Scripting administrative tasks
Top Stories
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Tip
04 Feb 2021
Get started with vRealize Orchestrator with PowerCLI
You can use PowerCLI to automate tasks in vRealize Orchestrator 8.1. Use cmdlets through the Scriptable Task feature or from a workflow in vRealize Orchestrator. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Feb 2020
VRealize Automation 8 removes key features, adds new services
VRealize Automation 8 lacks approval policies and some XaaS functionality, but it introduced ABX scripts, Cloud Accounts and Cloud Assembly as part of its cloud optimization. Continue Reading
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Answer
17 May 2018
Why aren't I seeing DRS load-balancing recommendations?
Conservative vSphere cluster settings tell DRS to only apply the recommendations that are required for host maintenance, so you might not get any load-balancing suggestions. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 May 2018
Build a VMware sandbox testing environment with Workstation
Using VMware Workstation to establish a testing environment for VMs is cheaper than consuming primary virtual resources, and it protects production hardware. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 May 2018
VMware skills extend beyond virtualization into SDDCs
VMware's technology is growing, and IT admins must grow their skills in kind. The admin role is growing beyond virtualization, and a holistic view of IT is increasingly necessary. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
09 May 2018
Create a VMware vSAN lab with mimicked storage
VMware vSAN is worth exploring, but its price often keeps it out of reach. To try it out in a test lab, create a vSAN cluster that mirrors the required storage. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 May 2018
Consider VMware PKS alternatives
Organizations looking to get started with Kubernetes might begin by considering VMware's Pivotal Container Service, but companies that don't use vSphere must find another option. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 May 2018
Limit the size of VMware hosts to control VM density
Large VMware hosts can be advantageous, but VM density can have unforeseen consequences during a system failure. Evaluate VM functionality to ensure you're ready for a disaster. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Apr 2018
VMware for small business deployments becomes more realistic
An expensive upgrade path often limited VMware SMB deployments, but recent price shifts are making it easier for SMBs to expand their usage of VMware's ecosystem. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Apr 2018
Manage Windows Server 2016 licensing cost with VMware DRS rules
VMware DRS offers a strategy to mitigate and delay the costs of Windows Server 2016. Use DRS rules to manage groups of hosts with different licenses and to limit licensing costs. Continue Reading
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Answer
24 Apr 2018
How should I prepare for a VMware exam?
To prepare for a VMware certification exam, study the blueprint that VMware provides. You can also save some money on the test if you keep an eye out for discount codes. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
20 Apr 2018
Use iSCSI storage for VMware to create a data store
Administrators can create a data store in vSphere with iSCSI storage. It's a relatively cheap, fully supported option, but it doesn't perform as well as direct-attached storage. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Apr 2018
Use Ansible in vSphere to automate management tasks
Ansible is a powerful tool to simplify and automate management duties in VMware vSphere environments. Ansible eases VM provisioning, as well as some vMotion tasks. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Apr 2018
VMware IoT services wield IT ties for device management
VMware is positioning itself in the emerging IoT market with a combination of device management services and complementary features from other VMware products. Continue Reading
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Answer
06 Apr 2018
How can I use and keep track of VMware flash storage devices?
There are several uses for flash drives in VMware vSphere, but admins must keep an eye on drive lifespan. One way to do that is to compare actual usage with what vendors promise. Continue Reading
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Answer
05 Apr 2018
How are VMware thin provisioning and thick provisioning different?
Thin provisioning helps ensure that organizations don't waste storage capacity, which is a potential pitfall of thick provisioning. But thin provisioning requires more monitoring. Continue Reading
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Answer
05 Apr 2018
What are the benefits and drawbacks of raw device mapping?
Admins can give VMs access to storage through RDM, but some devices don't support it. And choosing physical compatibility mode affects what administrative features are available. Continue Reading
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Answer
03 Apr 2018
How does storage acceleration work in a VMware environment?
