________127
Using a Backup Agent in the Virtual Machine ______________________127
Using a Backup Agent Running on the Host Operating System ________127
Backing Up the GSX Server Host ________________________________128
Considerations for Backing Up Virtual Machines ____________________128
Using the VMware Management Interface ___________________________129
Setting the Session Length for the VMware Management Interface _____130
Logging On to the VMware Management Interface _________________131
Using the Status Monitor ______________________________________132
Configuring a Virtual Machine __________________________________137
The Apache Server and the VMware Management Interface __________147
Logging Off of the VMware Management Interface _________________147
Deleting Virtual Machines ________________________________________148
Deleting a Virtual Machine Using
the VMware Virtual Machine Console ____________________________148
Deleting a Virtual Machine Using
the VMware Management Interface _____________________________148
Configuring the GSX Server Host __________________________________149
Securing Remote Connections with SSL __________________________149

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Configuring Startup and Shutdown Options for Virtual Machines ______150
Setting User Preferences for the VMware GSX Server Host ____________155
Setting Global Preferences for VMware GSX Server __________________160
Creating Network Labels ______________________________________163
Setting a MIME Type to Launch
the VMware Virtual Machine Console ____________________________166
Using VirtualCenter to Manage GSX Server Virtual Machines _____________169
Creating Virtual Machines on a GSX Server Host
from a VirtualCenter Client _____________________________________169
Connecting to a GSX Server Virtual Machine
from a VirtualCenter Client _____________________________________169
Moving and Sharing Virtual Machines ___________________________ 171
Moving a VMware GSX Server 3 Virtual Machine ______________________172
Virtual Machines Use Relative Paths ______________________________172
Preparing Your Virtual Machine for the Move ______________________172
Moving a Virtual Machine to a New Host __________________________173
Moving a GSX Server 2 Virtual Machine _____________________________175
Virtual Machines Use Relative Paths ______________________________175
Preparing Your Virtual Machine for the Move ______________________175
Moving a Virtual Machine to a New Host __________________________176
Moving Older Virtual Machines ___________________________________178
Virtual Machines May Use Relative or Absolute Paths ________________178
Preparing Your Virtual Machine for the Move ______________________179
Preparing the New Host Machine _______________________________179
Considerations for Moving Disks in Undoable Mode _________________180
Sharing Virtual Machines with Other Users ___________________________183
Performance Tuning and the VMware GSX Server Host _____________ 185
Configuring and Maintaining the Host Computer _____________________186
Configuring GSX Server _________________________________________187
General GSX Server Options ___________________________________187
GSX Server on a Windows Host _________________________________191
GSX Server on a Linux Host ____________________________________193
Understanding Memory Usage ___________________________________194
Memory Use on the Host ______________________________________194
Specifying How Much RAM is Used
by All Running Virtual Machines ________________________________195
Memory Usage on Older Linux Hosts ____________________________197

7
High-Availability Configurations with VMware GSX Server __________ 199
Using SCSI Reservation to Share SCSI Disks with Virtual Machines _________200
SCSI Reservation Support _____________________________________200
Enabling SCSI Reservation _____________________________________201
Issues to Consider When Sharing Disks ___________________________202
Overview of Clustering with GSX Server _____________________________204
Applications That Can Use Clustering ____________________________205
Clustering Software __________________________________________205
Creating a Cluster in a Box _______________________________________206
Configuring Virtual Machines for Cluster in a Box ___________________207
Creating a Two-Node Cluster with Microsoft Clustering Services
on a Single GSX Server Computer _______________________________207
Using Network Load Balancing with GSX Server ______________________214
Overview of Network Load Balancing Clusters _____________________214
Creating a Multinode Network Load Balancing Cluster _______________215
Creating Two-Node Clusters Using Novell Clustering Services ____________219
Creating the First Node's Base Virtual Machine _____________________219
Creating the Second Node in the Cluster _________________________220
Installing the Guest Operating System and VMware Tools ____________220
Adding the Shared Disks to Both Virtual Machines __________________220
Installing Novell Clustering Services on the Cluster Nodes ____________222
Clustering Using the iSCSI Protocol ________________________________223
Clustering Scenarios Using iSCSI ________________________________223
Creating and Configuring the iSCSI Initiator Virtual Machine ___________224
Configuring the iSCSI Target in the Cluster ________________________225
Glossary ____________________________________________________ 227
Index ______________________________________________________ 233

