VMware installation validation checklist

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It happened several times that I needed to have some kind of a validation checklist after the vSphere installation. I decided to put together all my notes and collect the specific steps and configurations to be tested in the validation process for VMware Infrastructure. The goal is to quantify the likely performance and to confirm that support of such a configuration will not introduce new risk to the customer.
The validation checklistis divided to the several sections based on the logical segregation of the vSphere environment.

Host Profile Validation

Test#Details of a testExpected result
11. Click extract profile from a host
2. Select the ESXi host
3. Create a host profile using the wizard
4. Right click on a newly created host profile
5. Click on Attach/Detach Hosts and Clusters
6. Attach the host Profile to the Cluster or particular host
7. Check Host Profile status
Host Profile should show compliant status

Host Profile Backup & Restore

Test#Details of a testExpected result
11. Click extract profile from the representative ESXi host
2. Select the ESXi host
3. Create a host profile using the wizard
Creation of Host Profile
21. Login to the ESXi console using remote console (IMM, DRAC)
2. From the console, press F2 and select Reset System Configuration and press Enter
3. Press F11 to confirm and reboot the ESXi host
4. Configure the IP address and re-attach the ESXi host to the vCenter server
Resetting the system to the default configuration
31. Select the Host Profile created in Test #1
2. Click on Attach/Detach Hosts and Clusters
3. Attach the host Profile to the ESXi host
4. On the Customize Host tab review all the settings are correct and attach the profile
5. When finish click on the Compliance check button to check the ESXi host is complaint against the Host profile
6. If the ESXi host in not compliant place the ESXi host into the Maintenance Mode, navigate to the Profile, select Monitor Tab and click Compliance
7. Right click on the host and select All vCenter Actions, Host Profiles and Remediate


All the configuration is restored to the host and the ESXi host should be complaint against the Host Profile

Virtual Machine

Test#Details of a testExpected result
1Provision a new virtual machineVirtual machine is created on the ESXi host
2Add the RAM and CPU to the virtual machineRAM and CPU can be added
3Delete the virtual machineVirtual machine can be deleted on the ESXi host
4Convert virtual machine to templateVirtual machine is converted to template.
5Provision virtual machine from template.Virtual machine can be configured and running.
6Clone the virtual machineVirtual machine can be cloned
7Restart virtual machine using Restart GuestVMware Tools restarts the virtual machine
8Open ConsoleRemote console works between ESXi host and the Web/vSphere client
9Connect ISO from datastoreVirtual machines can connect to ISO
10Connect CD-ROM on Web/vSphere client local device.Virtual machines can connect to removable devices

Update Manager

Test#Details of a testExpected result
1Select Update Manager from Web/vSphere clientUpdate Manager screen is displayed.
2Create and attach two new baselines:
· ESXi host
· Virtual machine

Baselines can be created and attached to the ESXi host and virtual machine
3Scan ESXi host for updatesVerify scanning ESXi host and comparing against a baseline.
4Remediate ESXi hostUpdates are successfully installed
4Scan virtual machine for updatesVerify scanning a virtual machine and comparing against a baseline
5View compliance of virtual machines against the baselineVirtual machines are compliant with the baseline
6Apply updates using remediation wizardVerify appropriate remediation to a virtual machine

Storage vMotion

Test#Details of a testExpected result
1Migrate a powered on virtual machine to a different datastoreVirtual machine can be migrated to new datastore
2Migrate a powered off virtual machine to a different ESXi host and datastoreVirtual machine can be migrated to new datastore and ESXi host

Cluster

Test#Details of a testExpected result
1Create a Datacenter in vCenter ServerDatacenter is created and visible in vCenter Server
2Create a Cluster in vCenter ServerCluster is created and visible in vCenter Server
3Add an ESXi host to a datacenterHost is added to datacenter in vCenter Server
4Create a resource pool in vCenter ServerResource pool created and visible in vCenter Server
5Migrate virtual machine using vMotion from one ESXi host to anotherVirtual machine can be migrated to another ESXi host
6Enter one of the ESXi host into Maintenance modeVirtual machines are migrated to other ESXi host
7Reboot or disconnect from the network one of the ESXi host without entering the maintenance modeVirtual machines running on affected host are restarted on different host in the FDM (HA) cluster
8Enable EVC and set it to the latest compatibility levelEVC is enabled

Storage

Test#Details of a testExpected result
1Confirm total number of LUN's presented to ESXi hostESXi host should have full storage redundancy and see the same number of paths on both HBA cards
2Confirm total number of LUN's presented to all ESXi host in one clusterESXi hosts in the cluster should all see the same number of LUNs and paths
3Create a datastoreDatastore can be created
4Convert virtual machine disk from thin to thickDisk can be converted to the thick format
5Using Storage Browser upload a file from the Web Client workstation to a datastoreUploading and creating files is possible
6Using Storage Browser download a file from a datastore to the Web ClientDownloading files is possible
7Using Storage Browser delete a file from a datastoreDeleting files is possible
8Unplug or logically disconnect HBA card from ESXi hostNo impact on datastore connectivity and virtual machine connectivity

Network

Test#Details of a testExpected result
1Create a vNetwork Distributed Switch (VDS)vNetwork Distributed Switch is created
2Create dvPortgroup on VDSdvPortgroup is created.
3Add vmnic from host to VDS uplink by selecting the appropriate dvPortgroup.vmnic from host added as uplink to VDS.
4Add redundant vmnic from host to VDS uplink..Additional vmnic added to VDS.
5Configure all Network Adapters for a maximum speedMaximum speed should be configured, preferably 10 GB Full
6Unplug or logically disconnect physical NICs from ESXi hostNo impact on ESXi host and virtual machine’s connectivity
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Jan Hosek is a Virtualization Engineer focusing on the VMware and IBM cloud portfolio. He started with the virtualization in 2009 and since that time gained experience in several T&T projects as IT Administrator, Technical Lead and IT Architect. Jan holds several certifications from VMware (vExpert 2015, VCAP5-DCD, VCAP5-DCA), Microsoft and IBM.

About Jan Hosek

Jan Hosek is a Virtualization Engineer focusing on the VMware and IBM cloud portfolio. He started with the virtualization in 2009 and since that time gained experience in several T&T projects as IT Administrator, Technical Lead and IT Architect. Jan holds several certifications from VMware (vExpert 2015, VCAP5-DCD, VCAP5-DCA), Microsoft and IBM.
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2 Comments

  1. Are there any checklist points in terms of VM security & backup aspects too ?

  2. For security I would recommend to use VMware Hardening Guides. https://www.vmware.com/uk/security/hardening-guides.html

    For backup I would check the vendor’s implementation or best practice guide to verify the configuration.

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