VMware ESXi, vSphere and vCenter
Top Stories
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News
16 Dec 2024
Broadcom, AT&T settle lawsuit over VMware support
The companies have 'reached a settlement-in-principle,' but the telecom giant has indicated it's planning an exit from the virtualization platform. Continue Reading
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News
31 Oct 2024
Broadcom adds services to basic VMware subscriptions
These changes might be moot if Broadcom remains focused on its largest customers, according to one expert. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jun 2019
Consider compute and storage before a vSphere 6.7 upgrade
Compatibility issues can arise during a VMware infrastructure upgrade. Consider HCI platforms and vSAN when looking to upgrade, and know your storage and compute lifecycles. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jun 2019
Use these 5 PowerCLI cmdlets to automate vCenter tasks
With just a handful of cmdlets -- Get-VM, Set-VM, Start-VM, Stop-VM and Stop-VMGuest -- you can use PowerCLI to automate vCenter tasks at scale, something you can't do with a GUI. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 May 2019
VMware DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler)
VMware DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler) is a utility that balances computing workloads with available resources in a virtualized environment. The utility is part of a virtualization suite called VMware Infrastructure 3. Continue Reading
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Definition
17 May 2019
virtual machine replication
Virtual machine replication is a process used by information technology (IT) professionals to create backup versions of virtual machines (VMs) The backup can be kept and used to restore the machine in the event that its data is corrupted or lost. Continue Reading
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Answer
06 May 2019
What are the limitations of free ESXi?
VMware's ESXi hypervisor is free to license and use, but its capabilities are limited without vSphere. You get what you pay for. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 May 2019
5 vCenter features you should know about
VMware vCenter is the pre-eminent vSphere management tool. Get to know some of vCenter's lesser-known features to make this tool even more effective in your data center. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Apr 2019
3 ways to implement vSphere GPU virtualization
You can implement GPU hardware using VMDirectPath I/O, Nvidia Grid or Bitfusion FlexDirect on vSphere. Understand the pros and cons of each to know which will work best for you. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Apr 2019
How to resolve 5 common VMware SRM error messages
You can use VMware Site Recovery Manager to protect your VMs and the apps that run on them. When SRM errors occur, follow these steps to easily resolve them. Continue Reading
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Answer
16 Apr 2019
These VMware and third-party VM backup tools make your job easier
With the right tools and resources, VM backup and recovery can be easier. Consider factors such as product compatibility and future business needs before deciding what to use. Continue Reading
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Answer
16 Apr 2019
6 VMware VM backup best practices you should know
Understand these six crucial best practices for backing up and restoring VMs on your ESXi host. These strategies will ensure backups are protected and restoration is successful. Continue Reading
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Answer
16 Apr 2019
VMware VM backup strategies combine tradition with new methods
Different VM backup and restoration approaches can favor consistency, speed or simplicity. Consider which you value most, and tailor your methodology to that. Continue Reading
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Answer
16 Apr 2019
Use the command line for ESXi host backup and restoration
Backing up and properly restoring VMs are essential tasks for workload protection. Use a command-line interface, such as vSphere CLI or PowerCLI, to back up and restore the ESXi host. Continue Reading
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Definition
15 Apr 2019
Storage vMotion
Storage vMotion is a component of VMware vSphere that allows the live migration of a running virtual machine's (VM) file system from one storage system to another, with no downtime for the VM or service disruption for end users. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Apr 2019
How to enable Hyper-V Storage QoS and VMware SIOC
Storage QoS prevents a VM from consuming excessive storage IOPS, but the methods for enabling the feature vary from Microsoft to VMware environments. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Apr 2019
Craft your data stores with VM storage performance in mind
Proper storage performance requires a systems approach. Discover the different elements at play, such as the queues, SCSI disks and ESXi hosts, and how to optimize your data stores. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Mar 2019
Manage a multitude of VMware datastores using PowerCLI
Discover how you can use PowerCLI to boost your storage by monitoring and managing VMware datastores across multiple hosts. This tool has many advantages over the typical GUI. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Mar 2019
Get to know VMware's vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager
With vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager, you can easily set up test and development environments and push any changes to your production environment. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Mar 2019
Understand VMware virtual machine files
Effectively navigate each of the VMware VM file types, such as the flat.vmdk file and the VSWP file, to simplify VM management tasks. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Mar 2019
