In preparation for teaching an early access vSphere: Install, Configure and Manage [v6] course this week, I have collected all the web resource links from the student manual onto a single page. Every web link is included, though none are repeated as they are in some sections of the course materials.
The web resources are here.
The question of using the PVSCSI adapter in Windows Server templates comes up occasionally. The quoted VMware KB article has the VM and OS compatibility requirements as well as the steps to implement the driver.
For my purposes, I don’t recommend using the PVSCSI adapter for the OS disk. I prefer to maintain the highest level of compatibility with OS versions and possible use cases. For example, MS clustering is not supported.
I have seen improved VM disk performance when the PVSCSI adapter is used with applications that require higher IOPS.
VMware KB: Configuring disks to use VMware Paravirtual SCSI (PVSCSI) adapters.
Here is a collection of links for resources mentioned in the VMware Virtual SAN: Deploy and Manage [V5.5] Train the Trainer class I am attending this week. Thanks to John Krueger for starting this list and sharing it with us! I plan to add to this list as we go and based on recommendations.
vSphere storage Guide – http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-55/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-551-storage-guide.pdf
vSphere Installation and Setup Guide – http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-55/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-551-installation-setup-guide.pdf
VMware Compatibility Guide for VSAN – https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?deviceCategory=vsan
Virtual SAN Datasheet – http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/products/vsan/VMware_Virtual_SAN_Datasheet.pdf
VMware® Virtual SAN™ Design and Sizing Guide – http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/products/vsan/VSAN_Design_and_Sizing_Guide.pdf
VMware Virtual SAN Proof of Concept Guide – http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/products/vsan/VMware_Virtual_SAN_POC_Guide.pdf
VMware Virtual SAN Quick Monitoring & Troubleshooting Reference Guide – http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/products/vsan/VMware_Virtual_SAN_Quick_Monitoring_Reference_Guide.pdf
Virtual SAN YouTube video playlist – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9MeVsU0uG65kM9iszj5KmNj01PiAWgvf
Virtual SAN (VSAN) Beta Webinar – How to Install, Configure & Manage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLfbeFoSQaI
How To Monitor Virtual SAN (VSAN) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHofTkK6K40
HOL-SDC-1308 – Virtual SAN (VSAN) and Virtual Storage Solutions – http://labs.hol.vmware.com/HOL/#lab/562
VMware Product Walkthrough for VSAN – http://featurewalkthrough.vmware.com/VSAN/
Cormac Hogan’s Blog – http://cormachogan.com/vsan/
Rawlinson Rivera’s Blog – http://www.punchingclouds.com/
Duncan Epping’s Blog – http://www.yellow-bricks.com/virtual-san/ – Duncan has collected a terrific compilation of blog posts related to VSAN!
Essential Virtual SAN (VSAN): Administrator’s Guide to VMware VSAN (VMware Press Technology)
Around the office and with customers, I have had a lot of questions about VMware VSAN. VMware Education just released a free online e-learning class for VSAN:
VMware Virtual SAN Fundamentals [V 5.5] – https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrreg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=one&id_subject=55806
VMware Virtual SAN Fundamentals [V 5.5] is available to customers free of charge.
After completing this course, you should be able to:
* Introduce concepts related to the architecture and features of VMware virtualized storage.
* Articulate Virtual SAN benefits
* Identify the primary issues associated with Virtual SAN configuration and management
* Understand the primary use cases and customer situations when Virtual SAN is best used, including high level technical qualification criteria.
* Identify VSAN elements
* Enlist the prerequisites needed to configure Virtual SAN.
This training would be valuable for any engineers, salespeople or anyone else who wants a solid foundation for understanding VMware VSAN.
I finally spent a little time and have updated the vSphere page to vSphere 5.1. I intend to build on the Knowledgebase article section as items come up with customers or from the classroom.
Network Segmentation in Virtualized Environments
As virtualization becomes the standard infrastructure for server deployments, a growing number of organizations want to consolidate servers that belong to different trust zones. The demand is increasing for information to help network security professionals understand and mitigate the risks associated with this practice. This paper provides detailed descriptions of three different virtualized trust zone configurations and identifies best practice approaches that enable secure deployment.
DMZ Virtualization Using VMware vSphere 4 and the Cisco Nexus 1000V Virtual Switch
This paper tackles the subject of DMZ security and virtualization. It covers a number of DMZ security requirements and scenarios, presenting how vSphere users can implement the Cisco Nexus 1000V virtual switch in a DMZ.
Dennis Bray's Virtual Place 