VMware ESX HA cluster issues

Similar Questions

• Minimum number of VMware ESX for a HA cluster

  Can someone please detail the minimum number of hosts vsphere required for a HA cluster?

  I'm planning an implementation of the VMware farm including a number of ESX hosts that will be split into two groups. The first group will include vsphere servers that are hosting virtual machines NOT required for DR via SRM. The second group will be VMware ESX and VMs protected by SRM.

  With respect to the SRM cluster, the number of virtual machines is minimal (5-6 virtual machines) and can run on a host unique vsphere. The thin HA I will include 2 vpshere hosts in this cluster. My question is therefore if 2 VMware ESX is OK for a HA cluster because I'm not sure what should be the minimum number?

  Any guidance is appreciated.

  Thank you

  > Can someone please detail the minimum number of hosts vsphere required for a HA cluster?

  2 guests.

  ---

  MCITP: SA + WILL, VMware vExpert, VCP 3/4

  http://blog.vadmin.ru

• Upgrade suggestions to replace euipment in a cluster VMware ESX 3.5

  Hello everyone. I have a Cluster VMware coming off lease 3 years and I'm looking looking for some suggestions to upgrade for the following rental equipment:

  • Cluster VMware ESX 3.5

  • 3 x blades HP Proliant BL460c G1 acting as hosts (2 x Xeon E5345, 12 GB of Ram

  • 1 x EMC Clariion CX3 - 10 c iSCSI SAN with 4 TB Raw (15 x 268,4 GB SAS)

  • Currently hosts 12 Windows Server 2 k 3 VM

  We our currently buying the blades since the acquisition of the fair market value was less than $200. I am currently exploring the following options to present to the owners of the company for more how it will go to the best situation of DR

  1. Stay with current equipment

  • Upgrade to vSphere 4.1

  • Updated all the VMS to Windows Server 2 K 8 R2

  • Acquisition by SAN and blades

  • Re - up the support of at least one year, return to upgrade next year

  • Increase the capacity of SAN

  • Search for Amazon EC2 or Windows Azure failure possible

  2. Stay with blades, buy new SAN with additional capacity

  • Upgrade to vSphere 4.1

  • Updated all the VMS to Windows Server 2 K 8 R2

  • Blades of redemption

  • For new SAN buy either:

  • Celerra NX4

  • HP Lefthand SAN

  • HP Storage Works Smart Array

  • Search for Amazon EC2 or Windows Azure failure possible

  3. Buy new knives and the new SAN, send old blades to a failover data center

  • Upgrade to vSphere 4.1

  • Updated all the VMS to Windows Server 2 K 8 R2

  • 3 new knives to HP to help purchase

  • Intel Xeon E55XX family

  • AMD Opteron 41XX family

  • For new SAN buy either:

  • Celerra NX4

  • HP Lefthand SAN

  • HP Storage Works Smart Array

  • Send the old blades off site with a cheap SAN (DRoBo maybe?)

  • Work on a failover system

  Sorry for the long details, I can clarify anything if necessary. Thank you!

  I would also tender hand to International Computer Inc.. to see what they can do for you... I asked a friend I have who work there, and cover the area PA... They are among partners VMware major/main companies in the northeastern part of the United States, in order to get a quality of their own work (regardless of what you get)... I would also tender hand to GreenPagesto see if they could work with you... I don't know if they cover PA, or Phi, but worth a phone/email to find out... Both companies are major players in the VMware partner space, so I don't think you could go wrong anyway... I worked with people of GreenPages on some projects, a couple of different companies and have always had good experiences with the people of their engineers and sales...

  Most quality partner rep will work with his engineers on the solutions until they present it to you. I know that GP for this, and I do not know what IC is also...

  VMware VCP4

  Review the allocation of points for "useful" or "right" answers.

• Close VMware ESX 3.5 & 4.0 hosts... What about the DRS?

  Hi experts,

  Here I begin this discussion to know the following:

  Facts:

  Farm with guests VMware ESX in u5 versions 3.5 and 4.0 U2

  DRS configured as entirely not automated, no rules.

  Issues related to the:

  What happens with DRS to deploy new virtual machines with Virtual Hardware 7?

  They will receive only on ESX 4.0u2 hosts?

  Could cause instability on the other virtual machines?

  I raise this because I have no experience in mixed environments, and I expect the DRS feature so smart that moves and power on virtual machines on hosts that are able to manage virtual machines with virtual hardware that is compatible with, I'm so innocent?