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CHAPTER 1
9
Introduction and System
Requirements
The following sections introduce you to VMware GSX Server.
•VMware GSX Server: Enterprise-Class Virtual Infrastructure for x86-Based Servers
on page 10
•Welcome to VMware GSX Server on page 12
•What’s New in Version 3 on page 14
•Host System Requirements on page 24
•Virtual Machine Specifications on page 32
•Supported Guest Operating Systems on page 35
•Technical Support Resources on page 37

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VMware GSX Server Administration Guide
VMware GSX Server: Enterprise-Class
Virtual Infrastructure for x86-Based
Servers
VMware® GSX Server is virtual infrastructure for enterprise IT administrators who want
to consolidate servers and streamline development and testing operations. GSX
Server is easily installed and managed, and provides rapid return on investment (ROI).
Unlike other virtualization products, GSX Server is enterprise-proven, preserves
freedom of choice and offers an upgrade path to datacenter-class virtualization.
Because it has over four years of proven success, thousands of customers trust
VMware GSX Server as their virtualization solution. Easily installed on Windows or
Linux platforms, GSX Server provides advanced capabilities that make it the most
flexible server virtualization product on the market. GSX Server is part of the widely
deployed VMware virtual infrastructure solution with virtual machines compatible
across all VMware products, and with unified management and provisioning provided
by VMware VirtualCenter.
VMware GSX Server simplifies computing infrastructure by partitioning and isolating
servers in secure and transportable virtual machines, each of which can run standard
Windows, Linux or NetWare operating systems and applications. GSX Server allows
you to remotely manage, automatically provision and standardize virtual machines on
a secure, uniform platform.
Thousands of enterprise customers rely on VMware GSX Server to deliver server
scalability, reliability and high availability and to maximize return on IT investments.
Use GSX Server across the enterprise to:
•Streamline software development and testing operations with easily provisioned
and managed server-based virtual machines.
•Implement server consolidation for new and legacy departmental server
applications.
•Provision servers rapidly to local or remote locations.
•Streamline operating system and application patch management.

CHAPTER 1 Introduction and System Requirements
11
Key GSX Server 3 Benefits
GSX Server 3 offers the following key benefits:
•Shipping for over four years, with thousands of successful customers, VMware
GSX Server is the most flexible and easily deployed server virtualization product
on the market.
•Offers widest selection of supported host and guest operating systems of any
virtualization technology — preserves your freedom to choose the best
operating system platform.
•Integrates easily into any environment for ultimate versatility — installs like an
application and runs on any standard x86 hardware.
•Supports large server — up to 64GB of host memory, 32 host processors and 64
powered-on virtual machines — for ultimate scalability, extensibility and
robustness.
•Offers virtual machine compatibility across the entire VMware family of
virtualization products and is ready to run with VMware VirtualCenter.
•Supports advanced virtual machine clustering for high-availability applications.
•Ensures reliable server consolidation through isolated virtual partitions.
•Allows secure remote management.
•Permits full network connectivity for virtual machines.
•Automates monitoring and control of virtual machines with VmCOM and VmPerl
Scripting APIs.
•Runs virtual disk files on any system with current VMware software installed.
To discover more new features of VMware GSX Server 3, see What’s New in Version 3
on page 14.

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VMware GSX Server Administration Guide
Welcome to VMware GSX Server
Thank you for choosing VMware GSX Server, the software that provides IT
professionals with enterprise-class server consolidation and high availability of server
resources by letting them run multiple operating systems in secure, transportable,
high-performance virtual computers.
If you’re new to GSX Server, this chapter is the place to start.
If you’re a veteran user of VMware products, take a few minutes to see what’s new in
version 3 and review the notes on upgrading your installation.
The VMware GSX Server Administration Guide introduces you to some of the things you
can do with GSX Server and guides you through the key steps for installing the
software, configuring your server host and managing your virtual machines.
The VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide provides information on creating virtual
machines, as well as in-depth reference material for getting the most out of the
sophisticated features of GSX Server.

