Eric Sloof

YouTube user eitang8 from Israël has created a nice VMware AppSpeed demo.

Fellow vExpert and virtualization friend Peter Rudolf over at Mightycare Solutions has created a real nifty vSphere Client Plugin.

We have developed a native vCO (VMware Orchestrator) Plugin for the vCenter vSphere Client; "The Mightycare vCO PlugIN for vCenter". It’s now possible to define all the needed Services in Workflows and Actions with in the VMware Orchestrator. Once you have designed your Workflows you can integrate these Workflows into the vCenter Plugin and start these Workflows from the vSphere Client. So you can bring all your Administration Tasks or "Services in your Cloud". One Management console for the complete virtual Infrastructure Environment.

What do you think of it? Leave your comment or vision at the following community thread.

DOSBox emulates an Intel x86 PC, complete with sound, graphics, mouse, joystick, modem, etc., necessary for running many old MS-DOS games that simply cannot be run on modern PCs and operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista, Linux and FreeBSD. However, it is not restricted to running only games. In theory, any MS-DOS or PC-DOS (referred to commonly as "DOS") application should run in DOSBox, but the emphasis has been on getting DOS games to run smoothly, which means that communication, networking and printer support are still in early development.

DOSBox is a DOS-emulator that uses the SDL-library which makes DOSBox very easy to port to different platforms. DOSBox has already been ported to many different platforms, such as Windows, BeOS, Linux, MacOS X...

DOSBox also emulates CPU:286/386 realmode/protected mode, Directory FileSystem/XMS/EMS, Tandy/Hercules/CGA/EGA/VGA/VESA graphics, a SoundBlaster/Gravis Ultra Sound card for excellent sound compatibility with older games...

http://www.dosbox.com

Here are the steps that need to be taken to become a VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX4). When you already are a VCP4 or VCDX3, there’s an upgrade path available.

1. Be a VMware Certified Professional on vSphere 4 Pass the VCAP - Datacenter Administration Exam
2. Pass the VCAP - Datacenter Design Exam
3. Submit a VCDX4 Application that is accepted
4. Successfully present and defend a VMware Infrastructure Design and Implementation Plan

VMware no longer requires qualifying exams to be taken in a specific sequence. However, required exams must be passed before the start of the application submission and defense process.

VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX) is the highest level of VMware certification. This elite group is comprised of design architects highly-skilled in VMware enterprise deployments and the program is designed for veteran professionals who want to validate and demonstrate their expertise in VMware virtual infrastructure.

http://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/plan.cfm?plan=16663&ui=www_cert

Check out VMware’s website, they just did the official launch of the VCAP certification, the frequently asked questions can be found here. Be one of the first in line to take the new VMware Certified Advanced Professional Exams. VCAP4-DCA exam opens July 12! Sign up here to receive an email alert when registration opens. VCAP4-DCD exam opens in August! Sign up here to receive an email alert when registration is opens.

Upon accomplishing VMware Certified Professional on VMware vSphere 4 (VCP4) you are eligible to pursue our intermediate level certification: VMware Certified Advanced Professional (VCAP). Available in Datacenter Administration and/or Datacenter Design, this program is appropriate for VCP4s that are ready to further enhance their skills with the virtual infrastructure and add new, industry-recognized credentials to their list of accomplishments.

The following VMware advanced courses are recommended for VCAP4-DCA exam preparation but are not required:

VMware vSphere: Troubleshooting
VMware vSphere: Manage for Performance
VMware vSphere: Manage and Design for Security
VMware vSphere: Automation with VMware PowerCLI

You can also vote for the session Jon Hall has submitted for the VMworld 2010, it can be found in the Virtualization 101 section.

Title: VMware Certified Advanced Professional Certifications Are Here

Session Id: V18061

Abstract: This session announces the availability of two new Advanced certifications, the VCAP Enterprise and the VCAP Design certifications. These certifications allow a VMware Certified Professional to demonstrate advanced mastery of two areas of expertise: Enterprise Administration and Design. The VCAP Enterprise candidate demonstrates advanced abilities in implementation and administration of large and/or complex vSphere environments, while the VCAP Design candidate demonstrates advanced abilities in designing vSphere solutions. This session will further describe the purpose of these two certifications, along with the requirements for obtaining each.

While I was doing a quick scan on the most recent Twitter activity, I noticed one Tweet by William Lam that caught my attention: This is a very nice find, Troubleshooting VM snapshot problems, very extensive doc put together by VMware emp - http://is.gd/ckwDc

The link leads to a real cool troubleshooting guide with everything you want to know about snapshots. It’s written by Ruben Garcia who’s working as a Technical Support Engineer at VMware.