  Virtual machines with Virtual Hardware 4 can be moved throughout of these clusters 3.5 or 4.0, but what happens with VM with the newest virtual hardware?

  If they had moved in any case on a host ESX 3.5, what will be the behavior of this virtual machine?

  Last, but not least important, what do guys suggest to bypass this until I have all migrated hosts?
  (Migration of all hosts will take more than a month, support and SLA issues, so I need a workaround solution)

  Thanks in advance for your time and answers this!
  Kind regards
  RaMorn

  Hello

  1. what happens with the DRS to deploy new virtual machines with Virtual Hardware 7?

  2. they will receive only on ESX 4.0u2 hosts?

  3 could cause instability on the other virtual machines?

  1 VM' with HW v7 will be migrated only between vSphere 4.X nodes in a cluster

  2 VM with HW v7 will be only on vSphere 4.x nodes

  3 nope

  1. I raise this because I have no experience in mixed environments, and I expect the DRS feature so smart that moves and power on virtual machines on hosts that are able to manage virtual machines with virtual hardware that is compatible with, I'm so innocent?

  2. the virtual machines with Virtual Hardware 4 can be moved throughout these clusters 3.5 or 4.0, but what happens with VM with the newest virtual hardware?

  3. If they got anyway moved on a host ESX 3.5, what will be the behavior of this virtual machine?

  4. last, but not least important, what do guys suggest to bypass this until I have all migrated hosts?
  (Migration of all hosts will take more than a month, support and SLA issues, so I need a workaround solution)

  1. Yes, the DRS will be

  2. see comments of mu above

  3. nothing will change on the behavior of the virtual machine, only VMware tool will be updated

  4. all depends on how your is configured, how is use, VM how you would deploy during the month?

  See you soon

  Artur

  Visit my blog

  Please, do not forget the points of call of the "useful" or "correct" answers

• IPSec on VMWare ESX 5.1 communication problems

  Hello

  We have 2 computer systems.  You running us VMWare ESX 5.1 and the other is running Ubuntu 14.04.  We have problems for IPSec to work between the two systems.  We cannot find any documentation or known issues with IPsec on VMWare ESX 5.1, so we're going to reach out to the community.

  Here's what we did:

  1. we configured Ubuntu and VMWare systems to use IPv6, we can ping each other using IPv6.

  2. we configure IPSec on an Ubuntu operating system by following the instructions below:

  https://help.Ubuntu.com/community/IPSecHowTo

  3. we have followed the instructions below to configure IPsec on VMWare.

  http://KB.VMware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US & cmd = displayKC & externalId = 1021769

  Here's the problem:

  When 2 Ubuntu systems run IPsec, they are able to ping each other.  However, when allow us IPSec communications between VMWare and Ubuntu, the ping is suspended.

  Here is the result of the configuration of command esxcli on VMWare:

  UBUNTU. IPv6.ADDRESS-> Ubuntu IPv6 address

  VMWARE. IPv6.ADDRESS-> address IPv6 from VMWARE

  
  Name Source address Destination address State SPI Mode Encryption Algorithm, integrity algorithm to life

  --------           -------------------------------------  -------------------------------------  ------      -----     ---------     --------------------               -------------------           --------

  GoToDPSA UBUNTU. IPv6.ADDRESS VMWARE. Mature IPv6.ADDRESS infinity 0 256 transport 3des-cbc hmac-sha2-256 x

  VMWARE DPToGoSA. IPv6.ADDRESS UBUNTU. Mature IPv6.ADDRESS infinity 0 x 300 transport 3des-cbc hmac-sha2-256

  Name of the Source address Source Port Destination address Destination Port Protocol flow Action Mode SA

  --------          ----------------------------------------  -----------        ----------------------------------------  ----------------          --------       ----     ------     ---------      --------

  VMWARE DPToGoSP. IPv6.ADDRESS/64 0 UBUNTU. IPv6.ADDRESS/64 0 everything on transport ipsec DPToGoSA

  GoToDPSP UBUNTU. IPv6.ADDRESS/64 0 VMWARE. IPv6.ADDRESS/64 0 in ipsec transport GoToDPSA

  Here's what we found:

  After debugging the problem (using tcpdump), we found that the VMWare system sends the ESP packets, but never sends a package AH (required for IPSec authentication).  Even when the encryption protocol is null, the system of VMWare would always send ESP packets, but never once sent a package of AH.

