1.1 Possible Forge Configurations

The configuration of the Dell hardware used for the Forge platform has changed as new versions of the Forge software and the accompanying Forge Appliance have been released. Hardware type is a major factor you need to consider when determining the version of PlateSpin Forge to which you can upgrade.

In addition to PlateSpin Forge software, the PlateSpin Forge Appliance includes a VMware ESX hypervisor and a virtual machine that runs a Windows operating system (Forge versions, 3.x to 4.0 implement a VM that runs on the Windows 2003 OS; the Forge 11.0 VM runs on the Windows 2012 OS).

The combination of the hypervisor version and the version of the Windows virtual machine (a.k.a., the Forge Management VM) determines the appliance version of your PlateSpin Forge Appliance.

Use the following table to help you understand the combined configuration of your current Forge Appliance.

Table 1-1 Possible Forge Configurations

Dell Hardware Model

ESX Hypervisor

Forge Appliance

Forge Software Version(s)

Dell PowerEdge 1950

ESX 3.5

Appliance 1

PlateSpin Forge 3.0, 3.0.1, and 3.0.2

Dell PowerEdge 2950

ESX 3.5

Appliance 1

PlateSpin Forge 3.0, 3.0.1, and 3.0.2

ESXi 4.1 (after upgrade)

Appliance 2 (after upgrade)

PlateSpin Forge 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, and 4.0 (after upgrade)

Dell PowerEdge R610

ESXi 4.1

Appliance 2

PlateSpin Forge 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, and 4.0

Dell PowerEdge R620

ESXi 4.1

Appliance 2

PlateSpin Forge 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, and 4.0

Dell PowerEdge R710

ESXi 4.1

Appliance 2

PlateSpin Forge 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, and 4.0

Dell PowerEdge R720 (customized to spec. by user)

ESXi 4.1

Appliance 2

PlateSpin Forge 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, and 4.0

Dell PowerEdge R720

ESXi 5.5

Appliance 3

PlateSpin Forge 11.0

If you need further information to determine the Forge appliance version or the ESX version running on your Forge unit, see the following sections:

1.1.1 Determining Your Forge Unit’s Appliance Version

You can determine the appliance version of your Forge unit by using one of the following methods:

  • Forge Web Client: Look up the appliance version number in the PlateSpin Forge Web Interface’s Help > About page. You can do this only if you are reconfiguring Forge.

  • Local Configuration Interface Type: Connect a monitor to the appliance and power it on. If the system displays the blue screen of the Forge Console, your appliance version is 1. If the system displays the ESX configuration screen, your appliance is version 2 or version 3.

  • Remote Configuration Interface: Using a Web browser and the IP address of your Forge unit, attempt to launch the Forge Appliance Configuration Console (Forge ACC) as described in Step 2 through Step 4 of theAppliance Configuration Procedure in the PlateSpin Forge 11.0 Getting Started Guide. If you are able to connect, your appliance is version 2 or version 3.

1.1.2 Determining Your Forge Unit’s ESX Version

The following table shows the correlation between the Forge Software Appliance version and the VMware ESX version it shipped with.

Forge Software Appliance Version

VMware ESX Version

Appliance 1

ESX 3.5

Appliance 2

  • ESX 4.1
  • ESX 4.1 Update 3

Appliance 3

ESXi 5.5

You can also determine the ESX version on your unit by opening the Containers page of the Forge Web Interface. From the Web Client, click Settings > Containers, then check the Operating System column to determine the installed ESX version.