Synergy of The Rockies

Posted on June 23, 2011 by scottpelletier

Standing room only at Lewan’s Synergy of the Rockies event!

Sent from my iPhone

Following patches must be applied to VMware ESXi and ESX3.5 before June 1st 2011

Posted on May 15, 2011 by scottpelletier

If you are still using ESXi/ESX 3.5 and have not applied the appropriate patch listed below for your environment, we recommend that you install this patch:

· ESXi ESXe350-201012401-I-BG
· ESX ESX350-201012410-BG

This patch MUST be installed to continue patching hosts after June 1st. The patch updates the secure key.

You can find more information about the patch, and how to apply it, in these article:
· For ESXi, see 1030002.
· For ESX, see 1030001.

Which metric to use for monitoring VMware memory?

Posted on May 12, 2011 by scottpelletier

http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2011/04/29/which-metric-to-use-for-monitoring-memory/

Performance Troubleshooting for vSphere 4.1

Posted on February 25, 2011 by scottpelletier

Chethan Kumar has recently updated the Performance Troubleshooting for vSphere 4.1 guide. This is a great asset I use regularly for any client or partner that asks about vSphere performance – especially those working with Tier 1 applications. It is very educational and addresses the most common scenarios clients experience.

Abstract:

“The hugely popular Performance Troubleshooting for VMware vSphere 4 guide is now updated for vSphere 4.1 . This document provides step-by-step approach for troubleshooting most common performance problems in vSphere-based virtual environments. The steps discussed in the document use performance data and charts readily available in the vSphere Client and esxtop to aid the troubleshooting flows. Each performance troubleshooting flow has two parts:

1. How to identify the problem using specific performance counters.
2. Possible causes of the problem and solutions to solve it.”

It is located here: http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-14905

Be careful before upgrading to VMware Vsphere 4.1 if using HP Flex-10

Posted on September 30, 2010 by scottpelletier

We’ve had two customers impacted by this problem, so please take notice prior to upgrading or installing Vsphere 4.1 with Flex-10. Read links below for more specifics.

http://communities.vmware.com/message/1589996

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c02481155&dimid=1004743424&dicid=alr_sep10&jumpid=em_alerts/us/sep10/all/xbu/emailsubid/mrm/mcc/loc/rbu_category/alerts

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1028091

VMware Backups using NetBackup 7

Posted on March 26, 2010 by dougoakes

Configuring NetBackup 7 for VMware backup (using vStorage API)

Configure VMware backup host in Netbackup

right-click on master server, select “Properties”

Add VMware Backup Host

Configure Credentials on vCenter

Create the backup policy for Virtual Machine Backup

The parameters shown are not the default but reflect a configuration that seems to be optimal for test environment. Your mileage may vary.

These specific parameters have been changed from the default
Client Name Selection determines how Virtual Machines are identified to Netbackup. VM Display name option matches the VM name as identified in vCenter
Transfer type determines how VM data is transfered to Netbackup host. The san option uses Fibre Channel or iSCSI SAN (Note:, LUNs containing VMWare Data Stored must be presented to Netbackup host). The nbd option resorts to a network copy, should the san option fail.
Existing snapshot handling, when set to Remove NBU, will remove stray NetBackup snapshots from VMs if encountered but ignore all other snapshots.

Configure remaining backup policy options based on backup windows etc.

If options need to be changed (‘cuz mine didn’t work in your environment ) , change on the policy’s attributes window

VMware Acquiring Zimbra

Posted on January 13, 2010 by djlaube

I thought this was interesting.. VMware announced Tuesday that they are acquiring Zimbra, makers of the Zimbra Collaboration Suite that is well known for a Linux and Mac OS email server, shared calendar and collaboration software (think Microsoft Exchange but for the Linux & Mac)..

A good write up can be seen over at the Tuaw Blog, here:
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/13/zimbra-and-vmware-get-married-cloud-shaped-kids-expected/

VMware Press Release:
http://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/zimbra.html

Upgrading from vSpehere 4.0 to 4.0U1 on HP Proliant

Posted on November 29, 2009 by kfingerlos

I just stumbled across something which I thought might be more than helpful to a few of us. VMware has a documented issue when upgrading vSphere 4.0 when the HP Insight Manager agents are installed on the host. The short version is that the Insight Manager services must be disabled before attempting to upgrade the host, or the host can be left in an unstable partially upgraded state.

The full article can be found here: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1016070

Microsoft Desktop Licensing in a Virtual Environment (VDI)

Posted on August 7, 2009 by djlaube

We’ve already posted some useful info on licensing servers for a virtual environment, but we also get the question a lot of how virtualization changes licensing for hosted desktop (aka VDI) environments. Well, here are some very useful links.

Here’s a high level:

Virtualization brings about new use cases that did not previously exist in traditional desktop environments. These use cases include the ability to create multiple desktops dynamically, enable user access to multiple virtual machines (VMs) simultaneously, and move desktop VMs across multiple platforms, especially in load-balancing and disaster recovery situations. Microsoft designed Windows Virtual Enterprise Centralized Desktop (VECD) to enable organizations to license virtual copies of Windows client operating systems in virtual environments.

Virtual Enterprise Centralized Desktop Licensing:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/enterprise/solutions/virtualization/licensing.aspx

More Licensing Details:
http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization/archive/2009/07/13/Microsoft_1920_s-new-VDI-licensing_3A00_-VDI-Suites.aspx

Desktop Virtualization (VDI) Info:
http://www.microsoft.com/virtualization/products/desktop/default.mspx
http://www.vmware.com/products/view/

Hope it helps!