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Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.
Get started
Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.
4 considerations for vSphere disk provisioning
To provision disk space in vSphere, consider the following: The size of data stores you require, thin vs. thick provisioning, storage acceleration and managing free disk space. Continue Reading
How well do you know PowerCLI cmdlets?
Take this eight-question quiz to determine how much you know about PowerCLI and its cmdlets -- the short scripts that enable you to automate nearly anything. Continue Reading
What to consider before you install vCloud Connector
VMware vCC requires a handful of prerequisites before you can deploy it. Install vCC once you have the correct processors, memory, network controllers and software. Continue Reading
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VMware
VMware is a virtualization and cloud computing software provider based in Palo Alto, Calif. Continue Reading
How PowerCLI automation brings PowerShell capabilities to VMware
PowerCLI applies a Windows PowerShell framework to VMware. Use it to automate vSphere, vCenter and the rest of your environment, and its capabilities will only grow over time. Continue Reading
How to upgrade from VCSA 6.5 to 6.7 -- both online and off
Use the online VCSA management interface, VAMI, or an ISO file from VMware to get started with your online or offline VCSA upgrade.Continue Reading
Understand VMware disaster recovery from start to finish
To craft a good DR plan for your VMware environment, prepare for possible issues ahead of time. Devise a strategy with your knowledge of disaster recovery best practices and tools.Continue Reading
3 PowerCLI snapshot management cmdlets you can use
You can use PowerCLI to manage snapshots in vSphere. With just three cmdlets, you can create, revert to and remove snapshots to keep your environment running smoothly.Continue Reading
Back up VMware environments with these best practices and tips
When you back up a VMware environment, use best practices to guide you, and weigh pros and cons of different methods. You can also automate backups and use third-party tools.Continue Reading
What does an ESXi on ARM architecture look like?
When you run a hypervisor such as VMware ESXi on ARM architecture, consolidation shouldn't be your goal; isolation, sandboxing and management should be.Continue Reading
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VMware security best practices guide
Without the proper security, you could put your entire VMware environment at risk. These best practices can keep your hosts and VMs safe from potential attacks.Continue Reading
Test your VMware NSX-T, NSX-V knowledge
VMware's software, NSX, enables admins to stand up networking in a software-defined data center. Take this quiz to ensure you're getting the most out of NSX.Continue Reading
How to use PowerCLI and how it can help you
PowerCLI enables you to use PowerShell commands to automate a VMware environment, streamlining your system and adding simplicity compared to using a GUI. Here's how to get started.Continue Reading
Deploy vCenter and vSphere without using a VAR
VMware platforms are more than just virtualization software; they create an SDDC. If you take the time to understand vSphere and vCenter, you can deploy them without a VAR.Continue Reading
How much do you know about VMware AppDefense?
How much do you know about VMware's security product, AppDefense? This quiz asks you about AppDefense's technology and use cases to prove your understanding.Continue Reading
Use these PowerCLI vMotion cmdlets to automate VM migration
VMware vMotion moves VMs between hypervisors and storage devices to keep those VMs running. You can use PowerCLI to easily automate complex vMotion tasks.Continue Reading
With Packer, VM template creation is easy
Templates are the quickest, easiest way to deploy VMs in vSphere. You can use a free tool such as Packer and a builder such as vmware-iso to automate the creation of VM templates.Continue Reading
Design a VMware environment with CPUs, storage in mind
A solid infrastructure is critical to smooth operations in the data center. Admins designing a VMware environment should think about CPUs, storage and reference architectures.Continue Reading
Design vSphere data stores with VM change and growth in mind
As the data inside a VM grows, you can make sure your storage accounts for that growth using a few methods, such as thin-provisioning VMDK files and limiting snapshots.Continue Reading
Run ESXi on NUC for a quiet but powerful at-home test lab
You can use Intel's NUC to set up a small but mighty at-home VMware test lab. Decide whether to nest your environments, and then learn how an NUC could benefit you.Continue Reading
Learn the basics of vSphere networking
When you design a vSphere network, keep in mind redundancy, network isolation and consistent configuration. These qualities ensure proper network performance.Continue Reading
Get to know the history of the VMware-IBM partnership
An agreement between VMware and IBM has led to opportunities and innovation for both companies. However, with respective ties to AWS and Red Hat, the future looks unclear.Continue Reading
Considerations for a VMware Cloud on AWS workload migration
Before moving a workload to VMware Cloud on AWS, think over your priorities regarding that workload's importance as well as technical considerations such as whether it makes sense in the cloud.Continue Reading
The ins and outs of VMware security products and features
Application control, anomaly detection and VM encryption are some of the ways VMware incorporates security in products such as NSX, AppDefense, vSAN, vSphere and ESXi.Continue Reading
VMware DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler)
VMware DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler) is a utility that balances computing workloads with available resources in a virtualized environment. The utility is part of a virtualization suite called VMware Infrastructure 3.Continue Reading
Can you run an enterprise workload on VMware Cloud on AWS?
