-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Also check out these other great VMware websites:
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VM Blog
Xtravirt
RTFM Education
Virtual Tricks
VM Professional
Virtualization.info
Vmweekly

Some lists I put togther on various VMware topics. If you have any suggestions for topics or the lists please let me know!
Jump To:
Top 10 blogs that VMware administrators must read
Top 10 news and information websites that VMware administrators must visit
Top 10 free tools that should be in every VMware administrator's toolkit
Top 10 things you must read when making a business case for implementing VMware
Top 10 things you must read if you are new to VMware
Top 10 things you must read to get more technical with VI3
Top 10 things you must read about Vmware Storage (SAN/NAS/iSCSI/NFS)
Top 10 things you must read about Vmware Security
Top 10 things you must read about Vmware Troubleshooting
Top 10 things you must read about Vmware Networking
Top 10 things you must read about VirtualCenter
Top 10 things you must read about Vmware Performance
Top 10 things you must read about Memory
Top 10 things you must read about the ESX Service Console
Top 10 things you must read about Disaster Recover/Business Continuity and Vmware
Top 10 reasons to go to VMworld 2007

Coming Soon:
Top 10 reasons to go to VMware 2008
Top 10 scripts that every VMware administrator should have
Top 10 things you must read about VMware Licensing
Top 10 things you must read about Resources/DRS/HA
Top 10 things you must read about Vmotion
Top 10 things you must read about Snapshots
Top 10 things you must read about Processors (CPUs)
Top 10 things you must read about Guest Virtual Machines


New 7/14/08
Top 10 blogs that VMware administrators must read
1) http://www.rtfm-ed.co.uk/
    • Mike Laverick’s RTFM Education blog is a great source for learning more about VMware. His free guides that he writes on a variety of material are a great source for learning more about VMware and going beyond the manual.
2) http://blog.scottlowe.org/
    • Scott Lowe blogs on many technical areas that administrators will find extremely useful. Scott has a wealth of knowledge and experience and his posts are always worth reading.
3) http://servervirtualization.blogs.techtarget.com/
    • One of Tech Target’s blogs that encompasses all virtualization platforms. In addition to Tech Target’s staff there are several regular contributors including: Rick Vanover, Eric Siebert and Andrew Kutz.
4) http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/virtualization-pro/
    • Another Tech Target blog that focuses solely on VMware related topics. In addition to Tech Target’s staff there are several regular contributors including: Rick Vanover, Eric Siebert and Andrew Kutz.
5) http://vmetc.com/
    • Richard Brambley’s blog has many good tips and news items for all virtualization products but with more focus on VMware. Many of his posts also detail his experiences working with VMware and are quite helpful.
6) http://www.ntpro.nl/blog/
    • Eric Sloof is a VCI located in the Netherlands that has been blogging on Vmware for many years. His posts are always informative and are another great source for tips and news on VMware related topics.
7) http://www.cio.com/blog/index/topic/168354
    • CIO magazine’s Virtualization Advisor blog has posts from Edward Haletky, Kevin Fogarty and Laurianne McLaughlin. This blog covers all virtualization products and also benefits from Edward’s VMware knowledge and experience especially in the security field.
8) http://rationalsecurity.typepad.com/blog/virtualization/index.html
    • You gotta love the Hoff, Christofer Hoff’s blog focuses on virtualization security. Hoff doesn’t pull any punches and is not afraid to say what’s on his mind when tackling sensitive security topics. His often witty and shrewd blog posts reflect his intimate knowledge and experience with security related topics.
9) http://www.yellow-bricks.com/
    • Duncan Epping’s relatively new blog on VMware topics is another great source for technical tips and information. Duncan recently accepted a job working for VMware and we look forward to more great posts from him.
10) http://blogs.vmware.com/virtualreality/ and http://blogs.vmware.com/performance/
    • Two great blogs that are part of VMware’s official collection of blogs by VMware staff. The Virtual Reality blog was created to fight mis-information that is often reported when comparing other virtualization products with VMware. The performance blog (Vroom) is dedicated to covering performance-related topics and is a great source of technical information.