Storage acceleration helps improve array performance by offloading storage operations from the server to the ESXi host, and it uses fewer processor and memory resources. Continue Reading
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Guide
27 Mar 2018
The essential guide to VMware NSX SDN technology
NSX is leading VMware's transition from server virtualization to network virtualization. Read about the features and future of VMware NSX software-defined networking. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Mar 2018
Set up a vSAN 2-node cluster for small or remote deployments
Use a vSAN 2-node cluster for small and branch office deployments. Use a cluster with two physical hosts for data storage and a third server as a witness appliance. Continue Reading
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Opinion
23 Mar 2018
VMware microsegmentation in NSX trumps going sans SDN
Software-defined networking can help plug security holes and minimize microsegmentation management tasks; it's worth a look for companies that haven't virtualized their networks yet. Continue Reading
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Guide
19 Mar 2018
VMware virtual recovery and backup best practices and tools
Protect your VMware environments with this compilation of virtual recovery methods and backup procedures. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Mar 2018
VMware cloud-native apps hold key to company's success
As the definition of agility evolves, IT departments and vendors must adapt. For VMware, that means embracing cloud-native applications, microservices and containers. Continue Reading
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Answer
09 Mar 2018
Navigate vROps dashboard options in the Service Discovery MP
Admins can view infrastructure information in the services relationship, VM relationships, service distribution and service visibility dashboards of the vROps Service Discovery MP. Continue Reading
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Answer
09 Mar 2018
VMware management pack version 2.0 features and requirements
Version 2.0 of the vRealize Operations Service Discovery Management Pack has been updated with user-defined service discovery, but consider the prerequisites before upgrading. Continue Reading
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Answer
08 Mar 2018
What does vRealize Operations Service Discovery MP do?
The vRealize Operations Service Discovery MP automatically discovers services running on VMs, as well as the relationships and interdependencies between VMs based on network traffic patterns. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Mar 2018
Cloud computing with VMware evolves with products, partnerships
VMware has stepped away from what originally made it successful to face the cloud future. Partnerships and acquisitions situate cloud computing with VMware as a competitive option. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Mar 2018
VMware desktop virtualization takes advantage of NSX and vSAN
The future of VDI has been fraught with promises and disappointments. As the market matures, VMware is positioning itself as a potential leader by leveraging vSAN and NSX. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Mar 2018
VMware Cloud on AWS pricing vs. running EC2 instances on AWS
In this cost comparison of VMware Cloud on AWS vs. AWS EC2 instances, expert Brien Posey breaks down the pricing of each option and discusses additional purchasing considerations. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Feb 2018
Keep tabs on your data center for VM sprawl management
Having too many unnecessary VMs on a network strains CPU, memory and storage resources. It's up to the virtualization administrator to create a VM sprawl management plan. Continue Reading
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Guide
26 Feb 2018
Enable VMware automation with these top tools and techniques
Virtualized infrastructures are more complex than ever before. Automation enables IT staff to do more in less time and focus on demanding projects rather than routine tasks. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Feb 2018
Control VM sprawl with the right management tools
Virtualization sprawl is the result of careless resource provisioning, and it can waste valuable computing resources, but, with the right tactics, it's possible to control VM sprawl. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Feb 2018
Use esxcli commands for vSphere management, troubleshooting
The esxcli command set provides administrators with an easy to use set of commands to configure, manage and troubleshoot a vSphere-based infrastructure. Continue Reading
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News
19 Feb 2018
VMware SaaS technology, hybrid cloud help IT with 2018 plans
Hybrid cloud is the top IT priority for users in 2018, with SaaS technology at a close second, according to a TechTarget survey. Let's see what VMware's doing in these markets. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Feb 2018
NSX-T 2.1 features are nearly on par with NSX for vSphere
NSX-T 2.1 is the next step in VMware's plan to create a fully functional version of its software-defined networking product for non-vSphere infrastructures. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Feb 2018
Understand the basics of VMware container technology
In response to the popularity of container technology in enterprise infrastructure, VMware has developed its own support services and management tools to run Docker containers. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Feb 2018
VMware Cloud Foundation 2.3 adds automation, improves flexibility
New VMware Cloud Foundation 2.3 features, such as vRealize Automation and a self-service catalog, increase flexibility and make it easier to run a hybrid cloud. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Feb 2018
Identify abnormal application behavior with VMware AppDefense
VMware AppDefense is an endpoint security tool that relies on security automation to determine the intended state of a VM and to analyze and identify unusual application behavior. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Feb 2018
VMware-VeloCloud acquisition pushes VMware into SD-WAN territory
VMware intends to use its recent VeloCloud acquisition to bolster its SDN products with SD-WAN technology, but the virtualization company is steering into unfamiliar territory. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Feb 2018
Top VMware NSX use cases go beyond microsegmentation
Microsegmentation has become a popular reason for organizations to adopt VMware NSX. Emerging use cases, including multisite and multi-cloud, could broaden the SDN platform's scope. Continue Reading
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Quiz
01 Feb 2018
Test your knowledge of VMware vSAN requirements and support
VMware vSAN is a powerful tool in the hyper-converged infrastructure space. Test your knowledge of its requirements in order to see what you need to be able to use it. Continue Reading
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Answer
30 Jan 2018
Which tools does NSX use for virtual network management?