There is a small list of enterprise-class deployments and integrations known to run on VMware Cloud on AWS, but not all complex workloads are suited to the cloud yet.Continue Reading
Stay up to date with the VMware Cloud on AWS roadmap
Upcoming features on the VMware Cloud on AWS roadmap include two SDKs, disaster recovery testing improvements and increased VMware Site Recovery protection.Continue Reading
Take advantage of these 4 VMware Cloud on AWS features
VMware features, such as Site Recovery, vSphere vMotion, vSAN stretched clusters and Elastic Distributed Resource Scheduler, are available on VMware Cloud on AWS.Continue Reading
3 ways to implement vSphere GPU virtualization
You can implement GPU hardware using VMDirectPath I/O, Nvidia Grid or Bitfusion FlexDirect on vSphere. Understand the pros and cons of each to know which will work best for you.Continue Reading
These VMware and third-party VM backup tools make your job easier
With the right tools and resources, VM backup and recovery can be easier. Consider factors such as product compatibility and future business needs before deciding what to use.Continue Reading
6 VMware VM backup best practices you should know
Understand these six crucial best practices for backing up and restoring VMs on your ESXi host. These strategies will ensure backups are protected and restoration is successful.Continue Reading
VMware VM backup strategies combine tradition with new methods
Different VM backup and restoration approaches can favor consistency, speed or simplicity. Consider which you value most, and tailor your methodology to that.Continue Reading
Use the command line for ESXi host backup and restoration
Backing up and properly restoring VMs are essential tasks for workload protection. Use a command-line interface, such as vSphere CLI or PowerCLI, to back up and restore the ESXi host.Continue Reading
Craft your data stores with VM storage performance in mind
Proper storage performance requires a systems approach. Discover the different elements at play, such as the queues, SCSI disks and ESXi hosts, and how to optimize your data stores.Continue Reading
Get to know VMware's vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager
With vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager, you can easily set up test and development environments and push any changes to your production environment.Continue Reading
Understand VMware virtual machine files
Effectively navigate each of the VMware VM file types, such as the flat.vmdk file and the VSWP file, to simplify VM management tasks.Continue Reading
Set up vCenter two-factor authentication
How do you set up two-factor authentication with VMware vCenter? Expert Stuart Burns explains how to configure 2FA and includes implementation and troubleshooting advice.Continue Reading
How to use a VMware content library
Follow these steps to create and populate a content library in VMware vSphere. Once you finish the initial configuration, you can create a VM from a template in the content library.Continue Reading
Explore VMC on AWS pricing, features and use cases with a trial run
Evaluate VMware AWS cloud use cases against other cloud services and on-premises investments. Admins can use the on-demand pricing model to try it out.Continue Reading
Use these PowerCLI cmdlets to automate VMware vSphere
Take advantage of these PowerCLI cmdlets to copy files to and from local machines to VMware VMs. For complex tasks, a programmatic interface enables easier management than a GUI.Continue Reading
Access vCenter MOB and enable advanced troubleshooting
The vCenter mobile object browser provides a vast amount of information. Follow these steps to make it navigable and useful for some of the most difficult troubleshooting cases.Continue Reading
VMware ESXi
VMware ESXi is an operating system-independent hypervisor based on the VMkernel operating system that interfaces with agents that run on top of it. ESXi stands for Elastic Sky X Integrated.Continue Reading
Avoid these VMware host profile mistakes
VMware host profiles make it easy to deploy new hosts -- but it's also easy to make mistakes. Before you create a host profile, check this list of common errors.Continue Reading
VMware finds its way in cloud cost management tools market
VMware is one of the numerous companies providing tools that help organizations manage cloud costs. Though the demand is real, the market and the tools require more maturity.Continue Reading
Get up to speed on VMware vSAN troubleshooting basics
