REST API for Pokemon

A new global trend has just started on using mobile app Pokemon GO to search for favourite monster with augmented reality features and encouraging app users around the world to walk more for a better health condition.

By looking at the maps of activities, I was stunned but also excited. This seems to be the next wave  in Big Data world. How can we miss it?

Pokeapi - The RESTful Pokémon API v2 Beta has been released. For whatever reason, they are limited to 300 requests per resource per IP address.

Check and see what's the next killer app you can create from this.

URL:
https://pokeapi.co

Eclipse IDE autocomplete for JavaScript and PHP

To enable autocomplete feature for language like JavaScript and PHP in your Eclipse project:

Locate and open .project file under Parent folder of your project within Eclipse IDE

Add two lines as below:

org.eclipse.wst.jsdt.core.jsNature
org.eclipse.php.core.PHPNature

Restart Eclipse IDE and you should see autocomplete suggestions while typing your code in *.js or *.php files.

Upgrade ESXi from 5.5 Update 3 to 6.0 Update 2

The good thing in ESXi 5.5 is the upgrade process can be done via SSH terminal. This eliminates the CD-ROM burning process and carries out the entire upgrade remotely from my laptop. As mentioned before, it's not always the direct process for version upgrade in ESXi infrastructure.

I was looking for the HP custom version of offline bundle (namely "HPE Custom Image for VMware ESXi 6.0 U2 Offline Bundle") for the HP machines which supposedly gathered all the drivers it needs for installing ESXi onto HP machines. You may need to download different custom version or official offline bundle for other machines which are supported otherwise.

URL:
https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI60U2-HPE&productId=491

After uploading the zip file onto ESXi box's datastore via vSphere client, with the following command I just got this error message on my ESXi console:

~ #
~ # esxcli software vib update -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/VMware-ESXi-6.0.0-2494585-depot.zip
[DependencyError]
 VIB VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.34.3620759 requires vsan >= 6.0.0-2.34, but the requirement cannot be satisfied within the ImageProfile.
 VIB VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.34.3620759 requires vsan << 6.0.0-2.35, but the requirement cannot be satisfied within the ImageProfile.
 Please refer to the log file for more details.
~ #
~ #

Honestly, ESXi 5.5 doesn't quite like the new VIB module named vsan. In other words, it doesn't have vsan in the current profile. That's why the path for vid update failed. So, let's go through the upgrade process with profile update option.

To list the current profile name, use the following command:

~ # esxcli software sources profile list -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/VMware-ESXi-6.0.0-2494585-depot.zip
Name                                 Vendor                      Acceptance Level
-----------------------------------  --------------------------  ----------------
HPE-ESXi-6.0.0-Update2-600.9.5.0.48  Hewlett Packard Enterprise  PartnerSupported

This may give different result on every single ESXi box, so you may need to take note of your own box for the actual name of image profile. Here, we have a profile name called "HPE-ESXi-6.0.0-Update2-600.9.5.0.48".

Now, it's time to proceed the upgrade:

~ #
~ # esxcli software profile update -p HPE-ESXi-6.0.0-Update2-600.9.5.0.48 -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/VMware-ESXi-6.0.0-2494585-depot.zip
.
.

And then I got the followings:

