Eric Sloof - NTPRO.NL

Technical White Paper - VMware vSphere Metro Storage Cluster Case Study

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:35:26 +0200

VMware vSphere Metro Storage Cluster (VMware vMSC) is a new configuration within the VMware Hardware Compatibility List. This type of configuration is commonly referred to as a stretched storage cluster or metro storage cluster. It is implemented in environments where disaster/downtime avoidance is a key requirement. This case study was developed to provide additional insight and information regarding operation of a VMware vMSC infrastructure in conjunction with VMware vSphere. This paper will explain how vSphere handles specific failure scenarios and will discuss various design considerations and operational procedures.

VMware vSphere Metro Storage Cluster Case Study

VMware vCenter Operations – Tell Your Story and Enter for a Chance to Win a Ticket to VMworld 2012

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:52:00 +0200

vChat #28-vCenter Operations Contest and Overview – Interview with David Davis and Ben Sheerer

Since VMware introduced VMware vCenter Operations in early 2011, customer users have shared their enthusiasm and sentiments surrounding its inaugural release to its highly touted 5.0 release last January. We would like to hear your story – And perhaps give you a little something in return...

We are seeking the most compelling story on how you used vCenter Operations Manager to help solve, or predict any issues in your environment – it’s that easy! Once submitted, your story will be judged by a panel of experts both from VMware and the VMware community.

http://www.vmware.com/go/vcops-story

VMware vSphere 5 - Optimize and Scale is ready for scheduling

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:34:50 +0200

If you’re interested in a really challenging training course that also prepares you for the upcoming VCAP5-DCA exam, then the VMware "vSphere 5 - Optimize and Scale" and is a great training course for you. I’m delivering this new training course at the 9th of July at Global Knowledge Amsterdam.

This training course, for experienced VMware vSphere personnel, teaches advanced skills for configuring and maintaining a highly available and scalable virtual infrastructure. The course is based on VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0 and VMware vCenter Server 5.0.

This course prepares you for the VMware Certified Advanced Professional – Data Center Administration [V5] certification (VCAP5-DCA). Completion of this course also satisfies the prerequisite for taking the VMware Certified Professional 5 exam.

Configure and manage ESXi networking and storage for a large and sophisticated enterprise.

Manage changes to the vSphere environment.
Optimize the performance of all vSphere components.
Troubleshoot operational faults and identify their root causes.
Use VMware vSphere® ESXi™ Shell and VMware vSphere® Management Assistant to manage vSphere.
Use VMware vSphere® Auto Deploy to provision ESXi hosts.

Use this link to schedule the “Optimize and Scale” and join me 9th of July in Amsterdam.

Link to course datasheet

Registration is now open for the VCAP5-DCD Exam

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Sat, 19 May 2012 20:57:56 +0200

VMware Certified Advanced Professional on vSphere 5 – Datacenter Design (VCAP5-DCD)

VCAP5-DCD is designed for IT architects who design and integrate VMware solutions in multi-site, large enterprise, virtualized environments. Successful candidates possess a deep understanding of datacenter design principles and methodologies, as well as VMware core components and their relation to storage and networking. Successful candidates also have broad knowledge of applications and infrastructure services, and how they relate and integrate with the virtual infrastructure.

Achieving a VCAP5-DCD certification validates your ability to:

Create a vSphere conceptual design.
Create a vSphere logical design from an existing conceptual design.
Create a vSphere physical design from an existing logical design.
Create and execute an implementation plan.

VMware Released vCenter Operations Manager for View

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:43:39 +0200

VMware vCenter Operations Manager for View provides end-to-end visibility into the health, performance and efficiency of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). It enables desktop administrators to proactively ensure the best end-user experience, avert incidents and eliminate bottlenecks. Designed for VMware View, this optimized version of vCenter Operations Manager improves IT productivity and lowers the cost of owning and operating VDI environments.

http://www.vmware.com/products/desktop_virtualization/vcenter-operations-manager-view/overview.html

VMware Released New View 5.1 Clients for Windows, Mac, Ubuntu Linux, iPad, and Android

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:21:17 +0200

VMware View Clients for Windows, Mac, Ubuntu Linux, iPad, and Android allow you to connect to your VMware View virtual desktop from your device of choice giving you on-the-go access from any location.