CHAPTER 1 Introduction and System Requirements
13
Enterprise-Class Virtual Infrastructure for Intel-Based Servers
VMware products provide a virtualization layer that turns your physical computers
into a pool of logical computing resources. You can then dynamically allocate those
resources to any operating system or application in the way that best meets your
needs. You’ll be able to spend more time delivering tangible value to your business
and less time installing operating systems, rebooting and reconfiguring hardware.
Run the operating systems you need — all at once.
With VMware virtualization technology, you can set up completely independent
installations of operating systems on a single machine. Multiple instances of
Microsoft® Windows® or Linux® can run side by side in virtual machines that you
create with the GSX Server software. Each virtual machine is equivalent to a server
with a unique network address and a full complement of hardware devices. You install
and run a complete, unmodified operating system and application software, just as
you do on a physical server.
Host and Guest
• The physical computer
on which you install
the GSX Server
software is called the
host computer, and its
operating system is
called the host
operating system.
• The operating system
running inside a virtual
machine is called a
guest operating
system.
• For definitions of these
and other special
terms, see the glossary
at the end of this
manual.

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VMware GSX Server Administration Guide
What’s New in Version 3
Whether you’re a long-time power user of VMware GSX Server or a new user who is
just learning what you can do with virtual machines, the new features in VMware GSX
Server 3 extend its capabilities and make it easier to use.
Features in Version 3.2
Here are some highlights of key features to explore in VMware GSX Server 3.2:
New Operating System Support
VMware GSX Server 3.2 adds full support for the following 64-bit host operating
systems on AMD64 and Intel® EM64T processors:
•Microsoft® Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition as a host operating system on
AMD64 and Intel EM64T processors
VMware GSX Server 3.2 adds experimental support for the following 64-bit host
operating systems on AMD64 and Intel EM64T processors:
•Red Hat™ Enterprise Linux 4
•Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 Update 4
•SUSE™ LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Service Pack 1
•SUSE LINUX 9.3
•SUSE LINUX 9.2
VMware GSX Server 3.2 adds support for the following 32-bit host and guest
operating systems:
•Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1
•Mandrake Linux 10.0 and 10.1
•Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4
•Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 Update 4
•Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 Update 6
•SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Service Pack 1
•SUSE LINUX 9.3 (experimental support)
•SUSE LINUX 9.2
Support for Clustering with the iSCSI Protocol
Using the iSCSI protocol allows you to set up a clustering environment across hosts.
For more information, see Clustering Using the iSCSI Protocol on page 223.

CHAPTER 1 Introduction and System Requirements
15
Dual-Core Processor Licensing Compatibility
The two processor version of GSX Server now supports systems with two dual-core
processors.
Critical Bugs Fixed in GSX Server 3.2
Bugs fixed in this release include:
•Fix for panic that occurs on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 AS host.
•Fix for core dump when powering on virtual machine on Fedora Core 3 host.
(Fedora is not a supported GSX Server host operating system.)
•Fix to allow USB devices to work in virtual machines on SUSE LINUX 9.1 host.
•Correction for monitor error that occurred when upgrading Windows Server
2003 guest operating system to Service Pack 1 RC1.
•Fix for inability to power on virtual machine with legacy virtual disk.
•Fix for DirectInput error that occurred when GSX Server automatically powered
on a virtual machine when the Windows host starts. The message read:
Failed to create DirectInput object-
HRESULT(0x80004001:sev 1 fac 0 code 16385]:
Unknown error 16385(0x4001)
•Fix for memory issue on hosts with 32GB RAM.
•Fix for VirtualCenter alarm showing maximum memory usage when virtual
machine is idle or under low usage.
•Fix to prompt user to power off any running virtual machines before running the
vmware-config.pl configuration program.
•Fix for security vulnerability described in CAN-2004-0700.
•Fix to improve scalability and performance on NUMA hardware.
Features in Version 3.1
Here are some highlights of key features to explore in VMware GSX Server 3.1:
Manage Virtual Disks with VMware Virtual Disk Manager
Create, manage and modify virtual disk files from the command line or within scripts
with the VMware Virtual Disk Manager utility. For more information, see Using VMware
Virtual Disk Manager in the VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide.
New Operating System Support
Get the freedom to choose the operating systems and applications that work best for
you. VMware GSX Server 3.1 provides experimental support for Microsoft Windows

