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Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.
Get started
Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.
vSphere HA (VMware High Availability)
VMware vSphere HA (High Availability) is a utility included in VMware's vSphere software that can restart failed virtual machines (VMs) on alternative host servers to reduce application downtime. Continue Reading
VMware vSAN (formerly Virtual SAN)
VMware vSAN (formerly Virtual SAN) is a hyper-converged, software-defined storage (SDS) product developed by VMware that pools together direct-attached storage devices across a VMware vSphere cluster to create a distributed, shared data store. Continue Reading
VMware vSphere
VMware vSphere -- formerly known as VMware Infrastructure -- is the brand name for VMware's suite of server virtualization products that includes its ESXi hypervisor and vCenter management software. Continue Reading
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VMware AppDefense
VMware AppDefense is a data center security service designed to protect virtualized applications running in an enterprise data center in order to improve the protection and threat response performance of an enterprise security operations center (SOC... Continue Reading
Add a host to a VMware cluster by following these tips
Grouping physical hosts together on a cluster improves resource distribution and increases availability. It's easy to add a host to a cluster, but be sure to follow these rules. Continue Reading
Change VMkernel port MTU size to reduce packet fragmentation
A high maximum transmission unit size creates fewer frames, which lowers the risk of collisions and reduces overhead. The key is figuring out how high an MTU size is too high.Continue Reading
VMware Certified Professional (VCP)
VMware Certified Professional (VCP) is a certification designed to demonstrate technical competency with VMware vSphere and related technologies.Continue Reading
What are VM-VM and VM-host affinity and anti-affinity rules?
It's important to create specific rules in VMware DRS to outline how different VMs and hosts behave. What kinds of affinity and anti-affinity rules are there, and how do they work?Continue Reading
How do you manually download VMware Tools ISO images?
VMware Tools optimizes VMs within a vSphere infrastructure. Although it's typically bundled with ESXi hosts, you can also manually install VMware Tools via an ISO image.Continue Reading
What is Photon OS, and why would I use it in my data center?
Due to its scalability, low cost and fast deployment, container technology is on the rise. How does VMware harness the power of containers in a vSphere environment?Continue Reading
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VMware Workstation Pro
VMware Workstation Pro is a 64-bit hosted hypervisor intended to implement virtualization on Microsoft Windows and Linux endpoint computers, such as desktop systems.Continue Reading
VMware vRealize Suite
VMware vRealize Suite, formerly called vCenter Operations Management Suite, is a software platform designed to help IT administrators build and manage heterogeneous, hybrid clouds.Continue Reading
VSAN Encryption: What it is, what it does and how to use it
New to vSphere 6.6, vSAN Encryption uses an XTS AES-256 cipher to encrypt all objects in the vSAN data store across both all-flash and hybrid configurations.Continue Reading
VMware Cloud Foundation
VMware Cloud Foundation is an integrated software stack that uses SDDC Manager -- an automated lifecycle management tool -- to bundle compute (vSphere), storage (VMware vSAN) and network virtualization (NSX) into a single platform that can deployed ...Continue Reading
VMware Identity Manager
VMware Identity Manager is an Identity as a Service (IDaaS) offering that provides single sign-on (SSO) capabilities and user-based controls for web, cloud and mobile applications.Continue Reading
How do you recreate a missing VMDK descriptor file?
