VMware ESX hypervisor driver

The libvirt VMware ESX driver can manage VMware ESX/ESXi 3.5/4.x/5.x and VMware GSX 2.0, also called VMware Server 2.0, and possibly later versions. Since 0.8.3 the driver can also connect to a VMware vCenter 2.5/4.x/5.x (VPX).

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Deployment pre-requisites

None. Any out-of-the-box installation of VPX/ESX(i)/GSX should work. No preparations are required on the server side, no libvirtd must be installed on the ESX server. The driver uses version 2.5 of the remote, SOAP based VMware Virtual Infrastructure API (VI API) to communicate with the ESX server, like the VMware Virtual Infrastructure Client (VI client) does. Since version 4.0 this API is called VMware vSphere API.

Connections to the VMware ESX driver

Some example remote connection URIs for the driver are: 

vpx://example-vcenter.com/dc1/srv1     (VPX over HTTPS, select ESX server 'srv1' in datacenter 'dc1')
esx://example-esx.com                  (ESX over HTTPS)
gsx://example-gsx.com                  (GSX over HTTPS)
esx://example-esx.com/?transport=http  (ESX over HTTP)
esx://example-esx.com/?no_verify=1     (ESX over HTTPS, but doesn't verify the server's SSL certificate)

Note: In contrast to other drivers, the ESX driver is a client-side-only driver. It connects to the ESX server using HTTP(S). Therefore, the remote transport mechanism provided by the remote driver and libvirtd will not work, and you cannot use URIs like esx+ssh://example.com.

URI Format

URIs have this general form ([...] marks an optional part). 

type://[username@]hostname[:port]/[[folder/...]datacenter/[folder/...][cluster/]server][?extraparameters]

The type:// is either esx:// or gsx:// or vpx:// since 0.8.3. The driver selects the default port depending on the type://. For esx:// and vpx:// the default HTTPS port is 443, for gsx:// it is 8333. If the port parameter is given, it overrides the default port.

A vpx:// connection is currently restricted to a single ESX server. This might be relaxed in the future. The path part of the URI is used to specify the datacenter and the ESX server in it. If the ESX server is part of a cluster then the cluster has to be specified too.

An example: ESX server example-esx.com is managed by vCenter example-vcenter.com and part of cluster cluster1. This cluster is part of datacenter dc1. 

vpx://example-vcenter.com/dc1/cluster1/example-esx.com

Datacenters and clusters can be organized in folders, those have to be specified as well. The driver can handle folders since 0.9.7. 

vpx://example-vcenter.com/folder1/dc1/folder2/example-esx.com

Extra parameters

Extra parameters can be added to a URI as part of the query string (the part following ?). A single parameter is formed by a name=value pair. Multiple parameters are separated by &. 

?no_verify=1&auto_answer=1&proxy=socks://example-proxy.com:23456

The driver understands the extra parameters shown below.

Name Values Meaning
transport http or https Overrides the default HTTPS transport. For esx:// and vpx:// the default HTTP port is 80, for gsx:// it is 8222.
vcenter Hostname of a VMware vCenter or * In order to perform a migration the driver needs to know the VMware vCenter for the ESX server. If set to *, the driver connects to the vCenter known to the ESX server. This parameter in useful when connecting to an ESX server only.
no_verify 0 or 1 If set to 1, this disables libcurl client checks of the server's SSL certificate. The default value is 0. See the Certificates for HTTPS section for details.
auto_answer 0 or 1 If set to 1, the driver answers all questions with the default answer. If set to 0, questions are reported as errors. The default value is 0. Since 0.7.5.
proxy [type://]hostname[:port] Allows to specify a proxy for HTTP and HTTPS communication. Since 0.8.2. The optional type part may be one of: http, socks, socks4, socks4a or socks5. The default is http and socks is synonymous for socks5. The optional port allows to override the default port 1080.

Authentication

In order to perform any useful operation the driver needs to log into the ESX server. Therefore, only virConnectOpenAuth can be used to connect to an ESX server, virConnectOpen and virConnectOpenReadOnly don't work. To log into an ESX server or vCenter the driver will request credentials using the callback passed to the virConnectOpenAuth function. The driver passes the hostname as challenge parameter to the callback. This enables the callback to distinguish between requests for ESX server and vCenter.

Note: During the ongoing driver development, testing is done using an unrestricted root account. Problems may occur if you use a restricted account. Detailed testing with restricted accounts has not been done yet.

Certificates for HTTPS

By default the ESX driver uses HTTPS to communicate with an ESX server. Proper HTTPS communication requires correctly configured SSL certificates. This certificates are different from the ones libvirt uses for secure communication over TLS to a libvirtd one a remote server.