VMware View Client for Mac
VMware View Client for Mac
VMware View Client for iPad
VMware View Client for iPad in iTunes App Store
VMware View Client for Linux
VMware View Client for Linux in Ubuntu Software Center
VMware View Client for Windows
VMware View Client for 32-bit Windows
VMware View Client for 64-bit Windows
VMware View Client for Windows with Local Mode Option
VMware View Client for 32-bit Windows with Local Mode Option
VMware View Client for 64-bit Windows with Local Mode Option
VMware View Client for Android
VMware View Client for Android in Google Play S
VMware View Client for Kindle Fire in Amazon Android Ap
VMware View Clients for Cisco Cius in Cisco AppHQ
VMware View Client for Android Standalone Package

https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/info/slug/desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_view_clients/1_0

VMware Released View 5.1 and Launched Horizon Application Manager 1.5

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:11:39 +0200

Now available: VMware View 5.1, VMware Horizon Application Manager 1.5 and a public beta program for the Project Octopus cloud data synchronization and collaboration service.

http://www.vmware.com/end-user-computing/

VMware View Evaluator's Guide

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:45:28 +0200

The purpose of this document is to support a self-guided, hands-on review of VMware View 5. The content is intended to show how easily you can set up a VMware View 5 environment so you can evaluate both new and important capabilities. These capabilities include creating and managing virtualized desktops, and validating the suggested use cases.

The guide is divided into the following main sections:

1. Key New Features of VMware View 5

2. Description of VMware View Components

3. Setting Up a View Evaluation Environment

4. Evaluation Tasks

An appendix includes the evaluation tasks from the View 4.6 Evaluator’s Guide, so that you can test those features if you have not yet done so. This document assumes you have basic knowledge of VMware vSphere™ or VMware ESX™ or ESXi™, and are comfortable configuring networking and storage in a virtual environment.

http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/view/VMware-View-Evaluators-Guide.pdf

Database workload testing with Dell DVD Store

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:04:27 +0200

The DVD Store Version 2 (DS2) is a complete online e-commerce test application, with a backend database component, a web application layer, and driver programs. The goal in designing the database component as well as the midtier application was to utilize many advanced database features (transactions, stored procedures, triggers, referential integity) while keeping the database easy to install and understand. The DS2 workload may be used to test databases or as a stress tool for any purpose.

The distribution includes code for SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL and PostgreSQL.Included in the release are data generation programs, shell scripts to build data for 10MB, 1GB and 100 GB versions of the DVD Store, database build scripts and stored procedure, PHP web pages, and a C# driver program.

http://linux.dell.com/dvdstore

Duco Jaspars at vConsult goes live

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:31:00 +0200

Fellow vExpert Duco Jaspars finally decided to start his own VMware blog. His website can be found at blog.vconsult.nl. Duco who works as a Virtualization Consultant is a well-known figure in the virtualization community. He has helped many people with advice and guidance but he has made an art of arranging free goodies, not only for his own use but also for other virtualization friends Keep an eye out for blog.vconsult.nl - there are already some interesting articles available.

Cool Tool - Cloud Resource Meter

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:32:37 +0200

6fusion’s Cloud Resource Meter is a VMware vApp that allows you to profile any vSphere 4.1 or 5.0 environment and evaluate the cost of running that environment in the cloud – all for free and all right from the vSphere Console. Cloud Resource Meter installs in your VMware vSphere environment in minutes and allows users to view “real time” computing consumption information at a glance for the entire system, any vSphere grouping of VMs, or for each VM in the infrastructure.

Cloud Resource Meter comes in two versions Free and Pro. When you sign up and download the application, you are automatically set up with the Free Plan. If you need more, you can choose to upgrade to the Pro Plan from within the application. Take a look at the intrudcution video here.

Free ebook - The Debian Administrator’s Handbook

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:55:45 +0200

Accessible to all, this book teaches the essentials to anyone who wants to become an effective and independent Debian GNU/Linux administrator. It covers all the topics that a competent Linux administrator should master, from the installation and the update of the system, up to the creation of packages and the compilation of the kernel, but also monitoring, backup and migration, without forgetting advanced topics like SELinux setup to secure services, automated installations, or virtualization with Xen, KVM or LXC.

Raphaël Hertzog and Roland Mas are pleased to announce that — after 5 months of work — the Debian Administrator’s Handbook is now available, both as a beautiful 495-page paperback and as an ebook (PDF, EPUB, MOBI formats).

