Install VMWare ESXi 4.0 on Dell Precision WS 390

Today I just found another Desktop with faster CPU and more memory - Dell Precision WorkStation 390 at work. Since the old IBM NetCenter M50 (8189KJU) is too slow to have any OS running on VMWare ESXi 3.5 Server.

First I tried a few times to install version 3.5, the installation of VMWare ESXi 3.5 was fine. But during Windows XP installation on Virtual Machine, I got stuck when I try to load Windows XP driver for the 2801GR/GH(ICH7 Family) Serial ATA Storage Controller RAID Card. I managed to find the driver and load the driver during Windows XP installation, but the setup always tells me it couldn't find the available space to install. I also tried different combination of RAID configuration and different Widnows XP drivers. But all have same results, I don't know why.


By the end, I did some research on the Internet, then I found this Dell machine is a 64-bit machine. Silly me! But the lucky thing is that I download the latest VMWare ESXi 4.0 which is 64-bit also a few days ago, so I can use it right away. The installation is went through quite smoothly without any problem, and also the installation of Windows XP Professional 32bit. I even didn't load any extra drivers during the installation.

So here is my test configuration:

Dell Precision WorkStation 390

CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 6700 @ 2.66GHz
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage Adapters: 2801GR/GH(ICH7 Family) Serial ATA Storage Controller RAID
Storage: 1 PC 80GB WDC, 2 PCs 250GB WDC with RAID1
Network Adapter: Precision 390 (100MB)

Software:
VMWare ESXi 4.0.0, 164009

Virtual Machine:
Windows XP Professional 32-Bit
Ubuntu Desktop 9.04

Install WinXP Virtual Machine on VMWare ESXi 3.5

Today I just tried to create a virtual machine and install Windows XP Professional with SP3 on a VMWare ESXi 3.5 Server. I though it will be easy since I already tried Windows 2003 Server on IBM eServer XSeries 345 with VMWare ESX Server 3.5 before. The only difference is this time I am installing the VMWare ESXi Server 3.5 on an IDE Hard Disk Drive, not SCSI. That's no a problem for me, since I also did the installation on IDE HDD in Feb. 2009, please see my post Install VMWare ESXi 3.5 to an IDE drive. So the installation for the ESXi Server was quite smooth. But when I try to install Windows XP Professional after I created new virtual machine. The installation was stopped and give the following error message.

"Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer."





After I did some homework via the Internet, finally I found this is because the necessary hard disk controller drivers have not been installed.

Within ESX and ESXi there are two types of SCSI controller types available. These are ‘BusLogic’ or ‘LSI Logic’.

When installing Windows XP the ESX VM will assign the ‘BusLogic’ SCSI controller type as the default. The Windows XP installation media doesn’t contain the drivers for either of these controllers so unless they are provided via floppy disk at the start of the installation process then XP will not know about any of the disks attached to the controller (which it doesn’t have drivers for).

Using an LSI Logic SCSI controller type has been shown to provide faster performance over that of a BusLogic controller type.

So here is the solutions:

1. Using the VMWare SCSI Disk Driver which provided by VMWare. You can download flp image from here:

http://www.vmware.com/download/server/drivers_tools.html

And press F6 quickly once you boot up the Windows XP professional setup CD/image, and select the driver from floppy image.

2. Or you can use the default driver which provided by Microsoft. But you also need to press F6 to load special driver.

After that you should be able to install Windows XP as usual.

Good Luck!

VNC Server on Nokia N810

I got an Nokia N810 Internet Tablet a few days ago. And as most of you should know the OS of N810 is based on Linux Platform - Maemo, with a touch screen. So that means you can install a lot of Linux apps on this Internet tablet.

Here is one interesting application that you might also like:

VNC Server for Nokia N810!



I found this application - x11vnc from google. Basically it's not only for N810, allows one to view remotely and interact with real X displays (i.e. a display corresponding to a physical monitor, keyboard, and mouse) with any VNC viewer. In this way it plays the role for Unix/X11 that WinVNC plays for Windows. X11vnc allow you to use another computer to control your Internet Tablet. Keyboard and mouse (or stylus) input, and screen output, are delivered over a network connection.

