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PCoIP Optimization Best Practices (VMware View)

2013-04-15T08:30:00.002-04:00

Here's a great video on PCoIP Optimization best Practices for VMware View.

~ Scott March

Optimizing the Base Image for VMware View

2013-04-15T08:15:00.000-04:00

Here is a great video going over steps for optimizing a base image for VMware View

~Scott March

VMware Mirage Installation

2013-03-11T22:56:00.003-04:00

Vladan from esXvirtualization blog wrote a great article on installing VMware Mirage in a lab environment. Rather than copy the blog post, I'm just going to give you the link.

Here it is: http://www.vladan.fr/vmware-mirage-installation/

Thanks Vladan for spending the time to post this.

~ Scott March

Cisco VXI Smart Solution for Mobile Secure Desktop (VMware View)

2013-03-08T21:58:00.000-05:00

Horizon View Business Process Desktop

2013-03-08T17:39:00.001-05:00

Drive Operational Excellence with the Horizon View Business Process Desktop

The Horizon View Business Process Desktop is a fully integrated, scalable, and secure solution for managing outsourced and offshore employee desktops. Deliver desktop services from your datacenter to end users across devices on any network. Enhance support for your offshore developers, back office workers and communications agents and enjoy improvements in efficiency, productivity and service levels—all at a lower cost.

Business Process Desktop Validated Design Guide

Watch Video

Broadening VMware's EUC Horizons with Innovation

2013-03-05T21:24:00.000-05:00

VMware Horizon Suite is finally available!!

2013-03-05T21:03:00.001-05:00

Horizon Suite: Generally Available Today!

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Sarah Semple

The VMware End-User Computing team is pleased to announce the general availability of VMware Horizon Suite. Announced on February 20, 2012, the Horizon family of products is our comprehensive platform for workforce mobility that connects end users to their data, applications and desktops on any device without sacrificing IT security and control. With updates to VMware Horizon View™ and VMware Horizon Mirage™, as well as a new product, VMware Horizon Workspace™, the VMware Horizon Suite will enable IT organizations to empower users with a secure, easy-to-manage virtual workspace that delivers a consistent, compelling experience across devices.

To read more go to: http://blogs.vmware.com/euc/2013/03/horizon-suite-generally-available-today.html

In-Place Windows XP to Windows 7 Migration using VMware Mirage

2013-02-24T21:37:00.002-05:00

VMware View 5 and VMware vCenter Site Recovery Manager - RePost

2013-02-23T20:42:00.000-05:00

I found a great post on the Yellow Bricks.com Blog Site going over protecting VMware View with VMware Site Recovery Manager

VMware View Infrastructure Resiliency whitepaper published

24 February, 2013 By Duncan Epping

One of the white papers I worked on in 2012 when I was part of Technical Marketing was just published. This white paper is about VMware View infrastructure resiliency. It is a common question from customers, and now with this white paper you can explore the different options and understand the impact of these options. Below is a link to the paper and the description is has on the VMware website.

VMware View Infrastructure Resiliency: VMware View 5 and VMware vCenter Site Recovery Manager
“This case study provides insight and information on how to increase availability and recoverability of a VMware View infrastructure using VMware vCenter Site Recovery Manager (SRM), common disaster recovery (DR) tools and methodologies, and vSphere High Availability.”

I want to thank Simon Richardson, Kris Boyd, Matt Coppinger and John Dodge for working with me on this paper. Glad it is finally

Thanks again Duncan for pushing Virtualization forward. We appreciate it!

-~ Scott March

VMware KB: SQL Server tempdb database continues to grow after starting the VMware VirtualCenter Server service

2013-01-25T16:43:00.001-05:00

VMware KB: SQL Server tempdb database continues to grow after starting the VMware VirtualCenter Server service

VMware KB: Avoiding replication of paging files and other transient data in Site Recovery Manager

2013-01-25T08:18:00.001-05:00

VMware KB: Avoiding replication of paging files and other transient data in Site Recovery Manager

Hadoop Tutorial: Intro to HDFS

2013-01-21T00:10:00.000-05:00

VMware KB: Cannot remove source and replica virtual machines associated with View Composer desktop pools

2012-09-30T13:38:00.003-04:00

Resolution:

The View Connection Server creates, manages, and deletes linked clones during View Composer operations. If the Connection Server functions are interrupted, the linked clones create orphaned folders, protected folders and virtual machine objects remaining in the vCenter Server.

To resolve this issue, run the unprotectentity command to remove the protection from linked clone objects.