This troubleshooting guide explains basic concepts about Virtual Machine snapshots and different troubleshooting paths depending on the problem. This guide was designed for ESX3.5 and extra considerations have to be taken if working with ESX3.5i or ESX4(i).  The formulas and most of the procedures described in this document were created by Ruben as part of a continuous troubleshooting improvement process.

Ruben is also the creator of the SnapVMX utility.

While troubleshooting Virtual Machine (VM) snapshot problems sometimes it is important to retrieve a lot of information in order to take the most appropriate decision in accordance with the situation. That collection and arrangement of information may take a long time especially if the VM has many snapshots.

SnapVMX was created to speed up the troubleshooting process bringing you instantaneously all the information that you need to evaluate the situation and take the correct decision, reducing the downtime to the bare minimum needed to solve the problem, because after all "time is money".

Ruben’s blog can be found at: http://vmutils.blogspot.com/

This week I’m delivering a vSphere Trouble Shooting Training at Global Knowledge in Amsterdam. Just a few doors down the hall, Ron Heheman is delivering a Cisco UCS training. This morning I went spying in his classroom and discovered a real cool URL which leads to the Interactive Model of Unified Computing System. It’s based on Kaon’s realistic 3D interactive demonstration engine and can he found here.

I’ve been struggling with this error message for moths and I’m not the only one. Duncan Epping over at Yellow-Bricks has experienced similar problems.

When using PXE and kickstart on ESX 4.x, the ESX boots from PXE but the installation fails and in the DHCP server logs there is a new unauthorized client requesting an IP. VMware has released a knowledge base article with the resolution for this problem.

During the installation of ESX 4.x, the VMkernel starts and it boots the service console in a virtual machine. As such, the service console is using a virtual MAC address that is generated randomly at runtime. During the install, the MAC address is written to disk and becomes persistent, but each time you boot the installer, the COS MAC is different.

If you are using MAC address based access control in DHCP, deny unknown-clients, you cannot authorize the service console to get an IP from DHCP. There is no way to predict what the vswif0 MAC address will be.
 
In large deployments, specifying static IP addresses is not convenient. You would need to create a separate PXE configuration for each host. To workaround this, put the IPAPPEND 1 parameter in the PXE configuration for the host.

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=1012248

The GNU/Linux systems have reached an important level of maturity, allowing to integrate them in almost any kind of work environment, from a desktop PC to the sever facilities of a big company.

In this ebook "The GNU/Linux Operating System", the main contents are related with system administration. You will learn how to install and configure several computer services, and how to optimize and synchronize the resources using GNU/Linux.

The topics covered in this 500+ page eBook include Linux network, server and data administration, Linux kernel, security, clustering, configuration, tuning, optimization, migration and coexistence with non-Linux systems. A must read for any serious Linux system admin.

Offered Free by: Free Technology Academy (FTA)

PowerShell Server has been rebranded as PowerShell SSH Server and has moved to a new home as a member of the 'PowerShell Inside' product line (www.powershellinside.com). In addition, the new PowerShell SSH Server is now completely FREE to use when run as a desktop application.

PowerShell Inside is a new and separate division of /n software focused exclusively in PowerShell technologies. PowerShell Inside products make technologies more customizable by enhancing them with PowerShell scripting. /n software has built these tools to provide an easy way to enhance and integrate applications without the complexity or expense of custom development. With PowerShell you get comprehensive access to the power of the .NET Framework in an easy to use interface that is tailor-made to help you get more work done, faster.

The following PowerShell Inside products are currently available:

• PowerShell ASP - Build dynamic Web content with PowerShell.
• PowerShell Panel - A PowerShell powered ASP.NET Panel control.
• PowerShell SSH Server - Access PowerShell remotely from SSH terminals.
• PowerShell Web Part - Extend SharePoint portals with dynamic content.
• PowerShell Data Provider - Databind to PowerShell, like you Databind to SQL.
• PowerShell Office Add-In - Automate Outlook with PowerShell scripting.
• PowerShell SSH Components - Components for PowerShell SSH Server Access.
• PowerShell BizTalk Adapter - Automate BizTalk and simplify orchestrations.
• PowerShell SSIS Task - Automate SQL Server and simplify SSIS Workflows.
• PowerShell Workflow Activity - Simplify WF Workflows with PowerShell.