Description
Because XchangeIT (used with Neeto to send/receive files) software requires one windows installation that runs internet explorer per client, we are forced to provide a windows XP virtual machine for each Neeto location. The XchangeIT client is actually just a browser based web application (that is why internet explorer is needed). They will provide us a response regarding as to why it is limited to one client per windows install. Note that to be legal, each windows VM should have its own license.
Important details of each VM
- 284mb of RAM
- 20GB Hard drive
- Preinstalled windows XP with xchangeit client already installed
- AVG Antivirus 2011
- In and Out directory already shared
- Firewall opened up to allow remote mounting of directories
Deploying a new VM
To deploy a new VM from the SOE, ssh to the esxi host. Create a new directory and name it with Newsagency\ EDI_<number>:
~ # cd /vmfs/volumes/4ace1e3d-e227c52d-0604-002655f4c5c1 /vmfs/volumes/4ace1e3d-e227c52d-0604-002655f4c5c1 # mkdir Newsagency\ EDI_4 /vmfs/volumes/4ace1e3d-e227c52d-0604-002655f4c5c1 # cd Newsagency\ EDI_4 /vmfs/volumes/4ace1e3d-e227c52d-0604-002655f4c5c1/Newsagency EDI_4 # vmkfstools -i ../Newsagency_EDI_SOE/Newsagency\ EDI.vmdk Newsagency\ EDI_4.vmdk
The above will clone the hard disk. After the process is complete go into the vsphere client and create a new virtual machine as follows:
Now, go to the vSphere client and run File > New > Virtual Machine...
- Select Typical and click Next.
- Enter a Name for your destination virtual machine (Newsagency EDI_4) and click Next.
- Choose a datastore and click Next at the Datastore dialog box.
- Select Windows XP Professional 32 bit and click Next.
- Click Next on the create virtual disk (we will get rid of this later)
- Tick the box "Edit virtual machine settings before completion" and click Continue.
- Select the "New Hard Disk" and click Remove.
- Click on Add... and then Hard disk and then click on Next
- Select "Use an existing virtual Disk" and click Next.
- Browse to the virtual disk you just created and click on Next, Next, Finish, accepting all the defaults.
- Configure the Memory Size to 284MB and click Next at the Memory dialog box.
- Review all the settings for the new virtual machine and click Finish
- Power on your new Virtual Machine.
When you get into windows, First thing to do is change the IP address and rename your new box or it will have a conflict when you try to deploy another one. Next, XchangeIT has to give us the credentials to enter into the configuration settings.
Subnet
A new subnet had to be added. It is 192.168.241.x. A static IP will be set for each computer. DNS entries will be created in the format xit-[location]
Mounting on ABE
A sample entry for a location on abe:
//192.168.241.2/EDI/In /u/ccr.13/NTOELWD/edi/In cifs defaults,credentials=/u/cc/usr/ccc/.smbcredentials 0 0 //192.168.241.2/EDI/Out /u/ccr.13/NTOELWD/edi/Out cifs defaults,credentials=/u/cc/usr/ccc/.smbcredentials 0 0 //192.168.241.2/EDI/unsent /u/ccr.13/NTOELWD/edi/unsent cifs defaults,credentials=/u/cc/usr/ccc/.smbcredentials 0 0
For some reason, the address has to be specified in numeric format, using xit-elwood does not work. /u/cc/usr/ccc/.smbcredentials file conatins
username="ccc" password="notaspacesecret"