VMware vSAN is only as capable as proper implementation and maintenance enable it to be. To troubleshoot cluster health and performance issues, start with these basics.Continue Reading
Master VMware logging with these tools and strategies
Capture and analyze VMware logs with these tools, techniques and best practices. Effective logging can improve troubleshooting, enable optimization and create transparency.Continue Reading
Make the most of vRealize Suite Standard Edition
The Standard Edition of vRealize Suite comes with a learning curve, but it provides intelligent operations management via Log Insight, Business for Cloud and Operations Manager.Continue Reading
VMware skills extend beyond virtualization into SDDCs
VMware's technology is growing, and IT admins must grow their skills in kind. The admin role is growing beyond virtualization, and a holistic view of IT is increasingly necessary.Continue Reading
Create a VMware vSAN lab with mimicked storage
VMware vSAN is worth exploring, but its price often keeps it out of reach. To try it out in a test lab, create a vSAN cluster that mirrors the required storage.Continue Reading
VMware vRealize Log Insight (formerly vCenter Log Insight)
VRealize Log Insight is a log collection and analytics virtual appliance that enables administrators to collect, view, manage and analyze syslog data.Continue Reading
VMware Cloud on AWS
VMware Cloud on AWS is a hybrid cloud service that runs the VMware software-defined data center (SDDC) stack in the AWS public cloud.Continue Reading
How should I prepare for a VMware exam?
To prepare for a VMware certification exam, study the blueprint that VMware provides. You can also save some money on the test if you keep an eye out for discount codes.Continue Reading
Use iSCSI storage for VMware to create a data store
Administrators can create a data store in vSphere with iSCSI storage. It's a relatively cheap, fully supported option, but it doesn't perform as well as direct-attached storage.Continue Reading
Use Ansible in vSphere to automate management tasks
Ansible is a powerful tool to simplify and automate management duties in VMware vSphere environments. Ansible eases VM provisioning, as well as some vMotion tasks.Continue Reading
How are VMware thin provisioning and thick provisioning different?
Thin provisioning helps ensure that organizations don't waste storage capacity, which is a potential pitfall of thick provisioning. But thin provisioning requires more monitoring.Continue Reading
What are the benefits and drawbacks of raw device mapping?
Admins can give VMs access to storage through RDM, but some devices don't support it. And choosing physical compatibility mode affects what administrative features are available.Continue Reading
How does storage acceleration work in a VMware environment?
Storage acceleration helps improve array performance by offloading storage operations from the server to the ESXi host, and it uses fewer processor and memory resources.Continue Reading
The essential guide to VMware NSX SDN technology
NSX is leading VMware's transition from server virtualization to network virtualization. Read about the features and future of VMware NSX software-defined networking.Continue Reading
VMware vSphere Client
The VMware vSphere Client is a web-based application that connects to the vCenter Server so IT administrators can manage installations and handle inventory objects in a vSphere deployment.Continue Reading
VMware virtual recovery and backup best practices and tools
Protect your VMware environments with this compilation of virtual recovery methods and backup procedures.Continue Reading
Test your knowledge of VMware vSAN requirements and support
VMware vSAN is a powerful tool in the hyper-converged infrastructure space. Test your knowledge of its requirements in order to see what you need to be able to use it.Continue Reading
VMware vCenter Server (formerly VMware VirtualCenter)
VMware vCenter Server is the centralized monitoring and resource management software for VMware vSphere virtual infrastructure.Continue Reading
Learn these AWS basics before you run VMware on AWS
There are a few things every vSphere admin should know before he tries to run VMware on AWS, including how VPCs work and how AWS handles resource provisioning.Continue Reading
VMware NSX
VMware NSX is a virtual networking and security software product family created from VMware's vCloud Networking and Security (vCNS) and Nicira's Network Virtualization Platform (NVP) intellectual property.Continue Reading
What is VMware Remote Console and how do you run it?
