Expanding IDE virtual hard disk capacity
Feb 17th
If we need to expand the capacity of a IDE virtual hard disk, vmware is not supporting for direct disk expansion. We can only expand SCSI virtual hard disk.
So for expanding IDE hard disk, we need to convert it to SCSI disk. For that login to ESX host console using any of SSH client (E.g. Putty). Locate the datastore path where the virtual machine resides.
cd /vmfs/volumes/<datastore_name>/<vm_name>/
From this location,open the primary vmdk file using vi editor
vi <vm_name>.vmdk
Locate the line,
ddb.adapterType = “ide”
To change the disk type from IDE to SCSI, edit the above like as shown below,
ddb.adapterType = “lsilogic”
Save the file and quit from the vi edit window.
Login to infrastructure using vSphere client and select Edit Settings of the virtual machine.
Select the IDE virtual Hard disk > Remove
Select Remove the disk from the virtual machine.
Note1: Before remove the disk, note the correct path of the vmdk file that associated with this disk.
Note2: while removing the disk from the VM, don’t select “Remove from disk”
Then select “Add”> Hard Disk> Using Existing Virtual Disk
Select the VMDK file location (that we already note down before removing it) and select the VMDK file
Choose the SCSI as adapter type for the disk.
Now you’re IDE virtual hard is converted to SCSI drive. So you can expand the capacity of this drive using any tool 
Cheers
————————————— Anish Panthalani
“Failed to connect to host” error with ESX host in a Virtual Center
Jan 7th
Problem: – This error is getting while cloning VMs/Cold migration/sVmotion
Case: This may happen, if we recently changed the ip address of ESX host
Solution:
Step1: Edit vpxa.cfg file and update with the host IP address. For that,
Login to Host’s console using any SSH client (e.g. Putty) as root user
Stop vpxa management service by
service vmware-vpxa stop
Open the vpxa.cfg file by
vi /etc/opt/vmware/vpxa/vpxa.cfg
Open the file and locate the host IP entry in that. It shows like shown below,
Edit the file and update it with the correct host IP. Save and quite (:wq)
Then start the vpxa service
service vmware-vpxa start
Note: you need to restart host’s management services
Service mgmt-vmware restart
Service vmware-vpxa restart
Now check whether the issue is solved or not.
Note: – There may be a possibility to retain the old id address after the management service restart. In that case pleas follow the step2.
Step2: Rebuild the configuration file in vCenter. For that,
Disconnect and remove the host from vCenter and re-add it.
Note: Removing the host from vCenter will delete all host level and VM level permissions. So if you need to restore the permissions after this, please note down the existing permissions before removing it.
To disconnect the host,
Right-click the host and choose Disconnect.
To remove the host from vCenter
Right-click the host and choose Remove.
To add the host back to vCenter
Go to File>New>Host
Enter the host information and license information in coming windows and finish. It will take couple of minutes to add the host into inventory.
After the successful re-connect of host, please check the status of the problem.
As per my experience, by following these 1 & 2 steps, the issue was solved J
If these are not helped you to solve issue, please contact me through chat or email. anishpanthalani@techmaniac.in OR anishpanthalani@gmail.com
Restoring deleted objects in Active Directory
Oct 9th
Suppose some of you junior administrator or yourself accidently deleted one user account from your Active Directory. How can we restore it back? If that account is a very critical account, how we can overcome from this situation?
When we think about the restoration of deleted item in ADS, the term “tombstone” comes to the picture.
What is “tombstone” lifetime?
It determines how long a deleted object is retained in Active Directory. Using this tombstone, we can restore the deleted object to ADS – if the deletion was happed with tombstone lifetime period.
By Default,
Tombstone life time for Windows 2003:- 60 Days
Tombstone life time for Windows 2003 SP1 and later:- 180 Days
Then, How we can restore an object using “Tombstone”?
For example, I have a user called “ithelp” under IT Admins OU in abc.com domain and I’m going to delete it.
Restoring Procedures
1) To restore using tombstone, we are using the command
LDP.exe
Note : To run this command, we need to install support tools from windows 2003 server DVD/CD.
It will open Ldp window.
2) Go to Connections > Connect
Provide the domain name and port (389) > OK
3) Again go to Connection > Bind
Here provide Administrative credentials for our domain
4) Click Options > Control
In that window, select “return deleted objects” in load predefined session and “Server” as control type > OK
5) Go to View > Tree
Type the distinguished name path of the deleted objects container in the domain where the deletion occurred as shown below
>OK
6 ) From the left panel double click on “cn=deleted Object, dc=….”
7 ) Right click on the deleted object that we need to restore > Modify
Enter “isDeleted“ in Edit Entry Attribute box and select “Deleted” in operation area > Click “Enter” (Do not select RUN)
Type distinguishedName in attribute box and enter a new DN path for the restoring object in Value area.
Select “Replace” in operation box and click on “Enter“
9) Select the check box for “Synchronous” and “Extended” and select “RUN“
Once the process finish, it shows like,
Now the restoration process is finish !!!
10) Finally go to Options > Controls and click the Check Out button.
Now the deleted object will be restored in our Active Directory.
Note : The restored object will be in disabled mode and will be removed from all security groups. So after the restoration, we need to enable it first and add into proper groups manually.
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