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VMware GSX Server Administration Guide
Server 2003 for 64-Bit Extended Systems (beta), Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 and SuSE
Linux Enterprise Server 8.0 on hosts with 64-bit processors.
Experimental guest operating system support is provided for Solaris 9 and 10
Operating System x86 Platform Edition.
VirtualCenter Ready
GSX Server 3.1 is enabled for management by VMware VirtualCenter. You can use
VirtualCenter to manage and provision virtual machines on multiple GSX Server hosts,
then migrate the virtual machines between other GSX Server and ESX Server systems
under VirtualCenter management.
GSX Server 3.1 Secured with OpenSSL 0.9.7d
GSX Server 3.1 incorporates the updated version of OpenSSL. OpenSSL 0.9.7d corrects
various security vulnerabilities.
Critical Bugs Fixed in GSX Server 3.1
Bugs fixed in this release include:
•Fix for Apache Web server crashes on Linux hosts after VMware Management
Interface timed out.
•Fix for problem that prevented the launching of the VMware Virtual Machine
Console from the VMware Management Interface on a Linux host.
•Fix for issue where the VMware Management Interface reported incorrect
memory and processor usage statistics.
•Fix for VMware Management Interface issue where connections secured with
SSL were redirected to insecure port 8222.
•Fix for Windows hosts where the Windows registry keys became read-only after
removing GSX Server 2.x. This caused the installation of GSX Server 3 to fail.
•Fix for Linux hosts where users in particular groups could not create virtual
machines.
•Fix for Linux hosts where switching to the vmxnet networking driver caused
networking to fail in a virtual machine.
•Fix for Windows hosts where a virtual machines froze and the only workaround
was to kill the virtual machine process.
•Fixes for SCSI reservation issues including deadlocks, and panics that occurred
when powering on clustered virtual machines configured with LSI Logic SCSI
adapters.

CHAPTER 1 Introduction and System Requirements
17
•Fix for issue that caused the VMware Registration Service service to hang when
starting the host while virtual machines are configured to power on
automatically with the host.
•Fix for an application error that occurred in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6a
(Japanese language version only) guest operating systems when using the
search function of Windows Explorer. The error occurred only when VMware
Tools is installed in the guest.
•Fix to allow the installation of VMware Tools in Windows NT 4.0 Support Pack 3
guest operating systems. For more information, see knowledge base article 1304
at www.vmware.com/support/kb/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1304.
•Fix for issue where a GSX Server 2.5.x virtual machine on a Windows host
configured with a static IP address lost its static IP after it was powered on under
GSX Server 3. For more information, see knowledge base article 1307 at
www.vmware.com/support/kb/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1307.
•You can now restrict which users can create virtual machines and virtual disks.
For more information, see knowledge base article 1042 at www.vmware.com/
support/kb/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1042.
•Virtual machines configured for NAT networking can now use Point-to-Point
Tunneling Protocol (PPTP).
Features in Version 3
Here are some highlights of key features to explore in VMware GSX Server 3:
GSX Server 3 Security Update: OpenSSL 0.9.7d Patches
Patches are available for GSX Server 3 that update the version of OpenSSL used in the
product. The newer version of OpenSSL corrects security vulnerabilities and is posted
on the GSX Server Security Updates Web page at www.vmware.com/download/
gsx_security.html.
GSX Server 3 users are strongly urged to download and install these patches.
Enhanced Virtual Machine User Access Control
On Windows hosts, a virtual machine runs as a user. You can specify the particular user
or let the virtual machine run as the user who powers it on. For more information, see
Authenticating Users and Running Virtual Machines on a GSX Server for Windows
Host on page 117.

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VMware GSX Server Administration Guide
Improved Security for Remote Connections
SSL is enabled by default for remote connections with the VMware Virtual Machine
Console and the VMware Management Interface.
VirtualCenter Ready
GSX Server 3 is enabled for management by an upcoming release of VMware
VirtualCenter. You will be able to use VirtualCenter to manage and provision virtual
machines on multiple GSX Server hosts, then migrate the virtual machines between
other GSX Server and ESX Server systems under VirtualCenter management.
New VMware Virtual Machine Console
Connect to and manage virtual machines with the VMware Virtual Machine Console,
which combines the best abilities of the local and remote consoles in one application.
Create and configure virtual machines locally and remotely. Connect to virtual
machines from the local server or remote client at the same time, while other
consoles are already connected. Run virtual machines in full screen mode locally and
remotely.
The console interface is completely updated. You can run multiple virtual machines in
the same window and switch from one to another using the new quick switch mode.
The console menus have been streamlined. The console requires less network
bandwidth over remote connections than the older console did.
For details, see Running Virtual Machines in the VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine
Guide.
Take Snapshots of Your Virtual Machines
You can take a snapshot of your virtual machine’s state, a point-in-time copy of the
running system state, that is saved to disk. You can revert to that snapshot at any time
— making it easier to do challenging tasks like upgrading guest operating systems.
Take a snapshot, upgrade the operating system, and if something goes wrong, revert
back to the snapshot. Or use the snapshot as a starting point for a sales
demonstration.
See Taking Snapshots in the VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide for details.
Automatically Install GSX Server on Windows Hosts and VMware Tools in
Windows Guests
We’ve improved the installers for Windows hosts and for VMware Tools in Windows
guest operating systems. GSX Server for Windows hosts and VMware Tools for
Windows guests use the Microsoft Windows Installer runtime engine, which allows
you to automate the installation of GSX Server on a Windows host and VMware Tools