By default the driver tries to verify the server's SSL certificate using the CA certificate pool installed on your client computer. With an out-of-the-box installed ESX server this won't work, because a newly installed ESX server uses auto-generated self-signed certificates. Those are singed by a CA certificate that is typically not known to your client computer and libvirt will report an error like this one: 

error: internal error curl_easy_perform() returned an error: Peer certificate cannot be authenticated with known CA certificates (60)

Where are two ways to solve this problem:

Connection problems

There are also other causes for connection problems than the HTTPS certificate related ones.

Questions blocking tasks

Some methods of the VI API start tasks, for example PowerOnVM_Task(). Such tasks may be blocked by questions if the ESX server detects an issue with the domain that requires user interaction. The ESX driver cannot prompt the user to answer a question, libvirt doesn't have an API for something like this.

The VI API provides the AnswerVM() method to programmatically answer a questions. So the driver has two options how to handle such a situation: either answer the questions with the default answer or report the question as an error and cancel the blocked task if possible. The auto_answer query parameter controls the answering behavior.

Specialties in the domain XML config

There are several specialties in the domain XML config for ESX domains.

Restrictions

There are some restrictions for some values of the domain XML config. The driver will complain if this restrictions are violated.

Datastore references

Storage is managed in datastores. VMware uses a special path format to reference files in a datastore. Basically, the datastore name is put into squared braces in front of the path. 

[datastore] directory/filename

To define a new domain the driver converts the domain XML into a VMware VMX file and uploads it to a datastore known to the ESX server. Because multiple datastores may be known to an ESX server the driver needs to decide to which datastore the VMX file should be uploaded. The driver deduces this information from the path of the source of the first file-based harddisk listed in the domain XML.

MAC addresses

VMware has registered two MAC address prefixes for domains: 00:0c:29 and 00:50:56. These prefixes are split into ranges for different purposes.

Range Purpose
00:0c:29:00:00:00 - 00:0c:29:ff:ff:ff An ESX server autogenerates MAC addresses from this range if the VMX file doesn't contain a MAC address when trying to start a domain.
00:50:56:00:00:00 - 00:50:56:3f:ff:ff MAC addresses from this range can by manually assigned by the user in the VI client.
00:50:56:80:00:00 - 00:50:56:bf:ff:ff A VI client autogenerates MAC addresses from this range for newly defined domains.

The VMX files generated by the ESX driver always contain a MAC address, because libvirt generates a random one if an interface element in the domain XML file lacks a MAC address. Since 0.7.6 the ESX driver sets the prefix for generated MAC addresses to 00:0c:29. Before 0.7.6 the 00:50:56 prefix was used. Sometimes this resulted in the generation of out-of-range MAC address that were rejected by the ESX server.

Also since 0.7.6 every MAC address outside this ranges can be used. For such MAC addresses the ESX server-side check is disabled in the VMX file to stop the ESX server from rejecting out-of-predefined-range MAC addresses. 

ethernet0.checkMACAddress = "false"

Available hardware

VMware ESX supports different models of SCSI controllers and network cards.

SCSI controller models

auto
This isn't an actual controller model. If specified the ESX driver tries to detect the SCSI controller model referenced in the .vmdk file and use it. Autodetection fails when a SCSI controller has multiple disks attached and the SCSI controller models referenced in the .vmdk files are inconsistent. Since 0.8.3
buslogic
BusLogic SCSI controller for older guests.
lsilogic
LSI Logic SCSI controller for recent guests.
lsisas1068
LSI Logic SAS 1068 controller. Since 0.8.0
vmpvscsi
Special VMware Paravirtual SCSI controller, requires VMware tools inside the guest. See VMware KB1010398 for details. Since 0.8.3

Here a domain XML snippet: 

...
<disk type='file' device='disk'>
  <source file='[local-storage] Fedora11/Fedora11.vmdk'/>
  <target dev='sda' bus='scsi'/>
  <address type='drive' controller='0' bus='0' unit='0'/>
</disk>
<controller type='scsi' index='0' model='lsilogic'/>
...

The controller element is supported since 0.8.2. Prior to this <driver name='lsilogic'/> was abused to specify the SCSI controller model. This attribute usage is deprecated now. 

...
<disk type='file' device='disk'>
  <driver name='lsilogic'/>
  <source file='[local-storage] Fedora11/Fedora11.vmdk'/>
  <target dev='sda' bus='scsi'/>
</disk>
...

Network card models

vlance
AMD PCnet32 network card for older guests.
vmxnet, vmxnet2, vmxnet3
Special VMware VMXnet network card, requires VMware tools inside the guest. See VMware KB1001805 for details.
e1000
Intel E1000 network card for recent guests.

