Eric Sloof

Trainsignal has just released their VMware vSphere Training, Check it out now!

36 Videos (17 hrs: 46mins: 59secs) will be provided in High-Quality AVI and WMV format. In other words, you get perfect quality and replication of your instructor's screens. An easy-to-use table of contents allows you to navigate to key areas you wish to focus on.

36 iPod video files to watch Train Signal on the go! A popular request amongst our students who wish to study while they commute (i.e., train, plane, bus). These 320x240 .m4v files are compressed versions of the original course, and play on any iPod that supports video. Also great for reviewing and refreshing your mind "on the job."

36 MP3 Files to listen to Train Signal on the go. Some of our students have requested this option. People would like to be able to listen in their car or while working out. Can be burnt to a CD or copied to portable device. Great supplemental training to the videos.

Instructor Notes – These PDF documents can be printed out and contain the slides used by the instructor throughout the videos. These allow the user a quick easy reference to notes on the slides and make any additional notes for their own learning process.

“As a former MCT and present VMware Certified Instructor, I can tell you that teaching a VMware course is far more difficult than teaching an average course. When viewing David’s training videos he puts a smile on my face, he’s one of the few who is able to present the relevant information in a clear and understandable way.”

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VMware’s Code Central offers sample code for VMware vSphere SDKs and APIs. You can find and download the latest VMware Community sample code. This sample code comes in different languages including Java, Perl & C#. VMware has opened up a new section in Code Central with Visual Basic Samples, Richard Garsthagen also known as The Anykey already posted the source of his hostinfo utility.

The enclosed Visual Basic 2008 project show a sample console application that queries all hosts known to the VC server and reports their vmotion capability back.

The project uses a vc_functions module, which I use in most my applications. It simplifies a few things;

• Setup the SSL certificate handling, that any certificate will be accepted:-)
• Offers 3 basic functions; Login, FindObjects and ViewObject.

Especially finding objects with the native SDK is very complicated, as you have to create some difficult filter and objects specs. This module massively simplifies this process.

The project comes with optimized DLLs that were created from the .wdsl files that come with the vSphere SDK. Just make sure your project references to the 2 DLLs.

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-10278

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I just finished a Skype call with David Bieneman, he‘s the CEO at Liquidware Labs these days. We started off with talking about the old Vizioncore days when David attended his first VMware TSX 2005 at Vienna, Austria. David also has given me a heads up about a new website called VDI.COM which  is a technical resource where thought leaders in server based computing and virtualization come together.
 
The site is focused on real VDI adoption related issues like desktop and user assessment prior to designing VDI, design and deployment of VDI, best practices on how to secure VDI, how to gauge user experience and measure application level performance, observing user/application workload behaviour, expanding POCs (proof of concepts) to production and of course moderators keep adding more topics.

There are forums, polls, blogs and even classified ads for independent consultants or those selling their old FAT clients!  The site it super social and viral.  Unlike a standard forum with simple text Q&A - you can share videos, you have an instant messenger built in, chat-rooms, event postings, file uploads and even a photo forum to vent or have a laugh.

The best part is, thought leaders from all over the world have already began to sign up with VDI.com - not the employees of just a single solution or platform!

So head over to http://www.vdi.com and Let the VDI begin!

When you’re not into Skype and want to meet David Bieneman in person, he will be at this year’s VMworld, here’s his quote ..

Eric, the 45 minutes we spent was not enough. I’ll be at this year’s VMworld in San Francisco – booth 1438K in the new innovators pavilion if any of your readers want to come by and pick up a VDI.com giveaway! Lastly so everyone knows, VDI.com is owned by Liquidware Labs... but not smothered by Liquidware Labs.  Let’s not have any surprises once that gets out... So now it’s out!  We may put some advertisements up on there, but we don't plan on making this an ‘ad site’ using every free space and disrupting the main intent of the site... to share, learn and teach.

