Installing FOM on VMware Server

[Rhidian]

Hi,

I'm attempting to install the FOM on a Windows 2003 Enterprise VM hosted by VMware Server 2.0 but get the error "No VMware platforms found" am I missing something or does the FOM require a virtual instance of ESX to run?

Regards,

[Zinky]

what is FOM?

[Rhidian]

Fail Over Manager (FOM).

[Uwe Zessin]

FOM is the FailOver Manager for the HP P4000 iSCSI product line. It is a special, stripped-down storage node that can run a manager service and acts as a 'tie-breaker' to prevent split-brain situations.

[Zinky]

Does FOM require FC connection/presentation on the node it is to be installed on? Or is it purely IP/LAN?

Also, On what platform/OS do you host vMware Server 2.0 which hosts that Win2k3 Enterprise Virtual Machine that you wish to install FOM on?



"does the FOM require a virtual instance of ESX to run?"

Must just be my understanding - but a virtual instance of ESX? Last I know, one can't virtualize a HyperVisor (nesting -- 'cept perhaps on KVM)...

I suggest you pore over the manual and see if FOM on a virtual WIn2k3 on vMware Server 2.0 hosted hypervisor is supported. If not and only Win2k3 on ESX is supported, why not just switch to ESXi...

[Rhidian]

It seems the FOM software does not support VM's hosted on VMware Server only VMware player.

Thanks for your help.

[Zinky]

What about ESXi (it is "free") as well.. and you should still be able to use that vMawre COnsole lougin used in vMware Server 2.0.

OR perhaps even Linux KVM? It is quite easy nowadays to convert VMDKs to any other Virtual Machine Format. WHat I like about KVM is it is fully HW virtualized and do not require any mods to the OS (no vMware Toolz)

[Uwe Zessin · Accepted solution]

No, the P4000 has nothing to do with Fibre Channel (SCSI commands over a FC infrastructure), it is iSCSI (SCSI commands over a IP infrastructure). All communication between the P4000 storage nodes and the FOM is IP.

The current FOM version can also be installed on VMware ESX and Microsoft Hyper-V, but it MUST NOT be put on a P4000 volume.

I've re-read the question and I missed the point that Rhidian starts the FOM installer *inside* a VM - that won't work. You must run the FOM installer on the Windows host where VMware Server is installed and running. Then it should do the necessary steps to create a new VM that includes the FOM image.

[Rhidian]

With my configuration I only have two ESXi 4.0 nodes available and a managment laptop and the FOM is required to keep quorum.

[Rhidian]

Uwe Zessin I will give it a go Monday it was suggested to me that only VMware player is supported, is that the case?