You can find more details from http://www.karlrunge.com/x11vnc/.

Here is the instruction how to install x11vnc on N810:

1. Download the x11vnc package. For OS2008 (N800 and N810) the package is x11vnc_0.9.3-1_armel.deb . Save the file to memory card.


2. Then using Application Installer in Control panel install the package by choosing Application -> install from file from the menu. Select the file which you downloaded from the right path.


3. Once the installation is done. Then you can start to using it. You can find x11vnc from Menu -> Extras . By the way, There is no dialog and selecting the menu item again will shut down the VNC server. (I know this isn't ideal).


4. To connect to your Internet Tablet you will need to know its IP address. To find this open the Connection manager from Settings and select Internet connection -> IP address from the menu.


5. Now you can connect N810 Internet Table from your PC via any VNC viewer. By default, it doesn't request any password to remote access in.

Here is the result that you can see it from your PC:



Problems:

1. Although x11nvc opens the default network connection automatically, it may be necessary to start a network client application, e.g. the browser, to gain a full network connection. Once you have a connection close the browser and everything should be fine.


2. Here is another big problem, users compliant that The 810 seems to be married to the built-in keyboard, and there doesn't seem to be a way to emulate that keyboard on a remote machine.
   
   And here is the solution which I found from the forum for that:
   
   Until you use x11vnc -xkb which translates the computer keyboard normally (digit keys).
   
   Here is web page that shows many options how to use X11vnx:
   http://www.karlrunge.com/x11vnc/x11vnc_opts.html
   
   Here is a sample shell script:
   
   #!/bin/sh
   x11vnc -http -xkb -ultrafilexfer -forever -passwd [mypassword]
   
   which allows browser access on default port 5800 (beside VNC viewer port 5900), extended keyboard (pressing numbers on the computer keyboard result in numbers rather than letters), file transfer enabled when using UltraVNC (a similar option exists for TightVNC), remains in memory (x11vnc does not unload when you terminate the session) and a password.
   
   This is just an example.
   
   The only keys for which have no translation are the buttons on the edge on the n810 (zoom, full screen keys).

Have Fun!

Prototype Nokia Phone Recharges without wires

Today I just saw an interesting news, it says Nokia has taken another baby step in that direction with the invention of a cell phone that recharges itself using a unique system: It harvests ambient radio waves from the air, and turns that energy into usable power. Ultimately, this technology aims to convert electromagnetic waves into an electrical signal, somewhat similar to RFID (Radio-frequency identification).

Is that cool!

Wireless Power! Wireless Charging!


Here is the details for that article:
http://ca.tech.yahoo.com/blogs/the_working_guy/rss/article/3638



Mind you, harvesting ambient electromagnetic energy is never going to enough electricity to power your whole house or office, but it just might be enough to keep a cell phone alive and kicking. Currently, the boffins at Nokia have already developed prototype devices that are able to harvest up to 5 milliwatts, although this amount isn't enough to juice up a handset just yet with Nokia's vision of producing 50 milliwatts being quite a ways off in the future. Nokia says it hopes to commercialize the technology in 3 to 5 years.

Let's see!

How to install Xerox Network Printer on Ubuntu

This is the first time that I am trying to install a Xerox WorkCentre Pro C2636 on Ubuntu machine. Since the WorkCentre Pro C2636 is an network printer. And Ubuntu doesn't have default printer driver for this printer. So I googled and found there isn't a dedicated driver for C2636. Finally I found the another driver on http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting.


And here is the work around for C2636 on Ubuntu:

1. Go to the http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting


2. Select Printers -> Xerox -> WorkCentre C2424, then press Show.


3. I tried the PPD file which from cljet5 by click direct download PDD, and it works great for me.


4. After you download the PPD file, select System -> Administration -> Printing.


5. Click New Printer, and Select AppSocket/HP JetDirect in Devices window.


6. Type the IP address into Host field. Then click Forward button.


7. Wait for next screen to pop-up, then select Provide PPD file, choose the location of the PPD file which you downloaded above and click Forward.


8. Give the Short Name in next window, and type the IP address for that printer in Location field. Then click Apply.


9. Now everything is set, you can double click the printer icon that you just created. And print a test page.

Good Luck!