Yellow Bricks

by Duncan Epping

Server

vCenter Administrator Portal! (multi VC console)

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I’ve been offline for most of the day and when I just switched on my laptop I noticed a new section(including downloads) on the VMTN forums. This section is about a single console multiple vCenter servers. VMware vCenter Administrator Portal (VCAP) is a web-based console that provides a central view into the VMware Infrastructure environment across multiple vCenter Server (VirtualCenter) instances. VCAP is delivered as a virtual appliance based on Linux. If you’re not comfortable with a virtual appliance you can also download the installable version.

This is, besides a linux vCenter client/server, an ofter requested feature. Keep in mind that it’s a preview of what will be available in one of the next versions. You can find a PDF with more detail here: 

VirtualCenter Administrator Portal (VCAP) Overview (pdf).

Tech Preview – VirtualCenter Administrator Portal – Installation Guide – 2008 10 13.pdf (87.6 K)

What can you expect at this moment:

  • Single sign-on to multiple vCenter Servers
  • Monitor events and alarms across multiple vCenter Servers
  • Search and track inventory across multiple vCenter Servers
  • Launch VI Client in context to manage vCenter Servers
  • Search for virtual machines across multiple vCenter Servers
  • Launch virtual machine consoles
  • Utilizes permissions setup in vCenter Servers
  • Unified view for: vCenter Servers, Datacenters, Clusters, Hosts, Virtual Machines
  • Access summary view of inventory objects, rolled up across vCenter Servers, for comparison and monitoring purposes

Rollup pack for 3.0.2

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VMware just released a rollup bundle for 3.0.2. So those still on 3.0.2 and looking for a quick way to get up to the latest patch level take a look at this KB article and download the patch here.

Roll‐ups provide you with a convenient way to download and install multiple bundles at one time. Installing this roll-up bundle zip file will provide all the fixes for the ESX Server 3.0.2 as of September 30, 2008.
The roll-up bundle zip file only contains fixes for the ESX Server 3.0.2 software. The roll-up bundle zip file cannot be used to upgrade from prior ESX Server releases.
 

VMware Design Course

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As Eric Sloof blogged recently, the Design Course will be available soon. I’ve already received the course material a couple of weeks ago to prepare for the VCDX design exam. This course is targeted at architects and engineers developing designs. According to the datasheet the VI3 Install And Configure course is a prerequisite. Those who are preparing for VCDX should definitely look into the blueprint for this exam and I can also heavily recommend the VI3 Deploy, Secure and Analyze course.

Other documents that I can recommend for the VCDX certification track preparation:

Be sure to read them thoroughly and take your time to prepare for the exams(Enterprise & Design)!

Dutch VMUG Event: Friday 12th of December

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Everyone in the Benelux area should mark this date on their calender: Friday 12th of December 2008! On this date the Dutch VMUG 2008 Event has been planned. The agenda also has been announced last week, so no reason not to attend with sessions on Powershell, VIMSH and vendor related sessions (Netapp, Vizioncore etc.).

For more info on how to sign up click here. And if your dutch and not actively participating on the VMUG forum, please join the party!

VirtualCenter Memory Statistic Definitions

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I just received a great PDF on memory statistic defintions for VirtualCenter:

It is important to note that some definitions refer to guest physical memory while others talk about machine memory. “Guest physical memory” is really virtual-hardware “physical” memory presented to the VM. “Machine memory” is the actual physical RAM in the ESX host. Each definition below will explicitly specify the type of memory to which it applies. See [2] pages 139 – 141 for more information about guest physical memory versus machine memory.

This distinction plays out in interesting and potentially confusing ways. The final section, “Differences between Memory Granted/Consumed and Memory Shared/Shared Common”, expands on the differences between guest physical memory and machine memory metrics.

Read this document, it really contains a lot of useful information!!!