Tips

Tips

• VMware vSphere Command Line Interface: Using vCLI for ESXi management

  If you’re a command-line lover, you may prefer to use the vSphere Command Line Interface instead of the vSphere Client for managing ESXi hosts.  Continue Reading

• VMware ESXi networking with IPv6: Do you need it?

  VMware vSphere now supports IPv6, but before you enable it, you need to decide whether IPv6 suits your VMware ESXi networking needs.  Continue Reading

• How to install VMware ESXi 5: Upgrading hosts and the vSphere Client

  If you’re ready to move to VMware ESXi 5, learn how to perform your ESXi upgrade in a few easy steps.  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

• Getting started with the VMware vShield 5 security suite

  The newest version of VMware’s security suite offers a variety of new features. VMware vShield 5 improves upon the many components that make up this product family.  Continue Reading

• VMware storage management in vSphere 5: VSA, VMFS and VASA

  VMware vSphere 5 storage enhancements include the vSphere Storage Appliance, expansion of the file system and increased integration with VMware-Aware Storage APIs.  Continue Reading

• VMware View 5 Persona Management: Improving user-profile control

  VMware View 5 arrived with Persona Management, a feature that allows greater control over user profiles during login and logoff.  Continue Reading

• Upgrading to VMware Workstation 8: Requirements and installation

  With all the new features of VMware Workstation 8, lots of customers are deciding to upgrade from Workstation 7. We walk you through the VMware Workstation upgrade process.  Continue Reading

• Nested virtualization with VMware Fusion 4 and Workstation 8

  Nesting VMs is like having a dream within a dream. With VMware Fusion 4, you can run a 64-bit nested VM in other hypervisors inside Fusion.  Continue Reading

• Setting up VMware user accounts for Active Directory integration

  You can connect Active Directory users to an ESXi host using existing VMware user accounts. Active Directory integration makes host management simpler.  Continue Reading

• VMware MVP and the emerging mobile virtualization era

  Mobile virtualization is taking hold, and VMware MVP allows IT pros to access work and personal data on one device. But the platform still has its limitations.  Continue Reading

• Customizing VMware user accounts to improve ESXi host security

  To improve ESXi host security, you can create new VMware user accounts with specific permissions. Don’t just stick with the ESXi defaults.  Continue Reading

• VMware Auto Deploy: ESXi installation made easy

  Installing ESXi is time consuming, but you can automate the ESXi installation and configuration process with VMware Auto Deploy in vSphere 5.  Continue Reading

• Protecting virtual desktops: Nine ways to ensure VMware View security

  You can improve the security of your VMware View environment by segregating desktops, tweaking network firewall rules and installing antivirus, to name a few.  Continue Reading

• Advanced ESXi troubleshooting with Tech Support Mode

  With Tech Support Mode enabled, you can use advanced VMware troubleshooting commands to diagnose and resolve ESXi host problems when the vSphere Client won’t do.  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

• Failback with SRM and vSphere Replication

  SRM 5.0 introduces support for vSphere Replication. What you might not know is that although this works perfectly for recoveries where the VM moves from one site to another, there is no automated method of failback.  Continue Reading

• ESXi console tech support mode: When the vSphere Client isn’t enough

  The ESXi console and its tech support mode can solve many issues that the vSphere Client can’t. Once enabled, you have the power of the Linux command line at your disposal.  Continue Reading

• VMware Workstation security best practices: Guard thy virtual fiefdom

  Regular patching and proper networking design are some of the VMware Workstation security best practices that will ensure that your precious data is secure.  Continue Reading

• Shared folders: How to improve file management in VMware Workstation

  In Workstation, enabling shared folders between a host and VM can streamline management and increase storage space. But it creates security risks, so weigh the options carefully.  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

• Face-off: Is VMware Tools worth the virtual security risks?

