Category Archives: VMware

VCAP5-DCA Objective 1.1 – Implement and Manage Complex Storage Solutions

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Knowledge

Identify RAID levels
Identify supported HBA types
Identify virtual disk format types

Skills and Abilities

Determine use cases for and configure VMware DirectPath I/O
Determine requirements for and configure NPIV
Determine appropriate RAID level for various Virtual Machine workloads
Apply VMware storage best practices
Understand use cases for Raw Device Mapping
Configure vCenter Server storage filters
Understand and apply VMFS re-signaturing
Understand and apply LUN masking using PSA-related commands
Analyze I/O workloads to determine storage performance requirements
Identify and tag SSD devices
Administer hardware acceleration for VAAI
Configure and administer profile-based storage
Prepare storage for maintenance
Upgrade VMware storage infrastructure

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Error installing VMware vSphere 5 Client on Windows 8

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Last week I was updating my work laptop from Windows 7 to Windows 8 when I ran into an problem with the VMware vSphere 5 Client. This is the error “This product can only be installed on Windows XP SP2 and above”.

This is how I solved this error.

Right-Click VMware-viclient.exe, choose “Properties”
On the “Compatibility” tab, check the “Run this program in compatibility mode for:” and choose “Windows 7″ from the list. Click “Ok”
Run the VMware-viclient installer as you normally would.

Now the installer starts and the Client can be installed. Problem solved.

VMWorld 2012 Keynote

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This week VMworld is held in San Francisco, a great event with lots of new announcements.

VMware made the keynote available for on demand viewing, very handy for the people who missed it.

What’s New in VMware vSphere 5.1?

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vSphere 5.1 is VMware’s latest release of its industry-leading virtualization platform. This new release contains the following new features and enhancements:

Compute

Larger virtual machines – Virtual machines can grow two times larger than in any previous release to support even the most advanced applications. Virtual machines can now have up to 64 virtual CPUs (vCPUs) and 1TB of virtual RAM (vRAM).
New virtual machine format – New features in the virtual machine format (version 9) in vSphere 5.1 include support for larger virtual machines, CPU performance counters and virtual shared graphics acceleration designed for enhanced performance.

Storage

Flexible, space-efficient storage for virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) – A new disk format enables the correct balance between space efficiency and I/O throughput for the virtual desktop.

Network

vSphere Distributed Switch – Enhancements such as Network Health Check, Configuration Backup and Restore, Roll Back and Recovery, and Link Aggregation Control Protocol support and deliver more enterprise-class networking functionality and a more robust foundation for cloud computing.
Single-root I/O virtualization (SR-IOV) support – Support for SR-IOV optimizes performance for sophisticated applications.

Availability

vSphere vMotion® – Leverage the advantages of vMotion (zero-downtime migration) without the need for shared storage configurations. This new vMotion capability applies to the entire network.
vSphere Data Protection – Simple and cost effective backup and recovery for virtual machines. vSphere Data Protection is a newly architected solution based EMC Avamar technology that allows admins to back up virtual machine data to disk without the need of agents and with built-in deduplication. This feature replaces the vSphere Data Recovery product available with previous releases of vSphere.
vSphere Replication – vSphere Replication enables efficient array-agnostic replication of virtual machine data over the LAN or WAN. vSphere Replication simplifies management enabling replication at the virtual machine level and enables RPOs as low as 15 minutes.
Zero-downtime upgrade for VMware Tools – After you upgrade to the VMware Tools available with version 5.1, no reboots will be required for subsequent VMware Tools upgrades.

Security

VMware vShield Endpoint™ – Delivers a proven endpoint security solution to any workload with an approach that is simplified, efficient, and cloud-aware. vShield Endpoint enables 3rd party endpoint security solutions to eliminate the agent footprint from the virtual machines, offload intelligence to a security virtual appliance, and run scans with minimal impact.

Automation

vSphere Storage DRS™ and Profile-Driven Storage. New integration with VMware vCloud® Director™ enables further storage efficiencies and automation in a private cloud environment.
vSphere Auto Deploy™ – Two new methods for deploying new vSphere hosts to an environment make the Auto Deploy process more highly available then ever before.