Update Result
   Message: The update completed successfully, but the system needs to be rebooted for the changes to be effective.
   Reboot Required: true
   VIBs Installed: BRCM_bootbank_net-tg3_3.137l.v60.1-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, EMU_bootbank_elxnet_10.7.110.13-1OEM.600.0.0.2768847, EMU_bootbank_ima-be2iscsi_10.7.110.10-1OEM.600.0.0.2159203, EMU_bootbank_lpfc_10.7.110.4-1OEM.600.0.0.2768847, EMU_bootbank_scsi-be2iscsi_10.7.110.10-1OEM.600.0.0.2159203, HPE_bootbank_amsHelper_600.10.4.0-22.2494585, HPE_bootbank_conrep_6.0.0.01-01.00.7.2494585, HPE_bootbank_hpbootcfg_6.0.0.02-02.00.6.2494585, HPE_bootbank_hpe-build_600.9.5.0.48-2494585, HPE_bootbank_hpe-esxi-fc-enablement_600.2.5.20-2494585, HPE_bootbank_hpe-ilo_600.10.0.0.26-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, HPE_bootbank_hpe-smx-provider_600.03.10.00.13-2768847, HPE_bootbank_hponcfg_6.0.0.04-00.14.4.2494585, HPE_bootbank_hpssacli_2.40.13.0-6.0.0.1854445, HPE_bootbank_hptestevent_6.0.0.01-01.00.5.2494585, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_char-hpcru_6.0.6.14-1OEM.600.0.0.2159203, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hpnmi_600.2.3.14-2159203, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_scsi-hpdsa_5.5.0.48-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_scsi-hpsa_6.0.0.116-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, Intel_bootbank_intelcim-provider_0.5-1.6, Intel_bootbank_net-i40e_1.3.45-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Intel_bootbank_net-igb_5.3.1-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Intel_bootbank_net-ixgbe_4.1.1.1-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, MEL_bootbank_nmlx4-core_3.1.0.0-1OEM.600.0.0.2348722, MEL_bootbank_nmlx4-en_3.1.0.0-1OEM.600.0.0.2348722, MEL_bootbank_nmst_4.0.2.1-1OEM.600.0.0.2295424, QLogic_bootbank_misc-cnic-register_1.712.70.v60.1-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, QLogic_bootbank_net-bnx2_2.2.5k.v60.1-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, QLogic_bootbank_net-bnx2x_2.712.70.v60.3-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, QLogic_bootbank_net-cnic_2.712.70.v60.3-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, QLogic_bootbank_net-nx-nic_6.0.643-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, QLogic_bootbank_net-qlcnic_6.1.191-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, QLogic_bootbank_qlnativefc_2.1.30.0-1OEM.600.0.0.2768847, QLogic_bootbank_scsi-bnx2fc_1.712.70.v60.5-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, QLogic_bootbank_scsi-bnx2i_2.712.70.v60.2-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, VMWARE_bootbank_mtip32xx-native_3.8.5-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-amd_0.3.10-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-atiixp_0.4.6-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-cmd64x_0.2.5-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-hpt3x2n_0.3.4-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-pdc2027x_1.0-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-serverworks_0.4.3-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-sil680_0.4.8-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-via_0.3.3-2vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_block-cciss_3.6.14-10vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_cpu-microcode_6.0.0-0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ehci-ehci-hcd_1.0-3vmw.600.2.34.3620759, VMware_bootbank_emulex-esx-elxnetcli_10.2.309.6v-0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.34.3620759, VMware_bootbank_esx-dvfilter-generic-fastpath_6.0.0-0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_esx-tboot_6.0.0-2.34.3620759, VMware_bootbank_esx-ui_1.0.0-3617585, VMware_bootbank_esx-xserver_6.0.0-0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-devintf_39.1-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-msghandler_39.1-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-si-drv_39.1-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_lsi-mr3_6.605.08.00-7vmw.600.1.17.3029758, VMware_bootbank_lsi-msgpt3_06.255.12.00-8vmw.600.1.17.3029758, VMware_bootbank_lsu-hp-hpsa-plugin_1.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-lsi-mr3-plugin_1.0.0-2vmw.600.0.11.2809209, VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-lsi-msgpt3-plugin_1.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-megaraid-sas-plugin_1.0.0-2vmw.600.0.11.2809209, VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-mpt2sas-plugin_1.0.0-4vmw.600.1.17.3029758, VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-mptsas-plugin_1.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_misc-drivers_6.0.0-2.34.3620759, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000_8.0.3.1-5vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-enic_2.1.2.38-2vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-forcedeth_0.61-2vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-vmxnet3_1.1.3.0-3vmw.600.2.34.3620759, VMware_bootbank_nmlx4-rdma_3.0.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_nvme_1.2.0.27-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ohci-usb-ohci_1.0-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_rste_2.0.2.0088-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-ahci_3.0-22vmw.600.2.34.3620759, VMware_bootbank_sata-ata-piix_2.12-10vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-nv_3.5-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-promise_2.12-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil24_1.1-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil_2.3-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-svw_2.3-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aacraid_1.1.5.1-9vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-adp94xx_1.0.8.12-6vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aic79xx_3.1-5vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-fnic_1.5.0.45-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-ips_7.12.05-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-mbox_2.20.5.1-6vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-sas_6.603.55.00-2vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid2_2.00.4-9vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptsas_4.23.01.00-9vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptspi_4.23.01.00-9vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_uhci-usb-uhci_1.0-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_vsan_6.0.0-2.34.3563498, VMware_bootbank_vsanhealth_6.0.0-3000000.3.0.2.34.3544323, VMware_bootbank_xhci-xhci_1.0-3vmw.600.2.34.3620759, VMware_locker_tools-light_6.0.0-2.34.3620759
