Updating the DNS Search domains and FQDN Hostname for an ESXi Host.

 Here is a quick tip for anyone that has deployed an ESXi host from a home network or received DHCP values that didn't match your intended configuration.

I deployed a machine that I want to use in my home lab, but my default Comcast domain is displayed as the FQDN.

I have already changed this in the DCUI , but it persists in the vSphere client.

The configuration is found on the default TCP/IP stack, Click Networking

Select the TCP/IP Stacks tab

the DNS configuration shows my Domain name as hsd1.fl.comcast.net ,but my proper domain name is in the search domains box. Lets clean this up.

Edit the Default TCP/IP Stack - note the Domain name and Search Domain fields.

Update the Domain name and Search Domains fields to remove and replace the incorrect domain.

Refreshing the host client shows the updated values!

Hope it helps!

Jason

Reusing Disks from a Previous vSAN

 This post may be mostly relevant to home-lab builders, but if you have previously configured vSAN on the disks used in host, you may not be able to easily reuse them in a new vSAN.

Lets take a look at my specific use case.

I want to install vCenter 7 and I want to establish vSAN on the host during this process.

For this installation I am going to install on host ESX03 , I previously used the internal disks for a vSAN cluster, but I am upgrading from hybrid to all flash using a 1TB SSD that I recently acquired.

In the datastore part of the installer , I select "Install on a new vSAN cluster containing the target host"

This will create a standalone vSAN node, configuration of the cluster is completed later when additional hosts are added.

Once I get to the section to claim my disks, I can see that I only have one disk and it is the new 1TB disk. My existing 120GB drive does not appear.

On the host I can see that this 120GB disk does exist.

Selecting the disks shows me that there is an existing vSAN partition table. We need to clear this partition.

Select Actions -> Clear Partition Table

Note the warning, erasing this partition is destructive and will remove the data from the disk that is essential for the previous vSAN.

I know that I will not need that data, so I can proceed.

There are no partitions on the disk.

Refreshing the vCenter installer by going back and then forward again. I can now see my 120GB drive available to claim

I select my 1TB drive

and claim it for the capacity Tier. I can now proceed with the remainder of the vCenter deployment

Hope this helps someone 

Jason

Probably a bright spot for HomeLabs in the ESXi 7.0 U1C release.

 I was looking up the release notes for the 7.0U1C update and spotted this bit of good news.

"With ESXi 7.0 Update 1c, you can use the installer boot option systemMediaSize to limit the size of system storage partitions on the boot media."

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/rn/vsphere-esxi-70u1c.html

I remember this being a design consideration for the new stack that I was deploying at work. I needed to have more than 150GB for the boot media.

Considering that I have 512GB per host there, it probably doesn't make sense to use this new option...

but on my homelab with 24GB of RAM per host, or an embedded deployment in VMware workstation... this could save money and space.

Jason

Happy New Year!

 This year I am continuing my journey with VMware solutions and I want to share more with the community along the way.

I am currently studying to attempt the VCAP tests for DataCenter Design and Deploy.

I have an expanded homelab with some upgraded components and I will be doing some live streams as I study for the test. 

Jason