New 7/14/08
Top 10 news and information websites that VMware administrators must visit
1) http://www.virtualization.info/
    • This popular website covers the entire virtualization industry and is a great source for all the latest news. Alessandro often reports major news scoops before anyone else and is the place to go to find out all the news, speculation and rumors in the industry.
2) http://searchvmware.techtarget.com/
    • Tech Target’s website that was launched to focus solely on VMware related topics. This website has many great feature articles, tips, white papers, news, webcasts and other information.
3) http://searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com/
    • Another Tech Target website that covers all virtualization products. This website has many great feature articles, tips, white papers, news, webcasts and other information.
4) http://virtualization.sys-con.com/
    • A great source for news, blogs, interviews, webcasts and white papers for the entire virtualization industry.
5) http://www.virtual-strategy.com/
    • This online magazine has many great feature articles, podcasts, columns, news and many other resources that provide some great information on all virtualization products.
6) http://www.dabcc.com/
    • Another great source for virtualization news, articles, columns, podcasts and blogs. This website is updated quite frequently each day with many new articles and posts.
7) http://virtualization.com/
    • This website is a good resource for all the latest news in the virtualization industry. It also features many good interviews and articles on virtualization.
8) http://virtualizationadmin.com/
    • A new website that was recently launched that is geared towards virtualization administrators. This website features many great tips, articles and blog posts from many contributor’s including David Davis and has a lot of great technical information.
9) http://virtualizationreview.com/
    • This website has a lot of great content on virtualization including columns, tips, news, feature articles and blogs from Keith Ward and Tom Valovic.
10) http://vmblog.com/
    • David Marshall’s website that covers all the latest virtualization news in the industry. Another website that is updated quite frequently each day with many new items.


New 6/27/08
Top 10 free tools that should be in every VMware administrator’s toolkit
1) Putty - http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/ and SSH Plug-in - http://akutz.googlecode.com/files/ConsoleClientSetup-0.1.5.msi
    • SSH clients for remotely connecting to the ESX service console. Putty runs as a standalone application and the SSH Plug-in is a VI client plug-in that integrates an SSH console directly into the client.
2) WinSCP - http://winscp.net/eng/download.php and Veeam FastSCP - http://www.veeam.com/vmware-esx-fastscp.html
    • SCP clients for browsing ESX server file systems and transferring files to/from ESX hosts.
3) VI3 SnapHunter - http://www.xtravirt.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=75&func=fileinfo&id=19 and SnapAlert - http://vmprofessional.com/index.php?content=snapalert
    • Utilities that can report all running snapshots on ESX hosts including name, size and date. Can also automatically email reports and optionally commit snapshots.
4) VI Scripted Backup Utility - http://www.xtravirt.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=75&func=fileinfo&id=7
    • A backup utility that is run from the Service Console that provides VMDK level backups of any VM on storage accessible by the host. The script can be targeted at any ESX server or VC server, and if pointed at a VC server is DRS aware.
5) MCS StorageView - http://www.mightycare.de/downloads/task,cat_view/gid,16/
    • A utility that displays all the logical partitions, operating system, capacity, free space and percent free of all virtual machines on ESX 3.x or Virtual Center 2.x . It can also display how many gigabytes you can save by decreasing the logical partition to a size the VM really needs.
6) Tripwire ConfigCheck - http://www.tripwire.com/configcheck/
    • Quickly assesses the security of VMware ESX 3.5 hypervisor configurations compared to the VI3 Security Hardening guidelines. Ensures that ESX environments are properly configured and provides the necessary steps towards full remediation when they are not.
7) Storage vMotion Plug-in - http://sourceforge.net/projects/vip-svmotion/
    • A VI client plug-in that extends the client’s functionality by providing an integrated, graphical tool that can be used to invoke storage VMotion (SVMotion) operations.
8) Vmotion Info - http://www.run-virtual.com/?page_id=155
    • A program that will collect Vendor, Model, CPU Types and the CPU feature bits from all hosts to check for vMotion compatibility.
9) VMCdConnected - http://www.ntpro.nl/blog/archives/172-Software.html
    • Scans all Virtual Machines and shows if they have a CD connected to it. After scanning the VM’s you can disconnect all the CD’s with a click of  a button.
10) VMware Converter – http://www.vmware.com/download/converter/
    • Performs hot and cold conversions of physical and virtual servers to virtual machines. Also converts image formats.


