CHAPTER 02

Getting Started

8 sections · 11 min read · SimpleVM 10.1

SimpleVM installs as a ready-to-use virtualization environment, so the work after installation is mainly confirming that the host is reachable and healthy and then proving the environment with a first virtual machine — not assembling a virtualization stack.

This chapter walks through that first-use sequence: read the management URL from the host console, reach the web console from a browser, sign in, review the host overview, and create and start a first virtual machine. Each task is covered in more depth in a later chapter; here the focus is reaching a working virtual machine quickly and in the right order.

2.1 First-Time Setup Overview

After SimpleVM is installed and the host restarts, it displays a local host console on the server’s own screen. This console is the starting point for first-time setup because it shows the management URL — the web address you use to reach SimpleVM from another computer on the same network.

You do not manage the host from this console screen for day-to-day work. You use it once to read the management URL (and to sign in locally if ever needed). All routine administration happens in the web console from a browser. The console confirms the product and build — Thinware SimpleVM, built on Rocky Linux — and lists one or more management URLs in the form https://<host>:9090.

First-time setup is complete when you have confirmed each of the following:

• The SimpleVM host has finished booting and shows the host console.
• The management URL is visible on the console.
• The web console opens from a browser on another computer.
• You can sign in with an administrative account.
• The host overview reports the expected CPU, memory, storage, and network resources.
• Installation media for a guest operating system is available, or can be uploaded.
• A first virtual machine can be created and started.

The rest of this chapter follows this checklist in order.

2.2 SimpleVM Deployment Workflow

A new deployment is easiest to get right when you approach it in three stages, confirming each before moving to the next.

1. Access. Confirm the host is online and that you can reach the web console.
2. Validation. Confirm the host reports the expected resources, storage, and networking, and that a first virtual machine can be created, started, reached through its console, and connected to the network.
3. Operation. Begin running the workloads the host was deployed for.

This staged approach keeps you from placing production workloads on a host before the basics are proven.

The end-to-end workflow most new deployments follow is:

1. Install SimpleVM on the physical host. See Chapter 4, Installing SimpleVM.
2. Read the management URL from the host console.
3. Open the SimpleVM management interface from a browser.
4. Sign in with an administrative account.
5. Review the host overview.
6. Confirm storage and network availability.
7. Upload or select installation media.
8. Create a virtual machine.
9. Start the virtual machine and open its console.
10. Install the guest operating system and confirm network connectivity.
11. Review the recommended first tasks before running production workloads.

This chapter covers steps 2 through 11 at the level needed to reach a working virtual machine. Detailed planning, storage, networking, security, maintenance, and troubleshooting guidance appears in later chapters.

2.3 Accessing SimpleVM After Installation

Overview

After the host finishes booting, you reach SimpleVM from a web browser using the management URL shown on the host console. The web console is the primary interface for all routine administration.

Before you begin

• A workstation on the same network as the SimpleVM host, with a supported web browser.
• The management URL from the host console — for example, https://tw-rnd1.thinware.lab:9090. The console may list more than one URL when the host has more than one network address; use the address on the network you manage the host from. See Section 2.1, First-Time Setup Overview.
• Network connectivity between your workstation and the host on port 9090.

Procedure

1. On the host console, note the management URL shown under Management Console.
2. On your workstation, open a web browser.
3. Enter the management URL, including the https:// prefix and the port:

https://<host>:9090

1. If the browser shows a certificate warning, confirm that the address matches the host you intend to reach, then continue.

Verification

The SimpleVM sign-in page loads in the browser, and the address bar shows the host address with port 9090.

Troubleshooting

If the page does not load, confirm the host is powered on and showing the console, confirm you typed https:// and:9090, confirm the workstation can reach the host on the network, and try the alternate URL if the console lists more than one. Access problems are covered in detail in Chapter 6, Accessing the SimpleVM Management Interface (see Section 6.8, Troubleshooting Access Issues).

2.4 Signing In to the Web Console

Overview

Sign in with an administrative account to open the web console and begin managing the host.

Procedure

1. On the sign-in page, enter the user name and password for an administrative account created during installation. The default administrator account name is svmadmin, and the root account is disabled by default. Your environment may use a different administrator name provided by whoever installed the host.
2. Select Log in.

The web console opens to the host Overview page. The top of every page shows the signed-in user and host (for example, svmadmin@tw-rnd1.thinware.lab), and the top-right corner provides Administrative access, Help, and Session. The left navigation lists the host management areas under System (Overview, Virtual machines, Storage, Networking, Logs, Services, Accounts) and administrative tools under Tools (File browser, Software updates, SELinux, Diagnostic reports, Kernel dump, Terminal).

Verification

The host Overview page loads and shows the signed-in administrative user at the top of the page.

Troubleshooting

If sign-in fails, confirm the user name and password, confirm you are using the correct management URL, and confirm the host is powered on and reachable. Most first-time sign-in problems come from an incorrect URL, a network reachability issue, or incorrect credentials. For more detail, see Chapter 6, Accessing the SimpleVM Management Interface. Account and access management is covered in Chapter 17, User Access and Administrative Tasks.

2.5 Understanding the Initial Host View

Overview

After signing in, review the host Overview page before creating virtual machines. It is the fastest way to confirm the host is online, healthy, and reporting the resources you expect.

The Overview page summarizes the host in four panels:

• Health — overall update status (for example, “System is up to date”) and the last successful login, with a link to view login history.
• Usage — current CPU and memory use (for example, 7% of 64 CPUs, and 35 of 62 GiB of memory), with a link to view metrics and history.
• System information — the server model (for example, Dell PowerEdge T430), asset tag, machine ID, and how long the host has been running, with a link to hardware details.
• Configuration — the hostname, system time, domain membership, performance profile, cryptographic policy, and SSH key fingerprints.

