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VMware and Microsoft Virtualization - Open Source Technologies - IT Management and Security

41 Posts tagged with the vi tag 1 2 3 Previous Next
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Another nice article from Eric Siebert:

1-Understanding Performance in a Virtualized Environment: A VMworld 2007 presentation (you will need to sign-in) on understanding virtualization performance and overhead as well as dispelling common myths. 

2-Interpreting Performance Statistics in V13: A VMworld 2007 presentation (you will need to sign-in) on understanding and interpreting VirtualCenter/ESX statistics in the VI Client and esxtop. 

3-Performance Tuning Best Practices for ESX Server 3: A white paper from VMware with performance tips that cover the most performance-critical areas of VI3.

4-Top 12 ways to Improve Guest Server Performance under VMware ESX Server: A VMworld 2006 presentation (you will need to sign-in) with 12 tips for configuring hosts, virtual machines and guest environments for best performance.

5-Performance Monitoring and Capacity Planning: A VMworld 2006 presentation (you will need to sign-in) on performance tuning methodologies and approaches.

6-ESX Workload Analysis, Lessons Learned: A VMworld 2006 presentation on performing workload analysis and performance analysis of virtual workloads. 

7-VMware ESX Server, Best Practices for Performance: A presentation from EMC World 2007 with recommended performance practices and benchmarking guidelines.

8-VM Performance Monitoring and Logging: A VMUG presentation from VMware on performance monitoring and using log files.

9-ESX3 Performance Tuning: A VMUG presentation from Long View Systems on performance tuning ESX hosts and virtual machines.

10-Performance Tuning for VI3: A VMworld 2006 presentation on basic performance concepts, tools, technologies and recommendations.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

0 Comments Permalink Tags: esx, center, infrastructure, it, technologies, vi, vi3, virtual, virtualization, vmware
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Back in February I wrote a post about the VMware Tools and Utilities I use to administer our VMware environment. Now, via vmware-land.com we get the following list:

1-Putty - Telnet and SSH client for remotely connecting to the ESX service console
2-WinSCP and Veeam FastSCP - SCP clients for browsing ESX server file systems and transferring files to/from ESX hosts
3-VI3 SnapHunter and SnapAlert - Utilities that can report all running snapshots on ESX hosts including name, size and date. Can also automatically email reports and optionally commit snapshots
4-VI Scripted Backup Utility - A backup utility that is run from the Service Console that provides VMDK level backups of any VM on storage accessible by the host
5-MCS StorageView - A utility that displays all the logical partitions, operating system, capacity, free space and percent free of all virtual machines on ESX 3.x or Virtual Center 2.x
6-SSH Plug-in - A VI client plug-in that integrates an SSH console directly into the client
7-Storage VMotion Plug-in - A VI client plug-in that extends the client’s functionality by providing an integrated, graphical tool that can be used to invoke storage VMotion (SVMotion) operations
8-VMotion Info - A program that will collect Vendor, Model, CPU Types and the CPU feature bits from all hosts to check for VMotion compatibility
9-VMCdConnected - Scans all Virtual Machines and shows if they have a CD connected to it. After scanning the VM’s you can disconnect all the CD’s with a click of a button
10-VMware Converter – (Performs hot and cold conversions of physical and virtual servers to virtual machines. Also converts image formats

Enjoy!

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

0 Comments Permalink Tags: center, esx, infrastructure, security, server, storage, technologies, vi, vi3, virtual, virtualization, vmware
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And here you have the the best articles for the past week:

1-Significant Networking Problem with Hyper-V via Scottlowe.org

2-The Case For And Against Stretched ESX Clusters via Virtual Geek

3-VMFS Storage Sizing for Maximum Performance via VM /ETC

4-Disaster Recovery in the Datacenter via VMware Podcasts

5-ROI Analysis: Virtualization via InformationWeek

Enjoy!

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

0 Comments Permalink Tags: best_of_the_week, esx, infrastructure, it, management, microsoft, san, server, storage, technologies, vi3, virtual, vi, virtualization, vmware
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These are the articles I enjoyed the most in the past week:

  1. Measuring Cluster Scaling with VMmark via VMware's performance team
  2. VirtualBox 1.6 vs. VMware Server 2.0 Beta 2 via zdnet.com
  3. Uncovering the Dark Secrets of Dark Storage via Enterprise Systems
  4. Is IT Infrastructure Undergoing a Quiet Revolution? via vmblog.com
  5. With virtualization growth comes increased demand for jobs via InfoWorld
Have a nice weekend!

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

0 Comments Permalink Tags: best_of_the_week, infrastructure, it, management, storage, virtual, vi, vmware, virtualization
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This is kind of new (6.5 beta build 91182), so I wanted to write about how important it will be for any IT professional / enthusiast to have the ability to run ESX 3.5 / ESX 3i in VMware Workstation 6.5 when the final release is ready.

You see, this will not only be good because it could potentially give you the chance to test patches or scripts, but also because it allows you to "learn" about the environment without having to spend a lot of money.

We all know that VMware's licensing is not cheap, nor is the hardware to run the VI3 environment, and that is why I believe VMware should always try to "facilitate" the usage and testing of all its products without having to purchase expensive equipment.

