Eric Sloof - NTPRO.NL

Released 29-May-2008 | Build 93057

The VIX API allows development of scripts and programs to automate virtual machine operations. The API is high-level, easy to use, and practical for both script writers and application programmers. The VIX API includes:

 C API—This release of the API is available in the C language. API functions allow you to register, power on or off virtual machines, and run programs in the guest operating systems.

 Perl API—This release also includes a simplified API available in the Perl language.

 COM API—This release includes a COM binding, for development of C#, Visual Basic, and VBScript clients.

 Command-line Utility— Included with the installation is the vmrun command-line utility, based on the VIX API.

Rick Wininger posted some interesting information about the new VCDX certification and the number of VCP’s worldwide. He was present at the VMware Partner Xchange in San Diego and talked to a number of VMware badged employees. As for the VCDX, VMware is not planning to make money on the exam. They had to write their own test engines for both exams from scratch. As for the review board, initially the panel will consist of VMware PSO's. After that, any of us who have passed the entire track, will sit on the board where people will have to defend their design to us. There are over 20000 VCP's worldwide, however they do not expect more than 100 (one hundred) VCDX worldwide. It will be expensive due to travel costs, but that will be about it. He does know that VMware is toying with the idea of interim certification, but that is still in discussion.

Jeroen Bezemer, a former colleague of mine created a great way to monitor network traffic on virtual switches, using the NetFlow technical note provided by VMware to set it up and enabling NetFlow on virtual switches. NetFlow is a general networking tool with multiple uses, including network monitoring and profiling, billing, intrusion detection and prevention, networking forensics, and SOX compliance. NetFlow sends aggregated networking flow data to a third�party collector (an appliance or server). The collector and analyzer report on various information such as the current top flows consuming the most bandwidth in a particular virtual switch, which IP addresses are behaving irregularly, and the number of bytes a particular virtual machine has sent and received in the past 24 hours. NetFlow is a mature technology, developed by Cisco, that is widely supported by third�party collectors. NetFlow enables visibility into virtual machine traffic in a virtualized server farm. NetFlow support in ESX Server 3.5 is experimental and supports only a limited set of the standard NetFlow features commonly found on physical switches today. Although the activation of NetFlow should not create stability issues, overall performance of the ESX Server host may be affected.

VMware released an update of the their VDI connection broker software with some exiting improvements and features like :

  Pools spanning datastores in order to better manage resources
 Localization of VDM Web Access and Client for Windows
 Command line parameters for VDM Client
 Integrate MMR multimedia extensions DLL with VDM Client (Windows XP)
 Allow end users to change password
 Multiple sessions per user within a pool
 Improvements to logging
 Allow end users to restart their VM
 Defined process for bulk import of individual desktops
 VDM Configuration Backup (command-line only)
 Allow blocking of incoming RDP connections that are not from VDM Clients
 Allow VDM administrators to set default desktop (command line only)

When your company becomes a VMware Partner you can become a VTSP. I have completed the first couple of modules and must admit that the questions are not as easy as I thought. I think they are even harder than the VCP test. On the other hand, when you fail you can retake the exam immediately online, not that I needed that.

The VMware Technical Sales Professional (VTSP) program is an online, self-paced curriculum that is focused on pre-sales foundational technical training. To get your first VTSP accreditation you need to complete one VTSP training plan. Each training plan consists of Core Courses as well as specialty tracks. Together, this pre-sales-focused technical training curriculum prepares you to technically position and sell VMware products and VMware Solutions.

VTSP offers the following Training Plans:

 VTSP - Desktop Solution - ACE Essentials & VDI Essentials
 VTSP - Infrastructure Virtualization
 VTSP - VSLA Management - Workstation and Lab Manager

Peter Rudolf over at mightycare-solutions created a new version of his MCS StorageView tool. In this new version he fixed problems with:

Opening the config.ini that didn’t exists. Change Color of needed GB in Yellow.Change the wrong Color switch. Under Option you can change for “C:�, “D:�, “E:� and all other Partition the Needed free space for your environment. The export to CSV without Error.

The VMware Virtual Infrastructure Java API provides a set of libraries with full support of managed object model and utilities to manage and control VMware virtual machines and servers using the VMwware Virtual Infrastructure Web service interface. To get help, you can find exact description of each managed object and its properties/methods in the VI SDK API reference. Just look for the managed object type and its method with the same name. Please skip the first _this parameter and the rest are the same except the difference of real type and  anagedObjectReference. The description should be applicable despite the difference. You will find some samples inside the com.vmware.vim25.mo.samples package. As you will find out, the samples using this APIs are much shorter and more readable than the ones using VI SDK web service interfaces. Please note that this is an open source project and not supported by VMware. But community members can help each other via bug report, forum, mailing list. Also please let us know your wish list via feature request. Via Virtualization.info.