The descriptor file plays an essential role in a virtual machine disk file, pointing to the larger data file and other VMDK information. So, what do you do when it goes missing?Continue Reading
Prevent software failures with vCenter Server High Availability
New to vCenter Server 6.5, VCHA ensures high availability for a vSphere deployment with minimal impact on vCenter Server and vSphere host performance.Continue Reading
Horizon View 7.0.1 and 7.0.2 add flexibility to features
VMware Horizon View 7.0.1 and 7.0.2 brings flexibility to the features that were released in the original version earlier this season.Continue Reading
SysTrack Desktop Assessment for VMware
SysTrack Desktop Assessment for VMware is a free cloud-based assessment service, developed in conjunction with Lakeside Software, that provides metrics and information about an environment and as well as how to best deploy VMware Horizon.Continue Reading
VMware Access Point
VMware Access Point is a virtual appliance used as a secure gateway which authorized users can access VMware computing resources.Continue Reading
Test your vSphere Distributed Switch knowledge with this quiz
If you think you know which features only come with the vSphere Distributed Switch, challenge your knowledge with this quiz.Continue Reading
What vSphere's latest features mean for VMware vDS
VSphere 5 and 6 offer a number of features to boost networking performance. Let's take a look at how these features affect the functionality of vSphere Distributed Switches.Continue Reading
What is the best way to log in to vCenter Server with vSphere 6 Web Client?
In order to successfully log in to vCenter Server with vSphere Web Client, start by figuring out which version of vCenter Server you're running.Continue Reading
Distributed Execution Manager (DEM)
The Distributed Execution Manager is a VMware vCloud Automation Center tool that executes the business logic of custom models. Each DEM instance performs one of two roles, Worker or Orchestrator, to create and monitor workflows.Continue Reading
Horizon 7 Smart Policies helps increase security
If you want to smarten up your security, using Policy-Managed Client Features in Horizon 7 can help.Continue Reading
Using shared disks to set up virtual clusters in ESXi
Thanks to some expert advice, we've come up with some best practices for building a Red Hat-based Linux cluster in an ESXi environment.Continue Reading
Prepare yourself for these VMware administrator interview questions
Before you get to your VMware interview, prepare yourself with these questions.Continue Reading
Host OS (host operating system)
A host OS is the software installed on a computer that interacts with the underlying hardware in a computer using virtualization technology.Continue Reading
VMware long-distance vMotion
Long-distance vMotion is a feature that allows virtual machines to be migrated over long distances with a maximum round-trip latency time of 150 milliseconds.Continue Reading
VMware vSphere Content Library
The vSphere Content Library is a centralized repository in vSphere 6 to help manage and distribute virtual machines, templates, ISO images, scripts, vApps and other files related to virtual machines.Continue Reading
VMware Solution Exchange (VSX)
The VMware Solution Exchange (VSX) is an online marketplace where potential customers can browse, download and rate the products uploaded by developers and VMware partners.Continue Reading
VMware Certificate Authority (VMCA)
The VMware Certificate Authority (VMCA) is the default root certificate authority introduced in vSphere 6.0 that supplies the certificates to ensure secure communication over SSL between vCenter Server components and ESXi nodes in the virtualized ...Continue Reading
VMware Cross vCenter vMotion
VMware Cross vCenter vMotion is a feature introduced in vSphere 6.0 that allows virtual machines (VMs) to switch from one vCenter Server instance to another to change the compute, network, storage and management of the VM concurrently.Continue Reading
Avoiding downtime with VMware Fault Tolerance and High Availability
This guide delves into two of vSphere's key uptime features, High Availability and Fault Tolerance, how they keep the business running and how they differ.Continue Reading
VMware Platform Services Controller (PSC)
VMware Platform Services Controller (PSC) is a new service in vSphere 6 that handles the infrastructure security functions such as vCenter Single Sign-On, licensing, certificate management and server reservation.Continue Reading
VMware vSphere Security Hardening Guide
The VMware vSphere Security Hardening Guide is an Excel document provided by VMware that lists more than 150 recommendations to systems administrators to further secure their vSphere environment.Continue Reading
VMware Certified Implementation Expert (VCIX)
The VMware Certified Implementation Expert (VCIX) is third-highest level in VMware's data center virtualization, cloud management and automation, desktop and mobility, and network virtualization certification tracks.Continue Reading
How to build your own virtual test lab
A virtual test lab can give you a place to test patches and configuration changes -- and avoid the potential for downtime in the production environment.Continue Reading
Horizon View Direct-Connection Plugin streamlines configuration
The Direct-Connection Plugin lets Horizon View users connect to a virtual desktop without connecting to a Connection Server first.Continue Reading
Working with the vSphere 6.0 Web client
Your stance on the vSphere Web Client may determine your level of happiness with VMware's latest server virtualization platform.Continue Reading
How do I address capacity issues in VMware VDP?
