Tag: ilo

Backup Configuration

• Connect via SSH to your running ESXi Host
• Run to backup config from host
  
  Shell

  vim-cmd hostsvc/firmware/backup_config

  1	vim-cmd hostsvc/firmware/backup_config

  
  
• Config saved under /scratch/downloads
  
• Copy config to a safe location

Restore Configuration

• Run enter maintenance mode
  
  vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter

  1	vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter

• Run to restore config
  
  vim-cmd hostsvc/firmware/restore_config /tmp/configBundle.tgz

  1	vim-cmd hostsvc/firmware/restore_config /tmp/configBundle.tgz

  
  

Restore Configuration on a blank machine

• Install Host
  • Install the new host with the same ESXi Version and Build
  • Follow the installation assistent
  • Reboot machine
• ISO
  • Create a ISO with your backuped configBundle.tgz
  • Burn ISO or Load ISO as Virtual Drive in your LOM
• ESXi Shell
  • From the Direct Console User Interface, press F2 and Login to access the System Customization menu.
  • Click Troubleshooting Options.
  • Select Enable ESXi Shell and press Return to Enabled.
  • Press Alt+F1 to open the ESXi Shell
• Mount CD-ROM
  • Load the iso9660 module with
    
    Shell

    vmkload_mod iso9660

    1	vmkload_mod iso9660

    
    
  • Find the Path to the CD-ROM with
    
    Shell

    esxcfg-mpath -l | grep -i cd-rom

    1	esxcfg-mpath -l | grep -i cd-rom

    
    
  • Set the loaded module to the CD-ROM
    
    Shell

    vsish -e set /vmkModules/iso9660/mount

    1	vsish -e set /vmkModules/iso9660/mount

  • Now you can see the CD-ROM in the “ls /vmfs/volumes/”
• Restore config
  • Copy config from mounted CD-ROM Drive to tmp
    
    cp /vmfs/volumes/<CDROM ISO9660 NAME>/CONFIGBU.TGZ /tmp/configBundle.tgz

    1	cp /vmfs/volumes/<CDROM ISO9660 NAME>/CONFIGBU.TGZ /tmp/configBundle.tgz

  • Run to enter maintenance mode
    
    vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter

    1	vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter

  • Run to restore config
    
    vim-cmd hostsvc/firmware/restore_config /tmp/configBundle.tgz

    1	vim-cmd hostsvc/firmware/restore_config /tmp/configBundle.tgz