Video - How to enable the Storage Accelerator in VMware View 5.1

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:29:52 +0200

This video discusses and demonstrates the new Storage Accelerator (Host Caching) feature that is available in the upcoming release of VMware View 5.1. It features Cormac Hogan who is a Senior Technical Marketing Architect for Storage at VMware. Follow and interact with Cormac Hogan on Twitter via the @VMwareStorage handle and keep updated with all things related to VMware Storage initiatives by subscribing to the blog at http://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/storage/

New Book - VMware View 5: Building a Successful Virtual Desktop

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:11:56 +0200

Discover the powerful and cost saving new virtualization opportunities on the client side with VMware View 5! In VMware View 5: Building a Successful Virtual Desktop, leading virtualization consultant Paul O'Doherty teaches the essentials of View, bringing together critical information, deep insights, and best practices drawn from his extensive experience deploying virtual desktop technology in many of today's most demanding business environments. O'Doherty walks through every step of View, from the earliest planning phases through configuration, implementation, and management. He illuminates crucial considerations ranging from changes to end-user experience and support considerations through performance management. Readers will learn how to plan and smoothly stage virtual desktop infrastructure deployments, and avoid pitfalls associated with latency, scalability, storage, and networking. Using this book's proven techniques, virtualization professionals can achieve the full promise of virtualized desktops, dramatically improving system administration productivity while building environments that are more flexible and easier to manage.

Now available in Rough Cuts - The Official VCP5 Certification Guide

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:49:31 +0200

The Rough Cuts service from Safari Books Online gives you exclusive access to an evolving manuscript that you can read online or download as a PDF and print. A Rough Cuts book is not fully edited or completely formatted, but you'll get access to new versions as they are created.

This is the first and only official guide to VMware's new VCP510 (VCP 5) exam. Organized to follow VMware's newest exam blueprint, it's also designed from the ground up to be both engaging and enjoyable. Author Bill Ferguson acts like a "study buddy," encouraging virtualization professionals, anticipating their questions, and helping them gain both mastery and confidence. Throughout, he provides many illustrations, tables, figures, screenshots, and realistic sample test questions - all designed to help readers learn more, learn faster, and remember more of what they learn. Coverage includes: * Understanding how virtualization can best be integrated into today's real-world IT environments * Recognizing what to change, and what to leave alone * Planning, installing, configuring, and upgrading vCenter Server and VMware ESXi * Planning and configuring vSphere networking and storage * Deploying and Administering Virtual Machines and vApps * Establishing and Maintaining Service Levels * Performing basic troubleshooting * Monitoring vSphere implementations * Managing vCenter Server alarms * Preparing for the future of VMware virtualization.

Table of Contents:

1. Planning, Installing, Configuring and Upgrading vCenter Server and VMware ESXi

2. Planning and Configuring vSphere Networking

3. Planning and Configuring vSphere Storage

4. Deploying and Administering Virtual Machines and vApps

5. Establishing and Maintaining Service Levels

6. Performing Basic Troubleshooting

7. Monitoring a vSphere Implementation and Managing vCenter Server Alarms

http://www.pearsonitcertification.com/store/product.aspx?isbn=0132965658

The VMware Reference Architecture for Stateless Virtual Desktops on Local Solid-State Storage with VMware View 5

nospam@example.com (Eric Sloof) — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:26:24 +0200

This document provides the reference architecture for Stateless Virtual Desktops with VMware View 5 on local solid-state storage. A stateless desktop architecture is ideally suited for standard desktop environments where the desktop image is consistent from user to user; however with proper application design can be used in broad use cases.

VMware View 5 allows specific placement of different types of disks to be re-directed, even to local storage, the I/O requirements on shared storage can be drastically reduced.

The VMware View 5 Reference Architecture for Stateless Virtual Desktops involves high-performing, solid-state drives within a physical host to offload the majority of desktop virtualization IOPS needed, while providing a stateless desktop virtualization design for planned and unplanned downtime.

This use of local solid-state drives (SSDs) is a completely new approach to desktop virtualization storage. SSDs are critical to achieving a low per-desktop cost because they remove the need for operating system and application storage requirements on the SAN. By decentralizing these storage needs, the desktop environment for CPU and memory resources scales linearly, with extremely low latency.

The simplicity of the architecture that is enabled by View 5’s tiered storage capability allows for a new era in the evolution of desktop virtualization cost modeling.

Increasingly, organizations are turning to virtual desktop technologies to address the operational and strategic issues related to traditional corporate desktop environments. VMware View 5 provides not only a virtual desktop environment that is secure, cost effective, and easy to deploy; but now can also provide comprehensive storage flexibility.

VMware View 5 modernizes the desktop experience to deliver private cloud capabilities to users for a consistent experience across the global enterprise. This Desktop-as-a-Service model is possible with unmatched scalability in a stateless design. The challenges of traditional desktop administration, especially at scale, range from lost laptops with corporate data, security issues related to viruses or hackers, or simply ensuring IT resources can maintain a service level agreement (SLA) appropriate for specific end users. In addition to the challenges of operational management, IT must also consider the implication of broader system-wide issues such as compliance, corporate governance and business continuity strategies. This whitepaper provides full descriptions of the test environment as well as performance metrics captured during test validation.