A certain amount of data will need to be backed up before the advantage of deduplication in vSphere Data Protection will become apparent.Continue Reading
The top 10 PowerCLI scripts for vSphere administrators
There are numerous PowerCLI scripts to help a busy administrator get through the day. Here's a few highly recommended by one of our experts.Continue Reading
VMware vSphere Big Data Extensions (BDE)
VMware vSphere Big Data Extensions (BDE) is a virtual appliance that enables administrators to deploy and manage the Hadoop clusters for big data analytics in the vSphere virtual infrastructure.Continue Reading
Staying safe while manually modifying a VMX file
What happens when you can't make changes to a VM in the vSphere client? There's more than one way to tweak the configuration file.Continue Reading
How to troubleshoot VMware vSphere Replication issues
When problems occur with the tool you use to protect your data, it's imperative to track down the logs that can help restore order.Continue Reading
VMware App Volumes (formerly CloudVolumes)
VMware App Volumes (formerly CloudVolumes) is layering software that puts applications into compartments for easier deployment in a virtual desktop infrastructure environment.Continue Reading
VMware Integrated OpenStack (VMware VIO)
VMware Integrated OpenStack (VMware VIO) is an OpenStack distribution tested and supported by VMware for companies that want to deploy and manage a private cloud on top of their vSphere infrastructure.Continue Reading
VMware vSphere Distributed Switch (VMware vDS)
A VMware vSphere Distributed Switch (VMware vDS) allows a single virtual switch to connect multiple hosts in a cluster or multiple clusters for centralized management of network configurations in a vSphere environment.Continue Reading
VMware Horizon View Composer
VMware Horizon View Composer is a feature in Horizon View that gives administrators the ability to manage pools of desktops that share a common virtual disk.Continue Reading
How are SSD garbage collection, wear leveling and TRIM different?
While using solid-state drives in a vSphere environment can give a boost to VMs that require high performance, it's important to know how certain longevity features function in the storage hardware.Continue Reading
How much longer will that SSD last in a vSphere server?
Even modestly sized SSDs can be more expensive than traditional hard drives, but do the benefits outweigh any concerns about longevity?Continue Reading
What are some key VMware Workstation features?
While VMware Workstation offers flexibility for a busy test/dev shop, it won't help if the hardware underneath can't meet end-user demands.Continue Reading
VMware vSphere Hypervisor
The VMware vSphere Hypervisor is a free, bare-metal hypervisor from VMware that allows users to virtualize their servers and consolidate applications.Continue Reading
VMware vCloud Connector
VMware vCloud Connector is a free product that allows an administrator on the vSphere platform to move virtual machines between servers, VMware public cloud providers and the vCloud Air service, through a single interface for private and public ...Continue Reading
VMware vSphere Storage Appliance (VSA)
VMware vSphere Storage Appliance (VSA) is software developed by VMware that pools disk space from ESXi hosts to provide high availability features without requiring additional storage hardware.Continue Reading
VMware vStorage Thin Provisioning
VMware vStorage Thin Provisioning increases virtual machine (VM) storage use through dynamic allocation and intelligent provisioning of physical storage capacity.Continue Reading
monster VM (monster virtual machine)
A monster virtual machine is a virtual machine (VM) that typically has more than eight virtual CPUs (vCPUs) and more than 255 GB of virtual RAM.Continue Reading
VM hardware version (virtual machine hardware version)
The VM hardware version (virtual machine hardware version) designates the virtual hardware functions supported by a virtual machine (VM), which relates to the hardware on the host server.Continue Reading
VVOLS (Virtual Volumes)
VVOLs is a provisioning feature for vSphere 6 that changes how virtual machines (VMs) are stored and managed.Continue Reading
Answering common VMware NSX platform questions
VMware's network virtualization product promises both flexibility and security in one of the few areas where innovation has lagged in the data center.Continue Reading
VMware IT Business Management Suite (ITBM)
VMware IT Business Management Suite (ITBM) is a cost analysis and benchmarking product designed to detail the cost of IT services on a private cloud.Continue Reading
VMware vCenter Simulator
VMware vCenter Simulator (VCSIM) is an unsupported tool from VMware that is included with the vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA) and is used to simulate changes in a vSphere environment for testing and development purposes.Continue Reading
VMware Unity mode
VMware Unity mode is a feature in VMware desktop virtualization products that allows a user to display applications from virtual machines (VMs) on the host system desktop.Continue Reading
Is VMware Integrated OpenStack just a development tool?
