Problem solve

Problem solve

Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.

• 3 VMware disk types you should know: Raw, thick and thin

  Raw, thick and thin disks offer portability and file storage efficiency. But each type has its pros and cons, including slower write speeds, less security and increased capacity. Continue Reading

• VMware on SmartNICs accelerates virtualization

  You can run ESXi on a SmartNIC to boost the networking, security and compute performance of a VMware environment. Continue Reading

• How to set up a VMware home lab on a budget

  Set up a small, energy-efficient, at-home VMware virtualization lab for under $1,000 by evaluating your PC, software subscription and storage options. Continue Reading

• Tips to increase ESXi host security

  Harden your ESXi hosts against potential threats with AD integration and advanced settings modifications to keep your data center safer. Continue Reading

• VMware Horizon 7 requirements, features and troubleshooting

  If you're considering VMware Horizon for your remote desktop needs, review its deployment requirements, current features and common issues you might face first. Continue Reading

• Fix VMware DNS troubles with proper setup

  To troubleshoot DNS issues in your VMware environment, ensure all components are installed completely, including reverse lookup zones and fully qualified names.Continue Reading

• How to connect VMware Workstation virtual machines to the Internet

  Learn how to configure VMware Workstation virtual networks, including connecting guest virtual machines to the Internet, use the Virtual Network Editor and more.Continue Reading

• Implement edge virtualization to ease device management

  Virtualization at the edge offers pros and cons. By virtualizing edge devices, admins can use a familiar management platform for devices both in and out of the data center.Continue Reading

• How to resolve a vSphere TPM error

  If you encounter a host TPM attestation alarm -- meaning the system cannot verify your host -- in vSphere 6.7, you can modify settings in the server's UEFI to troubleshoot.Continue Reading

• Top 25 VMware ESXi commands

  This VMware ESXi command line cheat sheet is a must-have resource for IT professionals who maintain and troubleshoot ESXi.Continue Reading

• How to troubleshoot unexpected ESXi host reboots using crash logs

  When your ESXi host abruptly reboots, you can use logs to track the potential causes, whether they are planned, environmental or hardware-related.Continue Reading

• How to install ESXi on a USB drive and why you should

  With just a USB flash drive and an ISO image, you can install VMware ESXi. Learn how this can save you time and money, as well as two methods for installation.Continue Reading

• What to do when a CryptoLocker virus attacks

  Before a cryptovirus strikes, test and airgap your backups to make sure they work. Should you find yourself under attack, think carefully about your recovery process.Continue Reading

• How to resolve 5 common VMware SRM error messages

  You can use VMware Site Recovery Manager to protect your VMs and the apps that run on them. When SRM errors occur, follow these steps to easily resolve them.Continue Reading

• Understand VMware virtual machine files

  Effectively navigate each of the VMware VM file types, such as the flat.vmdk file and the VSWP file, to simplify VM management tasks.Continue Reading

• What to do when you can't deploy an OVF template

  Invalid certificates can keep OVF-based VM deployments from working properly. Luckily, admins can work around this issue by logging into the host or using the OVF Tool application.Continue Reading

• How VMware snapshots work and how to use them

  Disk snapshots can save VMware virtual servers from failed patches and upgrades. Easily create and manage various types of snapshot files with these strategies.Continue Reading

• Boost disk management in Windows efficiency with PowerCLI

  Extend a Windows hard disk in VMware vSphere with commands and functions from PowerCLI. Automate the management of hard disks with these steps focused on Windows Server 2012 R2.Continue Reading

• Upgrade vSphere 6.5 to 6.7 with this guide

  VMware administrators can upgrade vSphere using a simple process that includes numerous helpful wizards. Follow this guide to ensure a smooth upgrade.Continue Reading

• VCenter monitoring enables granular troubleshooting

  Combine vCenter logging and performance metrics to troubleshoot virtual systems. Hypervisors might add complexity, but they also offer new levels of insight.Continue Reading

• How do you enable centralized vCenter logging?

  Centralize vCenter log files with vRealize Log Insight. Configuration with vSphere is simple and enables the centralization and transmission of event and task logs.Continue Reading

• How do you reconfigure access to a VMkernel port?

  Use ESXi firewall configuration settings and VMkernel ports to control the levels of access that different services, such as Secure Shell, have to your management network.Continue Reading

• How do you prevent host isolation during network maintenance?