  VMware Tools are considered a best practice but they create virtual security risks. In this face-off, two experts debate whether the benefits outweigh the security concerns.  Continue Reading

• Configuring the ESXi firewall in VMware vSphere 5

  The ESXi 5 hypervisor has a new firewall, similar to the ESX firewall of yore. You can configure it through the vSphere Client or command line, depending on your preference.  Continue Reading

• VMware vSphere Replication breaks disaster recovery storage barriers

  VSphere Replication eliminates expensive disaster recovery storage requirements. SMBs no longer have to be jealous of enterprises’ DR plans.  Continue Reading

• CapacityIQ: Installing VMware’s capacity planning tool

  CapacityIQ adds an advanced reporting element to vCenter Server. By installing this capacity planning tool, you can capacity-plan for infrastructure expansion and control VM sprawl.  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

• Installing and configuring VMware ESXi

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

• 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

• VMware snapshots in Workstation: Turn back the hands of time

  VMware snapshots are a boon to Workstation test and dev environments. With VMware snapshots, you can easily fix any mistakes or system problems with just a few mouse clicks.  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

• 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

• 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

• Five silly VMware administrator mistakes

  Face it: VMware administrators make mistakes all the time. It’s part of the learning process. That said, some mistakes are downright silly.  Continue Reading

• Citrix XenDesktop on VMware vSphere: Important considerations

  Deploying Citrix XenDesktop on VMware vSphere is a common practice. It’s not necessarily more difficult to configure than a single-vendor setup, but expect to encounter some hurdles.  Continue Reading

• VSphere Client for iPad: VMware management on the go

  The vSphere Client for iPad brings VMware management to the iOS tablet. Once installed, you can tap, pinch and flick your way around a VMware infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• VSphere Enterprise Plus: Persuading your boss to upgrade your VMware licenses

  VSphere Enterprise Plus is the VMware licensing tier with all the bells and whistles. This sample letter may convince your boss to move on up like the Jeffersons.  Continue Reading

• Building network redundancy into VMware ESXi

  Network redundancy ensures that you aren’t caught off guard by network failures. Luckily, it takes only a few steps to create a redundant network in VMware ESXi.  Continue Reading

• Using NetApp VSC vCenter Plug-in

  Plug-ins were each a separate install – now they are bundled all together in a single installer – and NetApp have adopted the Virtual Storage Console as the moniker to cover a whole range of functionality.  Continue Reading

• VShield Manager: Installing VMware’s virtual security appliance

  VShield Manager is a virtual security appliance that controls the vShield security suite. Installing vShield Manager is the first step toward improving VMware security.  Continue Reading

• Time to adopt an "Application Virtualization First" Policy?

  A lengthy article on application virtualization products from Microsoft and the direction for the future.  Continue Reading

• Thin provisioning myth-busters: The benefits of thin virtual disks

  Thin provisioning gets a bad rap, often undeservedly so. Thin virtual disks can offer many benefits over other storage types. Here’s how to get the most out of them.  Continue Reading

• Zeroing in on vShield Endpoint and Edge features

  VShield Endpoint and vShield Edge protect against different types of virtualization threats. Find out how both vShield products fit into VMware’s revamped security suite.  Continue Reading

• Connecting an ESXi virtualization host to an iSCSI SAN

  Storing VMs on an ESXi virtualization host? That’s a rookie mistake. Instead, connect an ESXi virtualization host to an iSCSI SAN to protect VMs from a host failure.  Continue Reading

• Using VMware vSphere Hypervisor to build a free infrastructure

  The VMware vSphere Hypervisor, the free version of ESXi, lacks advanced features. But it can still work as the foundation for a free virtual infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• VMware Fusion for Mac: Advanced tips for power users

  VMware Fusion for Mac can virtualize multiple OSes on Mac OS X. VMware Fusion's advanced features optimize performance and allow users to control VMs through remote sessions.  Continue Reading

• VMware administration and management: Five quick tips

  VMware administration and management can be a burden, and unforeseen issues can arise. But if you master these VMware administration tips, you'll minimize the uncertainty.  Continue Reading

• VMware Fusion performance tips for Mac users

  VMware Fusion for Mac allows you to run multiple guest OSes on Mac OS X, but VMware Fusion performance depends on several variables, including memory and hardware configuration.  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

• Security certificates and RPM installation in vCloud Director

  Having trouble generating SSL security certificates or managing the RPM installation process? Expert Mike Laverick outlines these VMware vCloud Director installation steps.  Continue Reading

• Forwarding event logs to a centralized logging system for compliance

  Sometimes, it's necessary to forward event logs to a centralized logging system. In VMware infrastructure, you have several centralized logging options, including a Syslog server  Continue Reading

