Get started

Get started

Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.

• vStorage APIs for Storage Awareness (VASA)

  vStorage APIs for Storage Awareness (VASA) is a set of application program interfaces (APIs), released with VMware’s vSphere 5, that enables vSphere vCenter to recognize the capabilities of storage arrays that support the API. Continue Reading

• Profile-Driven Storage

  Profile-Driven Storage is a feature in vSphere 5 that lets users to intelligently provision applications, mapping VMs to storage levels according to service levels, availability, performance needs or cost. Continue Reading

• VMware disaster recovery options: Beyond Site Recovery Manager

  VMware offers its own disaster recovery tools, but there are a number of viable third-party products you can use for VMware disaster recovery. Continue Reading

• corporate VM (corporate virtual machine)

  A corporate VM (corporate virtual machine) is a virtual computing environment (VM) that is allocated to an end user for business use. Continue Reading

• VMware licensing FAQ: Navigating View, vCenter and vSphere 5 licensing

  VMware has so many licenses for its many products, it can get confusing. We break down vCenter, VMware View and vSphere 5 licensing in this FAQ. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • VMware
  • VMware DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler)
  • Storage vMotion
  • VMware ESXi

  • VMware vRealize Log Insight (formerly vCenter Log Insight)
  • VMware Cloud on AWS
  • VMware vSphere Client
  • VMware vCenter Server (formerly VMware VirtualCenter)

  View All Definitions

• vSphere Replication

  VSphere Replication is a feature of vSphere 5.0  and Site Recovery Manager (SRM) 5.0 that automates the failover of virtual servers to a recovery site.Continue Reading

• Using VMware Boomerang as a mini vSphere Client

  Boomerang, a VMware fling, is a pared down vSphere Client for basic VM tasks. It’s a neat utility, but it could use a few improvements.Continue Reading

• Storage Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS)

  VMware DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler) is a load balancing utility that assigns and moves computing workloads to available hardware resources in a virtualized environment. Continue Reading

• vStorage API for Multipathing (VAMP)

  vStorage API for Multipathing (VAMP) is a set of application program interfaces (APIs) from VMware that help to control I/O path selection in a host to storage devices. Continue Reading

• vStorage APIs for Array Integration (VAAI)

  vStorage API for Array Integration (VAAI) is an application program interface (API) framework from VMware that enables certain storage tasks, such as thin provisioning, to be offloaded from the VMware server virtualization hardware to the storage ...Continue Reading

• Octopus

  Octopus is the production codename for a VMware file sharing application for the enterprise.Continue Reading

• personal VM (personal virtual machine or PVM)

  A personal VM (personal virtual machine) is a virtual computing environment that is allocated to an end user for personal use.Continue Reading

• vStorage API

  A vStorage API is an application program interface (API) from VMware that enables third-party storage and backup vendors to integrate their products with VMware’s vSphere server virtualization platform.Continue Reading

• VMware ESXi security: Protecting VMs, VMkernel and the network

  With these VMware ESXi security techniques, you can keep your virtual machines, the network and the VMkernel safe from harm.Continue Reading

• VMware snapshots explained

  VMware snapshots are a lifesaver. If things go wrong, VMware snapshots can restore a VM back to normal. But if they’re managed poorly, virtualization performance may suffer.Continue Reading

• The top iPad applications for VMware admins

  If you are serious about using an iPad in a virtual data center, these top iPad applications for VMware admins will provide the proper functionality.Continue Reading

• VMware vSphere beginner's guide

  Starting out with VMware vSphere can be a daunting task. You don’t want to miss any of its many features, and VMware vSphere 5 has added to that portfolio.Continue Reading

• Installing VMware Tools: Believe the hype

  Installing VMware Tools adds an eclectic mix of management and performance capabilities to a VMware infrastructure. There are only a few downsides, and it’s free.Continue Reading

• Playing god with VMware host resources

  The first commandment of allocating VMware host resources: Thou shall not accept ESXi’s default CPU and memory assignments.Continue Reading

• VMware storage options and Storage vMotion: A guide

  VMware storage options include VMFS, thin provisioning, NFS and block-level storage. Virtualization storage features such as VMware Storage vMotion also help protect VM data.Continue Reading