NSX uses VMware services, such as vRealize Operations Manager and VMware Integrated OpenStack, and integrates with third-party platforms for security and virtual network management. Continue Reading
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Answer
30 Jan 2018
Which VMware NSX editions are suited for your organization's needs?
There are four VMware NSX editions, each with its own feature set. Learn more about these features and whether they meet the needs of your infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
26 Jan 2018
Dell going public? Here we go again
Drowning in debt from its 2013 leveraged buyout, Dell Technologies might get a life line if it once again becomes a public company. But for customers it may create waves of uncertainty. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jan 2018
Learn these AWS basics before you run VMware on AWS
There are a few things every vSphere admin should know before he tries to run VMware on AWS, including how VPCs work and how AWS handles resource provisioning. Continue Reading
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Answer
24 Jan 2018
Which VMware NSX features handle networking and security?
The VMware NSX network virtualization platform provides a flexible software-defined networking overlay and granular security to round out the company's software-defined data center. Continue Reading
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Answer
23 Jan 2018
What are the benefits of the NSX network virtualization platform?
VMware's NSX network virtualization platform applies software-layer abstraction to networking, adds network functionality and enforces granular security policies. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Jan 2018
VMware security products create balance between front and back end
VMware security products, such as NSX and AppDefense, eliminate some of the problems associated with other security offerings to maintain performance levels and user experience. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Jan 2018
VMware SaaS strategy bridges requirements from data center to cloud
VMware's effort to embrace SaaS tools might seem counterintuitive, but it's a move that recognizes both the appeal of the cloud and the continued necessity of on-site data centers. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Jan 2018
Hybrid cloud, SDDC products boost quarterly VMware revenue
According to VMware's Q3 2018 earnings report, the company received a nice boost from VMware Cloud on AWS, but NSX and vSAN remain the biggest contributors to VMware revenue. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jan 2018
New partnership will give admins ability to migrate VMware to Azure
After the initial contentious announcement of Azure Migrate, which will help migrate VMware to Azure, Microsoft and VMware will work together to develop the migration service. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Jan 2018
Execute PowerCLI commands to manage VMware infrastructure
PowerCLI cmdlets like Get-VM can be built out to obtain information about VMs in a VMware infrastructure, including those with attached CD-ROMs and those with snapshots. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Jan 2018
Primary use cases for VMC on AWS emerge among early adopters
VMware Cloud on AWS has been generally well-received by early adopters, but its high price tag could be a roadblock to widespread adoption and some possible use cases. Continue Reading
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Answer
04 Jan 2018
What is VMware Remote Console and how do you run it?