Revised 7/14/08
Top 10 things you must read when when making a business case to implement VMware
1) Getting the Green Light for Your Virtual Infrastructure - http://vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11415
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation from VMware on the benefits of virtualization as well as the financial and commerical aspects. Covers virtualization strategies, communication methods and the development of business plans and cost models. Will also show you how to make the strongest case for virtual infrastructure so you can get the green light to begin your deployment.
2) Making Business Sense of Virtualization - http://vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11417
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation from Deloitte that covers the business benefits and impact of virtualization. Also covers business drivers and justifcation as well as several case studies.
3) Reducing Server Total Cost of Ownership with VMware Virtualization Software - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/TCO.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware that examines how VMware virtualization software reduces total cost of ownership (TCO) in server environments and provides almost immediate return on investment (ROI).
4) Accelerate your ESX Deployment - http://www.glasshouse.com/whitepapers/wp_esxdeployment.pdf and Developing your Virtualization Strategy and Deployment Plan - http://www.glasshouse.com/whitepapers/wp_vmware.pdf
    • Two white papers from Glasshouse, the first both illustrates the benefits of moving quickly to build your VMware ESX-centric infrastructure, and suggests a framework that will help you to accelerate your deployments. The second one outlines the process that GlassHouse uses with their clients in developing a “virtualization strategy,” and how they further assisted them in developing a plan to “get there.”
5) Innovative Uses and Benefits of using VMware Virtualization - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11315
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation from Adaptis that shares a real life success story on using VMware virtualization at Adaptis, including what theye did right and what they could have done better. Also provides solid, convincing ammunition for the ROI of virtualization and discusses how they have reduced implementation costs.
6) Breaking Down Barriers to VMware Technology Adoption - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11025
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation from VMware that addresses the common barriers to VMware technology adoption, along with proven ways to manage them or avoid them. Looking closely at the common barriers that exist in an organization will help you balance deployment efforts and speed time-to-value.
7) Building the Virtualized Enterprise with VMware Infrastructure - http://download.101com.com/techlibrary/vmware/vmware_building_virtualized_enterprise.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware that clarifies how adopting VMware infrastructure – the combination of server, storage and networking virtualization technologies — as a fundamental IT strategy helps organizations to reduce infrastructure costs, respond faster to business needs and increase the consistency and predictability of operations.
8) Dispelling Virtualization Myths - http://vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11632
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation from VMware that addresses myths regarding virtualization so that you can make an educated decision, fully embrace the technology, and start reaping its benefits. The myths covered will include topics such as production use cases for virtualization in today's data centers, virtualization architectures, and key questions that organizations have about virtualization offerings from different vendors.
9) Reducing Data Center Energy Costs with Virtualization - http://www.fusionstorm.com/pdf_files/ReducingDatacenterEnergyCosts_wp.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware that discusses how virtualization technology can result in greatly reduced data center energy costs. Also covers how to calculate energy costs and potential savings by using virtualization in the data center.
10) Critical Success Factors of Virtual Infrastructure Adoption  - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11313
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation from VMware that provides critical success factors for the adoption of Virtual Infrastructure based on VMware Professional Services Organization experience, and identifies key factors required for technology adoption beyond the technical constraints.


Revised 6/17/08
Top 10 things you must read if you are new to VMware
1) Introduction to VMware Infrastructure - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_35/esx_3/r35/vi3_35_25_intro_vi.pdf
    • A manual from VMware that provides information about the features and functionality of VI3.
2) VMware Infrastructure 3 architecture - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi_architecture_wp.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware that provides a general overview of the VI3 architecture and features.
3) VMware Infrastructure 3: Pricing, Packaging and Licensing Overview - http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vi_pricing3.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware that describes the all of VI3 feature, licensing and pricing models that are available.
4) Tips and Tricks for Implementing Infrastructure Services on ESX Server - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/tips_tricks_infrastructure_services.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware that provide advice on leveraging key features of VMware Infrastructure for deployment of infrastructure services for system administrators who are new to VMware Virtual Infrastructure.
5) Configuration Maximums for VMware Infrastructure 3 - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_35/esx_3/r35/vi3_35_25_config_max.pdf
    • A document from Vmware that lists all the configuration maximums for virtual machines, VirtualCenter and ESX host servers.
6) Security Design of the VMware Infrastructure 3 Architecture - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_security_architecture_wp.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware that describes the security features and design that are part of VI3 architecture.
7) SAN System Design and Deployment Guide - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_san_design_deploy.pdf
    • A huge guide from VMware that describes how to design and deploy virtual infrastructure systems using VI3 with SANs.
8) ESX Server Architecture - http://vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11631
    • A VMworld 2007 session on that provides a technical overview of the ESX Server architecture including an overview of the VMkernel and its support for virtual machines, an overview of the ESX Server storage and networking architecture, and an introduction to resource management concepts and features in ESX Server.
9) Using VMware Infrastructure for Backup and Restore - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/esx3_backup_wp.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware that covers virtual disk files and methods for backing up and restoring your virtual environment.
10) Scaling Your Virtual Infrastructure - Getting Started - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11119
    • A VMworld session with planning tips for designing a Vmware virtual infrastructure including what type of resources to prepare, time constraints and how to operationalize your virtual infrastructure.


