6.5.1

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.
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.
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