[ESXi 3.5] ESXi 3.5 Update 5 Install CD with oem.tgz + ssh,ftp,rsync and wget (made easy)!

Hello,

It has been a while since I was really doing something new with VMWare, but as I had the need to install some new Servers, I also was looking for better ways on integrating oem.tgz and other features. For that, I stumbled upon an very cool and useful Linux Build Script for ESXi, made by the User Varazir. After this How To you're going to hold an ISO Installer with SSH, FTP, RSYNC, WGET and the Community Unified Driver Pack 1.1.0 oem.tgz in your Hands. Or an USB Stick with the same features - as Live Boot or Installer. Your choice.

Download:
VMware-VMvisor-InstallerCD-3.5.0_Update_5-207095.i386.iso: Vmware.com / ESXi 3.5 Download Section
Mkesxiiso.sh: http://varazir.mine.nu/esxi/
CommunityUnifiedDriverPack_v1.1.0_U3-123629.oem.gz: http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/Custom_oem.tgz/CommunityUnifiedDriverPack_v1.1.0_U3-123629.oem.gz

What you also need:
An english (!) speaking and recent Ubuntu Version with installed mkisofs.
You can use the VMWare Player for that ;-).

How To:
Copy all the files into the /tmp Folder of the Ubuntu Installation.
Rename the CommunityUnifiedDriverPack_v1.1.0_U3-123629.oem.gz to oem.tgz
Give chmod +x to the latest Mkesxiiso.sh (in my case: chmod +x mkesxiaio_3.9.1.sh).
Run sudo ./mkesxiaio_3.9.1.sh
Now the Script is going to walk you through the build of the ESXi System.

Thanks to Varazir and www.vm-help.com its finally very easy to build an custom system!

Addition: Add User to installed ESXi:
If you got an installed ESXi 3.5 and want to have an second User to use ssh and ftp instead of "root only", do this:
userdelete the old additional VMWare User you created. Create it a new with: useradd Username -M -d /
Wit that command you create the new user and put its root folder into "/" (root).
Problem why an normal user can't access ssh is, that VMWare does erase the home Folder on every boot.
You should also change the User Password on creation with passwd Username...

[iPAQ] Building Serial Console for iPAQ 3600 to Access Cisco Equipment

After I got the iPAQ 3660 working again, I wanted to use it as Serial Console to Work on the Cisco Equipment "on the road". To achieve that, we need two or three things:

1.) An special connector Cable to attach the Serial Console of the iPAQ with an RS232 Connector / the Cisco Rollover Cable
2.) An Terminal Software. I did choose vxHpcPlus for that ( http://www.cam.com/vxhpcplus.html )
3.) Something that makes it possible to use  Landscape Mode so that you can read the Console Output more easily:  NYDITOT Virtual Display, Version 5.02 ( http://www.nyditot.com/Products.asp )

1.) Building the Connector / Adaptor Cable
I did order an iPAQ 3600 to Serial Connector for Active Sync. Sadly it was defect, so I did choose to rebuild it to these Specs. First I did open up the iPAQ Connector and desolder it. Than I did insert it into the iPAQ and identified the needed Connector Ports. So if you look at the bottom of the iPAQ, placed face up on flat surface you will see these Connectors:

2 4 6 8 10 12
1 3 5 7  9 11

Wiring:
4 - GND
7 - TX
8 - RX
11 - 3,3V

Then I got an RS232 Male Connector and did wire these things up like that:

5 4 3 2 1
6 7 8 9

( Looking at the Solder Connectors! Not the "Connector Face"! )

2 - RX
3 - TX
5 - GND

I did left the 3,3V Cable "floating around" for maybe future projects.

2.) Terminal Software
Download the vxHpcPlus from the Website and install it with the Help of ActiveSync.

The Settings for the Serial Port are:

Direct Connect - Async:
Port: "Seriallkabel an COM1:"
Settings: 9600, Databits: 8, Parity: None, Stop: 1, Flow Control: None
Telnet: Send NUL after CR
Emulation: VT100,
Font size: 6,
German Keyboard
80 Colums,
Vertial Scroll,
Auto Wrap,
Scroll,
Hot Button

You can also change these to 115200 if you want.