   VIBs Removed: Broadcom_bootbank_net-tg3_3.137l.v55.1-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Emulex_bootbank_elxnet_10.5.121.7-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Emulex_bootbank_ima-be2iscsi_10.5.65.7-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Emulex_bootbank_lpfc_10.5.39.0-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Emulex_bootbank_scsi-be2iscsi_10.5.65.7-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_char-hpcru_5.5.6.6-1OEM.550.0.0.1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_char-hpilo_550.9.0.2.3-1OEM.550.0.0.1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hp-ams_550.10.3.0-15.1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hp-build_550.9.4.26-1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hp-conrep_5.5.0.1-0.0.8.1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hp-esxi-fc-enablement_550.2.4.6-1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hp-smx-provider_550.03.09.00.15-1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hpbootcfg_5.5.0.02-01.00.5.1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hpnmi_550.2.3.5-1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hponcfg_5.5.0.4.4-0.3.1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hpssacli_2.30.6.0-5.5.0.1198611, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hptestevent_5.5.0.01-00.01.4.1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_scsi-hpdsa_5.5.0.46-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_scsi-hpsa_5.5.0.114-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Intel_bootbank_intelcim-provider_0.5-1.4, Intel_bootbank_net-i40e_1.2.48-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Intel_bootbank_net-igb_5.2.10-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Intel_bootbank_net-ixgbe_3.21.4.3-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_misc-cnic-register_1.712.50.v55.1-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_net-bnx2_2.2.5j.v55.3-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_net-bnx2x_2.712.50.v55.6-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_net-cnic_2.712.50.v55.6-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_net-nx-nic_5.5.643-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_net-qlcnic_5.5.190-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_qlnativefc_1.1.55.0-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_scsi-bnx2fc_1.712.50.v55.7-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_scsi-bnx2i_2.712.50.v55.4-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-amd_0.3.10-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-atiixp_0.4.6-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-cmd64x_0.2.5-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-hpt3x2n_0.3.4-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-pdc2027x_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-serverworks_0.4.3-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-sil680_0.4.8-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-via_0.3.3-2vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_block-cciss_3.6.14-10vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ehci-ehci-hcd_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.71.3116895, VMware_bootbank_esx-dvfilter-generic-fastpath_5.5.0-0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_esx-tboot_5.5.0-2.33.2068190, VMware_bootbank_esx-ui_0.0.2-0.1.3357452, VMware_bootbank_esx-xlibs_5.5.0-0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_esx-xserver_5.5.0-0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-devintf_39.1-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-msghandler_39.1-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-si-drv_39.1-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_lsi-mr3_0.255.03.01-2vmw.550.3.68.3029944, VMware_bootbank_lsi-msgpt3_00.255.03.03-1vmw.550.1.15.1623387, VMware_bootbank_misc-drivers_5.5.0-3.68.3029944, VMware_bootbank_mtip32xx-native_3.3.4-1vmw.550.1.15.1623387, VMware_bootbank_net-be2net_4.6.100.0v-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000_8.0.3.1-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-enic_1.4.2.15a-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-forcedeth_0.61-2vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-vmxnet3_1.1.3.0-3vmw.550.2.39.2143827, VMware_bootbank_ohci-usb-ohci_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_rste_2.0.2.0088-4vmw.550.1.15.1623387, VMware_bootbank_sata-ahci_3.0-22vmw.550.3.68.3029944, VMware_bootbank_sata-ata-piix_2.12-10vmw.550.2.33.2068190, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-nv_3.5-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-promise_2.12-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil24_1.1-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil_2.3-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-svw_2.3-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aacraid_1.1.5.1-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-adp94xx_1.0.8.12-6vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aic79xx_3.1-5vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-fnic_1.5.0.4-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-ips_7.12.05-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-mbox_2.20.5.1-6vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-sas_5.34-9vmw.550.3.68.3029944, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid2_2.00.4-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptsas_4.23.01.00-9vmw.550.3.68.3029944, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptspi_4.23.01.00-9vmw.550.3.68.3029944, VMware_bootbank_uhci-usb-uhci_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_xhci-xhci_1.0-2vmw.550.3.68.3029944, VMware_locker_tools-light_5.5.0-3.68.3029944
   VIBs Skipped: Avago_bootbank_scsi-mpt2sas_15.10.06.00-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_scsi-hpvsa_5.5.0.100-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_scsi-bfa_3.2.5.0-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_scsi-qla4xxx_644.6.05.0-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ima-qla4xxx_2.02.18-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000e_3.2.2.1-1vmw.600.1.26.3380124, VMware_bootbank_net-mlx4-core_1.9.7.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-mlx4-en_1.9.7.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585

