Esxcfg Command

Networking: Esxcfg-firewall, Esxcfg-nics, Esxcfg-vswitch, Esxcfg-vswif, Esxcfg-route, Esxcfg-vmknic
Storage: Esxcfg-mpath, Esxcfg-nas, Esxcfg-swisci, Esxcfg-vmhbadevs
General: Esxcfg-advcfg, Esxcfg-auth, Esxcfg-info, Esxcfg-resgrp, Esxcfg-upgrade
Boot/Diagnostic: Esxcfg-boot, Esxcfg-dumppart, Esxcfg-init, Esxcfg-linuxnet, Esxcfg-module
 

Esxcfg-firewall
Description: Configures the service console firewall ports

Syntax: esxcfg-firewall

Options:
-qLists current settings
-q Lists settings for the specified service
-q incoming|outgoingLists settings for non-required incoming/outgoing ports
-sLists known services
-lLoads current settings
-rResets all options to defaults
-e Allows specified service through the firewall (enables)
-d Blocks specified service (disables)
-o Opens a port
-c Closes a port previously opened by –o
-hDisplays command help
-allowincomingAllow all incoming ports
-allowoutgoingAllow all outgoing ports
-blockincomingBlock all non-required incoming ports (default value)
-blockoutgoingBlock all non-required outgoing ports (default value)

Default Services:

AAMClientAdded by the vpxa RPM: Traffic between ESX Server hosts for VMware High Availability (HA) and EMC Autostart Manager – inbound and outbound TCP and UDP Ports 2050 – 5000 and 8042 – 8045
activeDirectorKerberosActive Directory Kerberos - outbound TCPs Port 88 and 464
CIMHttpServerFirst-party optional service: CIM HTTP Server - inbound TCP Port 5988
CIMHttpsServerFirst-party optional service: CIM HTTPS Server - inbound TCP Port 5989
CIMSLPFirst-party optional service: CIM SLP - inbound and outbound TCP and UDP Ports 427
commvaultDynamicBackup agent: Commvault dynamic – inbound and outbound TCP Ports 8600 – 8619
commvaultStaticBackup agent: Commvault static – inbound and outbound TCP Ports 8400 – 8403
ftpClientFTP client - outbound TCP Port 21
ftpServerFTP server - inbound TCP Port 21
kerberosKerberos - outbound TCPs Port 88 and 749
LicenseClientFlexLM license server client - outbound TCP Ports 27000 and 27010
nfsClientNFS client - outbound TCP and UDP Ports 111 and 2049 (0 – 65535)
nisClientNIS client - outbound TCP and UDP Ports 111 (0 – 65535)
ntpClientNTP client - outbound UDP Port 123
smbClientSMB client - outbound TCP Ports 137 – 139 and 445
snmpdSNMP services - inbound TCP Port 161 and outbound TCP Port 162
sshClientSSH client - outbound TCP Port 22
sshServerSSH server - inbound TCP Port 22
swISCSIClientFirst-party optional service: Software iSCSI client - outbound TCP Port 3260
telnetClientNTP client - outbound TCP Port 23
TSMBackup agent: IBM Tivoli Storage Manager – inbound and outbound TCP Ports 1500
veritasBackupExecBackup agent: Veritas BackupExec – inbound TCP Ports 10000 – 10200
veritasNetBackupBackup agent: Veritas NetBackup – inbound TCP Ports 13720, 13732, 13734, and 13783
vncServerVNC server - Allow VNC sessions 0-64: inbound TCP Ports 5900 – 5964
vpxHeartbeatsvpx heartbeats - outbound UDP Port 902

Note: You can configure your own services in the file /etc/vmware/firewall/services.xml

esxcfg-firewall examples:
Enable ssh client connections from the Service Console:# esxcfg-firewall -e sshClient
Disable the Samba client connections:# esxcfg-firewall -d smbClient

Allow syslog outgoing traffic:# esxcfg-firewall -o 514,udp,out,syslog


Turn off the firewall:
# esxcfg-firewall -allowIncoming
# esxcfg-firewall -allowOutgoing



Re-enable the firewall:
# esxcfg-firewall -blockIncoming
# esxcfg-firewall –blockOutgoing


Esxcfg-nics

Description: Prints a list of physical network adapters along with information on the driver, PCI device, and link state of each NIC. You can also use this command to control a physical network adapter’s speed and duplexing.
Syntax: esxcfg-nics [nic]

Options:

-s Set the speed of this NIC to one of 10/100/1000/10000. Requires a NIC parameter.
-d Set the duplex of this NIC to one of 'full' or 'half'. Requires a NIC parameter.
-aSet speed and duplex automatically. Requires a NIC parameter.
-lPrint the list of NICs and their settings.
-rRestore the NICs configured speed/duplex settings. (Internal use only)
-hDisplays command help

esxcfg-nics examples:

