Installation guide

CHAPTER 1 Introduction to VMware ESX Server
33
Working With ESX Server
This section includes information on maintenance tasks, performance enhancements,
and general troubleshooting tips.
The following table includes ESX Server maintenance tasks for an Administrator (root
user).
Install guest operating
system and VMware Tools.
VMware Tools is a software package installed in the guest operating
system that gives you device drivers specific to VMware virtual
devices where necessary, and it also includes several communication
channels between the virtual machine and the ESX Server
virtualization layer.
See Installing a Guest Operating System and VMware Tools on page 45.
For more information about VMware Tools and the services it
provides, see VMware Tools Settings on page 184.
Back up your virtual
machines.
You can do backups for each virtual machine, or from the service console.
Backups from the service console are best for system images, because they
result in a backup bootable virtual disk, and are suitable for rapid
redeployment. See Backing Up from within a Virtual Machine on page 174..
Backups from within the virtual machine, using a backup agent, are best for
application data because no system shutdown is required. See Backing Up
Virtual Machines from the Service Console on page 175.
Use scripts to
schedule frequent
tasks.
For more information on VMware Scripting APIs, see www.vmware.com/
support/developer.
View system logs and
reports through the
management
interface.
As needed, view the ESX Server log files for warnings, serious system alerts
and messages through the management interface.
See Viewing System Logs and Reports on page 246.
Task Description