• Attaching NFS storage to a VMware ESXi host

  NFS storage provides a cheap and effective way to centrally store disk images in VMware ESXi. It takes only a few clicks to attach NFS storage to an ESXi host.Continue Reading

• Using VMware DRS and DPM to improve resource allocation

  VMware DRS and DPM enlist vMotion to move VMs among physical servers for automatic resource allocation and load balancing. And VMware DPM can help save on data center energy costs.Continue Reading

• VMware Workstation FAQ

  Run multiple OSes and create test labs right on your desktop with VMware Workstation. If you want a VMware Workstation upgrade, VMware Workstation 9 is the latest version.Continue Reading

• VMware vMotion: A complete guide

  With VMware vMotion, you can migrate VMs between physical hosts without downtime. VMware vMotion helps you address maintenance needs, load balancing and resource allocation.Continue Reading

• VMware ThinApp explained

  Application virtualization with VMware ThinApp can offer many advantages, especially around flexibility and security. But VMware ThinApp isn't a good fit for all applications.Continue Reading

• VMware High Availability and Fault Tolerance FAQ

  VMware High Availability and Fault Tolerance limit downtime, which is a major benefit for virtualized infrastructure. But VMware HA and FT aren't turnkey features. This FAQ explains each technology.Continue Reading

• VMware resource pool management guide

  Poor virtualization performance affects all business operations. Therefore, strict VMware resource pool management is essential for efficient, well-run companies.Continue Reading

• What is VMware vSphere 4?

  VMware vSphere 4 is the backbone of VMware's server infrastructure suite. Read about vSphere's technologies, pricing and roadmap.Continue Reading

• Virtual appliances and the OVF format: The new software packaging

  Thanks to the Open Virtualization Format, virtual appliances are the new way to deliver software -- say goodbye to boxes and CDs.Continue Reading

• Why users say 'nay' to the big ESX-ESXi switch

  It's no secret that VMware favors ESXi for the future. But from an administrator's standpoint, that switch would involve more pain than pleasure – at least in ESXi's current form.Continue Reading

• What is VMware Consolidated Backup?

  What is VMware Consolidated Backup? Simply put, VCB is a backup framework that offloads virtual machine backup off the ESX Server.Continue Reading

• What is VMware View?

  VMware View is VMware's virtual desktop infrastructure, or VDI, software that runs a desktop on a user's thin client, or PC, from the servers in a data center. Learn more about what VMware View is and how it works with this Super Definition.Continue Reading

• The top 10 VMware tools an admin can't live without

  You wouldn't expect to build a house without a hammer, saw and nails, and you shouldn't expect to manage a VMware environment without the appropriate tools, either. Check out our top ten list of tools a VMware admin shouldn't live -- or work -- ...Continue Reading

• What is VMware vCenter Server?

  This VMware vCenter definition explains the features and capabilities of vSphere's centralized management tool.Continue Reading

• virtual machine configuration

  Virtual machine configuration is the arrangement of resources assigned to a virtual machine. The resources allocated to a virtual machine (VM) typically include allocated processors, memory, disks, network adapters and the user interface.Continue Reading

• The best VMware product guide: Hypervisors, desktop products and cloud services

  If you're looking for a quick overview of all of VMware's products, this guide is what you've been looking for. In part one of the two-part series, learn about VMware's different hypervisors, desktop products and cloud services.Continue Reading

• Licensing virtual machines: Windows 2008 Standard, Enterprise or Datacenter edition?

  Now that most machines are virtual rather than physical, Windows licensing can get a bit complicated. In this tip, learn exactly how many Microsoft licenses you need to cover your infrastructure and prevent the Business Software Alliance from ...Continue Reading

• What is the free VMware OVFTOOL and how can it help you?