3.) NYDITOT Virtual Display, Landscape
Download and install with ActiveSync. You can use it to use Landscape Mode which makes reading the Serial Console more easy. Its plain forward, so play with it.

Thanks a lot to Bev Howard for the excellent Printout of the Connector Port ( http://bevhoward.com/serial.htm#36xx ) this Site: http://www.handhelds.org/Compaq/iPAQH3600/iPAQ_H3600.html

[pRoToTyPe] iGPS-M Pro USB to Serial

As I wanted an better GPS Mouse for the pRoToTyPe, I did buy an iGPS M Pro USB Mouse ( http://www.transystem.com.tw/products/index_detail.php?mcat_no=2&cat_no=32&pno=10&ver=en ). I was certain that I could resolder it to Serial and use it on the Fonera Router. And thats how I did it: I did open up the Case, which was very easy, just unsnap it. You will find an socket were 4 wires do run out: Black (GND), Red (5V+), White (USB Data) and Green (USB Data) - I did cut these Wires and soldered them to an 8 Wire Cable. From the other 4 left Wires I did use only two: Under the Metal Shielding of the Mouse you will find an TX and an RX Solder Point - these are RS232 Connection Points. I did just pry open a bit of the shielding to run two wires into it, soldered it onto the points and did close the casing again. On the other end of the cable, I did solder on an RS232 Connector, Female. I did use the pRoToTyPe scheme with Phantom Power for that. Additionally, I did wire up Power and Ground a second Time to an USB Connector as well as the USB Datalines. So I have one RS232 Socket and one USB Connector and can use the Mouse for both occasions.

Hint: Do check first the Datalines of the USB Connector and the Socket so that you're sure you will resolder the USB Data Lines again in correct order.

[iPAQ] Upgrading HP iPAQ 3660 from CE 3.0/Pocket PC 2000 to Pocket PC 2002

As the 3600 Series came out in 2000, it was one of the top notch Personal Digital Assistants and became very widely known through Business Class Users and Geeks. The only downside to this nice product was the big price tag which could go to nearly 1000 bucks. Now, after 10 Years, you got these machines for really less money and so the second named user class (Geeks, Nerds, etc - call it as you want) can accquire and use the now considered outdated Hardware. The 3660 does come with an 206 MhZ Arm (v4, SA1100) Processor, 16 MB Rom and 64 MB Ram (which are seperated dynamically into 32 MB "real" Ram and 32 MB "Flash" to save Work and Programs in). The Display takes it to an Resolution of 320x240 and does show 4096 Colours. For Connection, the 3660 does use and IRDA Port aswell as an Sync Port which can be used over USB and Serial Connection through the Cradle or an Adaptor Cable. As Expansion Slot "Sleeves" were aviable. They could contain 1 or 2 CF Card Slots or one PCMCIA Slot. Both with Battery so they extended the Running Time on the iPAQ a lot. To Upgrade the whole thing to the "not meant to be installed" Pocket PC 2002 install but than Shutdown Active Sync on your Windows PC. Attach the iPAQ to the Cradle and the get Following Software from the Compaq Site ( ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/):

The Bootloader Update 1.87: ( ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp20001-20500/SP20011.exe )

The Pocket PC 2002 Update / Rom Update 2.20: ( ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp22501-23000/sp22899.exe )

The Pocket PC 2002 SP1: ( ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp22501-23000/sp22547.exe )

You should download these files and start installing them one after another. First the Bootloader, than the Pocket PC Update and finally the SP1 over the ActiveSync Software. One thing to mention: The PocketPC 2002 was never meant to be installed on only 16 MB of Rom, so it does not install things like the MediaPlayer, but you can download these from Microsoft and install them in the "Rom".

To find more Drivers and Software, check out this Website: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodNameId=100807&prodTypeId=215348&prodSeriesId=96479&swEnvOID=231&taskId=135&swLang=18