Caution: In View Composer 2.0, if a replica folder is unprotected, it cannot be protected again. Use the UnprotectEntity command as a last-resort troubleshooting procedure and exercise caution when running this command.

Run these commands from a command prompt on the vCenter Server from the View Composer directory:

32-bit servers: C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware View Composer

64-bit servers: C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware View Composer

Note: In Windows Server 2008 machines, the command prompt must be run as an Administrator or you will receive an error. To accomplish this, Click Start, and type cmd. Hold Ctrl + Shift, and press Enter. User Account Control will then confirm the escalated permissions, and you will be running cmd.exe as an Administrator.

To unprotect a replica in the VMwareViewComposerReplicaFolder folder, run the command:

For View Composer 2.7 and earlier:

sviconfig -operation=UnprotectEntity -VcUrl=https:///sdk -Username= -Password= -InventoryPath=//vm/VMwareViewComposerReplicaFolder/ -Recursive=true

For View Composer 3.0:

sviconfig -operation=UnprotectEntity -DsnName= -DbUsername= -DbPassword= -VcUrl=https:///sdk -VcUsername= -VcPassword= -InventoryPath=//vm/VMwareViewComposerReplicaFolder/ -Recursive=true

Notes:

The sviconfig command parameters are case sensitive.

Values within are variables and must be replaced with your environmental values.

Values with spaces must be surrounded by "double quotes".

The VMwareViewComposerReplicaFolder is a special container. The replica virtual machines are not visibly part of this container and the path to the virtual machine for sviconfig will always be //vm/VMwareViewComposerReplicaFolder/replica-xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx, regardless of which Resource Pools or Folders contain the virtual machine.

If the Datacenter object is not the top level object and is inside a folder, the path must reflect this. For example, ///vm/VMwareViewComposerReplicaFolder/replica-xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx.

To unprotect the replica folder VMwareViewComposerReplicaFolder and all the linked clone related objects it contains, run the command:

For View Composer 2.7 and earlier:

sviconfig -operation=UnprotectEntity -VcUrl=https://my.vc/sdk -Username=User1 -Password=123 -InventoryPath=//vm/VMwareViewComposerReplicaFolder -Recursive=True

For View Composer 3.0:

sviconfig -operation=UnprotectEntity -DsnName= -DbUsername= -DbPassword= -VcUrl=https:///sdk -VcUsername= -VcPassword= -InventoryPath=//vm/VMwareViewComposerReplicaFolder -Recursive=true

In View Composer 2.5 and later, you can re-protect the VMwareViewComposerReplicaFolder using -operation=ProtectEntity

The SviConfig utility does not check if a replica is currently is in use by other linked clones. If a replica is in use, the linked clones cannot be powered on, refreshed, or recomposed after the replica is unprotected or deleted. You have to manually delete these unusable linked clones. Provisioning new linked clones from the same desktop pool creates new provisioned linked clones for these clones.

Note: The inventory path is case sensitive. If any part of the path entered in the command line differs from the inventory path, you can receive an Error 11.

Possible error codes from the SviConfig utility:

Code Description

0 The operation ended successfully

2 Invalid VirtualCenter administrator credentials were provided

9 An invalid VirtualCenter URL was provided

10 VirtualCenter was unavailable or could not be accessed

11 The specified entity was not found

12 Unknown entity type. Recognized entities are VM and Folder

13 The release operation failed

Note: If you receive Error code 11 when you run the command and your replicas are in a folder and not directly under the Datacenter. The path should be manually substituted in place of VMwareViewComposerReplicaFolder.

Original Article:

VMware KB: Cannot remove source and replica virtual machines associated with View Composer desktop pools

How to Enable Nested ESXi & Other Hypervisors in vSphere 5.1 - Re-Post

2012-09-03T19:25:00.000-04:00

Have you wanted to build an ESXi training lab for Certs or testing new features but only have one server to do so? I ran into a really good article on Virtually Ghetto that goes over how to nest hypervisors on an ESXi 5.1 host - A "Virtual lab in a Box". This article goes through the necessary steps to do just that.

Here is the beginning of the article:

There are ton of new features with the latest release of vSphere 5.1, but the one "unsupported" feature I always test first is "Nested Virtualization" (aka Nested ESXi) and with the latest release, it seems to have gotten even better. You will still need to have the same physical CPU prerequisites as you did in the past to run "Nested Virtualization" as well as nesting 64-bit VMs.

Intel VT-x or AMD-V is required for running "Nested Virtualization" which supports nested 32-bit VMs
Intel EPT or AMD RVI is required for running nested 64-bit VMs.

