Proper creation of a VMware USB key hypervisor

Troubleshooting

Problem

Media Access Control (MAC) address conflicts can occur on a network if the VMware embedded Universal Serial Bus (USB) key is created improperly. Several improper ways to create VMware Embedded Keys are: (1) Installing a VMware image to a USB key on a "master system" and moving the installed image to other systems in the environment. (2) Installing a VMware image to a USB key on a system, then creating a DD image of the installed USB key, and then using this "master image" to create multiple USB keys.

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H207697

Symptom

Media Access Control (MAC) address conflicts can occur on a network if the VMware embedded Universal Serial Bus (USB) key is created improperly.

Several improper ways to create VMware Embedded Keys are:

Installing a VMware image to a USB key on a "master system" and moving the installed image to other systems in the environment.
Installing a VMware image to a USB key on a system, then creating a DD image of the installed USB key, and then using this "master image" to create multiple USB keys.

Affected Configurations

The system is configured with at least one of the following:

VMware vSphere Hypervisor 4.1 with IBM Customization Installable, any update
VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.0 with IBM Customization Installable, any update
VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 with IBM Customization Installable, any update

This tip is not system specific.

This tip is not option specific.

Note: This does not imply that the network operating system will work under all combinations of hardware and software.

Please see the compatibility page for more information: http://www.ibm.com/systems/info/x86servers/serverproven/compat/us/

Solution

All embedded USB keys should be installed in the target system, and a VMware installation performed on the target system.

Additional Information

When a VMware installation to an embedded USB key is performed, the installer determines the MAC address of the various Ethernet adapters installed in the system and records that information on the USB key.

Therefore, the key should be installed into the target system when the VMware installation is performed.

Performing the installation on System A and moving the key to System B is not supported. If users attempt this, they will have USB keys with incorrect MAC addresses, and potential MAC address conflicts on their networks.

Performing the installation on System A, and then creating a raw DD image to roll out to other USB keys is not supported. If users attempt this, they will have USB keys with incorrect MAC addresses, and MAC address conflicts on their networks.

Document Location

Worldwide

Operating System

System x Hardware Options:VMware ESX Server 4

System x Hardware Options:VMware ESXi 4

System x Hardware Options:VMware vSphere 5.0

System x Hardware Options:VMware vSphere 5.0 x64

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