  Here is the resulting execution trace: Ubuntu - ping-> VMWare:

  ...

  IP6 UBUNTU. IPv6.ADDRESS > VMWARE. IPv6.ADDRESS: AH(spi = 0 x 00000256, seq = 0 x 16): ICMP6, an echo request, seq 1, length 64

  IP6 VMWARE. IPv6.ADDRESS > UBUNTU. IPv6.ADDRESS: ESP(spi = 0 x 00000300, seq = 0 x 1), length 160

  IP6 UBUNTU. IPv6.ADDRESS > VMWARE. IPv6.ADDRESS: AH(spi = 0 x 00000256, seq = 0 x 17): ICMP6, an echo request, seq 2, length 64

  IP6 VMWARE. IPv6.ADDRESS > UBUNTU. IPv6.ADDRESS: ESP(spi = 0 x 00000300, seq = 0 x 2), length 160

  IP6 UBUNTU. IPv6.ADDRESS > VMWARE. IPv6.ADDRESS: AH(spi = 0 x 00000256, seq = 0 x 18): ICMP6, an echo request, seq 3, length 64

  IP6 VMWARE. IPv6.ADDRESS > UBUNTU. IPv6.ADDRESS: ESP(spi = 0 x 00000300, seq = 0 x 3), length 160

  Summary:

  There seems to be a problem with IPSec in VMWare ESX 5.1 on IPv6.

  We noticed that the downloads section of the site support provided patches for VMWare ESx 4.x and earlier, but lack of patches for VMWare ESx 5.x.

  Are there known issues in this area or available patches to fix this problem?  Your kind suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

  Sorry for the late reply, but here the analysis of what is happening and why you are experiencing a problem.

  The Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP) to IPsec protocol will encrypt a payload of the packet and can

  Optionally authenticate the packages as well. You do not include orders allowing you to set the

  Security Association (SA) and political security (PS), but the output in your post indicates that you

  you want to encrypt the payloads both authenticate packets in mode of transport between the hosts.

  I don't know why the Ubuntu IPsec HowTo examples using protocols AH and ESP to encrypt and

  authenticate the packets. In our view, it is best done in a single step with ESP, ESXi only

  offer the option of AH with IPsec. Of course, this requires configuring the ESXi server and your

  The host with a configuration of IPsec compatible Ubuntu (or any other operating system).

  To illustrate, suppose the ESXi server has the address 2001:db8:1 and the host of Ubuntu has the

  address 2001:db8:2. We will use cbc-3des for encryption of the useful and hmac-sha2-256 load for integrity

  authentication mode of transport - just like in your message.

  On the ESXi host, the commands to do this might look like this (of course, you need to generate your)

  own keys and not re-use those I did).

  # Add the outbound security association ESXi

  esxcli ipsec ip network his Add.

  -sa-source = 2001:db8:1.

  -sa-destination = 2001:db8:2.

  -sa-mode = transport.

  -sa-spi = 0 x 200.

  -encryption = 3des-cbc algorithm-

  -encryption key = 0x6dd50fa97e919365d393fd0d404c655f80651316e9418682.

  -the integrity algorithm hmac-sha2-256 =.

  -integrity key = 0x730047c680d9812535a741bbb3521a29322cca77464cf16092519c4165ca6958.

  -sa-name = sa_1to2

  # Add the ESXi inbound security association

  esxcli ipsec ip network his Add.

  -sa-source = 2001:db8:2.

  -sa-destination = 2001:db8:1.

  -sa-mode = transport.

  -sa-spi = 0 x 300.

  -encryption = 3des-cbc algorithm-

  -encryption key = 0x50988e55ca6a0d0440cf0c29f80d308df884616ec4b55552.

  -the integrity algorithm hmac-sha2-256 =.

  -integrity key = 0xf76caa5b4985a8a9d1c7cedbcf43f21b83401818e3b8d5e526a8c99ff4d4baa7.

  -sa-name = sa_2to1

  # Add the outbound security policy ESXi

  esxcli network ip ipsec Ms Add.

  -sp-source = 2001:db8:1 / 64.

  -source-port = 0.

  -sp-destination = 2001:db8:2 / 64.

  -destination-port = 0.

  -top-layer-protocol = any.

  -action = ipsec.

