RVTools is a free tool widely known in the VMware community and is a great resource for VMware administrators. It is a Windows-based utility allowing easy interaction with your vSphere environment, enabling you to have visibility and understanding of all aspects of your vSphere infrastructure.
With RVTools, you can manage ESX servers, virtual machines, and vCenter servers. It is also very easy to use and gives specific health check information about the environment, making it an essential VMware utility.
Installing RVTools: A Step-by-step Guide
Installing RVTools on your Windows machine is a straightforward process. Simply download the latest version from the official RVTools website, located here:
Run the installer, and follow the on-screen instructions. Remember, RVTools interacts directly with the VMware vSphere Management SDK. It means you must have VMware Tools installed on your virtual machines.
Navigating RVTools: A Closer Look at the Tabs
RVTools displays information through several tabs, each offering insight into different aspects of your VMware infrastructure. Some of the tabs VIAdmins reference most often include:
- vInfo tab: Displays general information about your virtual machines.
- vDisk tab: Provides detailed information about the disk properties of your virtual machines.
- vHealth tab: Conducts health checks and points out potential issues in your vSphere environment, including hosts, virtual machine
Unleashing the Power of RVTools for VMware Health Checks
RVTools isn’t just a tool for display information. It’s a great utility for conducting health checks within your vSphere environment. The vHealth tab is a “go-to” source of information for vSphere health checks. It checks for things like:
- VMware tools not installed or out of date
- Zombie VMDKs
- CD Drives connected
- Inconsistent folder names
- Overprovisioned hosts
- Other Best practices
These health checks are a great way to make sure your VMware environment runs smoothly. RVTools makes these checks easier by providing specific information and alerts on potential issues.
Leveraging RVTools for VMware Resource Management
RVTools is also an excellent tool for managing resources within your VMware environment. It provides insights into resource pools, memory, disks, partitions, network configurations, and more. You can monitor CPU usage, memory allocation, and even the status of your distributed switches and distributed ports.
Why VMware Administrators Love RVTools?
Simply put, RVTools makes the life of a VIAdmin much easier, providing the visibility needed to the environment, health checks, and surfaces issues that may otherwise go unnoticed. With its ability to provide detailed data about ESX servers, virtual machines, and vCenter servers, RVTools is an important tool to have in your VMware administrator toolbelt.
Exploring the Command Line Interface
The latest version of RVTools has introduced several new features, one of which is the ability to run it from the command line. This opens up new possibilities for automation and scripting, making RVTools even more powerful. We will take a look at an example to follow of using the RVToolsMergeExcelFiles.exe to merge multiple vCenter Server vHeath checks into a single spreadsheet.
RVTools Tabs and Features
The vInfo Tab
The vInfo tab in RVTools provides a comprehensive overview of your virtual machines, including their current power state, connection state, VMware Tools installed status, and ESX host data. Notably, the tab displays whether VMware Tools is installed, ensuring your VMs are running the latest version of this crucial software.
The vDisk Tab
The vDisk tab offers detailed information about your virtual machines’ disks. It provides specific information about each VM’s disks, memory, partitions, and network configurations. It also shows whether CD drives and USB devices are connected, proving useful when troubleshooting hardware issues.
The vHealth Tab
The vHealth tab takes health checks in your vSphere environment to a whole new level. It flags potential inconsistencies, such as outdated VMware Tools or inconsistent folder names, and helps you maintain the overall health of your ESX server and the VMs it hosts.
Efficiently Working with vCenter Server
RVTools interfaces smoothly with vCenter Server, providing administrators with a comprehensive overview of their vSphere environment.
This includes detailed information about ESX hosts, distributed switches, distributed ports, service consoles, VM kernels, and even license info. This data is invaluable when managing complex virtual environments.
Leveraging RVTools for VMware vSphere Management SDK
As mentioned, RVTools leverages the VMware vSphere Management SDK to provide its wealth of data. This direct interfacing allows the utility to gather and display information quickly and accurately, enhancing your ability to monitor and manage your VMware environment effectively.
Working with Distributed Switches and Ports
RVTools offers detailed insights into distributed switches and distributed ports. It provides information about HBAs, NICs, switches, ports, distributed switches, and service consoles. This detailed network data is essential when troubleshooting network issues or planning network expansions.
Note. Check our guide on how to convert VMDK to VHDX (VMWare to Hyper-V).
Leveraging for License info
RVtools makes it easy to see all your vSphere licensing information in one place and easily export this information to a spreadsheet. You will see information including the name of the license, license key, Labels, Cost Unit, Total, Used, Expiration Date, and Features of the license.
Creating a Single XLSX Report
One of RVTools’ useful features is its ability to generate a single XLSX file report containing all the data it collects. Using an XLSX merge utility (included with RVTools), you can consolidate data from multiple vSphere environments into one comprehensive report. This feature saves time and simplifies data analysis, proving invaluable for VMware administrators.
RVToolsMergeExcelFiles.exe -input C:\myfiles\vcsa-site1-vHealth.xlsx;C:\myfiles\vcsa-site2-vHealth.xlsx -output C:\myfiles\allvcenters-vHealth.xlsx
SRM Placeholder and Other Advanced Features
RVTools also includes support for SRM Placeholder VMs used in disaster recovery scenarios. This feature and multipath info for iSCSI, FC, and NFS datastores make RVTools a versatile and powerful tool for managing VMware environments.
Referer. Learn how to configure autostart of virtual machine on VMware.
RVTools FAQs
1. What is RVTools and why is it beneficial for VMware environments? RVTools is a free utility that connects to your vSphere environment and collects detailed information about your ESX hosts, virtual machines, and other components. This tool is beneficial as it helps VMware administrators perform health checks, manage resources, and generate detailed reports efficiently.
2. How does RVTools interface with vCenter Server? RVTools interfaces smoothly with vCenter Server, providing a comprehensive overview of your vSphere environment. This includes details about ESX hosts, distributed switches, distributed ports, service consoles, and VM kernels, aiding in effectively managing your VMware environment.
3. Can RVTools provide specific information about distributed switches and ports? RVTools offers detailed insights into distributed switches and ports in your vSphere environment. It provides information about HBAs, NICs, switches, ports, distributed switches, and service consoles. This network data is invaluable for troubleshooting and planning network expansions.
4. How does RVTools assist with resource management in a VMware environment? RVTools provides detailed data about resource pools, helping VMware administrators manage resources more efficiently. It shows the allocation and usage of CPU, memory, disks, and partitions, which assists in balancing workloads and optimizing resource utilization across your VMware environment.
5. How does RVTools help with reporting? RVTools has a feature to generate a single XLSX report containing all the data it collects. Using an XLSX merge utility, you can consolidate data from multiple vSphere environments into one comprehensive report, simplifying data analysis and saving time for VMware administrators.
Wrapping up
I have used RVTools for years now and it is a great way to find information about your vSphere environment and quickly see any issues that may need attention. From its display information features to its ability to conduct health checks, RVTools offers VMware administrators a handy tool for managing VMware virtual environments. Whether you’re managing memory, disks, partitions, network configurations, or running health checks in your VMware environment, it offers a one-stop solution.
VMware
Brandon Lee
Brandon Lee is a veteran of virtualized technologies, spending the past 20+ years in the enterprise data center designing enterprise virtualization and networking solutions and most recently engineering and architecting cloud solutions across hyperscaler environments, including SaaS technologies.