Management (with vCenter Server)

vSphere Web Client –The vSphere Web Client is now the core administrative interface for vSphere. This new flexible, robust interface simplifies vSphere control through shortcut navigation, custom tagging, enhanced scalability, and the ability to manage from anywhere with Internet Explorer or Firefox-enabled devices.
vCenter Single Sign-On – Dramatically simplify vSphere admin- istration by allowing users to log in once to access all instances or layers of vCenter without the need for further authentication.
vCenter Orchestrator – Orchestrator simplifies installation and configuration of the powerful workflow engine in vCenter Server. Newly designed workflows enhance ease of use, and can also be launched directly from the new vSphere Web Client.

Learn More

For information on upgrading to vSphere 5.1, visit the vSphere Upgrade Center at http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/upgrade-center/overview.html

vSphere is also available with the new vCloud suites from VMware. For more information, visit http://www.vmware.com/go/vcloud-suite

Source: VMware What’s new in VMware vSphere 5.1 document. Link

VMware Workstation 9 released

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VMware released VMware Workstation version 9 today.

What’s New in Workstation?

VMware Workstation 9 continues VMware’s tradition of delivering the virtual hardware that technical professionals deserve and rely on every day. With support for Windows 8, restricted VMs, Open GL support for Linux and a new web interface to access virtual machines, it’s the perfect tool for getting work done.

Best in Class Windows 8 Support

To help you and your organization evaluate Windows 8, master the Metro UI and test your applications, VMware Workstation 9 is optimized for running Windows 8 virtual machines and running on Windows 8 PCs. Easy Install simplifies the task of creating Windows 8 virtual machines, Unity mode will intelligently scale windows with Metro applications and multi-touch support will ensure you get the true Windows 8 experience in a virtual machine.

Access from Almost any Device

Workstation’s new web interface allows you to access your virtual machines running in Workstation or vSphere on a tablet, smart phone, PC or any device with a modern browser. No plugins necessary. Now you can power on, off, or suspend your virtual machines and interact with them from almost anywhere.

Set It and Send It

Create virtual machines that are encrypted, block USB devices, require a runtime password, and another password to change virtual machine settings. Once set, send the virtual machine to anyone to run on their Mac, Windows, or Linux machines by using VMware Fusion Professional.

From PC to Datacenter and Back Again

In Workstation 8 we introduced the ability to upload a virtual machine from your PC to vSphere. Workstation 9 takes the next step and allows you to drag and drop a virtual machines form vSphere to your PC. It’s the easiest way to move virtual machines between your PC and your internal cloud.

Better 3D Graphics

With faster 3D graphics and support for DirectX 9.0c Shader Model 3 and OpenGL 2.1 3D graphics in a Windows and now Linux virtual machine, VMware Workstation easily handles demanding 3D applications like AutoCAD, Solidworks, and many current games.

Read the VMware Workstation 9 release notes for a complete list of new features.

Source: VMware

Windows 2008R2 sysprep crashes. Autochk not found

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Today I created a clone from a VM that was running. After the clone was completed I disconnected the network card an booted the VM. No problem everything worked. I needed this Cloned VM for a test domain so I syspreped the VM. After booting the VM an error is shown “autochk program not found” after the error a BSOD is shown and the VM reboots.

I started googling and found the solution in the VMware Community pages, see: http://communities.vmware.com/thread/288439?start=15&tstart=0

The sollutions is simpel, boot the VM from the Windows 2008R2 DVD and go the command prompt. Type the following commands.

diskpart
list volume
select volume 1
attributes volume
attributes volume clear nodefaultdriveletter

Reboot the VM and now the SYSPREP continues.

Windows 2008 virtual machines lose their Gateway IP address after rebooting

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I was working on a Windows 2008 Server in an segmented network. This was a fresh new installation of Windows 2008. After a reboot the server was not reachable from another VLan. After some troubleshooting I found the problem. The gateway address has disappeared. Strange, so I started searching on the internet and I found an Knowledgebase article at the VMware site describing my problem, this is VMware KB1016878.

