VMWare Console Access Enhancement

How to enable Console Access

Parity Map

• All cloud providers have similar console access features with some exceptions
• Compare vmware with other environments
• Vmware – advanced self-service option – environment owners can choose to enable this feature or not.

Console key features

• vSphere Web Client via Remote Desktop Gateway
• Advanced full environment control: Control power state, suspend, host other vms etc
• Direct access to virtualized hardware: Change any hardware, network adapters etc
• Utilization Monitoring: View what the consumption (CPU, memory, storage) for the environment is
• Clone running ‘live’ environments to a new template
• VM Template Development, Testing, and Debugging

How to Enable Console Access

To enable console access, there are a few variables that must be set up.

Techzone Environment Definition

Specify which bastion will be used (sidecar vm to attach to environment?)

• Set required console_enable to true
• Set optional vm_bastion_template if you need to use a custom template for your bastion VM
• Set required bastion_ip. Make sure it belongs to your defined vm_subnet and is out of DHCP range vm_dhcp_range

Connect to vSphere Console via VDI and VPN.

Advanced Access:

• Click the Bastion remote access desktop link to gain advanced access to the infrastructure OR
• Click the "Download Wireguard VPN Config.
• Use your vCenter credentials if vSphere console needed.

Regular Access:

Use buttons under "VM Remote Console" to access your provisioned VMs.