Vmware Vi3 Implementation and Administration

“With this book, Eric has created a roadmap through the intricacies of VMware Infrastructure 3. From initial requirements gathering to advanced configuration topics, the logical progression of the chapters allows readers to jump in at whatever point makes the most sense in their own environment. Beginners and veterans alike will find themselves using it as both a guide and a reference.”

--Mark Chandler, Infrastructure Engineer Principal, VMware Certified Professional and vExpert 2009

“Through his work at Boston Market, his involvement as a community moderator on the VMTN forums, his management of his own vmware-land.com website, and his active blogging, Eric Siebert has established himself as an expert in the field of virtualization. In this book, he shares his knowledge of VMware virtualization in a manner that will benefit the novice and the expert alike.”

--Ken Cline, Technical Director, Virtualization, Wells Landers

The Definitive Guide to Planning, Implementing, Securing, Maintaining, and Troubleshooting VMware Virtual Infrastructure 3

This is the most comprehensive guide to planning for, implementing, securing, maintaining, monitoring, and troubleshooting VMware VI3 in any IT environment. Written by Eric Siebert, a veteran VMware system administrator and one of only 300 vExperts named by VMware in 2009, this book will help IT professionals make the best possible decisions about VMware every step of the way.

Siebert presents extensive coverage of the upfront planning and architectural tasks that can make or break VMware deployments, sharing practical insights you’ll never find in the official documentation. Next, he presents dozens of tips, tricks, and best practices for everything from migration and configuration to backup. Along the way, Siebert introduces advanced techniques for optimizing both the efficiency of VMware system administration and the effectiveness of VMware virtual environments. Coverage includes

• Understanding your current infrastructure--and all the ways virtualization will change it
• Building VI3 environments for maximum reliability and performance
• Choosing the right software, servers, storage, and network infrastructure
• Constructing your virtualized environment
• Configuring virtual networking, storage, and resources to maximize host and guest performance
• Systematically securing hosts, VMs, networks, and vCenter Servers
• Mastering best practices for populating virtual environments, including P2V migration, templating, and the use of ISO files
• Monitoring your virtual environment, analyzing metrics, and proactively eliminating bottlenecks
• Applying patches to fix bugs and security vulnerabilities without introducing problems caused by unexpected dependencies
• Troubleshooting virtual environments: identifying and resolving specific problems, one step at a time
• Improving administration with snapshots, scripting, and other advanced techniques

VMware VI3 Implementation and Administration is an invaluable guide for every professional working with VMware, including architects designing virtual infrastructures, as well as managers and administrators who must implement and support them.

Foreword ix

Introduc

Eric Siebert has been working with computers for more than 25 years. For the past 15 years, his main focus has been the administration of Windows server environments and supporting enterprise applications such as web, email, and database servers. Four years ago, he discovered virtualization technology in the form of VMware ESX and has been hooked ever since, spending countless hours learning the product inside and out. He now spends much of his time helping others in VMware’s community support forums, having achieved Guru status and become one of the forum’s moderators. His own website, http://vmware-land.com, is where he shares his tips and experiences and hundreds of links to technical information and top ten lists on a variety of subjects. In addition, Eric writes tips and blogs for Tech Target on sites such as searchvmware.com, searchservervirtualization.com, and searchdatabackup.com. Most recently, he was a speaker, panelist, and Best of VMworld awards judge at VMworld 2008 and is a regular guest on VMware’s weekly VMTN roundtable podcast. In 2009, Eric was awarded the VMware vExpert award, one of only 300 people worldwide recognized for their knowledge, experience, and contributions to the VMware community.