Tips

Tips

VMware ESX and ESXi administrative tips

• 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 troubleshooting done right

  VMware troubleshooting can seem like an impossible task, even after calling VMware for support. But there are ways to make the VMware troubleshooting process quicker and easier.  Continue Reading

• VMware backup tools and strategies for small businesses

  Virtualization has trickled down to small businesses, presenting IT pros with new challenges. Choosing the proper VMware backup tools and strategies is one such obstacle.  Continue Reading

• Installing and configuring VMware ESXi

  Learn how to install and configure VMware's small footprint hypervisor, VMware ESXi, now available for free.  Continue Reading

• Virtual machine migration: The old-fashioned way

  These days virtual machine migration is a given, unless you run the free version of ESXi. If a host requires maintenance, you’ll need to manually migrate VMs off it.  Continue Reading

• VSphere Host Profiles vs. PowerCLI: The war for automation supremacy

  Both vSphere Host Profiles and PowerCLI scripts automate the host-provisioning process, but each tool has strengths and limitations.  Continue Reading

• VCenter CapacityIQ by the numbers

  Knowledge is power, and vCenter CapacityIQ provides metrics on vital infrastructure resources. Armed with this data, you can make sound logistical and workload decisions.  Continue Reading

• Important business decisions for VMware SRM: RTO and RPO

  When it comes to VMware SRM, business decisions drive many of the technical aspects. Many of these decisions are out of IT’s control, which can make things complicated.  Continue Reading

• Deleting virtual machine snapshots without wasting disk space

  You can avoid wasting disk space and performance problems when deleting, or committing, virtual machine snapshots.  Continue Reading

• Free shared-storage options for VMware ESXi

  While shared storage isn’t a requirement, it’s a best practice for VMware ESXi infrastructures of all sizes. For cost-conscious IT shops, consider free shared-storage options.  Continue Reading

• Filling VMware vCenter Server management voids

  VMware vCenter Server management is second nature for most administrators, but the product isn’t perfect. Luckily, several available tools can fix vCenter Server’s shortcomings.  Continue Reading

• What’s in your VMware toolbox?

  Every administrator needs a VMware toolbox, a set of tools, documents and scripts for any crisis. With a well-equipped VMware toolbox, you’ll be the Bob Vila of your data center.  Continue Reading

• Creating a VMkernel connection to optimize ESXi storage traffic

  By configuring a VMkernel connection, you can place ESXi storage traffic and user-related traffic on separate networks, and congestion problems will be a thing of the past.  Continue Reading

• VMware vShield security overview

  This security overview explores the VMware vShield security suite. VShield offers protection at the VM, OS and network level for vSphere infrastructures.  Continue Reading

• Using a VMware diagram as a learning and troubleshooting tool

  A VMware diagram is more than just a pretty picture. It can map dependencies and uncover single points of failure, all of which demonstrate its prowess as a troubleshooting tool.  Continue Reading