CHAPTER 1 Introduction and System Requirements
19
in a Windows virtual machine. For information, see Automating the Installation of GSX
Server on page 52 and Automating the Installation of VMware Tools in a Windows
Guest in the VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide.
With the Microsoft Windows Installer runtime engine, you can pick and choose the
features you want to install.
Automatically Start and Stop Virtual Machines When the Host Starts and Stops
You can configure virtual machines to automatically power on when the GSX Server
host starts or automatically power off when the GSX Server host shuts down. For more
information, see Powering Virtual Machines On and Off When the Host Starts and
Shuts Down in the VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide.
Connect to Older Virtual Machines and Older GSX Server Hosts
You can connect to older GSX Server hosts with consoles and run virtual machines
from older versions of VMware products. For information, see Connecting to Older
GSX Server and ESX Server Systems and Older Virtual Machines in the VMware GSX
Server Virtual Machine Guide.
Improved VMware Management Interface
Managing virtual machines and the GSX Server host from a Web browser just got
better. You can configure more host and virtual machine features, including virtual
machine hardware, configuration options and SSL connections. For more information,
see Using the VMware Management Interface on page 129.
Log GSX Server Events on Windows Hosts
GSX Server sends information about certain events that occur in the application on
Windows hosts to the Windows Event Viewer. For details, see Logging GSX Server
Events on Windows on page 125.
Improved Virtual Disk and Networking Performance
Experience 10 to 20% improvement in virtual disk and networking performance.
Monitor Virtual Machine Performance on Windows Hosts
Use GSX Server specific counters with the Windows Performance console (PerfMon)
to monitor the performance of running virtual machines on Windows hosts. For
details, see Monitoring Virtual Machine Performance on page 191.
More Memory for Your Virtual Machines
Allocate up to 3600MB of memory to each virtual machine to run large server
applications. For more information, see Allocating Memory to a Virtual Machine in the
VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide.

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VMware GSX Server Administration Guide
Easier Sharing of Virtual Machines with Latest VMware Products
Virtual machines created with GSX Server 3 are compatible with VMware Workstation
4 and ESX Server 2 for easier migrating and sharing of virtual machines.
New LSI Logic Virtual SCSI Adapter for Guest Operating Systems
The LSI Logic virtual SCSI adapter is included when you install Windows Server 2003,
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 or NetWare guests.
PXE Boot
Boot virtual machines over your network and install guest operating systems from a
PXE server. For more information, see Using PXE with Virtual Machines in the VMware
GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide.
Easier Virtual Networking Configuration
On Windows hosts, use the Virtual Network Editor to configure virtual networking
easily. For more information, see Networking in the VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine
Guide.
Network Adapter Teaming Support
On Windows hosts, virtual machines can bridge to teamed or bonded host network
adapters. For more information, see Configuring Bridged Networking When Using
Teamed Network Interface Cards on Your Host in the VMware GSX Server Virtual
Machine Guide.
Generic SCSI Tape Backup Support
Back up virtual machines using popular backup software and SCSI tape devices. For
more information, see Backing Up Virtual Machines and the GSX Server Host on
page 127.
Using DVD-ROM and CD-ROM Drives on Remote Clients
If you’re connected to a virtual machine remotely from a client, you can use the local
DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive to install software or copy data without needing to use
the drive on the GSX Server host. For more information, see Using the DVD-ROM or
CD-ROM Drive on a Client in the VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide.
Improved Virtual DVD-ROM and CD-ROM Drive Support
Read multisession DVD-ROM and CD-ROM media. Burn CD-ROMs in your guest
operating systems.
Debugging Support in Virtual Machines
GSX Server supports user- and kernel-level debuggers in virtual machines.