Backup/Restore ESXi 5.x using vicfg-cfgbackup

To backup your esxi server you need to install vCLI (on windows or linux) or you can also use vMA Appliance from vmware, which include the vCLI.
syntax:-
vicfg-cfgbackup.pl --server <name/ip> --username <username> --password <password> -s <path to save the backupfile>
Example:-
Server Name:-   esxi111.vlab.net     username:- root   pasword:- vmware
vCLI install on windows, I made folder under c:\backup

vicfg-cfgbackup.pl --server esxi111.vlab.net --username root --pasword vmware -s c:\backup\esxi111

To restore your esxi server you need to install vCLI (on windows or linux) or you can also use vMA Appliance from vmware, which include the vCLI. you need to make sure no Virtual Machine is running on hotst which you are planning to restore. ideally it is fresh installed server after crash and only configured for IP and root password.

syntax:-
vicfg-cfgbackup.pl --server <name/ip> --username <username> --password <password> -l <path to save the backupfile>
Example:-
Server Name:- esxi111.vlab.net username:- root pasword:- vmware
vCLI install on windows, backup path  c:\backup\esxi111

vicfg-cfgbackup.pl --server esxi111.vlab.net --username root --pasword vmware -l c:\backup\esxi111

Work Done

Backup and Restore esxi using PowerCLI follow link below
http://www.virtualizationguru.org/2013/06/backuprestore-esxi-5x-host.html

Compare ESXi to Other Vendors' Offerings

Source VMWare Website

Source VMware Website http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/esxi-and-esx/compare.html

VMware ESXi/ESX 4.1 and ESXi 5.0 Comparison

This article provides a detailed comparison of VMware ESXi/ESX 4.1 and ESXi 5.0. The article is separated into capabilities or features and compared at that level.

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2005377

Understand the Difference between ESX and ESXi

Source www.VMware.com

PowerCLI Script to get VMs Connected to CDDrives

you can use the script to get the list of VMs which are connected to CDDrives

Get-VM | Where-Object {($_.Cddrives)[0].ConnectionState.Connected}