Such a long passage reporting how things are done. It's successful anyway. You need to reboot the ESXi box to make changes effective.

NB: You may need to use boot option like "noIOMMU" during the reboot process.

To enable noIOMMU option via SSH, try this command:

> esxcli system settings kernel set –setting=noIOMMU -v TRUE

Hanging on "Initialising IOV" message after ESXi 5.5 Upgrade

For my experience in ESXi infrastructure, it's always not easy to upgrade in one go.

Simply add boot options at bootup screen by pressing Shift + O, enter additional parameter "noIOMMU" at the end of the boot string. Then press ENTER key to proceed bootup procedures:

.
[Boot options...] noIOMMU
.

Once ESXi box is started successfully, you may want to apply persistent settings by SSH remotely into the box and issue the following command:

~ #
~ #
~ # esxcli system settings kernel set --setting=noIOMMU -v TRUE
~ #
~ #

This makes noIOMMU option survives ongoing reboots;-)

Access ATAPI DVD writer on VMware ESXi 4.x Windows Guest VM

To access the physical DVD writer on Windows Guest VM, there is no alternative but setting up a SCSI device for this.

IDE passthrough on CD/DVD-ROM device seems not to be really promising as I have tried through different ESXi 4.x boxes.

Finally, I found this way to get through this. You need to open up vSphere interface at a remote machine for monitor and control. You also need a remote desktop session connected to the target Windows Guest VM for checking read/write access on the target physical DVD drive.

Using remote VMware vSphere interface, it is easy to add new SCSI device for physical DVD drive. Before adding new SCSI device, you may want to shutdown Windows guest VM first. 

Once SCSI DVD device is added to Guest VM's profile, you may start the VM again to see if the device is detected.

When you can login to Windows Guest VM, it's time to try on remote vSphere interface by clicking CD/DVD-ROM device icon to connect to host physical device. You should see the device raw ID as shown in the selection list for choice on vSphere interface. Once connected, the physical SCSI DVD drive should be ready to go for Read & Write operations on your Windows Guest VM.