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Creating Linux Tools VM

Overview

Deploy this VM on your assigned cluster (if not already deployed).

Caution

Only deploy the VM once with your Initials in the VM name, it does not need to be cleaned up as part of any lab completion.

Deploying Linux Tools VM

  1. In Prism Central > select Menu > Compute and Storage > VMs, and click Create VM

  2. Fill out the following fields:

    • Name - Initials-Linux-ToolsVM
    • Description - (Optional) Description for your VM.
    • Number of VMs - 1
    • CPU(s) - 4
    • Number of Cores per CPU - 1
    • Memory - 4 GiB
  3. Click Next
  4. Under Disks select Attach Disk
    • Type - DISK
    • Operation - Clone from Image
    • Image - Linux_ToolsVM.qcow2
    • Capacity - leave at default size
    • Bus Type - leave at default SCSI Setting
  5. Click Save
  6. Under Networks select Attach to Subnet
    • VLAN Name - Primary
    • Network Connection State - Connected
    • Assignment Type - Assign with DHCP
  7. Click Save
  8. Click Next at the bottom
  9. In Management section

    • Categories - leave blank
    • Timezone - leave at default UTC
    • Guest Customization -

      • Script Type - Cloud-init (Linux)
      • Configuration Method - Custom Script

      Do you need to create a SSH key pair?

      You can use any online ssh key generator if you are using Windows. Execute the following commands in you are in a Linux / Mac environment to generate a private key.

      ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 2048 -C "Created for Linux Tools VM"
      
      # follow prompts 
      # do not specify passphrase
      # once completed run the following command
      
      cat id_rsa.pub
      
      # copy the contents of the id_rsa.pub file to your cloudinit yaml file
      

      • Paste the following script in the script window
      #cloud-config
      
      # Set the hostname
      hostname: myhost
      
      # Create a new user
      users:
      - default
      - name: nutanix
          groups: users
          ssh_authorized_keys:
          # Paste the generated public key here
          - ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAADAQABAAABAQD...... 
          # You can also use the 1N or 6N format (openssl passwd -1 "yourplaintextpassword")
          passwd: $1$CW55TPkL$gzOS35bI6fdxtwntlE3CN/                             
      
      # Enable password authentication for root
      ssh_pwauth: True
      
      # Run additional commands
      runcmd:
      - 'sleep 10' # sleeping for the network to be UP
      - 'echo "nutanix ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL" >> /etc/sudoers'
      
      # Run package upgrade
      package_upgrade: true
      
      # Install the following packages - add extra that you would need
      packages:
      - git
      - bind-utils
      - nmap
      - curl
      - wget 
      - vim
      
  10. Click on Next

  11. Click Create VM at the bottom
  12. Go back to Prism Central > Menu > Compute and Storage > VMs
  13. Select your Initials-Linux-ToolsVM
  14. Under Actions drop-down menu, choose Power On

    Note

    It may take up to 10 minutes for the VM to be ready.

    You can watch the console of the VM from Prism Central to make sure all the clouinit script has finished running.

  15. Login to the VM via SSH or Console session, using the following command:

    ssh -i <your_private_key> -l nutanix <IP of LinuxToolsVM>
    
    Example command
    ssh -i id_rsa -l nutanix 10.54.63.95