A vSphere administrator can use VMware Remote Console to remotely access a VM's peripherals, configuration and desktop remotely through the vSphere Web Client. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Jan 2018
PKS complements VMware's cloud-native application portfolio
Pivotal Container Service takes a DevOps-oriented approach to containers and improves VMware's cloud-native application strategy by adding Kubernetes support to vSphere. Continue Reading
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Guide
21 Dec 2017
Choose the right VMware certification to boost your career
With so many VMware certification levels and specialization tracks, it's easy to get in over your head. Fortunately, this expert advice can help steer you straight. Continue Reading
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Answer
19 Dec 2017
How do you upgrade VM hardware, and what are the benefits?
You can set up your infrastructure to better take advantage of new technology in just a few steps. Perform a VM version upgrade to get the most out of what you have. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Dec 2017
Use SpoofGuard to defend against malicious activity in VMware NSX
SpoofGuard monitors network traffic to identify malicious activity and prevent phishing attacks. Before you enable SpoofGuard in NSX, there are a few things you should know. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Nov 2017
Compare different vCenter Server editions to find what fits
Compare and contrast vCenter Server licensing options, and choose what's best based on how much support you need and how many ESXi hosts you want to manage. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Oct 2017
VMware Integrated OpenStack features, cost, benefits and more
VMware Integrated OpenStack features VMware support, seamless integration with the vRealize Suite and more, making it a competitive alternative to other OpenStack-based products. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Oct 2017
How to change an ESXi password for vCenter
A forgotten ESXi root password can stop you in your tracks. Avoid dodgy quick fixes and learn the proper way to recover a root password for vCenter-connected and stand-alone hosts. Continue Reading
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Answer
24 Oct 2017
How do you use VMware ESXi logs to troubleshoot your host?
With access to logs, you can troubleshoot your ESXi host and track issues as they crop up. You can access your logs via the console or a web browser with only a few simple steps. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Oct 2017
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
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Tip
27 Sep 2017
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
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Tip
25 Sep 2017
Manage ESXi updates to keep your environment running securely
It's in an administrator's best interest to regularly check for ESXi updates and patches to make sure his system runs the most up-to-date version of the hypervisor. Continue Reading
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Answer
25 Sep 2017
What happens when you violate affinity or anti-affinity rules?
Just because VM placement is flexible doesn't mean you should take it for granted. Affinity rule conflicts can take a serious toll on the functionality of multiple VMware platforms. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Sep 2017
Use vROps Manager to perform system health monitoring
VRealize Operations Manager is a system health monitoring tool that highlights issues in your virtual environment and steers you in the right direction for troubleshooting. Continue Reading
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Answer
11 Sep 2017
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
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Answer
24 Aug 2017
How can a VM storage policy improve vSAN cluster redundancy?
FTT dictates how many failures can occur in a vSAN cluster without sacrificing availability. How can you use a VM storage policy to define the amount of Failures To Tolerate? Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Aug 2017
Use a combination of DRS rules and HA tags to manage workloads
Distributed Resource Scheduler rules help with load balancing, and High Availability tags can reduce administrative fatigue in the event of an outage. Continue Reading
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Answer
08 Aug 2017
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
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Answer
04 Aug 2017
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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Answer
25 Jul 2017
How do deduplication and compression compare to RAID erasure coding?
RAID 5 and RAID 6 erasure coding, deduplication and compression are similar but distinct concepts that reduce data and maintain storage capacity in virtualized environments. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jul 2017
Use the Rufus utility to create a bootable VMware ESXi installer
Rufus -- short for Reliable USB Formatting Utility -- is a free Windows tool that can create a bootable VMware ESXi installer and a custom installation package in mere minutes. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jun 2017
Use SIOC to create and apply IOPS limits and storage policies
VMware Storage I/O Control uses vSphere APIs for I/O Filtering to quickly establish and apply IOPS limits to VMs that regularly access your data store. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jun 2017
Integrate Ceph object storage in a VMware vSphere environment
It can be challenging to integrate Ceph in a VMware environment, but with the right interface, vSphere administrators can reap the rewards of object storage. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jun 2017
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
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Answer
07 Jun 2017
How does VMware secure boot protect VMs and ESXi hosts?