Symptoms

After every reboot, Windows 2008 virtual machines lose their Gateway IP address.
Gateway IP address is lost or reset after rebooting

Resolution

This issue may occur if there is a problem with the registry keys DefaultGateway and DefaultGatewayMetric.

Microsoft has identified this issue and has released a hotfix. For more information and to download the hotfix, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 973243.

To work around this issue:

From the Windows Registry Editor, navigate to HKLM/System/CurrentControlSet/Services/Tcpip/Parameters/Interfaces/%CLSID%.
Check the DefaultGateway and DefaultGatewayMetric keys for issues. For example:

Remove any newline feeds before the correct default gateway IP
If the address is missing, add it manually.

Device Manager is running in read-only mode

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Today I was creating a template for my VMware environment, when I was trying to change the graphical interface card I was running into some problems. This is the message the Device Manager is giving me.

The result is that I cannot change any drivers or devices.

The solution is very simple but not obvious. My computer name is longer than 15 characters. This is a problem for NetBIOS computers. It turns out this is also a problem for the device manager. So I changed my computer name to a name with less than 15 characters, now everything works normal again.

VCP5 Study Notes

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These are my study notes for the VCP5 exam I am going to take in January 2012. I am already a VCP4 so I will take upgrade path, this path is only available until February 29 2012.

How to become a VCP.

There are different paths to VCP5 certification based on your background. Choose your path and complete the three core validation components:

Attend a qualifying VMware authorized course.
Already a VCP4? There is no course requirement until February 29, 2012.
Gain hands-on experience with VMware vSphere 5.
Pass the VCP5 Exam.

Source: http://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/plan.cfm?plan=12457&ui=www_cert

Exam Blueprint.

VMware created a blueprint for the VPC5 exam. This document describes what to know, how many points are needed etc. Link to the Blueprint: http://mylearn.vmware.com/register.cfm?course=103110 or http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-16726

Exam Objectives.

These are the objectives discussed in the Exam Blueprint, these are the topics for the VCP5 exam.

Section 1 – Plan, Install, Configure and Upgrade vCenter Server and VMware ESXi

Section 2 – Plan and Configure vSphere Networking

Section 3 – Plan and Configure vSphere Storage

Section 4 – Deploy and Administer Virtual Machines and vApps

Section 5 – Establish and Maintain Service Levels

Section 6 – Perform Basic Troubleshooting

Section 7 – Monitor a vSphere Implementation and Manage vCenter Server Alarms

VMware documentation.

Of course VMware created a lot of documentation, manuals and whitepapers. These are the most important ones. Read them en learn them.

New Features and Release Notes

Compatibility and Configuration Limits

ESXi and vCenter Server Product Documentation

VMware vSphere Basics Guide	html	pdf	epub	mobi
vSphere Installation and Setup Guide	html	pdf	epub	mobi
vSphere Upgrade Guide	html	pdf	epub	mobi
vCenter Server and Host Management Guide	html	pdf	epub	mobi
vSphere Virtual Machine Administration Guide	html	pdf	epub	mobi
vSphere Host Profiles Guide	html	pdf	epub	mobi
vSphere Networking Guide	html	pdf	epub	mobi
vSphere Storage Guide	html	pdf	epub	mobi
vSphere Security Guide	html	pdf	epub	mobi
vSphere Resource Management Guide	html	pdf	epub	mobi
vSphere Availability Guide	html	pdf	epub	mobi
vSphere Monitoring and Performance Guide	html	pdf	epub	mobi
vSphere Troubleshooting	html	pdf	epub	mobi
VMware vSphere Examples and Scenarios Guide	html	pdf	epub	mobi

Online Archive vSphere 5 Documentation Centre. http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/index.jsp

What’s new whitepapers.

Books.

There are some very good books that provide you with a lot of knowledge that can be used to prepare for the exam. These are. I have both books and I find them extremely useful.