Set the speed and duplex of a NIC (vmnic2) to 100/Full:
esxcfg-nics -s 100 -d full vmnic2

Set the speed and duplex of a NIC (vmnic2) to auto-negotiate:
esxcfg-nics -a vmnic2

Esxcfg-vswitch
Description: Creates and updates virtual machine (vswitch) network settings

Syntax: esxcfg-vswitch [vswitch[:ports]]

Options:

-aAdd a new virtual switch.
-dDelete the virtual switch.
-lList all the virtual switches.
-L Set pnic as an uplink for the vswitch.
-U Remove pnic from the uplinks for the vswitch.
-p Specify a portgroup for operation. Use ALL for operation to work on all portgroups
-v Set VLAN ID for portgroup specified by -p. 0 would disable the VLAN.
-cCheck to see if a virtual switch exists. Program outputs a 1 if it exists, 0 otherwise.
-A Add a new portgroup to the virtual switch.
-D Delete the portgroup from the virtual switch.
-C Check to see if a portgroup exists. Program outputs a 1 if it exists, 0 otherwise.
-rRestore all virtual switches from the configuration file (Internal use only)
-hDisplays command help


esxcfg-vswitch examples:

Add a pnic (vmnic2) to a vswitch (vswitch1):
esxcfg-vswitch -L vmnic2 vswitch1 
Remove a pnic (vmnic3) from a vswitch (vswitch0):
esxcfg-vswitch -U vmnic3 vswitch0
Create a portgroup (VM Network3) on a vswitch (vswitch1):
esxcfg-vswitch -A "VM Network 3" vSwitch1
Assign a VLAN ID (3) to a portgroup (VM Network 3) on a vswitch (vswitch1):
esxcfg-vswitch -v 3 -p "VM Network 3" vSwitch1


Esxcfg-vswif
Description: Creates and updates service console network settings. This command is used if you cannot manage the ESX Server host through the VI Client because of network configuration issues.

Syntax: esxcfg-vswif [vswif] 


Options:

-aAdd vswif, requires IP parameters. Automatically enables interface.
-dDelete vswif.
-lList configured vswifs.
-eEnable this vswif interface.
-sDisable this vswif interface.
-pSet the portgroup name of the vswif.
-i or DHCPThe IP address for this vswif or specify DHCP to use DHCP for this address.
-n The IP netmask for this vswif.
-b The IP broadcast address for this vswif. (not required if netmask and ip are set)
-cCheck to see if a virtual NIC exists. Program outputs a 1 if the given vswif exists, 0 otherwise.
-DDisable all vswif interfaces. (WARNING: This may result in a loss of network connectivity to the Service Console)
-EEnable all vswif interfaces and bring them up.
-rRestore all vswifs from the configuration file. (Internal use only)
-hDisplays command help.

Note: You can set the Service Console default gateway by editing the /etc/sysconfig/network file or through the VI Client under Configuration, DNS & Routing.

esxcfg-vswif examples:

Change your Service Console (vswif0) IP and Subnet Mask:
esxcfg-vswif -i 172.20.20.5 -n 255.255.255.0 vswif0
Add a Service Console (vswif0):
esxcfg-vswif -a vswif0 -p "Service Console" -i 172.20.20.40 -n 255.255.255.0


Esxcfg-route
Description: Sets or retrieves the default VMkernel gateway route

Syntax: esxcfg-route [ [] ]
can be specified in 2 ways: as a single argument in / format or as a pair.
is either an IP address or 'default'

Options:

-aAdd route to the VMkernel, requires network address (or 'default') and gateway IP address.
-dDelete route from the VMkernel, requires network address (or 'default').
-lList configured routes for the Service Console.
-rRestore route setting to configured values on system start. (Internal use only)
-hDisplays command help

esxcfg-route examples:

Set the VMkernel default gateway route:
esxcfg-route 172.20.20.1

Add a route to the VMkernel:
esxcfg-route -a default 255.255.255.0 172.20.20.1 


Esxcfg-vmknic
Description: Creates and updates VMkernel TCP/IP settings for VMotion, NAS, and iSCSI

Syntax: esxcfg-vmknic [[portgroup]]

Options:


-aAdd a VMkernel NIC to the system, requires IP parameters and portgroup name.
-dDelete VMkernel NIC on given portgroup.
-eEnable the given NIC if disabled.
-DDisable the given NIC if enabled.
-lList VMkernel NICs.
-i The IP address for this VMkernel NIC. Setting an IP address requires that the -n option be given in same command.
-n The IP netmask for this VMkernel NIC. Setting the IP netmask requires that the -i option be given in the same command.
-rRestore VMkernel TCP/IP interfaces from configuration file. (Internal use only)
-hDisplays command help

esxcfg-vmknic examples: 

Add a VMkernel NIC and set the IP and subnet mask:
esxcfg-vmknic -a "VM Kernel" -i 172.20.20.19 -n 255.255.255.0