Revised 6/26/08
Top 10 things you must read to get more technical with VI3
1) The Role of Memory in VMware ESX Server 3 - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/esx3_memory.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware that describes the advanced memory management features of ESX.
2) Understanding Performance in a Virtualized Environment - http://vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11049
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation on understanding virtulization performance and overhead as well as dispelling common myths.
3) ESX Server CPU Scheduling - http://vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11026
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation that provides an in-depth look at the sophisticated ESX Server CPU scheduler. It also covers some of the most common performance related issues with single- and multi-processor VMs with specific hints for how to deal with them.
4) VMware Infrastructure 3 in a Cisco Network Environment - http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vmi_cisco_network_environment.pdf
    • A document that is a collaboration between Cisco and VMware. It documents a set of suggested best practices for deploying VMware Infrastructure (VI) 3.x and VMware ESX Server 3.x in a Cisco network environment. The document provides details regarding the internal constructs of the ESX Server and their relation to external Cisco network devices are discussed.
5) Resource Management Guide - http://vmware.com/pdf/vi3_35/esx_3/r35/vi3_35_25_resource_mgmt.pdf
    • A manual from Vmware that discusses resource management for VI3 environments. Its focus is on the following major topics: Resource allocation and resource management concepts, virtual machine attributes and admission control, Resource pools, Clusters, Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS), High Availability (HA), advanced resource management options and performance considerations.
6) SAN Configuration Guide - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_esx_san_cfg.pdf
    • A guide from VMware that explains how to use an ESX Server system with a Storage Area Network (SAN). It also discusses conceptual background, installation requirements, and management information.
7) Understanding "Host" and "Guest" Memory Usage - http://vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11638
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation that defines the "host" and "guest" memory terms and answer some common questions related to them. It also discusses a variety of memory management concepts, such as virtual memory, large page support, memory pressure, and memory reclamation techniques and also provides some best practices around memory management.
8) Timekeeping in VMware virtual machines - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vmware_timekeeping.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware that describes how timekeeping hardware works in physical machines, how typical guest operating systems use this hardware to keep time, and how VMware products virtualize the hardware. The paper also describes several known timekeeping issues you may encounter and how to correct or work around them.
9) Security Design of the VMware Infrastructure 3 Architecture - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_security_architecture_wp.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware describing the security architecture of VI3 including networking, storage, service console and the hypervisor.
10) VMware Virtual Machine File System: Technical Overview and Best Practices - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vmfs-best-practices-wp.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware that gives a technology overview of VMFS, including a discussion of features and their benefits. It also provides best practices and architectural considerations for deployment of VMFS.