Sizing and scaling VMware datastores 101
When deploying vSphere, you must know how to size and scale your datastores for optimal VM efficiency. Discover what options you have and how best to use them. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Feb 2019
What to do when you can't deploy an OVF template
Invalid certificates can keep OVF-based VM deployments from working properly. Luckily, admins can work around this issue by logging into the host or using the OVF Tool application. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jan 2019
How VMware snapshots work and how to use them
Disk snapshots can save VMware virtual servers from failed patches and upgrades. Easily create and manage various types of snapshot files with these strategies. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Jan 2019
Manage an ESXi firewall with PowerCLI and ESXCLI
Regardless of whether you prefer ESXCLI or PowerCLI, learning to manage firewalls via the command line can save you time when making changes to firewalls on multiple hosts. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Dec 2018
Deploy a VM from a template with VMware PowerCLI
Quickly create and deploy VMs from templates using Packer or PowerCLI rather than doing so from scratch via installation media. This helpful how-to walks you through the steps. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Dec 2018
VeloCloud acquisition gives VMware SD-WAN market traction
VeloCloud SD-WAN is emerging as one of the industry's more popular products. Though the company still has work to do, the future looks bright for VMware. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Dec 2018
Set up vCenter two-factor authentication
How do you set up two-factor authentication with VMware vCenter? Expert Stuart Burns explains how to configure 2FA and includes implementation and troubleshooting advice. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Nov 2018
How to use a VMware content library
Follow these steps to create and populate a content library in VMware vSphere. Once you finish the initial configuration, you can create a VM from a template in the content library. Continue Reading
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Opinion
20 Nov 2018
Examine the history of vSphere Flash client -- and its downfall
To see why the vSphere web client failed to live up to expectations and learn from those mistakes, study its development and the technological landscape at the time. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Nov 2018
Boost disk management in Windows efficiency with PowerCLI
Extend a Windows hard disk in VMware vSphere with commands and functions from PowerCLI. Automate the management of hard disks with these steps focused on Windows Server 2012 R2. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Oct 2018
Use Terraform and vSphere to declare and manage VMs
Terraform and VMware form an ideal combination for IT administrators seeking efficient ways to manage vSphere VMs and resource pools. Model your management on these code examples. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Oct 2018
Use these PowerCLI cmdlets to automate VMware vSphere
Take advantage of these PowerCLI cmdlets to copy files to and from local machines to VMware VMs. For complex tasks, a programmatic interface enables easier management than a GUI. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Sep 2018
Access vCenter MOB and enable advanced troubleshooting
The vCenter mobile object browser provides a vast amount of information. Follow these steps to make it navigable and useful for some of the most difficult troubleshooting cases. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Sep 2018
Avoid these VMware host profile mistakes
VMware host profiles make it easy to deploy new hosts -- but it's also easy to make mistakes. Before you create a host profile, check this list of common errors. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
14 Sep 2018
Upgrade vSphere 6.5 to 6.7 with this guide
VMware administrators can upgrade vSphere using a simple process that includes numerous helpful wizards. Follow this guide to ensure a smooth upgrade. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Aug 2018
Use Terraform, VMware vSphere to enable declarative configuration
Go beyond traditional vSphere management with Terraform, which enables infrastructure configuration as code. Use commands to set the providers, data centers and compute clusters. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Aug 2018
Get up to speed on VMware vSAN troubleshooting basics
VMware vSAN is only as capable as proper implementation and maintenance enable it to be. To troubleshoot cluster health and performance issues, start with these basics. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Aug 2018
Manage and maintain a VMware VMFS Datastore
Follow these steps to scan for new storage devices, create a Virtual Machine File System Datastore, mount and dismount a VMFS Datastore, and increase the size of a VMFS Datastore. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Aug 2018
Navigate VMware EVC disadvantages during live migration
Traditional VMware vMotion migration relies on hardware similarities. VMware EVC mode enables live migration despite differences, but it can have an effect on performance. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Jul 2018
VCenter monitoring enables granular troubleshooting
Combine vCenter logging and performance metrics to troubleshoot virtual systems. Hypervisors might add complexity, but they also offer new levels of insight. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Jun 2018
The VMware HCL: When your hardware doesn't make the cut
If the VMware hardware compatibility list makes your hardware outdated, consider delaying upgrades, reusing hardware and temporarily implementing a workaround. Continue Reading
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Answer
07 Jun 2018
How do you enable centralized vCenter logging?