  -output = flow direction.

  sp-= transport mode.

  -sa-name = sa_1to2.

  -sp - name = sp_1to2

  # Add the ESXi incoming security policy

  esxcli network ip ipsec Ms Add.

  -sp-source = 2001:db8:2 / 64.

  -source-port = 0.

  -sp-destination = 2001:db8:1 / 64.

  -destination-port = 0.

  -top-layer-protocol = any.

  -action = ipsec.

  -direction of flow = in.

  sp-= transport mode.

  -sa-name = sa_2to1.

  -sp - name = sp_2to1

  # List the ESXi security associations

  esxcli network ip ipsec its list

  Name Source address Destination address State SPI Mode Encryption Algorithm, integrity algorithm to life

  -------  --------------  -------------------  ------  -----  ---------  --------------------  -------------------  --------

  sa_2to1 2001:db8:2 infinite mature 2001:db8:1 of hmac-sha2-256 0 x 300 transport 3des-cbc

  sa_1to2 2001:db8:1 infinite mature 2001:db8:2 of hmac-sha2-256 0 x 200 transport 3des-cbc

  # List the ESXi security policies

  List of the sp network ip ipsec esxcli

  Name of the Source address Source Port Destination address Destination Port Protocol flow Action Mode SA

  -------  --------------  -----------  -------------------  ----------------  --------  ----  ------  ---------  -------

  sp_1to2 2001:db8:1 / 64 0 2001:db8:2 / 64 0 everything on ipsec transport sa_1to2

  sp_2to1 2001:db8:2 / 64 0 2001:db8:1 / 64 0 in ipsec transport sa_2to1

  On your Ubuntu host, you need a compatible IPsec configuration. In general, on linux systems

  use the command setkey BSD-door, this is done by changing the system-wide

  in/etc/ipsec configuration file - tools.conf.

  #! / usr/sbin/setkey - f

  flush;

  spdflush;

  #

  # SAs ESP using 192 bit long keys (168 + 24 parity)

  # generated using: dd if account = / dev/random = 24 bs = 1 | xxd - ps

  # ESXi supports 3des-cbc, aes128-cbc, or null

  #

  # AH SAs using 256 bit long keys

  # generated using: dd if account = / dev/random = 32 = 1 bs | xxd - ps

  # ESXi supports hmac-sha1 or hmac-sha2-256

  #

  Add 2001:db8:1 2001:db8:2 esp 0x200

  E 3des-cbc 0x6dd50fa97e919365d393fd0d404c655f80651316e9418682

  -A hmac-sha256 0x730047c680d9812535a741bbb3521a29322cca77464cf16092519c4165ca6958;

  Add 2001:db8:2 2001:db8:1 esp 0 x 300

  E 3des-cbc 0x50988e55ca6a0d0440cf0c29f80d308df884616ec4b55552

  -A hmac-sha256 0xf76caa5b4985a8a9d1c7cedbcf43f21b83401818e3b8d5e526a8c99ff4d4baa7;

  # Security policies

  spdadd 2001:db8:1 2001:db8:2 all Pei in ipsec

  ESP/transport / / need;

  spdadd 2001:db8:2 2001:db8:1 all Pei on ipsec

  ESP/transport / / need;

  I have no problem of encryption and authentication of IPv6 traffic between a server ESXi 5.1

  and a host of 14.10 Ubuntu using this configuration.

• VMWARE ESX 4.1 Intalalion failed while loading additional driver

  I try to install esx 4.1 and while he reached to the point where it asks me to load additional drivers as NIC I put the CD of NIC driver, but it does not appear by clicking on 'Add' rather than it gives message "the CD provided is not a valid VMWARE ESX driver CD". I went to the command mode issued the command ls-l/dev/cdrom, but he said no directory, please help me I am very new to VMware.

  Welcome to the forum.

  my NIC realtek 8111D and TP-link TF-3200, I downloaded the drivers linux for them.

  ESX/ESXi is not Linux and drivers Linux won't work on it.

  You must have VMware driver, otherwise the unit does nothing.

  I know Realtek card does not work on ESX/ESXi...