Revised 4/24/08
Top 10 things you must read about Vmware Storage (SAN/NAS/iSCSI/NFS)
1) SAN Configuration Guide - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_esx_san_cfg.pdf
    • A big guide from VMware on SAN background, installation and management
2) SAN System Design and Deployment Guide - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_san_design_deploy.pdf
    • Another big guide from VMware on designing and deploying SAN environments to use with VI3
3) Design, Build and Manage your SAN Environment using VI3 - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11052
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation from VMware that discusses how VMware Infrastructure 3 can solve SAN management problems by providing solutions such as managing multiple hosts/clients from sprawling, multipathing management without the high cost and complexity, cluster file system for HA solutions, LUN security, and storage consolidation. This is a vendor neutral session providing topics for SAN architects and administrators ideas on ways to best deploy VMware Infrastructure 3 on SAN.
4) NFS & iSCSI - Performance Characterization and Best Practices - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11708
    •A VMworld 2007 presentation from VMware that provides a performance-oriented overview of the technology along with performance troubleshooting techniques and best-practice recommendations in typical ESX Server deployment. Up-to-date performance data, a review of performance optimizations available currently and a preview of features in upcoming releases are also be presented.
5) Choosing and Architecting Storage for your Environment - http://download3.vmware.com/vmworld/2006/adc0135.pdf
    • A VMworld 2006 presentation on selecting and architecting the right storage solution for your ESX environment
6) ESX Storage Virtualization Insights - http://www.vmware-tsx.com/download.php?asset_id=40
    • A TSX 2007 presentation on the ESX storage stack, VMFS vs. RDM and multi-pathing
7) Network Appliance and VMware ESX Server 3.0 Storage Best Practices - http://www.netapp.com/library/tr/3428.pdf
    • A white paper from Netapp with general best practices and recommendations on using storage with ESX
8) iSCSI, NAS and IP Storage Configuration for Vmware ESX Server - http://download3.vmware.com/vmworld/2006/tac9722.pdf
    • A VMworld 2006 presentation on using iSCSI and NAS instead of a SAN with ESX
9) Comparison of Storage Protocol Performance - http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/storage_protocol_perf.pdf
    • A VMware performance study comparing Fibre Channel, Hardware iSCSI, Software iSCSI and NFS
10) Configuring iSCSI in a Vmware 3 environment - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_iscsi_cfg.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware on using and configuring iSCSI in your ESX environment


Revised 4/22/08
Top 10 things you must read about Vmware Security
1) Security Design of the VMware Infrastructure 3 Architecture - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_security_architecture_wp.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware describing the security architecture of VI3 including networking, storage, service console and the hypervisor
2) VMware Infrastructure 3 Security Hardening - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_security_hardening_wp.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware with tips on securing ESX servers, VirtualCenter and Virtual Machines
3) Security Hardening and Monitoring of VMware Infrastructure 3 - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/static/sessions/2007/LAB05.html
    • A VMworld 2007 lab manual that covers real-world examples of securing VI3
4) CIS ESX Server 3.x Security Benchmark - http://www.cisecurity.org/tools2/vm/CIS_VMware_ESX_Server_Benchmark_v1.0.pdf
    • Center for Internet Security (CIS) recommended guidelines for securing ESX servers
5) CIS Virtual Machine Security Benchmark - http://www.cisecurity.org/tools2/vm/CIS_VM_Benchmark_v1.0.pdf
    • Center for Internet Security (CIS) recommended guidelines for securing Virtual Machines
6) Security Architecture Design and Hardening VI3 - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11047
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation on the security design of VI3 and recommended hardening steps
7) VI3 Security Risk Assessment Template - http://www.xtravirt.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=75&func=startdown&id=15
    • A great document from Xtravirt to help assess and mitigate security risks with VI3
8) Virtualization Security Playbook - http://www.bluelane.com/lib/pdfs/Secure_Virtualization_Playbook.pdf
    • A compilation of 8 good virtual security articles
9) Security in a Virtualized Environment - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11276
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation comparing physical to virtual security
10) Vmware ESX Server – Providing LUN Security - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/esx_lun_security.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware written in response to LUN security concerns that have been raised


