6.0.1

Connect to a named
pipe
Sets a direct connection between two virtual machines or a connection
between a virtual machine and an application on the host computer. With
this method, two virtual machines or a virtual machine and a process on the
host can communicate as if they were physical machines connected by a
serial cable. For example, use this option for remote debugging of a virtual
machine.
Connect over the
network
Enables a serial connection to and from a virtual machine's serial port over
the network. The Virtual Serial Port Concentrator (vSPC) aggregates traffic
from multiple serial ports onto one management console. vSPC behavior is
similar to physical serial port concentrators. Using a vSPC also allows
network connections to a virtual machine's serial ports to migrate seamlessly
when you use vMotion to migrate the virtual machine. For requirements and
steps to configure the Avocent ACS v6000 virtual serial port concentrator, see
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1022303.
Server and Client Connections for Named Pipe and Network Serial Ports
You can select a client or server connection for serial ports. Your selection determines whether the system
waits for a connection or initiates it. Typically, to control a virtual machine over a serial port, you select a
server connection. This selection lets you control the connections, which is useful if you connect to the
virtual machine only occasionally. To use a serial port for logging, select a client connection. This selection
lets the virtual machine connect to the logging server when the virtual machine starts and to disconnect
when it stops.
Supported Serial Ports
When you use a physical serial port for serial port passthrough from an ESXi host to a virtual machine,
serial ports that are integrated into the motherboard are supported. A virtual machine can use up to 32 serial
ports.
Unsupported Serial Ports
When you use a physical serial port for serial port passthrough from an ESXi host to a virtual machine, the
serial ports connected through USB are not supported for serial port passthrough. They might be supported
by USB passthrough from an ESXi host to a virtual machine. See “USB Configuration from an ESXi Host to a
Virtual Machine,” on page 139.
In addition, you cannot use Migration with VMotion when you use a physical serial port for serial
passthrough.
Adding a Firewall Rule Set for Serial Port Network Connections
If you add or configure a serial port that is backed by a remote network connection, ESXi firewall settings
can prevent transmissions.
Before you connect network-backed virtual serial ports, you must add one of the following firewall rule sets
to prevent the firewall from blocking communication:
n
VM serial port connected to vSPC. Use to connect the serial port output through a network with the
Use virtual serial port concentrator option enabled to allow only outgoing communication from the
host.
vSphere Virtual Machine Administration
108 VMware, Inc.