Where is my DCUI (no F2)?

[mrizos]

When my ESXi 4.1 host boots I just have options for:

ALT-F1 (the esx console)

and

ALT-F11 (return to this screen)

I'm trying to access the DCUI but I don't see an option for F2 and pressing it does nothing....

Any suggestions?

[a_p_]

Please don't mind me asking.

Is this ESXi or ESX?

André

[mrizos]

ESXi 4.1 (vSphere Enterprise)

[a_p_]

ALT-F1 (the esx console)

ALT-F11 (return to this screen)

That's what ESX usually displays on the ALT-F11 screen. see Example

Does it show you the ESXi version on the screen?

André

[mrizos]

uh oh...you can tell I'm new to this whole vmware thing. Is it possible to upgrade to esxi4.1 from esx4.1?

[a_p_]

Is it possible to upgrade to esxi4.1 from esx4.1?

No, there is no way to upgrade. Going from ESX to ESXi requires a new installation.

André

[mrizos]

I was afraid of that. Could I just rebuild each ESX 4.1 host to ESXi 4.1 one at a time (since I have to keep my 4 VM's running)?

[a_p_]

I was afraid of that. Could I just rebuild each ESX 4.1 host one at a time (since I have to keep my 4 VM's running)?

Yes, if you have the VM's on shared storage and vMotion in place.

André

[mrizos]

I do.

[mrizos]

One last noob question....Does ESXi really offer us anything? I mean look at this

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1015000

I barely see anything...keep in mind I am a total noob when it comes to ESX (obviously).

[a_p_]

ESXi does not offer more functions than ESX. However ESX will not be continued in the future, therefore you will have to switch to ESXi anyway some time in the near future.

André

[mrizos]

Ok, gotcha. Maybe they'll have an easier way to upgrade in the future rather than wiping the ESX host.

[DSTAVERT]

Functionally they are the same. Outside that ESXi requires fewer updates. Very small and if installed to USB or SD does not require local storage (not an issue with boot from SAN) More secure since there is less available to attack. Moving forward ESX will not be available. 4.1 is the last version of ESX.

Forum Upgrade Notice - the VMware Communities forums will be upgraded the weekend of December 12th. The forum will be in read-only mode from Friday, December 10th 6 PM PST until Sunday, December 12th 2 AM PST.

[DSTAVERT]

You can install ESXi to a USB drive. Just insert a USB flash drive and start the install. Choose the USB drive as the destination for the install. Once installed ESXi will recognize the datastore. You can browse the datastore and Right Click on the VMX file for each of the VMs you created and Add to Inventory. One VM you will notice is the ESX Console Virtual machine. Once you are up and running with ESXi you can delete the ESX VM from the datastore.

Forum Upgrade Notice - the VMware Communities forums will be upgraded the weekend of December 12th. The forum will be in read-only mode from Friday, December 10th 6 PM PST until Sunday, December 12th 2 AM PST.

[steelweb]

I cant see that original question has been answered.

Is DCUI missing in ESX 4.1 ?

[a_p_]

Actually it has been answered. Only ESXi has a DCUI, ESX doesn't.

André