Revised 4/28/08
Top 10 things you must read about Vmware Troubleshooting
1) Top Support Issues and How To Solve Them - Batch 1 - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11477
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation on troubleshooting storage issues including multipathing, vmfs, SAN snapshots and VCB
2) Top Support Issues and How To Solve Them - Batch 2 - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11152
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation on troubleshooting issues with the service console, networking, VM snapshots, vmfs and extents
3) Tips for Troubleshooting ESX Server 3.x Faults - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11476
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation on troubleshooting ESX faults including hardware, host, VMM, Guest OS and application faults
4) Troubleshooting VMware Infrastructure 3 - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11012
    • A VMworld 2007 lab manual with troubleshooting tips for the networking, VirtualCenter, vMotion, Virtual Machine, DRS/HA and more
5) VI3 Advanced Diagnostics Logs Analysis - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11483
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation that provides in-depth detail on the ESX server logs and how to use them to troubleshoot problems
6) VI3 Networking - Advanced Configurations and Troubleshooting - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11647
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation on troubleshooting virtual NIC’s, switches and other networking functions
7) Using esxtop to troubleshoot performance problems - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/esx2_using_esxtop.pdf
    • A VMware Tech Note on how to use the esxtop utility to troubleshoot performance problems
8) Troubleshooting Vmware ESX Server 3 and Vmware VirtualCenter 2 - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=12819
    • A VMworld 2006 presentation with tips for troubleshooting ESX, VirtualCenter, Licensing Server, VC Database and vMotion
9) VirtualCenter 2 Diagnostics - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=14161
    • A VMworld 2006 presentation covering how to troubleshoot problems with VirtualCenter
10) Performance Troubleshooting - http://download3.vmware.com/vmworld/2006/labs2006/vmworld.06.lab04-PERFORMANCE-MANUAL.pdf
    • A VMworld 2006 lab manual with detailed information on performance troubleshooting (temporarily un-available)


Revised 5/05/08
Top 10 things you must read about Vmware Networking
1) VI3 Networking – Concepts and Components - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11280
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation describing the VI3 network architecture and how to properly configure it
2) VI3 Networking - Advanced Configurations and Troubleshooting - http://vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11647
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation on advanced virtual networking topics with tips for troubleshooting problems
3) VMware ESX Server 3 802.1Q VLAN Solutions - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/esx3_vlan_wp.pdf
    • Provides concepts and configuration tips for using 802.1Q VLAN tagging with your vSwitch configurations
4) Integrating Virtual Machines into the Cisco Data Center Architecture - http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/solution/vmware.pdf
    • A white paper written by Cisco on ESX server networking architecture and integration with Cisco network devices
5) Networking Performance in VMware ESX Server 3.5 -  http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/ESX_networking_performance.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware comparing virtual to physical networking performance
6) Network Throughput in a Virtual Infrastructure - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/esx_network_planning.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware that outlines the considerations that affect network throughput
7) ESX3 Networking Internals - http://www.vmware-tsx.com/download.php?asset_id=41
    • A VMware TSX 2007 presentation on the internals of how ESX vSwitches function
8) High Performance ESX Networking - http://www.vmware-tsx.com/download.php?asset_id=43
    • A VMware TSX 2007 presentation on ESX network design considerations
9) How To Configure Networking from the Service Console Command Line - http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1000258
    • A VMware KB article on setting up networking via the CLI, a must know if you lose your networking configuration and cannot connect to an ESX Server via the VI Client
10) Server Virtualization – Network Implications and Best Practices - http://www.cisco.com/web/BE/learn_events/pdfs/Server_Virtualization.pdf
    • A presentation from Cisco on network virtualization architecture and design considerations for Cisco networks to support virtual environments


Revised 4/23/08
Top 10 things you must read about VirtualCenter
1) Bulletproof VirtualCenter - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11017
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation on properly configuring and protecting VirtualCenter so it has high availability
2) VirtualCenter Database Maintenance: SQL Server - http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vc_microsoft_sql_server.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware on how to maintain the VirtualCenter database when using SQL Server
3) Running VirtualCenter in a Virtual Machine - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_vc_in_vm.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware discussing the advantages and limitations of running VirtualCenter as a VM
4) VirtualCenter Database Performance for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vc_database_performance.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware on performance statistic collections and there effect on the VirtualCenter database
5) VirtualCenter 2 Diagnostics - http://download3.vmware.com/vmworld/2006/tac4096.pdf
    • A VMworld 2006 presentation on troubleshooting problems with VirtualCenter
6) Managing Vmware VirtualCenter Roles & Permissions - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_vc_roles.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware on configuring roles and permissions in VirtualCenter
7) VirtualCenter 2.0  The Technical Insights - http://www.vmware-tsx.com/download.php?asset_id=52
    • A VMware TSX 2007 presentation on the technical architecture of VirtualCenter
8) Template Usage and Best Practices - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vc_2_templates_usage_best_practices_wp.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware on creating, managing and using templates to deploy virtual machines
9) Replacing VirtualCenter Server Certificates - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi_vcserver_certificates.pdf
    • A technote from VMware on replacing the default certificates in VirtualCenter
10) VirtualCenter Technical Best practices - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vc_technical_best.pdf
    • A document from VMware with technical details on VirtualCenter and vMotion