  VMware's OVFTOOL is a conversion program that eases distribution of virtual machines, converting them from the OVF format to .VMX, .OVA, .VMX files and others.Continue Reading

• Using VMware's new vSphere command-line interface vCLI

  VMware updated the Remote Command-Line Interface (Remote CLI) with vSphere, renaming it vCLI. It offers many new commands, IPv6 support, the ability to run esxtop through vCenter, new options for vicfg-route and more.Continue Reading

• Virtual-to-physical conversions: Why and how

  Physical-to-virtual or P2V conversions are well-known in the virtualization field. Virtual-to-physical, or V2P, may be less so. But V2P conversions are still important to know how to do -- especially when it comes to application vendor support ...Continue Reading

• Controlling vSphere administrative rights with Windows Active Directory groups

  Accountability, authentication and authorization are placed in limbo when all administrators are logging in to vSphere with the same account, but you can avoid those issues by configuring vSphere to use Windows Active Directory groups.Continue Reading

• From VMware beginner to VMware expert: The must-have resources

  If you're a VMware beginner, there is no 'easy button' to get VMware expertise. But the VMware resources listed here can jump-start your journey to VMware expert status.Continue Reading

• Safely implementing VMsafe-aware virtual appliances in your data center

  VMsafe-aware virtual appliances can subject a virtualization environment to security risks, but smart administration can help you avoid a breach.Continue Reading

• Installing VMware Tools on Linux

  Installing VMware Tools on a Linux virtual machine with the Linux command-line interface can be tricky, but this article offers step-by-step directions on the process.Continue Reading

• The top 10 cons of VMware virtualization: Challenging VMware critics

  VMware may be the market leader, but skeptics remain hesitant to purchase VMware virtualization. Here are 10 cons lodged against VMware and an expert's rebuttals.Continue Reading

• Five options for installing CD or DVD data on VMware virtual machines

  There are several methods for accessing a CD or DVD from a VMware ESX host virtual machine, but it's best to use ISO files of the OSes or applications on the CD or DVD and store them on a SAN.Continue Reading

• Why you should delete outdated vCenter Server data

  With SQL commands, you can delete superfluous vCenter Server database information and save disk space and boost system performance. But you need to monitor database table size.Continue Reading

• Choosing a virtual disk type for VMware ESX: Raw, thick and thin disks

  VMware ESX virtual machines use three disk types for file storage: raw, thick and thin disks. Here's how to determine which disk type makes most sense for your VMware infrastructure.Continue Reading

• Understanding VMware ESX virtual machine physical and virtual hardware

  You can better manage virtual machines by understanding the virtual hardware that makes up a VM. This tip explores VM physical and virtual hardware issues, including configuring virtual hardware and assigning virtual memory.Continue Reading

• embedded hypervisor

  An embedded hypervisor is a hypervisor that is programmed (embedded) directly into a processor, personal computer (PC) or server. This architecture offers convenience at the cost of some flexibility compared with conventional hypervisors ... (...Continue Reading

• VMware ESX Server runbook overview

  Though getting VMware ESX Server in the budget is no small feat, the real work for virtualization administrators begins when it's time to manage, configure and monitor your virtual infrastructure network, storage and performance -- This VMware ESX ...Continue Reading

• VMware Converter

  VMware Converter is a utility that facilitates the creation of VMware virtual machines from physical systems or virtual machines associated with third-party vendors. The utility also enables migration of virtual machines between VMware platforms ...Continue Reading

• VMware VMFS (Virtual Machine File System)

  VMware VMFS (Virtual Machine File System) is a cluster file system that facilitates storage virtualization for multiple installations of VMware ESX Server, a hypervisor that partitions physical servers into multiple virtual machines... (Continued)Continue Reading

• VMware Update Manager

  VMware Update Manager is a utility that oversees the installation of updates for existing installations of VMware ESX Server and guest operating systems. Update Manager tracks vulnerabilities within the virtual infrastructure and automatically ...Continue Reading

• VMware Virtual SMP (Symmetric Multi-Processing)

  VMware Virtual SMP is a utility that allows a single virtual machine to use two or more processors simultaneously. The utility is part of a virtualization suite called VMware Infrastructure 3... (Continued)Continue Reading

• VMware Infrastructure 3 (VI3)

  VMware Infrastructure 3 (VI3) is a software suite designed to centralize and optimize desktop management and data center resources through virtualization... (Continued)Continue Reading

• 10 tips: Using VMware Workstation as an admin console

  In this tip, Judith Myerson gives an example of a way VMware Workstation can be used as an administrator's console and 10 best practices for using it thusly.Continue Reading

• Using VMware Capacity Planner for ESX or VI3

  In this tip, Judith Myerson looks a situation in which an IT team uses VMware Capacity Planner for an initial capacity utilization assessment. See the baseline measurements VMware Capacity Planner gives for existing servers' capacities in relation ...Continue Reading