  André

• VMware ESX 3.5 and MSCS

  Hi all

  I noticed the MSCS in the release notes for ESX 3.5 indicating that VMware is not supported in this version

  http://www.vmware.com/support/vi3/doc/vi3_esx35_vc25_rel_notes.html (about halfway)

  Is there an official answer as to why this is, it is not supported?  I'm running on 3.0 production systems in this scenario, and I fear that an upgrade will cause problems

  Any help would be apprecated

  3.5 MCSC 1 update is supported

  Support for Microsoft Cluster Service (MSCS)

  VMware ESX Server 3.5 Update 1 supports the Microsoft Cluster Service.

  Support is similar to ESX Server 3.0.1 with the following additions:

  -The customers of Windows 2003 64-bit and 32-bit are supported with MSCS.

  -Start-up of the SAN for virtual machines by using MSCS is now supported.

  -The majority node set of clusters with application-level replication (for

  for example, Exchange 2007 Cluster Continuous Replication (CCR) is now

  supported.

• VMware ESX 3.5 and disabling carrots

  Hi all

  We have a Cluster ESX from VMware ESX 3.5 U3 that was built for a specific product that has a licensing model that doesn't fit well with the virtual server running model.

  The basis of this cluster is 3 x BL465c G1 Dual Core servers HP with 16 GB of memory each. We're going to run out of memory, and I can't add memory without add because of the architecture of AMD processors.

  Adding more CPU will have a big impact on licensing costs - once again not the licenses of VMware.

  I want to do is add a second processor DC and then use BIOS to disable half of the cores in each processor.  This will allow me to add an extra 16 GB memory per server and stay within the limits of the license.

  My question - has anyone with disabilities hearts on a host ESX from VMware, specifically after ESX has been installed. All that needs to be done?

  I tested the disabling function of carrots on a Windows Server and who did replace the drivers, I was wondering if VMware ESX should similar updates / management.

  Rob of TIA.

  You'll be fine, apart from the fact that, by adding the Jepp second you will need an additional CPU, per ESX host licensing doesn't mind.

  If you have found this device or any other answer useful please consider useful or correct buttons using attribute points

  Tom Howarth

  VMware communities user moderator

  Blog: www.planetvm.net

• VMware ESX server CPU use test alarm

  Hi all

  For a new client, I need to show the alarm and ticket slot functionlity vmware ESX server logging settings

  • Use of the CPU of a server ESX VMW
  • Use of memory for the server ESX VMW

  While I reduced the threshold value of VMW ESX Server CPU use as beloow format

  WARNING - 5% and STDev.warning - 0

  I made this two days before configuration, but still no alarm generated for this rule.

  Help the creation of a test of the abveo metric ESX alarm

  Hi - I ended up having to do such things in the past as well. I just built a virtual machine added lots of processors and memory, then for the CPU, I used the script CPUBusy.vbs from VMware (Google search which) and down it load times so that he began to max real physical processors... For memory, I just opened a massive text file in Wordpad and scroll up and down it. This gave me the circumstances to test the alarms, just don't do as a busy time or use some dev ESX servers... Danny Bravo

• Configuration of VMware ESX 5.1/5.5 pass through for PowerEdge 2970

  Hello

  I tried to configure VMware ESX 5.1/5.5 pass through for a 8 GB Qlogic FC HBA on PowerEdge 2970 server.

  Even after activation of the virtual technology in the BIOS, the PCI device is not listed in "Advanced settings" to configure pass-through. Attached screenshot shows the current setting of the processor.

  Y at - it all the additional steps required to configure it.

  Concerning

  E.

  Hello Sara

  You're talking Direct path IO or single root i/o virtualization? If so, none of these features are supported on the 2970 system.

  http://www.VMware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php

  I don't think that or the other of these characteristics were available until our 11 generation systems.

  Thank you

• Cisco Secure ACS 4.2 on VMware ESX 4.0.

  We must move from ESX 3.5 to ESX 4.0 a virtual machine running Cisco Secure ACS for Windows version 4.2.

  This solution is compatible and supported by Cisco?

  Thank you.

  Andrea

  ACS Windows 4.2 is not supported by Cisco, when installed on VMWare ESX 4.0 in accordance with the following documentation:

  http://Cisco.com/en/us/docs/net_mgmt/cisco_secure_access_control_server_for_windows/4.2/device/guide/sdt42.html#wp37898

  Only ACS 5.1 is supported on ESX 4.0:

  http://www.Cisco.com/en/us/partner/docs/net_mgmt/cisco_secure_access_control_system/5.1/installation/guide/csacs_vmware.html

• What is the best for VMware esx 4.0

  If I understand correctly, 4.2.1 for windows only supports VMware esx 3.0? IF ACS 5.0 supports VMware esx 4.0? Or is it a solution Manually applciation compete with hardware?

