Yellow Bricks

by Duncan Epping

Archives for 2009

Cool Tool Update: RVTools 2.2

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I’ve wrote about this tool several times so most of you must have tested it by now and are probably actively using it: RVTools. Rob just notified me that he uploaded a brand new version of his tool. The following have been added to version 2.2:

  • New vDatastore tab. The “vDatastore” tab displays for each datastore the name, connectivity status, file system type, number of virtual machines on the datastore, total capacity in MB’s, free capacity in MB’s, multiple host access indication and the url.
  • Your custom defined fields are now visible on most of the tab-pages
  • New menu option “export data to csv file”
  • New “upgrade policy” field on vTools tab-page
  • New “Sync time with host” field on vTools tab-page
  • The field “OS” which is displayed on most of the tab-pages now displays the name of the guest OS according to the VMware Tools. In previous versions we used the configuration value. The vTools tab displays both “OS” fields.

Here’s a screenshot of the new tab “vDatastore”:

If you’ve never used RVTools before besure to check it out, it’s worth it. And if you are already using it download it and upgrade!

EMC will reduce workforce with 7%

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I was just reading the Press Release on the “Preliminary Fourth-Quarter Financial Results” over on EMC’s website and noticed the following:

The restructuring program will reduce EMC’s global Information Infrastructure workforce by approximately 2,400 positions, or about 7% of its headcount as of September 30, 2008.

Don’t know if anyone had already noticed it or not. But it seems like major news to me. Especially with all the rumours floating around on layoffs at other huge software firms.

Compare specific ESX configuration items

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Hugo posted a great script. It will compare configuration items between a given set of hosts. This can especially come in handy when you’ve got a huge amount of datastores, portgroups or a huge amount of ESX hosts for that matter. Hugo’s post contains a set of excellent examples. Just check his post for more details and the script, heres what the outcome would look like for now:

InputObject                         SideIndicator
———–                                ————-
esxServer1_Local               <=
esxServer2_Local               =>
DATASTORE_TEST1            =>

Update: Hugo just posted a follow up to his original blog. This new script creates a CSV file, which can be imported in to Excel for example and the result will look like this:

New version of the Powershell Healthcheck script released

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Ivo Beerens just published a new version of his Powershell Healthcheck script. The script will report the following in a nicely formatted html file:

  • VMware ESX server Hardware and version
  • VMware vCenter version
  • Cluster information
  • VMware statistics
  • Active Snapshots
  • CDROMs connected to VMs
  • Floppy drives connected to VMs
  • Datastores Information such as free space
  • RDM information
  • VM information such as VMware tools version,  processor and memory limits
  • VM’s and there datastore
  • VMware timesync enabled
  • Percentage disk space used inside the VM
  • VC error logs last 5 days

Go to Ivo’s website for the download of the script and the source blog post. I use this script personally just to keep track of changes and get a quick overview of the current situation of an environment.

VMworld Europe, be there!

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I often get the question where I get my information from. Besides the wealth of information found on the PlanetV12n blogs and the VMware documentation there’s another great source: VMworld. Some go to VMworld just for “networking”, but besides expanding your network you can gather a lot of knowledge during your stay. Not only during your stay, because your vmworld.com account will also give you the possibility to download the presentations. These presentations contain, and especially the deep-dive sessions, in-depth information on the chosen subject.

Just to give you an idea, check this presentation that Rich shared via VM/ETC.com “VI3 TA19, Advanced Log Analysis“. There’s a great section on SCSI Error Strings which might just explain the vmkernel log messages you’ve been seeing(Storagemonitor). Anyway, VMworld Europe 2009, France – Cannes, Be there and Register now!