Granola Enterprise for VMware Installation Instructions

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Granola Enterprise Installation

The Granola Enterprise configuration tool provides a convenient way to configure client packages for Granola Enterprise for VMware ESX. From your Windows machine, it can download and configure the latest version of Granola Enterprise with your account information, ensuring that the configuration is correct. It can also configure a locally-downloaded package for instances where internet connectivity is unavailable.

Download the Granola Enterprise configuration tool

Please migrate or shutdown any running VMs on the install host prior to installing Granola Enterprise, since the installation requires the host to reboot.

Configuring packages
VMware ESXi 5 Instructions
VMware ESXi 4.1 Instructions

Creating configured installation packages for VMware ESXi

  1. Download the Granola Enterprise configuration tool. Save the file into a folder by itself. The output from the program will be stored in the same directory as the program itself.
  2. Create an account if you do not already have one. You will use your account information to configure Granola Enterprise so your machines can communicate with the Granola Dash.
  3. Run the Granola Enterprise configuration tool. You should see a screen like this: Granola Enterprise configuration tool
  4. Configure the Granola Enterprise installation.
    1. Put your account information into the form in the tool. Granola Enterprise configuration tool account information
    2. Select your target operating system. You can configure more than one package if you need packages for both ESXi 4.1 and ESXi 5.x. Granola Enterprise configuration tool ESX version
    3. OPTIONAL. Configure a custom REST prefix. Note that this step is only necessary if you are using a custom Granola Dash instance. The REST prefix is the fully qualified domain name of the machine hosting the Granola Dash. Granola Enterprise configuration tool REST prefix
  5. Choose an action. Here are the options: Granola Enterprise configuration tool output options
    • Generate VIB (default). The latest Granola Enterprise package will be downloaded, and the configuration options will be embedded in the VIB file to prepare it for installation. The output will be a single ESXi installation bundle.
    • Modify local file. To be used in instances where there is no Internet connection available. You will be prompted to select a bundle file. The configuration options will be embedded in the bundle file. The output will be a configured ESXi installation bundle.
  6. Hit the 'Go!' button. Your chosen action will be performed. Any problems with your configuration will be reported in the status area above the Go! button.

    Note that though you can only perform one action at a time, you can repeat this step with a different action selected if you need to generate more than one package.

Installation Guide for Granola on VMware ESXi 5

  1. Enable SSH on the install host.
    • Connect to the install host with the VMware vSphere client
    • Under the "Configuration" tab for the host, click "Security Profile" under "Software"
    • Then click "Properties..." for the "Services" section under "Security Profile" ESXi5 Configuration tab
    • Select "SSH", click the "Options..." button, click "Start", the click "OK" ESXi5 Services window ESXi5 Services window
  2. Enable outgoing network connections so that Granola can communicate with the Granola Dash.
    • Connect to the install host with the VMware vSphere client
    • Under the "Configuration" tab for the host, click "Security Profile" under "Software"
    • Then click "Properties..." for the "Firewall" section under "Security Profile" ESXi5 Configuration tab
    • Click the checkbox next to "httpClient"
      • ESXi5 Firewall check
    • Click "OK" to close the Firewall Properties window
  3. Copy your customized installation bundle somewhere accessible to the installation host.
    • A known datastore on a network host can simplify this task by making the configured bundle available to all client machines
    • If you need to copy it directly, you can use the following command: scp <full path to the customized bundle file> root@[hostname for install host]:~
  4. SSH into the install host.
    • Run: ssh root@[hostname for install host]
    • The root password was set during installation of the host.
  5. Install the ESXi Bundle.
    • Run: esxcli software acceptance set --level=CommunitySupported
    • Run: esxcli software vib install -f -d <full path to the customized bundle file>
  6. Verify the installation.
    • Run: ps | grep granola
    • You should see granola-vmware and granola-connect processes running
    • Run: grep granola /var/log/syslog.log to check for any messages from Granola Enterprise

Installation Guide for Granola on VMware ESXi 4.1

  1. Enable SSH on the install host.
    • Connect to the install host with the VMware vSphere client
    • Under the "Configuration" tab for the host, select the "Security Profile" link under "Software" ESXi4 Config Screen
    • Select "Remote Tech Support(SSH)", click the "Options..." button, click "Start", the click "OK" ESXi4 SSH Options
    • Click "OK" to close the "Service Properties" window
  2. Copy your customized installation bundle somewhere accessible to the installation host.
    • A known datastore on a network host can simplify this task by making the configured bundle available to all client machines
    • If you need to copy it directly, you can use the following command: Run: scp <full path to the customized bundle file> root@[hostname for install host]:~
  3. SSH into the install host.
    • Run: ssh root@[hostname for install host]
    • No password required by default on ESX 4.1; otherwise authenticate with the password you supplied when enabling SSH
  4. Install the ESXi Bundle.
    • Run: esxupdate update --nosigcheck --bundle=<full path to the customized Granola bundle zipfile>
  5. Reboot the install host.
  6. Verify the installation.
    • SSH into the install host
    • Run: ps | grep granola
    • There should be granola-vmware and granola-connect processes running