IGNITE VM - SQL MONITORING FOR VSPHERE

I learned about this product from NTPRO.NL and he has a very nice video about the product.

The main company page is http://www.confio.com/English/Products/Ignite_VM.php

VMWARE PARTNER EXCHANGE 2012 NOTES

Andrew Miller (a new VCDX) took some excellent notes from the VMware Partner Exchange this year. Check them out here:

http://www.thinkmeta.net/2012/02/session-notes-compendium-vmware-partner-exchange/

NICE EMC VNX/SQL SERVER 2008 PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION STUDY

https://community.emc.com/docs/DOC-13013

Whitepaper: http://www.emc.com/collateral/hardware/white-papers/h8987-mssql-vnx5700-wp.pdf

SORRY FOR THE LONG ABSENSE

Sorry folks but last year was terribly busy year with all the projects virtualization was involved with around Health Care. VMware deffinately has moved into servicing Tier 1 application needs.

I was also busy with studying for the VCP 5 test which I passed on the first try...and yes I did think this was one of the more challenging certification tests I have seen from VMware for VCP level certification.

Late last year I started experimenting with the EMC Cellera and VNX virtual storage appliances trying to get some early experience for what I hoped was coming.

But enough of the past and lets look into 2012 now. My vCenter was upgraded to vCenter 5 level in December and now that HP finally got their driver and firmware issues worked out for the HP BL460c G6 and G7 blades and vSphere 5 we are off on our migration to vSphere 5. I just recently moved my virtual vCenter and it separate SQL database vm off of old hardware to newer blades and like the better performance.

In addition we have bought 2 EMC VNX 5500 units which I am looking forward to learning and using starting in March time frame. We have been wanting some EMC storage for a long time so very excited about this. I am most excited about the ability to do some LUN provisioning at the vCenter level. I really think the efficiency and control being closer to the virtual admin level will help make much wiser choices in the LUN work ahead in Migration to VMFS 5 (which to do right really needs to be an empty the LUN and reformat).

I'll try my best to start sharing the many things I am learning!

VSPHERE 5 SYSLOG BUG AND WORKAROUND

I am using vCenter 5 and fully patched vSphere 5 (build shows 515841). I have VMware's new "Network Syslog Collector" running on my vCenter. I had about 6 new vSphere 5 servers pointing to the vCenter syslog server without issue. I moved my vCenter to a vSphere 5 server and updated the VMware tools and did a reboot. After this I noticed no servers showing in the "Network Syslog Collector" section of vCenter. Worked with VMware support and they are submitting as a bug. Also, apparently vCenter updates this only as you start the client, there is not refresh button, so as you fix this or add servers to this syslog collector you need to exit vCenter and come back in to see them.

Temporary solution for now to fix follows but this would be a pain in large environments like ours.

Restarting syslog on vSphere 5 server:

/usr/lib/vmware/vmsyslog/bin/shutdown.sh

ps | grep vmsyslog

/usr/lib/vmware/vmsyslog/bin/vmsyslogd

ps | grep vmsysl~ # ps | grep vmsyslog

62469 62469 vmsyslogd            /bin/python

62470 62469 vmsyslogd            /bin/python

62471 62469 vmsyslogd            /bin/python

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE

I hope you, your family, and all your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas!

FREE VEEAM BACKUP & REPLICATION V6 LICENSE

Get this hot one now for Christmas: http://snipurl.com/21b6v00

PASSED VCP 5 EXAM!!!

On November 28, 2011 I passed my VCP 5 exam after a lot of study and lab time! It was probably the most challenging certification test I have taken since the VCP 2, 3, and 4 certifications.

As for blogging it has been a crazy year with virtualization keeping me so busy I have not been able to blog very much. Sorry about that folks...have to make that my New Years Resolution to do better on that front.

I really think you need to sit down and use the products for this VCP 5 test. I would really like the test to take on characteristics more like that of the VCAP test with virtual LAB and you are asked to perform skills you should have to pass, instead of the current form.

I would like to thank the following blogs and websites for their notes and infomation:

http://vmwaretraining.blogspot.com/2011/10/studying-for-vcp5-exam.html?m=1

http://www.petri.co.il/vcp5-exam.htm

http://vinfrastructure.it/en/certifications-on-virtualization/vcp/vcp5/

http://vinfrastructure.it/en/2011/10/vcp5-blueprint-with-study-notes-ita/

http://www.valcolabs.com/

http://www.vreference.com/vsphere-5-notes/

http://virtuallanger.com/vcp5/

http://vcp5.wordpress.com/

http://damiankarlson.com/2011/11/01/vmware-vcp-5-resources/

http://cosonok.blogspot.com/2011/10/vcp510-vcp-on-vsphere-5-exam-cram-notes.html

http://www.ntpro.nl/blog/

and the VMware education "What's New" Class!

MUST HAVE NEW FREE VMWARE ADMIN TOOL: UBERAlign

The tool and details: http://nickapedia.com/2011/11/03/straighten-up-with-a-new-uber-tool-presenting-uberalign/
Videos demonstrations of the tool in action:
http://vimeo.com/31555866
http://vimeo.com/31551540

Originally learned of the tool from here: http://virtualgeek.typepad.com/virtual_geek/2011/11/first-of-a-series-of-holiday-giftsuberalign.html