Section 13.6. Solutions Fast Track

13.6. Solutions Fast Track

13.6.1.

13.6.1.1. Using the Command-Line Interface

You can connect to the Service Console via the physical console, SSH client, Remote Management Card, or Telnet (if security is set to Medium or Custom).

You can use the Tab key to help auto-complete commands and file names to speed up typing.

Using the Up- and Down-arrow keys allows you to cycle through previously typed commands.

Using the command line, you can search for files, as well as for strings and patterns in files.

The command line gives you the ability to archive and compress files.

You can use either vi or nano to edit text files.

13.6.1.2. Configuring and Managing ESX Server Service Console from the Command Line

You can use the vmkpcidivy command to manage device allocation between the Service Console and the VMkernel.

The command line allows you to view the list of device drivers loaded in the VMkernel using the vmkload_modlist command.

You can use the vmware-mount.pl script to mount a virtual disk in the service console.

You can use vmkfstools to import vmdks from VMware Workstation and GSX Server into ESX Server.

Use the top command to view real-time performance data for the Service Console.

You can manage the Service Console and VM processes from the command line, which allows you to kill processes if necessary.

Use the Service Console to install software packages in RPM format.

13.6.1.3. Managing Virtual Machines from the Command Line

The esxtop utility can be used to view performance statistics of your virtual machines.

You can use vmware-cmd to start, stop, reset, and suspend virtual machines from the command line.

The vmsnap.pl script lets you back up a virtual machine's virtual disk while it is powered on.

With the vmres.pl script, you can restore a virtual machine that was backed up with vmsnap.