Disclaimer: This is not officially supported by VMware, please use at your own risk.

There are some changes with Nested Virtualization in vSphere 5.1 also officially known as VHV (Virtual Hardware-Assisted Virtualization). If you are using vSphere 5.0 to run Nested ESXi or other nested Hypervisors, then please take a look at the instructions in this article. With vSphere 5.1, there have been a few minor changes to enable VHV.

Instead of copying the rest, I'm just going to include a link to the original article. William should be thanked for spending the time to do so. It's bloggers like William that keep us current. - Thanks!

http://www.virtuallyghetto.com/2012/08/how-to-enable-nested-esxi-other.html

~ Scott March

Cloud Computing and VMware vCloud Director 1.5

2012-02-21T22:17:00.000-05:00

Here's a really good video on Cloud Computing and VMware vCloud Director 1.5. Definitely worth viewing.

~Scott March

EMC IT's Journey to The Private Cloud: VDI (VMware View)

2012-01-17T14:02:00.001-05:00

What is the biggest challenge facing Cloud Computing in 2012?

2012-01-17T12:02:00.000-05:00

Someone on Linkedin asked the Cloud Computing Community the following question: In ONE word, what is the biggest challenge facing Cloud Computing / SaaS in 2012? The question created quite a bit of traffic and debate. I thought it might be fun to remove the duplicates and throw the results into a Word Cloud for you to review.

So how do we address the challenges listed above? Are they really challenges or is it fear of the unknown? What are your thoughts?

Original Forum Thread: Linkedin - Cloud Computing, SaaS & Virtualization

~ Scott March

ATM Machines Go Virtual?

2012-01-03T16:35:00.001-05:00

Diebold has developed the "Virtual ATM Machine". Powered by Cisco UCS and Vmware View, this new and innovative use for VDI technology breaks the traditional VDI mold. VDI is no longer limited to the traditional desktop. This new approach will definitely revolutionize the ATM industry and help offer a better and more cost effective model going forward. Some of the realized benefits for converting the ATM to a zero client are easier centralized servicing, better security, and higher availability. Awesome stuff! Will "ATM as a Service" be the new Cloud buzz word? Maybe.

Another great article on the subject:

http://news.diebold.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5127

~Scott March

Debunking Cloud Security Myths

2011-11-14T21:00:00.000-05:00

Despite the opportunities made available through cloud computing, security concerns still remain the largest inhibitor to adoption. However, the technology and expertise required to build a trusted cloud is actually more feasible than many may imagine. In this blog, we hope to eliminate the misperceptions that potential customers may have regarding cloud security and help them on their journey to adopting the cloud.

Myth #1: The cloud simply cannot be secure.

There are varying levels of vendor capabilities that make for varying levels of security, but cloud environments absolutely can be secure. The enterprise hybrid cloud is a compelling model to debunk this myth, as hybrid cloud models deliver the same common security standards across both public and private environments, without compromising enterprise-class requirements or cost. In this case, it’s not about choosing a generic security level for the cloud, but rather choosing the right security for your organization’s specific cloud deployment.

Myth #2: Cloud security is a new challenge.

In truth, security concerns aren’t new, they are merely an extension of what’s being dealt with in an organization’s physical infrastructure. Protecting the infrastructure and sensitive data have always been top priorities when it comes to security, and security and governance requirements are the same regardless of physical, virtual or cloud components. In fact, because of virtualization technology, the cloud can even be more secure than one’s physical environment, and an investment in virtual security can provided the needed control and visibility for the cloud.

Myth #3: Compliance equals security.

Many enterprises function under the assumption that if they are certified as compliant, their systems are secure and they don’t have to worry about vulnerabilities to attacks. However, compliance actually only attests to the state of security at a specific moment in time, and equating compliance to security can put your business at risk.

So what does this all mean for you? A cloud deployment that defies these myths is built on trust, which cannot be achieved without control and visibility across the cloud infrastructure, identities and information. To learn more about building a trusted cloud and cloud security, download our new whitepaper with CSO. For future updates, be sure to follow @vCloud and @VMwareSP on Twitter.

Another great article from the VMware vCloud team

New vSphere client for iPad released today

2011-10-17T19:32:00.000-04:00

Today at VMworld Europe 2011 Partner Day, VMware released a new version of their vSphere client for the iPad.

