Tools - 85

The new VMware Remote Console (VMware VMRC) allows accessing the virtual machine consoles independent of the Web-based management interface. In order to access VMware virtual machines, install VMware the VMRC application from VMware Virtual Server web interface or download VMware VMRC application for Windows from the Minicom web site.

Last year around the summer I created the Virtual Machine MKS Client. It started as sort of a contest with Bouke Groenescheij and eventually matured in a real product. I sold a few copy’s of my tool but hadn’t the time to keep up with the new active objects from VMware. This week I installed VMware Server 2.0 and while I was wondering around in my program files directory it stroked my eyes. The VMware Remote Console aka vmware-vmrc.exe. I had to do some googeling before I found out what the parameters were, but I got it working. This executable can also be used to take over the Mouse Keyboard and Screen of your VM’s running on ESX.

Just days after the official introduction icomasoft updated their PowerScripter Proffessional to version 1.1. You can download a 15 days trail here. This new generation tool delivers best-of-breed management capabilities for VMware environments and substantial time-savings to IT administrators. Icomasoft announced the release of its new icomasoft VI PowerScripter Professional to define the next generation of integrated, best-of-breed management of VMware environments. This first release of VI PowerScripter Professional delivers market-leading management capabilities for VMware ESX and VirtualCenter Servers. It allows to rapidly addressing management and compliance requirements across the virtual infrastructure.

Iicomasoft provides you a simple VMware VI Client plugin (VirtualCenter and ESX Host support) for automating the Rescan/Refresh SAN Task of VMware ESX Hosts. Just right-click on a Host or Group object (Cluster, DataCenter) and choose rescan – done.

Don´t need to script a rescan process or even manually rescan all your hosts. That´s the best way for not getting into trouble with missing Datastore mappings because of a forgotten Rescan – and losing virtual machines because of a host downtime within a HA Cluster. Download the Rescan Plugin for VMware Client for free now and simplify your administration!

I’ve the opportunity to invite you to the Hyper9 beta program, when you’re interested please drop me a note.

Beta Program

A Vision of Virtualization Nirvana.   At Hyper9, we believe virtualization administrators shouldn't be stuck with an "un-dynamic" approach for managing highly dynamic and dimensional environments. It's why we're creating our new product, and why we're asking for your help.

Are You a Rock Star? If you spend more time contemplating your virtual world than the one in which you're late for dinner right now, get online and reserve your spot for our beta program. Our private, limited beta is full right now as we work out the kinks, but if you're a virtualization expert that is ready to rock your world, you can join our waitlist today and we'll keep you posted as spots open up!

Together, we can build a product, ignite a community and transform the world of virtualization administration forever.

Beta Product

Hyper9 is based on the premise that your Virtual Infrastructure management should be as easy to use as a Web-based consumer application. The rapid growth and dynamic nature of virtual environments clearly requires a different approach. The Hyper9 beta:

•         Rapidly searches and filters across your virtual infrastructure and inside Windows guests
•         Leverages VM DNA to track configuration changes to VMs over time - help diagnose problems
•         Compares configurations between VMs for drift
•         Understands conflicts between the guest and the virtual hardware layer (e.g. MAC address conflicts)
•         Gets “at a glance” performance and health information for all of your VMs
•         Collaborates – share critical searches and leave notes for team members
•         Generates instant reports to track connected media and active Snapshots

The VMware Infrastructure Management Assistant (VIMA) allows administrators and developers to run scripts and agents to manage ESX and ESXi systems. VIMA is a virtual machine that includes prepackaged software, a logging component, and an authentication component that supports non-interactive login. You can use VIMA to perform most of the tasks commonly performed in the ESX service console. Via Rick Blythe over at VMwarewolf.

http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vima/index.html

VIMA is a virtual machine that includes prepackaged software. Administrators and developers can use VIMA to run scripts and agents to manage ESX and ESXi systems. VIMA includes the VI Perl Toolkit and the VMware Infrastructure Remote CLI. VIMA also includes the vi-fastpass authentication component and the vi-logger logging component. vi-fastpass allows direct connection to established target servers. vi-logger allows you to collect logging information from ESX and ESXi hosts and store the information on VIMA for analysis.

The beta is over ... the first reporting solution specifically designed for documentation and change management in large VMware Infrastructure 3 environments is now generally available.
 
Features include:
• Unattended data collection & ad hoc reporting
• Change management support
• Help for "VM sprawl"
• Client/server architecture with SQL Server backend 

Veeam Reporter Enterprise is the first reporting solution specifically designed for large VMware Infrastructure 3 (VI3) virtual environments. Veeam Reporter Enterprise provides unattended data collection and scheduled or ad hoc reporting, as well as centralized data storage to help you discover, document and report on all the objects within your VMware virtual infrastructure right now, and at any point in the past.

Reporter Enterprise collects information about your VI3 environment, its components and configuration settings, on an ongoing basis. Using this data, it provides comprehensive and easy-to-understand reports for analysis, documentation and change control.

Designed for use by VI3 administrators, system integrators and datacenter managers, it is fully integrated with VMware VirtualCenter and supports change control for both ESX and ESXi servers.

RVTools is a small .NET 2.0 application which uses the VI SDK to display the version of the installed VMware tools. It also shows if the tools are upgradeable. The button "Upgrade VMware Tools" starts an UpgradeTools_Task for every selected VM. The latest version of the application has new tab pages with virtual machine information about cpu, memory, disks, nics, cd-rom and floppy drives. With RVTools you now also can disconnect the cd-rom and floppy drives from the virtual machines.