  Pls help?

  5.1 of the ACS is FCS and running on ESX 4.0

  See http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/docs/net_mgmt/cisco_secure_access_control_system/5.1/installation/guide/csacs_vmware.html

• PE2950, virtualization and VMware ESX 3.5.2 technology bios setting

  I PE2950 with VMware ESX server 3.5.2 is installed.

  The activation of the "Virtualization Technology" BIOS setting (under information CPU) will cause problems with the operating system? (it was disabled when installing ESX on it – default setting)

  
  

• How do you know what was the latest patch installed on VMware ESX Server 3i, 3.5.0 207095

  Hello guys,.

  I've been running an old server that was installed in a test system on workstation DELL - Optiplex GX620 (32 bit).

  During installation, I had to confirgure the file: /usr/lib/vmware/installer/Core/TargetFilter.py to change the following line:

  "interface returned. GetInterfaceType() == ScsiInterface.SCSI_IFACE_TYPE_IDE' as follows:

  "interface returned. GetInterfaceType() == ScsiInterface.SCSI_IFACE_TYPE_ISCSI' this is it worked and I used it for 3 years now. However, right now, I was hoping to be updated with the latest patches and updates and I do not know if I just ESX or ESXi, or what was my last update, and what it takes then.

  I used this command to get the following result:

  # vmware - v

  VMware ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-207095

  ... I think that the 3i says I have an ESXi 3.5.0 but build 207095 the buid even as ESXi 3.5.0 patch 5?

  If this is not the case, how should I do to update? What is the KB # I should download?

  I can manage using vSphere Client 5.5 and I can't SSH using PuTTY.

  Note: When I run... "# esxupdate - bundle = ESXe350-201302401-I - SG.zip updated ' of in the folder where his property in the data store, nothing happens... just a new line scrolls.

  Also...

  # esxupdate query

  <? XML version = "1.0"? >

  <>request-response

  < installed packages >

  < package ID = "ESX-207095" >

  firmware < name > < / name >

  < version > 3.5.0 < / version >

  < rel > 207095 < / rel >

  < / packages >

  < package ID = "ESX-CLIENT-204907" >

  < name > viclient < / name >

  < version > 2.5.0 < / version >

  < rel > 204907 < / rel >

  < / packages >

  < package ID = "ESX-TOOLS-207095" >

  < name > tools < / name >

  < version > 3.5.0 < / version >

  < rel > 207095 < / rel >

  < / packages >

  < / packages installed >

  < / request-response >

  # /vmfs/volumes/525300ce-5ff6ad3d-e2ed-0014222aedb7/patches/ESXe350-201302401-O-SG

  ... is there any update for this system? I therefore believe that the patch software etc was not around when I was installing this server in 2010.

  Based on KB http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1014508 you run ESX 3.5 Update 5.

• VMWare ESX Server training

  Hello experts,
  I'm new to vitrualization.
  I installed vmware workastation v 7.0 and I also have VMWare ESX Server training Trainsignal dvd for training so here are my questions:

  Can I install VMware vSphere Hypervisor 3.5 on my VMWare Workstation 7.0 for training v?

  Is - this VMWare vSphere Hypervisor 3.5 product different from VMWare ESX Server 3.5?

  I'm you ask all these questions because I want to be sure I can complete a training with VMWare vSphere Hypervisor 3.5 suite drive of my Trainsignal VMWare ESX Server 3 and because I am not allowed to download the evaluation version on VMWare ESX Server 3 and because the VMWare customer service could not answer my simple question and quoted me to the community by them to get advice.

  Thanks in advance for your help and advice.

  Hi nasolsi,

  Can I install VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5 straight on my VMWare Workstation 7 training without affecting my HDD physical whole?

  Yes, it has nothing to do with your actual score and highlights form the part of space, he took from your partition to create the disk of the virtual machine. So basically it will eat the space in the physical partition but does nothing else like the formatting of the entire disk.
  

  
  

  and the performance on my PC?

  No, this will not affect your PC's performance as the workstation will run the pages of RAM and cycles on your physical PC hardware microprocessor.

  
  

  If permitted increase RAM by a value so that you do not encounter CMTF or any other problem. 2048MB is the minimum memory required to run ESXi.