New in version 1.2 of the vSphere client for the iPad is:

vMotion. The feature is available via Host & VM action menus. Virtual machines can also be two-finger flicked/dragged from the Host detail view to enter vMotion mode
Ability to email vMotion validation error details to other
View task progress reporting on VM cards
Ability to refresh vCenter host list
Support for ESX 3.5
Support for VMware vSphere 5.0.

~ Scott March

Cloud Computing (in Plain English)

2011-08-20T22:07:00.005-04:00

cloud-distribution.com did a great job on this video. Fun to watch and informative for audiences that don't know what cloud is.

Cisco, EMC, VMware CEOs discuss the Virtual Computing Environment coalition

2011-08-20T21:43:00.002-04:00

I thought it was interesting to see all three CEOs speak about the VCE Coalition.

New vSphere 5 Web Client

2011-08-17T22:30:00.003-04:00

VMware introduced a totally new WebClient in vSphere 5.0. It allows administrators to do many of thier daily tasks from any browser. This is a great addition to the infrastructure, especially for the Linux guys who have been asking for a Linux client for years. It's also an awesome feature for the OS Platform team without VICs installed !

So what does it look like?

More links on the new vSphere 5 Web Client.

Virtualization for Service Providers

The VS Blog

~ Scott March

VMware changes vRAM licensing model after Customers complain

2011-08-04T07:49:00.001-04:00

VMware changes the vRAM licensing model after customers complained.

VMware:

"We are a company built on customer good will, and we take customer feedback to heart. Our primary objective is to do right by our customers. Therefore, we are announcing three changes to the vSphere 5 licensing model that address the three most recurring areas of customer feedback:

Increased vRAM entitlements for all vSphere editions, including the doubling of the entitlements for vSphere Enterprise and Enterprise Plus.
Capped the amount of vRAM we count in any given VM, so that no VM, not even the "monster" 1TB vRAM VM, would cost more than one vSphere Enterprise Plus license.
Adjusted our model to be much more flexible around transient workloads and short-term spikes that are typical in environments such as test & dev. "

Here are the new vRAM entitlements going forward:

vSphere edition                     Previous vRAM entitlement                          New vRAM entitlement

vSphere Enterprise+             48 GB                                                             96 GB

vSphere Enterprise               32 GB                                                             64 GB

vSphere Standard                  24 GB                                                           32 GB

vSphere Essentials+              24 GB                                                            32 GB

vSphere Essentials                 24 GB                                                           32 GB

Free vSphere Hypervisor       8 GB                                                             32 GB²

Customers have also asked about their use of vSphere for VDI. This has already been addressed with the vSphere Desktop edition. The vSphere Desktop edition does not have any vRAM entitlements; it allows customers to purchase vSphere for VDI use case on a per user basis.

So VMware listens to it's customers. What a refreshing thought....

vRAM Licensing White Paper

~ Scott March

VMware announced the release of VMware vSphere 5.0

2011-07-14T10:42:00.000-04:00

The secrets for vSphere 5.0 have finally been made public so all of us with NDAs no longer need to keep the secrets...LOL! VMware vSphere 5.0 is a game changer. So many new features and enhancements.

Here are just a few:

•Convergence. vSphere 5.0 is the first vSphere release built exclusively on the vSphere ESXi 5.0 hypervisor architecture as the host platform.

•VMware vSphere Auto Deploy. VMware vSphere Auto Deploy simplifies the task of managing ESXi installation and upgrade for hundreds of machines.

•New Virtual machine capabilities. 32-way virtual SMP, 1TB virtual machine RAM, Software support for 3D graphics, and more.

•Expanded support for VMware Tools versions. VMware Tools from vSphere 4.x is supported in virtual machines running on vSphere 5.0 hosts.

•Storage DRS. This feature delivers the DRS benefits of resource aggregation, automated initial placement, and bottleneck avoidance to storage.

•Profile-driven storage. This solution allows you to have greater control and insight into characteristics of your storage resources.

•VMFS5. VMFS5 is a new version of vSphere Virtual Machine File System that offers improved scalability and performance, and provides Internationalization support.

•Storage vMotion snapshot support. Allows Storage vMotion of a virtual machine in snapshot mode with associated snapshots.

•vSphere Web Client. A new browser-based user interface that works across Linux and Windows platforms.

•vCenter Server Appliance. A vCenter Server implementation running on a pre-configured Linux-based virtual appliance.

•vSphere High Availability. VMware High Availability has been transformed into a cloud-optimized availability platform.

Here are a few good links to read more:

What's new in vSphere 5.0 - vmware.com

VMware vSphere 5 Delivers All-in-One Virtualization, Storage Package

~ Scott March