Section 13.5. Summary

13.5. Summary

Understanding how to utilize the command line on the Service Console is a critical component of managing your virtual infrastructure. You can use the command line to manage the Service Console configuration, the VMkernel, and virtual machines. Although you can perform most tasks from the ESX Server MUI, you won't be able to manage every aspect of your server through the MUI. Specifically, the MUI does not give you the ability to search for files, search the contents of files for strings, or edit text files. The command line gives you the ability to compress and archive files as well as view and manage processes on your server. If you need to add additional software packages such as backup software or management agents this needs to be done from the Service Console command line as well.

The following is a list of tasks that can only be performed from the Service Console command line:

• Editing configuration files

• Starting and stopping services such as httpd and network

• Killing processes

• Searching the directory structure for files

• Searching files based on string values

• Installing third-party software

• Configuring Pluggable Authentication Modules

• Changing the Service Console IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and host name

• Import vmdk files from VMware Workstation of GSX Server disk files

• Mounting CD-ROM and floppy driver