A vSphere administrator can use VMware Remote Console to remotely access a VM's peripherals, configuration and desktop remotely through the vSphere Web Client.Continue Reading
VMware vCloud Director (VMware vCD)
VMware vCloud Director (vCD) is deployment, automation and management software for virtual infrastructure resources in multi-tenant cloud environments.Continue Reading
Choose the right VMware certification to boost your career
With so many VMware certification levels and specialization tracks, it's easy to get in over your head. Fortunately, this expert advice can help steer you straight.Continue Reading
vSphere HA (VMware High Availability)
VMware vSphere HA (High Availability) is a utility included in VMware's vSphere software that can restart failed virtual machines (VMs) on alternative host servers to reduce application downtime.Continue Reading
How do Docker container hosts and virtual container hosts differ?
VSphere Integrated Containers gives you two options for container deployment, each of which takes a different approach to provisioning, memory, security and more.Continue Reading
How do VMware VIC security features protect containers?
VMware VIC security features, like isolation and user authentication, can improve enterprise container security so long as proper configuration and usage policies are observed.Continue Reading
VMware vSAN (formerly Virtual SAN)
VMware vSAN (formerly Virtual SAN) is a hyper-converged, software-defined storage (SDS) product developed by VMware that pools together direct-attached storage devices across a VMware vSphere cluster to create a distributed, shared data store.Continue Reading
Automate vCenter backup to avoid the hassle of manual backup
It's essential that you regularly back up vCenter Server to avoid losing any important data in the event of a failure. Learn how to automate that backup process in this tip.Continue Reading
How does VIC provide VMware container support?
VIC supports container creation and image deployment through virtual container hosts, which suit well-proven workloads, or Docker container hosts, which can build images.Continue Reading
Properly configure vCenter Server to get the most out of vCSA
A solid vCenter Server configuration is the key to a fully functional environment, as well as access to vCSA. Follow these steps to get the most out of your deployment.Continue Reading
VMware vSphere
VMware vSphere -- formerly known as VMware Infrastructure -- is the brand name for VMware's suite of server virtualization products that includes its ESXi hypervisor and vCenter management software.Continue Reading
Chart the future of VMware containers: VIC and Pivotal
VMware has dropped Photon in favor of VIC and a new partnership with Pivotal. Learn the differences between these platforms and what future they might signal for VMware containers.Continue Reading
Explore the newfound direction of VMware cloud services
VMware has distanced itself from developing public cloud offerings, instead focusing on hybrid and multi-cloud platforms and partnerships that bring its SDDC to the cloud.Continue Reading
VMware AppDefense
VMware AppDefense is a data center security service designed to protect virtualized applications running in an enterprise data center in order to improve the protection and threat response performance of an enterprise security operations center (SOC...Continue Reading
Which vSAN 6.6 system requirements do you need to meet?