On a SimpleVM host, the performance profile is set to virtual-host, the profile tuned for running virtual machines.

Before creating production virtual machines, confirm the host reports the expected CPU count, memory, and model, and that the Health panel does not show problems. You do not need to understand every value on this page yet — only that the host looks healthy and has the resources you planned for. The dashboard and each panel are covered in detail in Chapter 7, Understanding the Dashboard and Host Overview.

2.6 Creating and Starting Your First Virtual Machine

Overview

With the host verified, create a first virtual machine. Treat this first VM as a validation VM — its purpose is to confirm that VM creation, console access, installation media, storage, and networking all work before you build production workloads.

Before you begin

• Installation media (an ISO image) for the guest operating system, available in the host’s ISO storage pool. SimpleVM provides an ISO storage pool named isos (at /data/isos) by default. Uploading and managing installation media is covered in Chapter 12, Managing Storage Pools (see Section 12.4, Uploading Installation Media).
• Available storage for the virtual disk. SimpleVM provides a default VM image storage pool named default (at /data/images). See Chapter 12, Managing Storage Pools.
• Available CPU and memory on the host. Confirm this on the Overview page (see Section 2.5, Understanding the Initial Host View).
• A virtual network for connectivity. SimpleVM provides a default NAT network named default. See Chapter 14, Managing Virtual Networks (see Section 14.2, Default NAT Network).
• An administrative session (see Section 2.4, Signing In to the Web Console).

Procedure

1. In the left navigation, select Virtual machines. The page lists existing virtual machines and shows summary cards for the available Storage pools and Networks.
2. Select Create VM.
3. Give the virtual machine a name, then select the installation media (the ISO image you prepared).
4. Set the CPU and memory for the virtual machine.
5. Configure the virtual disk (size and storage pool).
6. Select the virtual network the VM should connect to, such as the default NAT network.
7. Finish creating the virtual machine. The new VM appears in the Virtual machines list with a state of Shut off.
8. On the new VM’s row, select Run to start it. The state changes to Running.
9. Open the VM and select its Console to complete guest operating system installation, just as you would on a physical server. The console provides a Graphical and Serial view and a Launch viewer option.

Verification

The virtual machine appears in the Virtual machines list with the name you gave it, its state shows Running after you start it, and the guest operating system installer loads in the console.

Revert this change

To remove the validation VM, shut it down from its row (Shut down), open its row menu (⋮), and select Delete. Deleting a virtual machine is covered in Chapter 8, Creating and Managing Virtual Machines (see Section 8.11, Deleting VMs). Deleting a VM can also remove its virtual disk; confirm what will be deleted before you confirm.

Troubleshooting

If Create VM is unavailable, confirm your session has administrative access (see Section 2.4, Signing In to the Web Console). If the VM will not start, confirm the host has free CPU and memory and that the installation media is reachable. If the installer cannot be reached, confirm the virtual network and the VM console. VM creation and boot issues are covered in Chapter 25, Troubleshooting (see Section 25.4, VM Creation and Boot Issues).

2.7 Recommended First Tasks

After the first virtual machine is running, take a few minutes to confirm the basic lifecycle works. Catching problems now — before you build more virtual machines or move production workloads onto the host — is far easier than diagnosing them later.

• Confirm the virtual machine starts and reaches its console.
• Complete the guest operating system installation.
• Confirm the virtual machine has network connectivity.
• Apply guest operating system updates.
• Shut the virtual machine down and start it again to confirm a clean stop and restart.
• Review host resource usage on the Overview page while the VM runs (see Section 2.5, Understanding the Initial Host View).
• Record the virtual machine’s name, purpose, assigned CPU and memory, network, and storage location.

For production hosts, review the areas that protect, secure, and maintain workloads before you treat them as complete:

• Backup planning. Snapshots and migration are not backups. Plan a separate backup strategy for important virtual machines. See Chapter 20, Backup and Recovery.
• Firewall and security. Review firewall zones and allowed services. See Chapter 16, Firewall and Security Settings.
• User access. Review administrative access and accounts. See Chapter 17, User Access and Administrative Tasks.
• Software updates. Review and plan updates and reboots. See Chapter 18, Software Updates.
• Monitoring. Review host and VM monitoring. See Chapter 23, Monitoring Your SimpleVM Host.

Reviewing these areas does not mean every production setting must be finalized before the first virtual machine is created. It means production workloads should not be considered complete until their protection, access, maintenance, and monitoring have been reviewed.

2.8 Quick-Start Path for New Users

For the shortest route from installation to a working virtual machine, use the quick-start path below. It does not replace the planning chapters in Part II, but it is the fastest reliable first-use sequence.

1. Install SimpleVM. See Chapter 4, Installing SimpleVM.
2. Read the management URL from the host console.
3. Open the management URL in a web browser.
4. Sign in with an administrative account.
5. Review the host Overview page.
6. Open Virtual machines.
7. Upload or select installation media.
8. Select Create VM and complete the create dialog.
9. Select Run to start the virtual machine.
10. Open the VM Console.
11. Install the guest operating system.
12. Confirm the virtual machine’s network connectivity.
13. Review the recommended first tasks (see Section 2.7, Recommended First Tasks).

After completing the quick-start path, continue to Chapter 3, System Requirements and Planning, for production planning, or go to Chapter 6, Accessing the SimpleVM Management Interface, for a deeper walkthrough of web console access and navigation.