Introduction to vSphere Clustering Service (vCLS)

The vSphere Clustering Service (vCLS) is a new capability that is introduced in the vSphere 7 Update 1 release. It’s first release provides the foundation to work towards creating a decoupled and distributed control plane for clustering services in vSphere.

More information:

vSphere Cluster Services (vCLS)

Starting with vSphere 7.0 Update 1, vSphere Cluster Services (vCLS) is enabled by default and runs in all vSphere clusters. vCLS ensures that if vCenter Server becomes unavailable, cluster services remain available to maintain the resources and health of the workloads that run in the clusters. vCenter Server is still required in 7.0 update 1 to run DRS and HA.

vCLS uses agent virtual machines to maintain cluster services health. The vCLS agent virtual machines (vCLS VMs) are created when you add hosts to clusters. Up to three vCLS VMs are required to run in each vSphere cluster, distributed within a cluster. vCLS is also enabled on clusters which contain only one or two hosts. In these clusters the number of vCLS VMs is one and two.

How to? Retrieving Password for vCLS VMs

You can retrieve the password to login to the vCLS VMs. To ensure cluster services health, avoid accessing the vCLS VMs. This document is intended for explicit diagnostics on vCLS VMs.

Procedure

  1. Use SSH to login to the vCenter Server Appliance.
  2. Run the following python script:
    /usr/lib/vmware-wcp/decrypt_clustervm_pw.py
  3. Read the output for the password.
    pwd-script-output
    Read key from file
    Connected to PSQL
    PWD: (password displayed here)

Operations that might disrupt the healthy functioning of vCLS VMs:

  • Changing the power state of the vCLS VMs
  • Resource reconfiguration of the vCLS VMs such as changing CPU, Memory, Disk size, Disk placement
  • VM encryption
  • Triggering vMotion of the vCLS VMs
  • Changing the BIOS
  • Removing the vCLS VMs from the inventory
  • Deleting the vCLS VMs from disk
  • Enabling FT of vCLS VMs
  • Cloning vCLS VMs
  • Configuring PMem
  • Moving vCLS VM to a different folder
  • Renaming the vCLS VMs
  • Renaming the vCLS folders
  • Enabling DRS rules and overrides on vCLS VMs
  • Enabling HA admission control policy on vCLS VMs
  • Enabling HA overrides on vCLS VMs
  • Moving vCLS VMs to a resource pool
  • Recovering vCLS VMs from a snapshot

Remove NSX-T Password Expiration

By default, the administrative password for the NSX Manager and NSX Edge appliances expires after 90 days. However, you can reset the expiration period after initial installation and configuration.

If the password expires, you will be unable to log in and manage components. Additionally, any task or API call that requires the administrative password to execute will fail. If your password expires, see Knowledge Base article 70691 NSX-T admin password expired.

  • Use a secure program to connect to the NSX CLI console.
  • Reset the expiration period. You can set the expiration period for between 1 and 9999 days.
nsx-mgrx> set user admin password-expiration <1 - 9999>
  • (Optional) You can disable password expiry so the a password never expires. And check condigured expiration. 
nsx-mgrx> clear user admin password-expiration
nsx-mgrx> clear user root password-expiration
nsx-mgrx> clear user audit password-expiration

nsx-mgrx> get user admin password-expiration
Password expiration not configured for this user

What’s New with VMware Cloud Foundation 4.1

What’s New with VMware Cloud Foundation 4.1

What’s New with VMware Cloud Foundation 4.1

The VMware Cloud Foundation product team is pleased to announce the upcoming release of VMware Cloud Foundation 4.1. This new release builds upon the industry momentum and traction from the March announcement of VMware Cloud Foundation 4.0 with Tanzu by introducing new features and functionality that deliver developer ready infrastructure, allowing customers to scale without The post What’s New with VMware Cloud Foundation 4.1 appeared first on Cloud Foundation.

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vSpeaking Podcast Ep 159: vSphere Lifecycle…

vSpeaking Podcast Ep 159: vSphere Lifecycle Manager

vSpeaking Podcast Ep 159: vSphere Lifecycle…

vSphere and vSAN 7 introduced an entirely new solution for unified software and firmware management that is native to vSphere. vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM) is the next-generation replacement to vSphere Update Manager (VUM), and is built off of a desired-state, or declarative model that provides lifecycle management for the hypervisor and the full stack of The post vSpeaking Podcast Ep 159: vSphere Lifecycle Manager appeared first on Virtual Blocks.

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Your pass to VMworld 2020: The details

Your pass to VMworld 2020: The details

We’ve been working hard behind-the-scenes putting together valuable content, networking opportunities, and fun activities for VMworld 2020, our first-ever global digital event. (Missed our most recent blog posts? Catch up with the VMworld 2020 Digital Edition.) While we can’t spill the details […]

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Cisco Custom ISO MISSING_DEPENDENCY_VIBS ERROR during upgrade ESXi 6.7 -> 7.0

I found a problem and workaround to fix Cisco Custom ISO MISSING_DEPENDENCY_VIBS ERROR during upgrade 6.7 -> 7.0.

It was during these type of upgrade from VMware_ESXi_6.7.0_13006603_Custom_Cisco_6.7.2.1.iso to VMware_ESXi_7.0.0_15843807_Custom_Cisco_4.1.1a.iso

Workaround is to remove VIBs with dependency collision:

# esxcli software vib list | grep QLC
qcnic                          1.0.22.0-1OEM.670.0.0.8169922         QLC 
qedentv                        3.9.31.0-1OEM.670.0.0.8169922         QLC 
qedrntv                        3.9.31.1-1OEM.670.0.0.8169922         QLC 
qfle3                          1.0.77.2-1OEM.670.0.0.8169922         QLC 
qfle3f                         1.0.63.0-1OEM.670.0.0.8169922         QLC 
qfle3i                         1.0.20.0-1OEM.670.0.0.8169922         QLC 
scsi-qedil                     1.2.13.0-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585         QLC 

# esxcli software vib remove -f -n scsi-qedil
# esxcli software vib remove -f -n qfle3f
# reboot

vExpert Applications are Open – Don’t Miss Out!

vExpert Applications are Open – Don’t Miss Out!

vExpert Applications are Open! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to join this amazing program & community. Applications will be open from June 1st, 2020 to July 19th, 2020 and the awards will be announced on July 17th. Apply for vExpert 2020 What the Program is About The vExpert Program is […]

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VCPs and VCAPs Around the World: Are you on the…

VCPs and VCAPs Around the World: Are you on the map?

VCPs and VCAPs Around the World: Are you on the…

VMware Certified Professional (VCP) and VMware Certified Advanced Professional (VCAP) represents two of the most popular levels of certification offered by VMware to validate your knowledge and skills. These certifications provide many benefits and span across five tracks including: Data Center Virtualization Cloud Management and Automation Desktop and Mobility Network Virtualization Digital Workspace. The post VCPs and VCAPs Around the World: Are you on the map? appeared first on VMware…Read More

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