The Alternative to Citrix – simple, fast and more cost-effective access to Terminal Servers Ericom's PowerTerm WebConnect VMware virtual appliance for Server Based Computing (SBC) and Presentation Virtualization delivers secure, centrally managed access to business applications and desktops running on Windows Terminal Servers-more easily and cost-effectively than ever. As a practical, ready-to-go solution, Ericom's PowerTerm WebConnect virtual appliance enables faster deployments, updates and support - ideal for organizations with remote users and multiple locations. Pre-packaged with PowerTerm WebConnect installed on the Ubuntu Linux 7.10 operating system (running inside a virtual machine) the appliance reduces the cost and complexity of traditional PC management.

Carter Shanklin created a nice video how to create lots of virtual machines at once.



Creating lots of virtual machines at once. from Carter Shanklin on Vimeo.

If you're like me you get bored with clicking through Wizard interfaces after about the 5th time or so. On the other hand scripting is a lot more powerful, but at the same time requires you to learn programming languages and APIs, not exactly a lot of fun. Whenever I'm staring at a 12-step wizard I always wish there was a way I could convert it to a spreadsheet input view that would let me fill in a bunch of them at once and then automatically run through everything for me. That's the motivation for this spreadsheet . Basically it lets you enter an entire table of values, but takes care of all the scripting for you. Using the spreadsheet is very simple, but as always you will need to havei nstalled the VI Toolkit (for Windows) on your computer.

The second annual VMworld Europe conference will be held 24-26 February 2009 at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Cannes, France. The event will bring face-to-face the industry leaders shaping the future of virtualization, as interest in the field continues to grow in Europe, Middle East and Africa. It will also provide a platform for visitors to interact with the customers, partners and technologists who are shaping both VMware’s expanding ecosystem and the virtualization industry.  Pre-Register Today

Herco van Burg, a Dutch vmug member launched the virtualappliances.eu website where you can find and download the most popular virtual appliances like:

• X-m0n0wall - The most popular firewall appliance in the VMware appliance directory.
• ESX deployment appliance - Dedicated ESX deployer that will deploy dozens of hosts in minutes.
• Hasslefree Download Appliance - Usenet binaries and Torrent download appliance that takes care of everything.
• Ubuntu 7.10 Just Enough OS  -A perfect base to build appliances on!

There’s a blueprint available for the VMware Enterprise Administration Exam. This exam is part of the prerequisites of the VCDX Certification. It includes live labs and tests a higher level of skill set than the exam for VCP on VMware Infrastructure 3. The Enterprise Exam is available this month. Candidates can check their skills and see if they are suited to this exam online via the VMware Certification page. Only those who meet these qualifications will be able to attend the exam.

Play the Community Challenge to test your knowledge of virtualization trivia in several categories. Check back often as contests will be run for the VMworld.com community. The monthly high score wins a VMworld 2008 pass. Test your skills and take the Community Challenge below. Each game consists of 20 questions. Scoring is displayed as you go and overall scores will be kept for the community. The longer you take to answer a question, the fewer points you get — so think fast!

Community Challenge High Scores

High scores for game players for the challenge players, congratulations to those that made this page.

1st. Place:  scholtene May 20, 2008 Game: Computer Acronyms and Slang 1650
2nd. Place:  MeAgain May 20, 2008 General Game 1540
3rd. Place:  MeAgain May 20, 2008 General 1440
4th. Place:  MeAgain May 20, 2008 General Game 1430

VMware is working on a session that will allow monthly challenge winners to participate in a in person challenge at a session in Vegas. They will probably use a team format that will place challenge winners on a team and then compete against each other in a challenge.

I’m delivering an instructor led VMware Sales Professional training again. You can still sign in for next Friday. The VMware Sales Professional (VSP) program is an online, self-paced curriculum that has been broken down into an accreditation for each of VMware’s four main solution areas. The first accreditation can be completed in about 5-7 hours and each subsequent accreditation requires about 1-2 hours. Together, this sales-focused training curriculum:

• Jumpstarts a person’s understanding of how to sell VMware products & solutions
• Reduces the time needed to be effective
• Ensures a consistent message is being evangelized