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Forum Guru
 
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Last Login: 9/22/2009 3:05:49 PM
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I use VMWare server running on a Linux host with multiple virtual Linux guest machines. I never install a GUI on the Linux host or guest machines and so I am forced to use an SSH client (until VNCManager includes a built in SSH client**) to access to the Linux virtual machines. You can use this simple approach to gain command line (Console) access to to the virtual Linux guest machines from withing VNC Manager. The real benefit here is that this is a console session not an SSH connection and you will get an almost complete reboot. More on that at the end of this.
NOTE:
VMWare server includes a built in vnc server and does not require adding host server software. You must however, have the VMWare tools installed on the guest machines.
Use your favorite method to access the host machine. You will need to find where your virtual machines are stored. Edit the guest VMX file and add the following, changing the port and password to suit. You will need to change the port for each guest that you want to access.
RemoteDisplay.vnc.enabled = "TRUE"
RemoteDisplay.vnc.port = "59010"
RemoteDisplay.vnc.password = "password"
From within VNC Manager add your new computers. IMPORTANT: The IP address for all virtual guest machines will be the host machine address NOT the address of the virtual guest machine. You will need to make sure to set your port value to match the value that you added in the VMX file. I use SSH tunneling so I add the ssh access information to the VNC Manager SSH tunneling tab. IMPORTANT: this will be tunneling to the host machine address.
Once you have one machine set up it is a simple matter to copy as in Select the computer you have just set up, hold down the CTRL key and drag to the bottom of the list and release the CTRL key. Now just edit the Name and the VNC port value to match another computer you have added the RemoteDisplay.vnc.
You should now have tabbed console access to your virtual machines. You will almost get a complete reboot session although you do loose the connection as the machine resets. If you re-establish the connection immediately after you loose it you will get an almost complete startup including the ability to do interactive startups or connect to a machine with NO ip address or an address on a different subnet.
This should work on Windows hosts as well as Linux although I have not tested it.
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Forum Guru
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/22/2009 3:05:49 PM
Posts: 55,
Visits: 114
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| The directions for VMware server also work for ESX and ESXi.
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