This new Service Catalog solution is packaged as a virtual appliance, includes pre-built integration with VMware vCenter, and is designed to improve governance for virtual machines from cradle to grave. IT operations can now offer a self-service menu of standard virtual server choices, while controlling who can request which options with entitlement-based access and automated approval processes. Unlike other self-service portal tools, the virtual server request forms and provisioning workflows are completely configurable without coding.  Instead of logging into a complicated interface with technical terminology, application developers fill out easy-to-use forms that compile everything needed for an automated server build sheet.

The virtual appliance also offers new capabilities for service item lifecycle management, with an audit trail and tracking for the complete lifecycle of each virtual machine.  This includes standard VM definitions, information on who requested specific instances and why, as-provisioned and change management history, as-running status, and decommission dates. VMware administrators will now have the visibility they need to determine which departments are consuming which resources, eliminate over-provisioning, reclaim unused virtual machines, and reduce virtual server sprawl.
The newScale Service Catalog for VMware trial is available now to qualified prospects at www.newScale.com/VMware.  This 14-day trial includes everything you need to evaluate how newScale will work in your VMware environment:

• Downloadable virtual appliance including newScale application software, database, VMware vCenter adapter and Web server;
• Example library of content for the most common virtual server requests, including sample VM request forms and approval workflows;
• Self-paced tutorial to guide you through the set-up and deployment process;
• 1 hour personalized orientation session to answer your questions; and
• Access to the newScale Support Portal and User Community with a subscription to the newScale tips and tricks program.

In addition to planning and designing small and large virtualization environments, mightycare solutions GmbH (MCS) also develops helpful tools. For customers which decide not to use the VMware Site Recovery Manager the new MCS-DR-Quick-Reg tool is the fastest and simplest way to register virtual machines from replicated LUN´s. The tool is easy to handle both as experienced administrator and normal users.

The MCS-DR-Quick-Reg connects to a VMware ESX Server 3.x, vSphere4 Server, Virtual Center Server 2.5 or vCenter server. After registration on the Infrastructure Server the registered virtual Machines can be displayed. Now you can search on individual datastores for unregistered virtual Machines. When using the tool a new registry key under HKEY_CURRENT_USER-> Software-> MightyCare-> vTools will be created. In this key you can find the connection parameters.

Check out their website next Friday. http://mightycare.de/

Hyper9 officially launched the GA of Hyper9’s Virtualization Optimization Suite™ (VOS) today.  It helps IT managers and administrators gain better business insights into their virtual environment — and helps stem the tide of “VM Sprawl”.

Details from Press Release here - Link: http://community.hyper9.com/blogs/products/archive/2009/07/29/hyper9-announces-virtualization-optimization-suite.aspx

Hyper9’s VOS combines usability and dashboard features with in-depth analytics and reporting to help users find, reclaim and right-size virtual resources. The product provides cross-functional, user-specific views into the virtual infrastructure across myriad data sources, with key features and capabilities that include:

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StorMagic, a fast-growing developer of iSCSI SAN management software for virtualised server environments, today announced the availability of a validated configuration for StorMagic SvSAN™ and VMware Infrastructure 3 for ESX 3.5 software on the Intel® Server Board S5520UR. This server configuration was developed jointly by StorMagic and Intel engineers through the Intel® Enabled Server Acceleration Alliance (Intel® ESAA), a collaborative program that streamlines technical certification and validation of  Intel-based server products and enables Intel OEMs and channel partners to quickly deliver reliable, high-quality server solutions to their customers.

Since EDA and UDA are still in their beta phase and there aren’t much alternatives available for installing a VMware ESX4 or ESX4i server unattended, I thought “let’s build one myself”. I’m not a Linux guy so I had to create a Windows distribution server. In my search I’ve discovered a great little piece of software called CCBoot. This windows application enables a diskless boot of an ESX4i with iSCSI. Diskless boot makes it possible for ESX server to be operated without a local disk. The 'diskless' server is connected to a VMDK file over a network and boots up the hypervisor from the remotely located VMDK file. CCBoot is the convergence of the rapidly emerging iSCSI protocol with gPXE diskless boot technology. Remote boot over iSCSI, or CCBoot, pushes the iSCSI technology even further, opening the door to the exciting possibility of the diskless computer.