Centralize vCenter log files with vRealize Log Insight. Configuration with vSphere is simple and enables the centralization and transmission of event and task logs. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 May 2018
How do you prevent host isolation during network maintenance?
The host in a VMware high availability cluster uses a heartbeat network that can incorrectly report host isolation. Reconfigure your settings to prevent this during maintenance. 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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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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Definition
30 Apr 2018
VMware vRealize Log Insight (formerly vCenter Log Insight)
VRealize Log Insight is a log collection and analytics virtual appliance that enables administrators to collect, view, manage and analyze syslog data. 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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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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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
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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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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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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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
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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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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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
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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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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Definition
20 Dec 2017
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
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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
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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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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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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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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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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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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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
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
22 Apr 2016
How can you disable snapshots in vSphere 6?
Reducing the number of snapshots that you have could boost performance. Here's how to disable snapshots completely. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Mar 2016
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
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Tip
03 Mar 2016
Deconstructing disk capacity using VM thin provisioning
Although thin provisioning promises to reduce the disk footprint of VMs, it can lead to an increase in disk capacity usage, making capacity monitoring absolutely essential. Continue Reading
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Answer
22 Jul 2015
Can a VMware snapshot resurrect a VMDK file?
Snapshots can be used to undo botched upgrades, but can they be used to rebuild a broken VMDK file? Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Jun 2015
How the balloon driver helps VM performance
Using the balloon driver in VMware Tools is a better option for reclaiming RAM from a VM; otherwise there may be a bigger performance issue. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Apr 2015
Tracking VMware's expansion from humble beginnings
VMware got its start by overcoming the technical hurdles of server virtualization and now faces other barriers as it expands its reach to other markets. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Apr 2015
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
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Answer
06 Mar 2015
What causes UUID errors with Replication 6?
There are a few situations that will trigger a UUID issue when using vSphere Replication 6 to copy VMs -- and one direct way to correct it. Continue Reading
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Answer
06 Mar 2015
Connect the dots to uncover Replication RPO violations
When attempting to troubleshoot an RPO violation in vSphere Replication, the underlying cause is oftentimes more complex than it appears on the surface. Continue Reading
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Answer
04 Mar 2015
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
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Tip
08 Jan 2015
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
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Answer
06 Jan 2015
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
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Answer
03 Nov 2014
How can an enterprise benefit from using a VMware vApp?
By developing a virtual appliance technology, VMware has given businesses a way to both bundle and manage multiple VMs into a single package. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Sep 2014
Monitoring virtual CPU states to improve performance
A good understanding of vCPU run, wait and ready states can help deliver more responsive VMs. Continue Reading
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Answer
22 Jul 2014
What's better? An OVF or an OVA file?
What is an OVA file and how does it compare to an Open Virtualization Format package? Continue Reading
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Answer
12 May 2014
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
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Tip
10 Apr 2014
Using clones as templates in VMware Workstation
After you make sure the template is cleared of specifics, follow these steps to use clones as templates in VMware Workstation. Continue Reading
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Answer
03 Apr 2014
How to hunt down VM network timeout issues with performance charts
Setting up the performance counters in the vSphere client can help troubleshoot a dropped packets issue. Continue Reading
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Answer
03 Apr 2014
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