Revised 5/08/08
Top 11 things you must read about Vmware Performance
1) Understanding Performance in a Virtualized Environment - http://vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11049
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation on understanding virtulization performance and overhead as well as dispelling common myths
2) Interpreting Performance Statistics in VI3 - http://vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11682
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation on understanding and interpreting VirtualCenter/ESX statistics in the VI Client and esxtop
3) Performance Tuning Best Practices for ESX Server 3 - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi_performance_tuning.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware with performance tips that cover the most performance-critical areas of Virtual Infrastructure 3
4) Top 12 ways to Improve Guest Server Performance under VMware ESX Server - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=12825
    • A VMworld 2006 presentation with 12 tips for configuring hosts, virtual machines and guest environments for best performance
5) Performance Monitoring and Capacity Planning - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=12789
    • A VMworld 2006 presentation on performance tuning methodologies and approaches
6) ESX Workload Analysis: Lessons Learned - http://download3.vmware.com/vmworld/2006/adc9398.pdf
    • A VMworld 2006 presentation on performing workload analysis and performance analysis of virtual workloads
7) VMware ESX Server: Best Practices for Performance -  https://140.110.8.180/king/modules/userupload/upload/ets2007/vmware.13.pdf
    • A presentation from EMC World 2007 with recommended performance practices and benchmarking guidelines
8) VM Performance Monitoring and Logging - http://communities.vmware.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/702886-1575/NEVMUG071907.pdf
    • A VMUG presentation from VMware on performance monitoring and using log files
9) ESX3 Performance Tuning - http://vmware-land.com/downloads/VMUG_ESX3_Performance_Tuning_2007-08-15.pdf
    • A VMUG presentation from Long View Systems on performance tuning ESX hosts and virtual machines
10) Performance Tuning for VI3 - http://download3.vmware.com/vmworld/2006/tac9872.pdf
    • A VMworld 2006 presentation on basic performance concepts, tools, technologies and recommendations


Revised 7/11/08
Top 10 things you must read about Memory
1) The Role of Memory in ESX Server 3 - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/esx3_memory.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware that explains some of the unique memory concepts that are used in VI3 including memory balloons, overcommitment, sharing and swapping.
2) Memory Provisioning Recommendations for VI3 -  http://www.kingston.com/branded/pdf_files/Memory_Provisioning_Recommendations_VI3.pdf
    • A white paper from Kingston that defines the planning process for determining the appropriate amount of memory for a VI3 deployment, dispels some common misconceptions, and describes the consequences of sub-optimal sizing.
3) Understanding Host and Guest memory usage - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11638
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation from VMware that helps clear up some of the mysteries on host and guest memory usage in VI3.
4) Server Memory Power Consumption & Capacity Planning - http://vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11601
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation from Kingston on memory technologies and how to select memory with regard to power consumption and performance.
5) RAM, Virtual Memory, Pagefile and all that stuff - http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/WindowsGeneralWeb/RAMVirtualMemoryPageFileEtc.htm
    • A technical article that explains some aspects of the Virtual Memory implementation in Windows 2000, XP, 2003 Server etc. It helps explain the relationship between RAM (Random Access Memory), Address Spaces, Virtual Memory and pagefile in Windows systems.
6) Memory resource management in Vmware ESX Server - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/usenix_resource_mgmt.pdf
    • A very detailed technical paper by a VMware engineer that explains memory management in ESX server and also how the advanced memory features that are used by ESX work.
7) Memory Shares/Limits/Reservations - http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?threadID=73411
    • A Vmtn forums thread that discusses various scenarios on using memory shares, limits and reservations.
8) Understanding memory usage in Windows 2000 - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb742598.aspx
    • A Microsoft Technet article that explains how Windows 2000 uses memory and how to track memory usage to see how much you really need.
9) Understanding the Impact of RAM on Overall System Performance - http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Understanding-Impact-RAM-Overall-System-Performance.html
    • A article that talks about why memory plays such a huge role in a computer’s overall performance.
10) Memory Optimization - http://communities.vmware.com/thread/143828
    • A Vmtm forums thread that covers some advanced memory topics with participation from one of the VMware engineers.


