VmWare/QuickReference

clone

clone virtual machines and copy their own unique vmdk image to folder

1. create the new VM choose custom settings
2. select the existing Virtual Machine Image (base)
3. finish creating
4. ssh into box
5. copy vmdk using: vmkfstools -i <source> <destination> -d thin (NOT the data file -flat.vmdk)
6. when copy is complete, using vi, edit .vmx file in new VM directory. Point the data store (hdd file location) to the new copy that is now in the same folder
7. start up VM
8. shut down vm, double check and make sure store is showing in the correct location. Virtual Machine > Edit Settings > Hard Disk > review Disk File

notes: until the virtual machine is started for the first time, the Disk File location will still show as the prior location.

i.e.
/vmfs/volumes/511a8041-9e4d7168-27f2-001cc46b0828/Windows XP Pro x32 - Outlook 2003_2 # vmkfstools -i /vmfs/volumes/
datastore2\ -\ RAID5/Windows\ XP\ Pro\ x32\ -\ Outlook\ 2003/Windows\ XP\ Pro\ x32\ -\ Outlook\ 2003.vmdk /vmfs/volumes
/datastore2\ -\ RAID5/Windows\ XP\ Pro\ x32\ -\ Outlook\ 2003_2/Windows\ XP\ Pro\ x32\ -\ Outlook\ 2003_2.vmdk -d thin

add cronjob to esxi 5.1

1. edit /etc/rc.local.d/local.sh

/bin/kill $(cat /var/run/crond.pid)
/bin/echo '5 0 * * * /full/path/to/script arguments/with/full/path > /full/path/to/logfile 2>&1' >> /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root
/bin/busybox crond

expand harddisk space on winxp and other non-modifiable vms

1. create a new hard disk in the vm that is the desired size
2. attach ubcd to the virtual cdrom and boot off disc (esc at POST)
3. using hd clone tool, copy wipe, perform a sector by sector copy from the source to the dest
4. remove old hard disk from virtual machine, verify you can boot off new hard disk. It will still show as smaller disk size.
5. attach ubcd to the virtaul cdrom and boot off disc (esc at POST)
6. using Parted Magic, use gparted and resize the disk incorporate the new free space
7. reboot and verify

CentOS6.4 VM keystrokes duplicate

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=196

1. Power off the virtual machine
2. Right click virtual machine select Edit Settings
3. Click Options > General > Configuration Parameters
4. Click Add Row
5. Under Name enter keyboard.typematicMinDelay In the Value field 2000000
6. Click OK
7. Power on the virtual machine

Enable copy/paste for a single VM

1. power off vm
2. vsphere > Settings > Options > Advanced > General > Configuration Parameters
3. Add rows

isolation.tools.copy.disable – false
isolation.tools.paste.disable – false

Done. power on VM

Windows 7 optimizing performance

https://pubs.vmware.com/view-50/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.vmware.view.administration.doc%2FGUID-E712DAE6-88DF-4208-BEFA-09513A01A26E.html
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/192806

• Enable Run command
• Disable un-needed windows components

Start > run > type: optionalfeatures > Enter > select options listed below > OK

uncheck: Tablet PC Components

uncheck: Media Features

uncheck: Windows Gadget Platform

• Disable IPv6, unless it is needed.

Start > run > type: control.exe /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter > Enter > click: Local Area Connection > click: Properties > uncheck: Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) > OK

• Use the File System Utility (fsutil) command to disable the setting that keeps track of the last time a file was accessed.

Start > search: cmd.exe > right-click: select: run as administrator > Yes > type: fsutil behavior set disablelastaccess 1

• Change disk timeout from 30 to 190

Start > regedit > change the TimeOutValue REG_DWORD in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Disk to 0x000000be(190).

• Change Power Options

Start > run > type: control.exe /name Microsoft.PowerOptions > Select: High Performance > click: Change plan settings > complete settings listed below > Apply > Save Changes

Turn off the display: Never

Advanced: Hard Disk > Turn off hard disk after > Setting: 0 Minutes (never)

Advanced: Display > Turn off display after > Setting: 0 Minutes (never)

• Change to windows basic theme

Start > run > type: control.exe /name Microsoft.Personalization > select: Windows Classic Theme

• Adjust Visual Effects for best performance

Start > run > type: control.exe /name Microsoft.PerformanceInformationAndTools > select: Adjust Visual Effects > Adjust for best performance > Apply > OK

• Disable un-needed services

Start > run > services.msc > select services from list below > right click: properties > Startup Type: Disabled

IP Helper: Stop and Disable

Offline Files: Stop and Disable

• Disable un-needed startup services

Start > run > msconfig > select services from the list below > uncheck > Apply > OK

Fax

Home Group Listener

Home Group Provider

Smart Card

Smart Card Removal Policy

Adaptive Brightness

Tablet PC Input Service

Parental Controls

• Disable Login Prompt for user (but retain password)

Start > run > type: netplwiz > uncheck: Users must enter a username and password to use this computer > type Password x2 > Apply > OK

• Set fixed Page file

Start > run > type: control.exe /name Microsoft.System > click: Advanced System Settings > select: Advanced Tab > click: Performance settings > select Advanced Tab > click: Virtual Memory change > uncheck: Automatically manage paging file > select: custom size > Set both min and max to 1.5x the size of physical memory. > Apply > OK

• Shut down the guest operating system and power off the virtual machine.
• Change the virtual machine video card RAM setting to 128 MB.
• Power on the virtual machine.

Windows 7 remove RDP restrictions - no download required

Requirements:

• hex editor for windows

HxD http://mh-nexus.de/downloads/HxDSetupEN.zip

• be directly connected to the windows client, not a remote desktop session.

Stop remote desktop services

• Start > Run > [type] services.msc > [click] OK
• Sort Services by name and find "Remote Desktop Services" > [right-click] Remote Desktop Services > [select] Stop > if any prompts appear about additional services that will also be stopped, [click] Yes

Backup termsrv.dll

• Start > in "search", type cmd > [right-click] cmd.exe & select run as administrator
• type: copy C:\windows\system32\termsrv.dll C:\windows\system32\termsrv.dll.bak
• check to see if termsrv.dll also exists in C:\windows\system32\dllcache\ and if so, repeat the same steps as above, but make sure to change the path (C:\windows\system32 > C:\windows\system32\dllcache)