If you plan to manually configure a vSAN 6.6 or 6.6.1 deployment, make sure your organization meets these hardware and software requirements before you get started.Continue Reading
Add a host to a VMware cluster by following these tips
Grouping physical hosts together on a cluster improves resource distribution and increases availability. It's easy to add a host to a cluster, but be sure to follow these rules.Continue Reading
Set up NSX networking and components in vSphere environments
With NSX set to become an integral part of VMware's IoT strategy, there's no time like the present to configure NSX and all of its components for your vSphere infrastructure.Continue Reading
Change VMkernel port MTU size to reduce packet fragmentation
A high maximum transmission unit size creates fewer frames, which lowers the risk of collisions and reduces overhead. The key is figuring out how high an MTU size is too high.Continue Reading
VMware Certified Professional (VCP)
VMware Certified Professional (VCP) is a certification designed to demonstrate technical competency with VMware vSphere and related technologies.Continue Reading
How do you apply VM-host and VM-VM affinity rules in DRS?
Affinity and anti-affinity rules improve application performance and resilience. Select the desired clusters in vSphere Web Client, and add rules to apply affinity rules to DRS.Continue Reading
What are VM-VM and VM-host affinity and anti-affinity rules?
It's important to create specific rules in VMware DRS to outline how different VMs and hosts behave. What kinds of affinity and anti-affinity rules are there, and how do they work?Continue Reading
How do affinity and anti-affinity rules improve VM failover?
Proper VM placement can go a long way toward maintaining availability in the event of a failure. How can you use affinity and anti-affinity rules with DRS for better VM distribution?Continue Reading
Where can you download the VMware Photon platform and get support?
The VMware GitHub wiki page offers a number of formats of Photon for different installation types, as well as documentation on how to use Photon and information about support.Continue Reading
What are the different vSAN Stretched Cluster configuration options?
VMware increased flexibility in vSAN 6.6 with the addition of new stretched cluster configuration options. What are these options, and how do they improve availability?Continue Reading
How do you manually download VMware Tools ISO images?
VMware Tools optimizes VMs within a vSphere infrastructure. Although it's typically bundled with ESXi hosts, you can also manually install VMware Tools via an ISO image.Continue Reading
What is Photon OS, and why would I use it in my data center?
Due to its scalability, low cost and fast deployment, container technology is on the rise. How does VMware harness the power of containers in a vSphere environment?Continue Reading
VMware Workstation Pro
VMware Workstation Pro is a 64-bit hosted hypervisor intended to implement virtualization on Microsoft Windows and Linux endpoint computers, such as desktop systems.Continue Reading
What is the difference between erasure coding, RAID 5 and RAID 6?
RAID 5 and RAID 6 are two types of erasure coding. The former protects data with basic parity, while the latter builds in a second layer of parity for even greater protection.Continue Reading
VSAN Encryption: What it is, what it does and how to use it
New to vSphere 6.6, vSAN Encryption uses an XTS AES-256 cipher to encrypt all objects in the vSAN data store across both all-flash and hybrid configurations.Continue Reading
Image Builder makes it easy to manage vSphere Auto Deploy images
The VMware vSphere 6.5 Image Builder enables admins to create and install ISO images with the vSphere Web Client and manage them with Auto Deploy.Continue Reading
How do you enable SSH login for vSphere Data Protection?
Some situations call for remote access to the vSphere Data Protection appliance. This walk-through will show you how to enable SSH login so you can access it remotely.Continue Reading
How VMware VDP 6.1 backs up, replicates and restores vSphere VMs
VSphere Data Protection 6.1 uses image-level backup, vStorage API integration and variable-length deduplication technology to protect vSphere data.Continue Reading
The vSphere REST API adds new dimensions to automation
The new vSphere REST API comes with a number of advanced capabilities that simplify automation and management. Here are a few ways to best use its capabilities.Continue Reading
Use VCHA to set up a three-node cluster and protect your workloads
VCenter Server High Availability depends on a three-node cluster -- consisting of active, passive and witness nodes -- to limit the damage caused by system failures.Continue Reading
How do you upgrade a stand-alone host to ESXi 6.5?
Upgrading a stand-alone host to ESXi 6.5 is as easy as downloading the offline bundle update, starting Secure Shell and running a few commands with the ESXi software command tool set.Continue Reading
How to install and configure the vSphere Replication appliance
VMware vSphere Replication can help copy virtual machines from one host to another, or even one data center to another. Here's how to install and configure it.Continue Reading