Mastering VMware vSphere 5Virtualization is hotter than ever. VMware vSphere is the most widely deployed virtualization platform, and this indispensable book by VMware vExpert and VCDX Scott Lowe is your key to harnessing the newest version. Using step-by-step instruction and real-world examples, he takes you under the hood of VMware vSphere 5 and shows you how to get the very most out of all its components. Learn how to install, configure, operate, monitor, secure, and automate your virtual infrastructure from a leading expert and with the leading virtualization solution.ISBN: 9780470890806 | 0470890800

Also available as Kindle e-book

VMware vSphere 5.0 Clustering Technical DeepdiveVMware vSphere 5.0 Clustering Technical Deepdive zooms in on three key components of every VMware based infrastructure and is by no means a “how to” guide. It covers the basic steps needed to create a vSphere HA and DRS cluster and to implement Storage DRS. Even more important, it explains the concepts and mechanisms behind HA, DRS and Storage DRS which will enable you to make well educated decisions. This book will take you in to the trenches of HA, DRS and Storage DRS and will give you the tools to understand and implement e.g. HA admission control policies, DRS resource pools, Datastore Clusters and resource allocation settings.ISBN: 1-4610-4032-9 | 1461040329

Also available as Kindle e-book

Training videos.

David Davis and Elias Khnaser have created an excellent video based training for Trainsignal. This training will help you prepare for the exam. When you watch all the chapters you get familiar with all the new features that vSphere 5 will offer. I have seen them all, and I’ve learned a lot.For more information, see http://www.trainsignal.com/VMware-vSphere-5-Training.aspx

VCP5 Resource Blogs

Gregg Robertson The Saffegeek VCP5 blog: http://thesaffageek.co.uk/vcp5/
Andrea Mauro blog: http://vinfrastructure.it/certifications-on-virtualization/vcp/vcp5/
Daniel Petri blog: http://www.petri.co.il/vcp5-exam.htm
Forbes Guthrie blog: http://www.vreference.com/vsphere-5-notes/ <- Must Read!
Scott Vessey blog: http://vmwaretraining.blogspot.com/2011/10/studying-for-vcp5-exam.html
Preetam Zare blog: http://vcp5.wordpress.com/
Chad King blog: http://virtualnoob.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/vcp-510-study-guide-prepping-up-vcp5/
Damian Karlson blog: http://damiankarlson.com/2011/11/01/vmware-vcp-5-resources/
Jason Langer blog: http://virtuallanger.com/vcp5/

VCP5 practice exams.

These are some practice exams I’ve found online. I should be noted that these do not necessarily indicate the types and styles of questions you will get in the real exam, and the accuracy of these practice exams cannot be guaranteed either.

VMware Mock exam: http://mylearn.vmware.com/quiz.cfm?item=24908&ui=www_cert
Simon Long’s practice exam: http://www.simonlong.co.uk/blog/vcp5-practice-exams/
Kalen Arndt practice exam: http://www.kalenarndt.com/vcp-510-quiz/
Paul McSharry practice exam: http://www.elasticsky.co.uk/2011/08/vsphere-5-configuration-maximums-practice-tests-series/
Robert Stothards practice exam: http://www.classmarker.com/online-test/start/?quiz=kmh4e272723524e2

VCP5 Exam experience

Of course there are other people that already taken the exam, these are there experiences.

Eric Sloof on NTPro.nl: http://www.ntpro.nl/blog/archives/1865-Eric-Sloofs-VCP5-exam-experience.html
James Burd: http://www.burdweiser.com/?p=542
Virtual Nomad: http://vmnomad.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-vcp-5-exam-experience.html
Jason Ventresco : http://www.vjason.com/2011/08/29/vcp5-exam-passed/
Maish Saidel-Keesing: http://technodrone.blogspot.com/2011/09/vcp-5-beta-exam-pass-but-it-aint-easy.html
Craig: http://malaysiavm.com/blog/vcp-5-exam-experience/

VMware vSphere 5 links

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Eric Siebert created a list of links about all the VMware vSphere 5 content he could find. See vSphere-Land for the complete list. I’ve selected a few that are important to me or are worth reading.

How to become a VCP.

Exam Blueprint.

Exam Objectives.

VMware documentation.

Books.

Training videos.

VCP5 Resource Blogs

VCP5 practice exams.

VCP5 Exam experience

What’s New Whitepapers

Documentation

Licensing.

Storage

Upgrade

Best Practices

vCenter Server

Books

Certification & Training

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