= ESXi 5.1 Post Install =

**Summary**: This is a list of steps you should perform after installing or upgrading an host to ESXi 5.1. \\
**Date**: Around 203 \\
**Refactor**: 21 February 2025: Checked links and formatting. \\
{{tag>vmware}}


== Configure Syslog ==

See [[syslogesxi]] for configuring syslog.

== Configure the Guest Clipboard ==

Add these two lines to /etc/vmware/config file:
<code>
isolation.tools.copy.disable="FALSE"
isolation.tools.paste.disable="FALSE"
</code>

== RDM Settings ==

If the host will have VMs that participate in MSCS set the perenially reserved option explained in [[rdmsettings]].

== ALUA and RoundRobin ==

To make sure the host uses optimized paths make sure ALUA is enabled on the host and that all MPP policies are set to round robin. This is explained in [[alua]].

== NTP Settings ==

Make sure to set the NTP settings in Configuration -> Time Configuration:
* Set the NTP server
* Set the Startup policy to start and stop with the host

== Increase vSwitch Port Numbers ==

If you have big hosts who can handle a lot of guests make sure to change the number of ports on the vSwitches to a higher number (for example 248). This is a setting for which ESXi will have to reboot, so:
* Go to Configuration -> Networking
* Select vSwitch0 and click on properties
* Edit the vSwitch and set the number of ports to 248
* Save the settings and reboot the host

== Scratch Partition ==
If your host is running from usb storage you also need a scratch partition for logging purposes, see [[esxiscratch|here]].

== Increase VMFS Heap Size ==
If the host will run a large number of VMs increase the size of the VMFS Heap size so the host can handle more then the default of 8 TB on open VMDK disks:

* Go to the Configuration tab -> Advanced Settings.
* Click VMFS3.
* Update the field in VMFS3.MaxHeapSizeMB from 80 to 256 MB
* Reboot the host for the changes to take affect.

The new setting will allow for 25 TB on open VMDK files.