New to vSphere 6.5, the secure boot feature protects VMs and ESXi hosts from viruses, malware and spyware -- and enabling it is as easy as checking off a box. Continue Reading
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Answer
20 May 2017
What issues can storage I/O control present in vSphere?
Storage I/O control can be an effective way to handle occasional storage sharing issues, but it is not always suitable for every virtual machine. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 May 2017
Integrate vRealize Log Insight and NSX for centralized logging
VMware added vRealize Log Insight NSX in version 6.2.3. This central logging system receives log entries from ESXi hosts and helps identify issues in your NSX deployment. Continue Reading
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Answer
05 May 2017
What is storage I/O control in VMware vSphere 6.5?
VMware storage I/O control helps improve the quality of storage in vSphere. VSphere 6.5 integrates storage I/O control configurations into the VM Storage Policy. Continue Reading
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Answer
01 May 2017
Best practices to keep your vSphere environment secure
VMware introduced a lot of new features that focused on security in vSphere 6.5. But, beyond those features, you can follow these practices to improve security. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Apr 2017
Deploy a virtual container host with vSphere Integrated Containers
VMware vSphere Integrated Containers uses virtual container hosts and Docker commands to deploy, test and run virtual containers in a vSphere environment. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Apr 2017
Use the VMware Host Client to manage single ESXi hosts
The VMware Host Client is faster and more secure than the vSphere Flash-based client, but it has yet to reach maturity. Here are some other tools you can use to manage ESXi hosts. Continue Reading
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Answer
13 Apr 2017
What is enhanced logging and how does it boost vSphere security?
Logs have been an integral piece of troubleshooting. New enhanced logs boosts vSphere security by providing much more detail about errors and changes. Continue Reading
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Answer
12 Apr 2017
How do you change ESXi 6.5 host names and DNS configuration?
Admins have options when it comes to changing an ESXi 6.5 host name, but only the vSphere Web Client has full functionality in the latest release. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Mar 2017
Copying virtual machines with VMware vSphere Replication
Now that you've completed the installation and configuration, it's time to walk through the process of how vSphere Replication works. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Mar 2017
Understand how VMware HA works in your data center
VMware HA is one of the most important tools administrators have to improve workload availability. Do you know how this essential feature works? Continue Reading
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Answer
15 Mar 2017
What is the role of the message bus in VMware NSX?
A message bus guarantees the delivery of messages to a host, even if that host is unavailable or you're unable to establish a connection. So, how do you use it in NSX? Continue Reading
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Answer
09 Feb 2017
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
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Tip
31 Jan 2017
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
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Tip
30 Jan 2017
Use automated vSphere Update Manager for more controlled patching
The most recent version of vSphere Update Manager helps reduce the stress of patching hosts, VMs, virtual appliances and more. Set it up in just a few simple steps. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Dec 2016
VMware's vCenter HA makes up for vCenter Server shortcomings
VMware vCenter 6 High Availability saves administrators the time and effort of having to log in to hosts individually to track down vCenter should they forget to restrict it. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Nov 2016
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
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Answer
31 Oct 2016
How does an OVF file work with VMware Workstation?
With so many different files forms supported in virtualization, there is a lack of standardization. Administrators can mitigate that problem using OVF file format. Continue Reading
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Quiz
09 Aug 2016
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
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Answer
20 Jul 2016
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
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Answer
18 Jul 2016
How can a vSphere Distributed Switch improve your networking experience?
Tools like the vSphere Distributed Switch help numb the pain of networking by introducing robust network features and aggregating virtual switches into a single distributed switch. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jun 2016
Upgrade ESX to ESXi hosts in seven steps
The upgrade from ESX to ESXi hosts can be difficult; no current tools convert hosts for you and you can't preserve manual configurations. But there are ways to ease the process. Continue Reading
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Answer
13 Jun 2016
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
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Answer
07 Jun 2016
How do you open a VM console and use timeouts in vSphere Web Client?
By making small alterations and adjustments to the VM console, you can customize and optimize your vSphere 6 Web Client experience. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 May 2016
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