Here a domain XML snippet: 

...
<interface type='bridge'>
  <mac address='00:50:56:25:48:c7'/>
  <source bridge='VM Network'/>
  <model type='e1000'/>
</interface>
...

Import and export of domain XML configs

The ESX driver currently supports a native config format known as vmware-vmx to handle VMware VMX configs.

Converting from VMware VMX config to domain XML config

The virsh domxml-from-native provides a way to convert an existing VMware VMX config into a domain XML config that can then be used by libvirt. 

$ cat > demo.vmx << EOF
#!/usr/bin/vmware
config.version = "8"
virtualHW.version = "4"
floppy0.present = "false"
nvram = "Fedora11.nvram"
deploymentPlatform = "windows"
virtualHW.productCompatibility = "hosted"
tools.upgrade.policy = "useGlobal"
powerType.powerOff = "default"
powerType.powerOn = "default"
powerType.suspend = "default"
powerType.reset = "default"
displayName = "Fedora11"
extendedConfigFile = "Fedora11.vmxf"
scsi0.present = "true"
scsi0.sharedBus = "none"
scsi0.virtualDev = "lsilogic"
memsize = "1024"
scsi0:0.present = "true"
scsi0:0.fileName = "/vmfs/volumes/498076b2-02796c1a-ef5b-000ae484a6a3/Fedora11/Fedora11.vmdk"
scsi0:0.deviceType = "scsi-hardDisk"
ide0:0.present = "true"
ide0:0.clientDevice = "true"
ide0:0.deviceType = "cdrom-raw"
ide0:0.startConnected = "false"
ethernet0.present = "true"
ethernet0.networkName = "VM Network"
ethernet0.addressType = "vpx"
ethernet0.generatedAddress = "00:50:56:91:48:c7"
chipset.onlineStandby = "false"
guestOSAltName = "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (32-Bit)"
guestOS = "rhel5"
uuid.bios = "50 11 5e 16 9b dc 49 d7-f1 71 53 c4 d7 f9 17 10"
snapshot.action = "keep"
sched.cpu.min = "0"
sched.cpu.units = "mhz"
sched.cpu.shares = "normal"
sched.mem.minsize = "0"
sched.mem.shares = "normal"
toolScripts.afterPowerOn = "true"
toolScripts.afterResume = "true"
toolScripts.beforeSuspend = "true"
toolScripts.beforePowerOff = "true"
scsi0:0.redo = ""
tools.syncTime = "false"
uuid.location = "56 4d b5 06 a2 bd fb eb-ae 86 f7 d8 49 27 d0 c4"
sched.cpu.max = "unlimited"
sched.swap.derivedName = "/vmfs/volumes/498076b2-02796c1a-ef5b-000ae484a6a3/Fedora11/Fedora11-7de040d8.vswp"
tools.remindInstall = "TRUE"
EOF

$ virsh -c esx://example.com domxml-from-native vmware-vmx demo.vmx
Enter username for example.com [root]:
Enter root password for example.com:
<domain type='vmware'>
  <name>Fedora11</name>
  <uuid>50115e16-9bdc-49d7-f171-53c4d7f91710</uuid>
  <memory>1048576</memory>
  <currentMemory>1048576</currentMemory>
  <vcpu>1</vcpu>
  <os>
    <type arch='i686'>hvm</type>
  </os>
  <clock offset='utc'/>
  <on_poweroff>destroy</on_poweroff>
  <on_reboot>restart</on_reboot>
  <on_crash>destroy</on_crash>
  <devices>
    <disk type='file' device='disk'>
      <source file='[local-storage] Fedora11/Fedora11.vmdk'/>
      <target dev='sda' bus='scsi'/>
      <address type='drive' controller='0' bus='0' unit='0'/>
    </disk>
    <controller type='scsi' index='0' model='lsilogic'/>
    <interface type='bridge'>
      <mac address='00:50:56:91:48:c7'/>
      <source bridge='VM Network'/>
    </interface>
  </devices>
</domain>

Converting from domain XML config to VMware VMX config

The virsh domxml-to-native provides a way to convert a domain XML config into a VMware VMX config. 