Top 10 things you must read about the ESX Service Console
• Guide to ESX 3 Service Console - http://www.rtfm-ed.eu/docs/vmwdocs/esx3.x-vc2.x-serviceconsole-guide.pdf
• Working with the new ESX 3 Service Console - http://www.vmware-tsx.com/download.php?asset_id=22
• B2V Guide to VMware ESX Server3 - http://www.b2v.co.uk/b2vguide2vmware3.htm
• Command Line Interface Tips and Tricks for Vmware ESX Server 2 and 3 - http://download3.vmware.com/vmworld/2006/tac9685.pdf
• Common Linux commands on the service console - http://www.vmts.net/article/linuxcommand.htm
• How To Configure Networking from the Service Console Command Line - http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1000258
• Windows to Linux roadmap - http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-roadmap.html
• Alphabetical Directory of Linux Commands - http://www.oreillynet.com/linux/cmd/
• Linux Resource Guide - http://www.comptechdoc.org/os/linux/
• CTDP Linux User’s Guide - http://www.comptechdoc.org/os/linux/usersguide/


Revised 5/06/08
Top 10 things you must read about Disaster Recover/Business Continuity and Vmware
1) Tips and Tricks – Disaster Recovery in a Box - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11316
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation on the technical details of implementing a cost effective DR solution and packaged solutions
2) VMware Infrastructure 3 Capabilities for Improving Disaster Recovery - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=13713
    • A VMworld 2006 presentation on why using virtual machines is a great option for disaster recovery
3) New Trends in Disaster Recovery for VMware - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11120
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation on current DR options and using Site Recovery Manager to automate DR workflows
4) Vmware ESX Server and Storage Architecture Best Practices for Performance, Backup, and Disaster Recovery - http://download3.vmware.com/vmworld/2006/adc9591.pdf
    • A VMworld 2006 presentation on how to architect storage for use in a VMware DR environment
5) Disaster Recovery Virtualization - http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/DR_VMware_DoubleTake.pdf
    • A white paper from VMware and DoubleTake on using virtual machines and data replication for disaster recovery
6) Leveraging VMware ESX Server in Disaster Recovery Solutions - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=13701
    • A VMworld 2006 presentation with case studies on using VMware ESX as a DR solution
7) Disaster Recovery Solution Architecture for VMware - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11018
    • A VMworld 2007 presentation describing how to use Site Recovery Manager as an effective DR solution
8) Innovative Approaches for High Availability and Disaster Recovery in Your VMware Infrastructure Environment - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=13722
    • A VMworld 2006 presentation by Symantec on DR challenges and solutions and using Veritas Cluster Server as a DR option
9) VMware ESX Server as a Foundation for High Availability and Disaster Recovery for the Microsoft Server Platform - http://www.vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=12936
    • A VMworld 2006 presentation by EMC on using HA layers, DR layers and Contimuation of Operations
10) Vmware users explore disaster recover options - http://searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid94_gci1253386,00.html
    • An article on different DR options used by various companies with their VMware infrastructure


Top 10 reasons to go to VMworld 2007
10. Because it’s the Greatest Show on Earth
9. Rent a kayak and sit in McCovey Cove to try and catch one of Bond’s home run ball to pay off credit card debt incurred by VMworld trip
8. Check out BrianG behind a chicken-wire fence in a breakout session on ESX patching
7. Watch the Microsoft reps making a long list of features that their product lacks
6. After numerous tequila shots watch Steve Beaver rip his board warrior shirt off doing Hulk Hogan imitation
5. Get the crapped scared out of you by the “Bushman”
4. Watch Ken Cline picketing outside of Moscone Convention Center for shorter URL’s
3. Entertainment for VMworld party changed from Doobie Brothers concert to Vizioncore vs. PHD cage match
2. Rent a Dodge Charger from Enterprise rent-a-car so you can re-enact the chase scenes from “Bullitt”
1. World famous “Thinker” statue at the Legion of Honor museum is replaced by statue of KevinG