VMware is touting its OpenStack offering as a way to ease the deployment and operations in the open-source cloud environment.Continue Reading
VMware VADP (VMware vStorage API for Data Protection)
VMware VADP is a VMware vStorage API that backs up and restores vSphere virtual machines (VMs).Continue Reading
VMware DirectPath I/O
VMware DirectPath I/O is the technology that gives a virtual machine (VM) direct access to a physical PCI and PCIe hardware devices on the host by circumventing the hypervisor.Continue Reading
VCAP (VMware Certified Advanced Professional)
VMware Certified Advanced Professional (VCAP) is VMware's third highest certification level out of four levels.Continue Reading
Top 10 things to know about vCenter Server Appliance
Here's how VMware's vCSA differs from its Windows-based counterpart -- and why it's the wave of the future.Continue Reading
VMware Virtual SAN Ready Node (vSAN Ready Node)
A VMware Virtual SAN Ready Node (vSAN Ready Node) is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) network appliance that is certified to run VMware vSAN. Continue Reading
VMware vSphere Network I/O Control (NIOC)
VMware vSphere Network I/O Control (NIOC) allows administrator to set up rules and policies to prioritize bandwidth for different network resource pools on a vSphere distributed switch.Continue Reading
VMware vCloud Hybrid Service (vCHS)
VMware vCloud Hybrid Service (vCHS) is an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offering based on the VMware vSphere hypervisor featuring three services -- dedicated cloud, virtual private cloud and Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) -- that can be...Continue Reading
VMware vCloud Suite
VMware vCloud Suite is a collection of applications built on VMware's vSphere platform for building a private cloud infrastructure.Continue Reading
lldpnetmap
Lldpnetmap is a troubleshooting command that displays to which physical switch an ESXi host is connected.Continue Reading
VMware Horizon Cloud Pod Architecture
VMware Horizon Cloud Pod Architecture is a feature in VMware Horizon 6 that consolidates multiple Horizon View pods to centralize management for administrators and enable entitlement access for remote users.Continue Reading
vmkping
Vmkping is a command used to verify and troubleshoot VMkernel network connectivity.Continue Reading
VMware Fusion
VMware Fusion is virtualization software from VMware that can run more than 150 multiple guest operating systems (OS), such as Windows or Linux, as virtual machines (VMs) inside a Macintosh OS.Continue Reading
VMXNET Generation 3 (VMXNET3)
VMXNET Generation 3 (VMXNET3) is a virtual network adapter designed to deliver high performance in virtual machines (VMs) running on the VMware vSphere platform.Continue Reading
VMware vSphere Update Manager (VUM)
VMware vSphere Update Manager (VUM) is software that manages vSphere versions, installs and updates third-party ESX/ESXi host extensions, automates the patch and upgrade process on ESX/ESXi hosts, and performs upgrades to virtual appliances, VMware ...Continue Reading
vSphere hot plug
vSphere hot plug is a function lets administrators add additional virtual hardware to running virtual machines (VMs).Continue Reading
The right way to rename VMs with vSphere Storage vMotion
A quirk in older ESX/ESXi versions will not result in a prompt rename of a VM until it has moved to another data store.Continue Reading
vTax
VTax is the derogatory nickname the general public gave to a licensing change for VMware vSphere 5.0.Continue Reading
vmkfstools
Vmkfstools is an ESXi Shell command line interface (CLI) for building and managing volumes and virtual disks on an ESX/ESXi host.Continue Reading
How to clear a clogged core dump in VMware ESXi
