Autolab - Important Pre-deployment Info:

Here are a few items from the install guide that I took note of prior to the deployment of the first box:

Install guide location:

http://www.labguides.com/downloads/vSphere5AutoLab_Deployment_Guide_v1_1a.pdf

Install used:  VMware ESXi

1 - Pay close attention to the setup of the default portgroup named Lab_Local. 

• Promiscuous mode
• VLAN ID 4095
• VMkernel port on this network with IP 192.168.199.99

2 - The install document talks about the need to run a command on your ESXi hosts to pass the Intel VT or AMD V feature onto the VMs.  Pay close attention to the version of ESXi you will be using.

• ESXi 5.0:  echo 'vhv.allow = "TRUE"' >> /etc/vmware/config
• ESXi 5.1:  echo 'vhv.enable = "TRUE"' >> /etc/vmware/config

Here is a great link from Duncan Epping

• http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2012/06/12/creating-a-nested-lab/

Information from VMware about exposing VMware Hardware Assisted Virtualization in the vSphere Web Client

• http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-51/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.vmware.vsphere.vm_admin.doc%2FGUID-2A98801C-68E8-47AF-99ED-00C63E4857F6.html

3 - I run an ESXi 5.1 two host cluster utilizing HA & DRS thus deciding to use the juice I have.  I deployed the "w\ DRS" Autolab.ovf.

• http://www.labguides.com/downloads/vSphere5AutoLab_vSphere_v1_1a.zip