• How to install VMware vCloud Director in a home lab

  Critics say VMware vCloud Director (vCD) isn't suitable for production environments, but what about a home lab? If you're crazy enough to attempt it, this guide explains how to set up vCD at home.  Continue Reading

• Using fault-tolerant systems for more resilient data centers

  Live migration and fault-tolerant systems can really make your business continuity efforts shine. They're similar but are used for entirely different purposes.  Continue Reading

• Ultimate P2V

  Guides and resources to setting up your own Ultimate P2V project. Ultimate P2V is a free plug-in that allows you to clone a physical machine to virtual machine – and perform the neccessary “system reconfiguration” required to make it bootable.  Continue Reading

• Why does vendor lock-in get such a bad rap?

  Most companies avoid purchasing components from a single vendor -- otherwise known as 'vendor lock-in.' But a single-vendor approach has its advantages.  Continue Reading

• VMware pricing: How does the new per-VM model affect customers?

  The VMware pricing model for management products has changed, and it has several ramifications. Per-VM licensing could help or hinder operations, depending on your business needs.  Continue Reading

• VMware maintenance checklist: Daily, weekly and monthly tasks

  It's easy for systems admins to lose track of tasks when responding to alerts. Break down VMware maintenance into daily, weekly and monthly tasks so that important chores are not overlooked.  Continue Reading

• Migrating VMware View virtual desktops: Datastore considerations

  Moving View virtual desktop datastores to new datastores can be difficult if you have snapshots. Correct procedure also depends on the type of desktop pool.  Continue Reading

• Tackling esxtop for VMware performance management prowess

  Because esxtop is run in a shell session, it can be intimidating. But learning to use this performance tool and the various esxtop commands can provide valuable feedback as to how your CPUs are handling their workloads.  Continue Reading

• Upgrading to vSphere 4.1

  Lays out how to upgrade to vSphere 4.1 and the benefits of doing so.  Continue Reading

• Working with host profiles in the vSphere PowerCLI

  After learning how to create and manipulate host profiles from the vSphere PowerCLI, you can check and correct host compliance with a few short commands.  Continue Reading

• VMware VAAI pros and cons and the hidden fourth primitive

  There are three VAAI primitives in vSphere 4.1 -- Full Copy or Copy Offload, Block Zeroing and Scalable Lock Management. The fourth primitive, Thin Provisioning Stun, made it to the vSphere 4.1 General Availability release but remains hidden -- for ...  Continue Reading

• Using login banners with VMware View 4

  Windows XP login banners can force VMware View end-users to log in twice when they're trying to access their virtual desktops. But there's a better way that uses a single sign-on.  Continue Reading

• How to put the VMware View client on a USB drive with VMware ThinApp

  Providing View users with a USB version of their virtual desktop can eliminate some common objections to desktop virtualization: it doesn't require users to install software on their desktops, it is easy to use and secure, and it enables mobility. ...  Continue Reading

• VMware vSphere's built-in performance monitoring tools

  VMware vSphere features several free performance monitoring tools that can help assess the health of your virtual machines and fix resource bottlenecks.  Continue Reading

• Using VMware vSphere as a private cloud computing platform

  If you use VMware vSphere, you're already on the path to building a private cloud infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Creating a disaster recovery plan for VMware View virtual desktops

  Will your VMware View virtual desktops function properly if you lose your main data center in a disaster? Here's how to design a DR plan for a View architecture that works. Also: Will VMware SRM manage View desktops in the future?  Continue Reading

• Avoiding an Enhanced VMotion Compatibility gotcha

  You can only VMotion between hosts with similar CPUs, which used to be a huge painpoint if you had different servers in a cluster. VMware ESX 3.5 Update 2's Enhanced VMotion Compatibility (EVC) feature improved VMotion by 'dumbing down' the more ...  Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting VMware snapshots

  Virtual machine (VM) snapshots are a great tool to identify problems with VMs. An expert explains troubleshooting common problems that arise with snapshots in VMware ESX Server.  Continue Reading

• Bulk VMware administration: Using PowerCLI with standard switches

  Learn how to autoquickly create of a VLAN with a tagged port group for multiple VMware ESX hosts -- even if you don't have Enterprise Plus licensing.  Continue Reading

