Want to learn vmware

[Jeff7181]

It's becoming apparent that I need to become more familiar with virtualization, specifically vmware products. I know basics but I'm looking for a good book to help me gain a working knowledge of it so I can more effectively troubleshoot issues as they come up at work and fix existing problems with our current vmware implementations.

 

[mtnd3vil]

Your 'my PCs' link isn't working, are any of your machines virtualization grade?
I became familiar with virtualization simply by using it and reading about specific aspects as I came up with questions.

Oracle virtualbox can get you started for free:
http://www.virtualbox.org/

If you're looking at client side virtualization, and your CPU is a VT-x enabled, I'd suggest outfitting your home desktop with 8GB of ram and jumping right in.

If your ultimate goal is server side virtualization, see about craigslisting a surplused HP DL360 G5 or a Dell PE1950 so you can play with the generous and free ESXi 4.1
Chances are you'd be gaining experience with a newer version of the hypervisor than your admins are even using at work.

 

[tomt4535]

Your 'my PCs' link isn't working, are any of your machines virtualization grade?
I became familiar with virtualization simply by using it and reading about specific aspects as I came up with questions.

Oracle virtualbox can get you started for free:
http://www.virtualbox.org/

If you're looking at client side virtualization, and your CPU is a VT-x enabled, I'd suggest outfitting your home desktop with 8GB of ram and jumping right in.

If your ultimate goal is server side virtualization, see about craigslisting a surplused HP DL360 G5 or a Dell PE1950 so you can play with the generous and free ESXi 4.1
Chances are you'd be gaining experience with a newer version of the hypervisor than your admins are even using at work.

I agree, the best thing you could do to learn it, is actually get a box, install it and work with it. VMware has very good documentation on their website for installation and configuration, and their forums aren't bad for helping with any issues that may come up.

 

[Jeff7181]

I actually do have a spare computer that's running the beta of WHS Vail right now that I'd like to conniver into a vm host. I also used Virtual PC extensively in school when working with windows domains and exchange. So I'm familiar with virtualization I just want to learn more about vmware products and get some experience with them.

 

[RebateMonger]

There are likely quarterly VMWare User Group seminars in your area, too. Lectures and demos and lunch and door prizes, all for free.

 

[GhettoFob]

Are you trying to learn how to use VMware workstation or the enterprise level stuff? (vSphere, etc...)

 

[Jeff7181]

Are you trying to learn how to use VMware workstation or the enterprise level stuff? (vSphere, etc...)

Enterprise level stuff is what I'm looking for. Comfortable with the desktop stuff already, I've used workstation, player, and the converter.

 

[GhettoFob]

You'll probably want to start out playing with ESX(i) & vCenter. ESX(i) is where the VMs will run and you use vCenter to manage multiple ESX servers. Once you're familiar with that, then you can start messing with with View/Lab Manager/vCloud director and the other apps that depend on vCenter.

 

[Jeff7181]

You'll probably want to start out playing with ESX(i) & vCenter. ESX(i) is where the VMs will run and you use vCenter to manage multiple ESX servers. Once you're familiar with that, then you can start messing with with View/Lab Manager/vCloud director and the other apps that depend on vCenter.

Thanks for the recommendation. ESXi is what I was already thinking of as a next step. Am I correct in assuming vCenter replaced vSphere and can provide a web interface including KVM type functionality for all the VMs?

 

[GhettoFob]

vSphere is really a suite comprised of vCenter and ESX(i). It would be a good idea to learn ESXi as ESX Classic is going away in the next major release. Most of the administration is done through the VI Client. There is a limited web interface but it doesn't give you all of the functionality that you get with the VI Client.

 

[DarkTXKnight]

If you google "vsphere lab in a box" or similar terms you will find information on how to set up complete vsphere environments with multiple ESX(i) VM's running on top of Esx or VMWare workstation. learning the in's and outs of ESX is only really useful when you have multiple host servers in order to work together in clusters, which is likely what you have going on in your work environment.

 

[imagoon]

When I first started learning VMWare ESX(i) years ago, I did the "jump in and do it" way. VMWare's site has a ton of documentation and "Introduction to vSphere" type guides. I installed it from scratch following a guide. Once I got what was basically a "VMWare approved" test set up running I was able to mess around with it enough to learn what questions I really needed to ask and went from there.

I am by far not a VMWare "pro" but I know enough to make it work and work decently since I have been at it for a couple of years.

FYI 4.0 / 4.1 all require 64bit hardware. 4.0: hosts only 4.1: hosts and vSphere.

 

[stash]

fyi 4.0 / 4.1 all require 64bit hardware. 4.0: Hosts only 4.1: Hosts and vsphere vcenter.

ftfy

 

[GhettoFob]

Yep, the best way to learn is to install two ESX hosts, a vCenter and some kind of shared storage (Openfiler). If you have a system with 8 gigs of ram you can probably pull off running them all as VMs. 2 gigs each for the 2 ESX hosts + vCenter, not sure how much memory Openfiler requires to run well, but I don't think it's that much.

 

[Jeff7181]

So virtualized the hosts and vCenter and then create the guests within those?

 

[GhettoFob]

ESX will be where the guests will actually run. vCenter is more of a management piece. You can actually use the VI Client to connect to the hosts directly to create the VMs, but vCenter should be used if you're managing more than a handful of hosts.

 

[imagoon]

Learn ESXi first. ESX is a dying system.

 

[Jeff7181]

Is it worth it to work toward VMWare certifications or do they not mean a whole lot?