Here are the steps to set it up:

The first thing to do is create a VMDK file with ESX4 in it, I’ve used VMware Workstation. Don’t forget to choose a Linux 64 bit guest OS and add the two following additional lines to the VMX file.

monitor.virtual_exec = "automatic"
monitor_control.restrict_backdoor = "true"

When ESX4 is installed we’re going to set-up the distribution server, go to http://ccboot.com and download the CCBoot v1.7 Build 20090527(5 users free version). When you’ve installed it, create an entry for you physical ESX4 server.

  

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Pearson announced today through InformIT, (www.informit.com), the website of Pearson's technology imprints, the release of new VMware titles under the Prentice Hall (PH), Pearson Certification, and Cisco Press imprints. These titles describe how to plan, implement, secure, maintain and monitor VMware software, and serve as guides to planning, deploying and managing today’s leading virtual infrastructure platform in mission-critical environments. Titles such as VCP Exam Cram: VMware Certified Professional and VEP VMware 310 Cert Flash Cards Online provide information readers need to know for the VCP exam published in formats that enhance memory retention and study effectiveness.

VCP VMware 310 Cert Flash Cards Online is a custom flash card application loaded with 300 total questions that test skills and enhance retention of exam topics.
Pearson Certification, www.informit.com/title/0789742144

VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security Securing the Virtual Environment provides guidance for identifying and mitigating virtualization-related security threats on all VMware platforms.
Prentice Hall, www.informit.com/title/0137158009

VCP Exam Cram VMware Certified Professional helps users plan, install, deploy, and configure ESX Server 3.5, manage and monitor virtual resources, and implement effective backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity.
Pearson Certification, www.informit.com/title/0789738058

VMware ESX Server in the Enterprise Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers touches on the entire lifecycle of virtualization servers: planning, installation, system monitoring, tuning, clustering, security, disaster recovery, and more.
Prentice Hall, www.informit.com/title/0132302071

Interconnecting Data Centers Using VPLS (Ensure Business Continuance on Virtualized Networks by Implementing Layer 2 Connectivity Across Layer 3) describes Cisco's break-through solutions that solve network traffic problems.
Cisco Press, www.informit.com/title/1587059924

VMware V13 Implementation and Administration is the most comprehensive guide to planning for, implementing, securing, maintaining, monitoring, and troubleshooting VMware VI3 in any IT environment.
Prentice Hall, www.informit.com/title/0137007035

Continue reading "Pearson Launches New VMware and Virtualization..." »

According to the abstract of the following VMworld 2009 session, VMware will discontinue the classic Service Console-based ESX in the near future.

Session ID: TA4060
Title : The Path to COS-less ESX: Migrating Server Operations from ESX to ESXi

VMware ESXi is the next generation hypervisor architecture from VMware, offering improved reliability, security, and a simplified operational model. Due to the superior nature of ESXi, VMware will discontinue the classic Service Console-based ESX in the near future. If you are a long-time user of ESX and have developed your management procedures around the Service Console, then come to this session to learn how to migrate to a new, improved operational model. We will show how to adapt your process for all aspects of management, including: hardware monitoring, backup, systems management, user management, logging, troubleshooting, and more. You should be able to leave this session armed with the tools necessary to be prepared for the transition to ESXi.

Update : Changes to the ESX Service Console for ESX 4.0

This technical paper discusses incompatibilities between the ESX 3.5 service console and the ESX 4.0 service console. Included are suggestions of what you might do to upgrade your existing  environments that depend on the ESX service console. This document also discusses how you might bridge the gap to support ESXi, which does not include a service console. And finally, if you are currently writing applications that run in the ESX service console, this document suggests some possible options you have for transitioning away from it.