6.7

Table Of Contents
Linux Requirements
Customization of Linux guest operating systems requires that Perl is installed in the Linux guest operating
system.
Verifying Customization Support for a Guest Operating System
To verify customization support for Windows operating systems or Linux distributions and compatible
ESXi hosts, see the VMware Compatibility Guide at http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility. You
can use this online tool to search for the guest operating system and ESXi version. After the tool
generates your list, click the guest operating system to see whether guest customization is supported.
Create a vCenter Server Application to Generate Computer Names
and IP Addresses
Instead of entering computer names and IP addresses for virtual NICs when you customize guest
operating systems, you can create a custom application and configure it in such a way that
vCenter Server generates the names and addresses.
The application can be an arbitrary executable binary or script file appropriate for the corresponding
operating system in which vCenter Server is running. After you configure an application and make it
available to vCenter Server, every time you initiate a guest operating system customization for a virtual
machine, vCenter Server runs the application.
The application must comply with the reference XML file in the VMware knowledge base article at
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2007557.
Prerequisites
Verify that Perl is installed on vCenter Server.
Procedure
1 Create the application and save it on the vCenter Server system's local disk.
2 Select a vCenter Server instance in the inventory.
3 Click the Configure tab, click Settings, and click Advanced Settings.
4 Click Edit and enter the configuration parameters for the script.
a In the Key text box, type config.guestcust.name-ip-generator.arg1.
b In the Value text box, type c:\sample-generate-name-ip.pl and click Add.
c In the Key text box, type config.guestcust.name-ip-generator.arg2.
d In the Value text box, type the path to the script file on the vCenter Server system and click Add.
For example, type c:\sample-generate-name-ip.pl.
e In the Key text box, type config.guestcust.name-ip-generator.program.
f In the Value text box, type c:\perl\bin\perl.exe and click Add.
vSphere Virtual Machine Administration
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