• Selecting hardware for VMware ESX environments: Look before you leap

  Not all hardware is compatible with VMware ESX, and not all compatible hardware will support more advanced features such as Fault Tolerance. Read this before purchasing hardware and you'll up the odds that your servers work with ESX.  Continue Reading

• Navigating VMware certifications: VCP, VCDX, VCAP

  While the VMware Certified Professional is still a necessary credential for VMware administrators, VMware has expanded its certifications and made them more difficult. Here, we discuss the various certifications and how to achieve them.  Continue Reading

• VMware View licensing explained, plain and simple

  VMware View licensing doesn't have to be complicated. To help you navigate through the myriad options, we outline the several ways you can license a VDI environment.  Continue Reading

• Ease into ESXi with the VMware Management Assistant

  The VMware Management Assistant, or vMA, could help you ease into COS-less ESXi as it utilizes many of the same commands. Learn more about it and get an installation step-by-step tutorial.  Continue Reading

• Loading ESXi Installable on a USB drive: The requirements

  Loading ESXi Installable on a USB drive has many advantages. But before you proceed, learn the pros and cons of the process and your system requirements.  Continue Reading

• The mechanics of VMware Site Recovery Manager resignaturing

  Learn about the inner workings of resignaturing, which is one of VMware Site Recovery Manager's (SRM's) most important operations that's typically clouded in mystery.  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

• When should you enable VMware Fault Tolerance?

  Fault Tolerance is a great tool for availability -- provided your servers meet the stringent hardware requirements, and your use case really makes sense.  Continue Reading

• Using PowerShell and PowerCLI to work with host servers

  Learn how to query your VMware host servers with this PowerShell Primer.  Continue Reading

• Configuring VMware vCenter Server Linked Mode: A walkthrough

  VMware vCenter Server's new Linked Mode capability allows administrators to manage complex vSphere virtual environments.  Continue Reading

• Customizing VMware Site Recovery Manager recovery plans with VMware PowerCLI scripts

  Using VMware PowerCLI scripts with VMware Site Recovery Manager can help you create a more robust, customized recovery plan. We show you how.  Continue Reading

• Upgrading to VMware vSphere: Five pros and five cons

  Increased performance, scalability and new features top the list as to why you should upgrade to vSphere, but proven product stability, third-party product and hardware compatibility are reasons you may want to stay with VMware Infrastructure 3 for ...  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

• Reviewing the five official VMware vCloud Express providers

  There are currently five official vCloud Express providers. Our contributor tested each of them. Read through the multi-part series to discover the surprising results.  Continue Reading

• Using the new VMware vSphere Management Assistant (vMA)

  When VMware released vSphere, it also updated what was formerlly known as the VMware Infrastructure Management Assistant, or VIMA. Now called vMA, it offers more than its predecessor. We go over how to install and use it here.  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

• VMware vSphere PowerCLI: Learn it, love it

  Getting on the vSphere PowerCLI bandwagon makes sense for administrators fed up with the time sink and error-prone nature of some administrative tasks.  Continue Reading

• Downloading, configuring and using VMotion in vSphere 4

  VMotion moves virtual machines to new hosts without creating downtime -- a win for admins and end users alike. Here's how to download, configure and use VMotion in vSphere.  Continue Reading

• VMware vSphere hot-add RAM and hot-plug CPU: Not so 'hot,' but still cool

  In theory, hot-add RAM and hot-plug CPU should allow you to easily add RAM and CPU as necessary while your virtual machine is running ("hot") to meet your workloads' needs. Not so, but the two are still useful add-ons.  Continue Reading

• PowersHell: Enabling “Management Traffic” on VMKernel port for ESXi

  Describes the steps you must follow in order to enable "Management Traffic" on VMKernel port for ESXi.  Continue Reading

• PowersHell: Factory Reset of ESXi

  During the course of my travels in powersHell with VMware – I’ve begun to put together my own JACS (Just-Another-Configuration-Script). The idea is to take a clean-factory set ESXi build, and use purely powersHell to configure it.  Continue Reading

• PowersHell: Enabling DPM Settings (IPMI/iLO/BMC)

  In vSphere4 there’s a new method enabling the “Distributed Power Management” options for a DPM enabled cluster.  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