With a little manipulation via SSH or ESXi Shell, a locked core dump file can soon be just a distant memory for your ESXi environment.Continue Reading
VMware Service Provider Program (VSPP)
The VMware Service Provider Program (VSPP) is part of the VMware Partner Network Program ,which allows service provider partners to host VMware software on a monthly subscription basis to offer cloud services such as Infrastructure as a Service (...Continue Reading
Virtual Dedicated Graphics Acceleration (vDGA)
Virtual Dedicated Graphics Acceleration (vDGA) is a graphics-acceleration function that bypasses the ESXi hypervisor to tie a dedicated GPU in the ESXi host directly to a Horizon View virtual desktop to provide near-native performance.Continue Reading
VMware vExpert
VMware vExpert is an honorary title VMware grants to outstanding advocates of the company's products.Continue Reading
VMware vSphere Data Protection Advanced (VMware VDPA)
VMware vSphere Data Protection Advanced (VMware VDPA) is a backup management, recovery and replication utility for virtual machines and applications that is based on EMC Avamar deduplication technology.Continue Reading
How to stop worrying and learn to love the new vSphere Web Client
Resistance is futile: If you want access to some of the new vSphere 5.5 features, then you need to get familiar with the vSphere Web Client.Continue Reading
VCDX (VMware certified design expert)
VCDX (VMware certified design expert) is VMware's highest certification level.Continue Reading
Tips and tools for virtual recovery and backup
Guard the perimeter of your VMware virtual infrastructure with this comprehensive guide.Continue Reading
VMware Compatibility Guide
The VMware Compatibility Guide is an online reference site hosted by VMware that shows what various hardware, converged systems, operating systems, third-party applications and VMware products are compatible with a specific version of a VMware ...Continue Reading
VMware vFabric Hyperic
VMware vFabric Hyperic is an agent-based monitoring system that automatically collects metrics on the performance and availability of hardware resources, operating systems, middleware and applications in physical, virtualized and cloud environments.Continue Reading
Copy VMDK files if you need to hand over a virtual machine
Copy VMDK files and then import them into the host if you need to hand over a VM to a client.Continue Reading
VMware vSphere App HA
VMware vSphere App HA is virtual appliance introduced with vSphere 5.5. It works with vSphere HA (high availability) host monitoring and virtual machine monitoring to improve application uptime.Continue Reading
thick provision eager zeroed
Thick provision eager zeroed is a provisioning format for a virtual machine (VM) disk that creates a virtual disk in a default thick format.Continue Reading
linked clones
Linked clones are copies of virtual machines that share virtual disks with the parent VM, which conserves space and allows multiple VMs to use the same software.Continue Reading
What's the best number of virtual machines for a data store?
The best number of virtual machines on each data store depends on, among other things, the performance needs of each virtual machine.Continue Reading
VMUG (VMware User Group)
A VMUG (VMware User Group) is an international community of VMware users whose goal is to share knowledge.Continue Reading
The vdmadmin utility puts the VMware View administrator in command
Using the vdmadmin tool, a VMware View administrator can make virtual desktops dance through command-line wizardry.Continue Reading
VMware vCenter Chargeback Manager
VMware vCenter Chargeback Manager is a tool that calculates the costs of virtual resources and provides chargeback accountability.Continue Reading