$ cat > demo.xml << EOF
<domain type='vmware'>
  <name>Fedora11</name>
  <uuid>50115e16-9bdc-49d7-f171-53c4d7f91710</uuid>
  <memory>1048576</memory>
  <currentMemory>1048576</currentMemory>
  <vcpu>1</vcpu>
  <os>
    <type arch='x86_64'>hvm</type>
  </os>
  <devices>
    <disk type='file' device='disk'>
      <source file='[local-storage] Fedora11/Fedora11.vmdk'/>
      <target dev='sda' bus='scsi'/>
      <address type='drive' controller='0' bus='0' unit='0'/>
    </disk>
    <controller type='scsi' index='0' model='lsilogic'/>
    <interface type='bridge'>
      <mac address='00:50:56:25:48:c7'/>
      <source bridge='VM Network'/>
    </interface>
  </devices>
</domain>
EOF

$ virsh -c esx://example.com domxml-to-native vmware-vmx demo.xml
Enter username for example.com [root]:
Enter root password for example.com:
config.version = "8"
virtualHW.version = "4"
guestOS = "other-64"
uuid.bios = "50 11 5e 16 9b dc 49 d7-f1 71 53 c4 d7 f9 17 10"
displayName = "Fedora11"
memsize = "1024"
numvcpus = "1"
scsi0.present = "true"
scsi0.virtualDev = "lsilogic"
scsi0:0.present = "true"
scsi0:0.deviceType = "scsi-hardDisk"
scsi0:0.fileName = "/vmfs/volumes/local-storage/Fedora11/Fedora11.vmdk"
ethernet0.present = "true"
ethernet0.networkName = "VM Network"
ethernet0.connectionType = "bridged"
ethernet0.addressType = "static"
ethernet0.address = "00:50:56:25:48:C7"

Example domain XML configs

Fedora11 on x86_64

<domain type='vmware'>
  <name>Fedora11</name>
  <uuid>50115e16-9bdc-49d7-f171-53c4d7f91710</uuid>
  <memory>1048576</memory>
  <currentMemory>1048576</currentMemory>
  <vcpu>1</vcpu>
  <os>
    <type arch='x86_64'>hvm</type>
  </os>
  <devices>
    <disk type='file' device='disk'>
      <source file='[local-storage] Fedora11/Fedora11.vmdk'/>
      <target dev='sda' bus='scsi'/>
      <address type='drive' controller='0' bus='0' unit='0'/>
    </disk>
    <controller type='scsi' index='0'/>
    <interface type='bridge'>
      <mac address='00:50:56:25:48:c7'/>
      <source bridge='VM Network'/>
    </interface>
  </devices>
</domain>

Migration

A migration cannot be initiated on an ESX server directly, a VMware vCenter is necessary for this. The vcenter query parameter must be set either to the hostname or IP address of the vCenter managing the ESX server or to *. Setting it to * causes the driver to connect to the vCenter known to the ESX server. If the ESX server is not managed by a vCenter an error is reported. 

esx://example.com/?vcenter=example-vcenter.com

Here's an example how to migrate the domain Fedora11 from ESX server example-src.com to ESX server example-dst.com implicitly involving vCenter example-vcenter.com using virsh. 

$ virsh -c esx://example-src.com/?vcenter=* migrate Fedora11 esx://example-dst.com/?vcenter=*
Enter username for example-src.com [root]:
Enter root password for example-src.com:
Enter username for example-vcenter.com [administrator]:
Enter administrator password for example-vcenter.com:
Enter username for example-dst.com [root]:
Enter root password for example-dst.com:
Enter username for example-vcenter.com [administrator]:
Enter administrator password for example-vcenter.com:

Since 0.8.3 you can directly connect to a vCenter. This simplifies migration a bit. Here's the same migration as above but using vpx:// connections and assuming both ESX server are in datacenter dc1 and aren't part of a cluster. 

$ virsh -c vpx://example-vcenter.com/dc1/example-src.com migrate Fedora11 vpx://example-vcenter.com/dc1/example-dst.com
Enter username for example-vcenter.com [administrator]:
Enter administrator password for example-vcenter.com:
Enter username for example-vcenter.com [administrator]:
Enter administrator password for example-vcenter.com:

Scheduler configuration

The driver exposes the ESX CPU scheduler. The parameters listed below are available to control the scheduler.

reservation
The amount of CPU resource in MHz that is guaranteed to be available to the domain. Valid values are 0 and greater.
limit
The CPU utilization of the domain will be limited to this value in MHz, even if more CPU resources are available. If the limit is set to -1, the CPU utilization of the domain is unlimited. If the limit is not set to -1, it must be greater than or equal to the reservation.
shares
Shares are used to determine relative CPU allocation between domains. In general, a domain with more shares gets proportionally more of the CPU resource. Valid values are 0 and greater. The special values -1, -2 and -3 represent the predefined shares level low, normal and high.

VMware tools

Some actions require installed VMware tools. If the VMware tools are not installed in the guest and one of the actions below is to be performed the ESX server raises an error and the driver reports it.

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