vLogView Installation and User Guide

1.0.4.0

You can find the latest documentation for this product here: http://xtravirt.com/xd10132 If you have any feedback about the product or documentation, please submit to: information@xtravirt.com

2009 Xtravirt Ltd. All rights reserved. The Xtravirt logo and design are registered trademarks of Xtravirt Ltd. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. Warranty, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable mandatory law, Xtravirt and its licensors provide the software without any warranties of any kind, express, implied, statutory, or in any other provision of the EULA or communication with you, and Xtravirt and its licensors specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

Xtravirt Ltd Dorset House Regent Park 297 Kingston Road Leatherhead Surrey KT22 7PL United Kingdom

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Contents
About Intended Audience Document Feedback Technical Support 1 2 3 Introduction System Requirements Installing vLogView Prerequisites Installation 4 Using vLogView 4 4 4 4 5 6 7 7 7 10

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About
The vLogView Installation and User Guide describes how to install and configure Xtravirt vLogView.

Intended Audience
This guide is intended for anyone wishing to install Xtravirt vLogView. It has been written for administrators who have familiarity or understanding of VMware ESX Server and vCenter Server.

Document Feedback
Xtravirt welcomes any feedback for documentation improvement. Comments should be submitted to information@xtravirt.com.

Technical Support
Technical support is not provided under the terms of the End User License Agreement. Product feedback and fault identification is welcomed, and comments should be submitted to information@xtravirt.com.

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Introduction
vLogView is a Windows based application which manages VMware ESX Server log files. The product is designed to be installed on an administrators PC, and provides the ability to store, view and search ESX Server log files from multiple ESX Servers, without requiring individual login, navigation and manual file transfer. The software requires the ability to communicate with a VMware vCenter server. The software supports VMware vCenter 2.5 & 4.0, and VMware ESX Server 3.x and 4.x.

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System Requirements
Operating Systems o o o o o Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4) Windows 2003 Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7

Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5. This can be downloaded from: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=333325FD-AE52-4E35B531-508D977D32A6&displaylang=en By default log files are retrieved to C:\Xtravirt_temp. You will require system rights to create folders and files at this location.

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Installing vLogView
Ensure that the PC which is to have the software installed can access VMware vCenter. For example, log into vCenter prior to installation with the VI Client or Web Access to test connectivity.

Prerequisites

Installation
Unzip the compressed folder containing the vLogView software to a folder on the PC or networked attached drive. Run setup.exe. If the Microsoft .NET framework 3.5 is not detected, setup will prompt for installation. If this applies to your installation click Accept, or move to the next step.

Installing .NET Framework 3.5. This step will automatically download and install .NET Framework 3.5 and may take several minutes to complete. It requires an internet connection and may prompt for a reboot after installation.

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Welcome. vLogView installer welcome dialogue will appear. Click Next.

Select Installation Folder. Accept the default installation path or choose a different installation location. Click Next.

Confirm Installation. Click Next. The installation may take several minutes.

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Installation complete. Click Close to exit the Setup Wizard.

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Using vLogView
The installation will create a start menu folder in Programs\Xtravirt\vLogView as well as place a shortcut on the desktop. Once the program is run, a login dialogue will appear. Server / Port: Enter the name or IP address of your VMware vCenter server. The default port is 443, but can be modified depending upon your own installation. Username: Enter the username of an account which has rights to view ESX Servers within vCenter Enter the matching password for the username

Password:

Click Login to connect.

Note: The option Bypass Login skips the vCenter login process, and login credentials are not required. This is useful if you wish to use vLogView to view existing log files only.

Upon successful connection, the interface will load, presenting the Introduction page. This screen also provides a quick user guide.

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Clicking the Configuration tab will present the dialogue, from which, ESX host and log files can be selected for retrieval.

Firstly select an ESX host. Click the drop-down field under the Host Selection entry, and select an ESX Server from the list. Note: The Host Selection list is generated from the initial login to vCenter previously.
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Next, enter the login credentials for the selected host. Click Verify. Note: Until authentication is verified, the Select Log File(s), Custom Log Files option boxes, and Go button will remain greyed out and disabled. The user account must have access via SSH to the ESX host. However it does not need to be the root account. If a non root account is specified you will additionally be prompted for the root password.

Select Log File(s) for Retrieval. Use the checkboxes to select standard ESX Server log files.

Custom Log Files. Optionally type the path and file name of any additional log files required. Click Verify to check whether the path/file exists. A pop up message box will confirm whether the file was found. Click Add to add it to the custom log file list.

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Selecting a log file that has been added, then clicking Remove will remove it from the custom log file list. If a log file is added but does not exist during retrieval then it will be skipped. Click Go to retrieve the log files. Depending upon the number of files selected and connection this may take some time. The Status bar will change to Retrieving Log Files.

Once complete a pop up message box will confirm when log files have been downloaded.

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Click the View Log Files tab. This displays the interface that allows the viewing and searching of downloaded log files.

Expand the xtravirt_temp node, and then select the server from which you wish to view the log files previously retrieved. Note: You must retrieve the log files first using the Configuration tab before they will appear in this list.

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From the Select Log File dialogue, select the log file that you wish to view.

The log file contents will be displayed in the Log File Contents textbox.

Once a log file has been loaded into the textbox, a search for a specific word or phrase can be carried out by entering the search phrase and clicking the Search in Log button. The search process will highlight all found instances. The search process can take some time depending upon the size of the log file.

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You may also select text within the textbox and then right-click to copy the selection to the clipboard. You can also copy the entire log file text to the clipboard.

The Explore Logs button will open windows explorer at the current selected log file location.

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