iSCSI on VMware

Excellent post on setting up iSCSI storage on vSphere. Includes setting up Round Robin Multipathing and configuring Jumbo Frames.

http://virtualgeek.typepad.com/virtual_geek/2009/09/a-multivendor-post-on-using-iscsi-with-vmware-vsphere.html

Chapter 2 of The Expert Guide to VMware Data Protection

Chapter 2 of The Expert Guide to VMware Data Protection by Eric Siebert is now available for download.

This chapter covers backup and recovery methodologies, including traditional backup and recovery methods along with virtual environment backup methods that can be used to protect your virtual machine environment.

Download it for FREE here http://www.veeam.com/go/vmware-data-protection-disaster-recovery-expert-guide-c1/

If you missed it before Chapter 1 is also still available at the same link.

Opvisor - Cloud based VMware log analysis tool - Very Cool!

Export your system logs for an ESX/ESXi server and upload them to opvisor. Opvisor then performs and analysis on the logs to identify any issues.

From the website it looks like the opvisor is currently in public beta and is expected for general release first quarter 2011. Opvisor will offer free and paid subscription options.

Could potentially save you hours of paging through system logs to find an issue.

https://opvizor.com/

vCenter as a VM

Here is a paper from VMware

RVTools

If you work with VMware you are probably familiar with this tool.

If you are new to virtualization or you are looking for a great tool to get a quick look at your environment (Host, VMs, Datastores, VM Tool installs, Snapshots, etc) this is it - Download RVTools Here (and it is FREE!)

What VMs currently have CDROMs connected?
What VMs do not have the latest version of tools installed?
What VMs have snapshots?
View free space on datastores and VM drives

Download RVTools Here

FREE e-Book Guide to VMWare Data Protection

Veeam is giving away a Guide to VMware Data Protection e-Book by Eric Siebert

You have to register and it is being release one chapter at a time with a new chapter available every couple weeks. The first chapter, An Introduction to VMware Virtualization, is available now at http://www.veeam.com/go/vmware-data-protection-disaster-recovery-expert-guide-c1

VMWare Converter Tips

Tips for doing Physical to Virtual (P2V) Conversions
http://vsphere-land.com/tips-tricks/converter-tips

This is another step that I add to the clean up after doing Win2K3 conversions
http://www.vmwareinfo.com/2008/07/speed-up-your-windows-2003-servers.html

There is some good best practice information in the VMware KB http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1004588 and even a video http://blogs.vmware.com/kbtv/2010/01/best-practices-for-using-vmware-converter.html

NC State, IBM Researchers Create 'Stealth' Hypervisor Security Tool

VMware Is in Talks to Acquire Novell's Linux Software Unit
Blog: VMware is buying Novell
Blog: VMware – Novell SUSE Acquisition Rumors: Why it Makes Sense

3d model of UCS hardware for those of us that may not be able to see it in person.

Enable SSH Tech Support Mode in ESXi 4.1

Use vCenter to enable remote SSH access to Tech Support Mode in ESXi 4.1
http://www.virtual-blog.com/?p=222

Building a cheap ESX Server for self-study

Virtualization Convergence with Cisco leading the charge

Cisco UCS Platform - What CIO's should know
Whitepaper from VMWare
vBlock and Journey to the cloud Blog

Here is another good resource

From a good vSpecialist at EMC Thomas Twyman

Virtual Networking Concepts White Paper from James

VMware Thin Provisioning and Fragmentation from Hersey

VMworld 2010 Kicks Off Today

VMware's VMworld 2010 starts today in San Francisco.

If you were not lucky enough to attend you can keep up with what is going on by following http://twitter.com/vmworld or by following an attendee http://twitter.com/search?q=%23VMworld

VRA (VMware Related Acronyms)

Just for a bit of fun/history.

In class vpxa was mentioned and here is blog post on what it officially/unofficially (???) stands for.

http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2010/07/29/vmware-related-acronyms/

VPXA is the vCenter agent. VPX was the original designation for vCenter.

From Hersey: Here are a couple resources for installing ESXi on a USB stick on Windows, Mac, and *nix (Ubuntu).

Achieving Compliance in a Virtualized environment

Cloud Computing with Secrets, but Keeping them Safe

SAP Performance on vSphere

SAP's distributed landscape proves effective in vSphere

SAP Solutions on VMware vSphere - Best Practices

Virtualization Security - Achieving Compliance for the Virtual Infrastructure

Monitor and enforce network traffic within your virtual datacenter from James

City of Norfolk hit with code that takes out nearly 800 PC's

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/021810-city-of-norfolk-hit-with.html

PC On A Stick/Secure Virtual Desktop From IronKey And Lockheed Martin