The Virtual Disk API, or VixDiskLib, is a set of function calls to manipulate virtual disk files in VMDK format (virtual machine disk). Function call semantics are patterned after C system calls for file I/O. This API enables partners and software vendors to manage VMDK directly from their applications. These library functions can manipulate virtual disk on a VMware Workstation or similar product (hosted disk) or virtual disk contained within a VMFS volume on an ESX Server (managed disk). Hosted disk is an original VMware concept meaning a disk managed by the Workstation host for a guest operating system. The Virtual Disk Development Kit is a collection of C libraries, code samples, utilities, and documentation to help you create or access VMware virtual disk storage. The kit includes:
ļ§Ā The Virtual Disk library, a set of C function calls to manipulate virtual disk (VMDK) files.
ļ§Ā C++ code samples that you can build with either Visual Studio or the GNU C compiler.
ļ§Ā Virtual Disk Manager utility to manipulate offline VMDK files on Windows or Linux (clone, create, relocate, rename, grow, shrink, or defragment).
ļ§Ā DiskMount utility to access files and file systems in virtual disks on Windows or Linux.
ļ§Ā Documentation about the Virtual Disk library and the command-line utilities.
Tuesday, April 15. 2008
Virtual Disk Development Kit
Friday, April 11. 2008
Undeleeb Din about the VMware Update Manager
Undeleeb Din over at VMware presented the VMware Update Manager training module at the VDM TTT this week in Frimley. I captured some video footage which can be viewed here. The VMware Update Manager keeps systems up-to-date and reduces the number of vulnerabilities. VUM is all about Automated Patch Management and Patches ESX hosts and the VMs and templates hosted on them.
Wednesday, April 9. 2008
Interview with Mike Laverick about VDM2
This evening Thomas Hagedorn over at Magirus Nordic treated us a nice Italian dinner. We had a lot of fun especially the four birthdays in the same restaurantĀ led to a lot of singing and handclaps. Earlier today I had the opportunity to speak with Mike Laverick about the battle of the RPD protocols. He also shared his findings about the Virtual Desktop Manager 2. Finally I couldnāt resist asking him about the upcoming Advanced Technical Design Guide, and why itās taking so long ;-). I recorded the interview and you can download it here.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ĀTuesday, April 8. 2008
Andy Cary delivering the VDM2 TTT
Today I attended the Virtual Desktop Manager 2Ā Train The Trainer course at VMware in Frimley (UK) delivered by Andy Cary, Undeleeb Din and Richard Garsthagen.Ā It was a great day with lots of discussion about Group Policyās and mandatory profileās besides that we looked at the classroom setup. As always I brought my camera with me and made some pictures during the course. I even managed to collect some video footageĀ and posted it on Blip.tv.
Sunday, April 6. 2008
Virtual Desktop Manager Train The Trainer
Monday the 7th of April Iāll fly to London Heathrow. Iām staying at the famous Lakeside International Hotel. This hotel is also known from the Frimley Green Darts Tournament. On Tuesday Iāll attend the Virtual Desktop Manager Train the Trainer. This hands-on training course, aimed at experienced VMware Infrastructure 3 administrators, covers installation, configuration, and management of a VMware Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) using VMware Virtual Desktop Manager (VDM). Iām among the top VMware trainers from Europe, so stay tuned, because Iāve packed my camera and microphone.