Consequently, having now and in the future the chance to run ESX 3.5 / ESX 3i in VMware Workstation 6.5 is a very welcomed opportunity to experience one of the best virtualization products we have seen so far!

More information and print screens here and here.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

0 Comments Permalink Tags: 3i, infrastructure, it, technologies, vi, vi3, virtual, virtualization, vmware, esxi, workstation
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Thanks to Eric Siebert for this very nice article:

1-Bulletproof VirtualCenter: A VMworld 2007 presentation (you will need to sign-in) on properly configuring and protecting VirtualCenter so it has high availability.

2-VirtualCenter Database Maintenance: SQL Server A white paper from VMware on how to maintain the VirtualCenter database when using SQL Server.

3-Running VirtualCenter in a Virtual Machine: A white paper from VMware discussing the advantages and limitations of running VirtualCenter as a VM.

4-VirtualCenter Database Performance for Microsoft SQL Server 2005: A white paper from VMware on performance statistic collections and there effect on the VirtualCenter database.

5-VirtualCenter 2 Diagnostics: A VMworld 2006 presentation on troubleshooting problems with VirtualCenter.

6-Managing VMware VirtualCenter Roles & Permissions: A white paper from VMware on configuring roles and permissions in VirtualCenter.

7-VirtualCenter 2.0 The Technical Insights: A VMware TSX 2007 presentation on the technical architecture of VirtualCenter.

8-Template Usage and Best Practices: A white paper from VMware on creating, managing and using templates to deploy virtual machines.

9-Replacing VirtualCenter Server Certificates: A tech note from VMware on replacing the default certificates in VirtualCenter.

10-VirtualCenter Technical Best Practices: A document from VMware with technical details on VirtualCenter and VMotion.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

2 Comments Permalink Tags: center, infrastructure, it, virtual, vi, vi3, virtualization, vmware
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Via NTPRO.NL:

"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."

You can view the original link here.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

0 Comments Permalink Tags: it, infrastructure, vi, vi3, virtual, virtualization, vmware
2

vmreference VI3 card

Posted by Gabriel Macie… May 24, 2008

"I've just uploaded version 1.2

There are over a dozen corrections, updates, and a few small additions. Many thanks to everyone who has emailed me since the last release, particularly Simon Price and Peter Vroomen."

You can download the vmreference card here.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

2 Comments Permalink Tags: vi, vi3, virtual, virtualization, vmware, 3i
0

And the Best of the Week is back again this weekend with the following articles:

  1. Getting my head around the Hyper-V architecture via Peering through Windows
  2. Step-by-Step Guide for Testing Hyper-V and Failover Clustering via Microsoft
  3. How a stateless ESXi infrastructure might work via vinternals.
  4. Troubleshooting ESX Logs via VM/ETC
  5. How to be a Great Boss via Life as Healthcare CIO
Enjoy!

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

0 Comments Permalink Tags: best_of_the_week, esx, 3i, it, management, infrastructure, microsoft, server, vi, vi3, virtual, vmware
1

This VMware KB has identified the following best practices when upgrading to VirtualCenter 2.5 and ESX Server 3.5:

  1. Backup your VirtualCenter database. VMware recommends detaching the database and copying it somewhere safe.
  2. Grant the System DSN user of the VirtualCenter Database db_owner privileges on the MSDB database as well as the VirtualCenter database. 
  3. Ensure that your ODBC System DSN is using the proper driver. You must have a SQL Server driver if your database is SQL 2000, and SQL Native Client driver if using SQL 2005.
  4. If your ESX Server host is in a DRS or VMware High Availability (HA) Cluster remove it from the cluster so no virtual machines migrate to the ESX Server host.
  5. If possible VMotion all virtual machines off the host to be upgraded. If not, power them down gracefully and power off the ESX Server host.
  6. Log in to your VirtualCenter server with a local Administrator account to run the installation, do not use a domain administrator.
  7. Perform the upgrade to VirtualCenter to 2.5 and ensure all your data is visible in VirtualCenter 2.5 after the upgrade.
  8. Ensure no processes are running that conflict with the ports that VirtualCenter uses, such as IIS.
  9. If there is a SAN connected to your ESX Server host detach the SAN before continuing with the upgrade.
  10. Confirm that all the virtual machines are now migrated from the ESX Server host or powered down, and that ESX Server host is no longer part of an VMware HA or DRS cluster.
  11. Download the newest version of the ESX operating system ISO image and burn it to CD.
  12. Place the CD in the CD-ROM drive of the host and boot from the CD.
  13. Install ESX Server 3.5 with a fresh install or upgrade.

You can find the VMware KB 1003889 article here.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

1 Comments Permalink Tags: esx, infrastructure, it, virtual, virtualization, vmware, reference, vi3, vi
4

Forbes Guthrie has released a reference card for the VMware 3 / 3.5 environment. It covers the ESX Install, 3i, Storage, Networking, MSCS Clustering, Resources, Backups, ESX Host, VMs, Web Access, Virtual Center and License Server.

You can can find your copy here.

Posted By Gabriel Maciel

4 Comments Permalink Tags: esx, server, virtual, center, virtualization, vmware, 3i, security, vi, vi3, reference
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