  The host in a VMware high availability cluster uses a heartbeat network that can incorrectly report host isolation. Reconfigure your settings to prevent this during maintenance.Continue Reading

• Set up a vSAN 2-node cluster for small or remote deployments

  Use a vSAN 2-node cluster for small and branch office deployments. Use a cluster with two physical hosts for data storage and a third server as a witness appliance.Continue Reading

• VMware microsegmentation in NSX trumps going sans SDN

  Software-defined networking can help plug security holes and minimize microsegmentation management tasks; it's worth a look for companies that haven't virtualized their networks yet.Continue Reading

• Keep tabs on your data center for VM sprawl management

  Having too many unnecessary VMs on a network strains CPU, memory and storage resources. It's up to the virtualization administrator to create a VM sprawl management plan.Continue Reading

• Control VM sprawl with the right management tools

  Virtualization sprawl is the result of careless resource provisioning, and it can waste valuable computing resources, but, with the right tactics, it's possible to control VM sprawl.Continue Reading

• How do you upgrade VM hardware, and what are the benefits?

  You can set up your infrastructure to better take advantage of new technology in just a few steps. Perform a VM version upgrade to get the most out of what you have.Continue Reading

• How to change an ESXi password for vCenter

  A forgotten ESXi root password can stop you in your tracks. Avoid dodgy quick fixes and learn the proper way to recover a root password for vCenter-connected and stand-alone hosts.Continue Reading

• How do you use VMware ESXi logs to troubleshoot your host?

  With access to logs, you can troubleshoot your ESXi host and track issues as they crop up. You can access your logs via the console or a web browser with only a few simple steps.Continue Reading

• Change VMkernel port MTU size to reduce packet fragmentation

  A high maximum transmission unit size creates fewer frames, which lowers the risk of collisions and reduces overhead. The key is figuring out how high an MTU size is too high.Continue Reading

• Integrate Ceph object storage in a VMware vSphere environment

  It can be challenging to integrate Ceph in a VMware environment, but with the right interface, vSphere administrators can reap the rewards of object storage.Continue Reading

• What issues can storage I/O control present in vSphere?

  Storage I/O control can be an effective way to handle occasional storage sharing issues, but it is not always suitable for every virtual machine.Continue Reading

• Prevent software failures with vCenter Server High Availability

  New to vCenter Server 6.5, VCHA ensures high availability for a vSphere deployment with minimal impact on vCenter Server and vSphere host performance.Continue Reading

• How does an OVF file work with VMware Workstation?

  With so many different files forms supported in virtualization, there is a lack of standardization. Administrators can mitigate that problem using OVF file format.Continue Reading

• Upgrade ESX to ESXi hosts in seven steps

  The upgrade from ESX to ESXi hosts can be difficult; no current tools convert hosts for you and you can't preserve manual configurations. But there are ways to ease the process.Continue Reading

• What is the best way to log in to vCenter Server with vSphere 6 Web Client?

  In order to successfully log in to vCenter Server with vSphere Web Client, start by figuring out which version of vCenter Server you're running.Continue Reading

• How can you disable snapshots in vSphere 6?

  Reducing the number of snapshots that you have could boost performance. Here's how to disable snapshots completely.Continue Reading

• Deconstructing disk capacity using VM thin provisioning

  Although thin provisioning promises to reduce the disk footprint of VMs, it can lead to an increase in disk capacity usage, making capacity monitoring absolutely essential.Continue Reading

• Correcting your cables with PCI bus enumeration

  Sometimes, fixing cables is as easy as making sure they're plugged in correctly. Other times, it might be an issue with the server.Continue Reading

• What causes UUID errors with Replication 6?

  There are a few situations that will trigger a UUID issue when using vSphere Replication 6 to copy VMs -- and one direct way to correct it.Continue Reading

• Connect the dots to uncover Replication RPO violations

  When attempting to troubleshoot an RPO violation in vSphere Replication, the underlying cause is oftentimes more complex than it appears on the surface.Continue Reading

• How to troubleshoot VMware vSphere Replication issues

  When problems occur with the tool you use to protect your data, it's imperative to track down the logs that can help restore order.Continue Reading

• Monitoring virtual CPU states to improve performance

  A good understanding of vCPU run, wait and ready states can help deliver more responsive VMs.Continue Reading

• Virtual switch tweak optimizes ESXi networking

  Administrators in an ESXi environment should adjust the networking configuration to prevent slow VM migrations.Continue Reading

• The right way to rename VMs with vSphere Storage vMotion

  A quirk in older ESX/ESXi versions will not result in a prompt rename of a VM until it has moved to another data store.Continue Reading

• Using clones as templates in VMware Workstation

  After you make sure the template is cleared of specifics, follow these steps to use clones as templates in VMware Workstation.Continue Reading

• How to hunt down VM network timeout issues with performance charts

  Setting up the performance counters in the vSphere client can help troubleshoot a dropped packets issue.Continue Reading

• How to clear a clogged core dump in VMware ESXi

  With a little manipulation via SSH or ESXi Shell, a locked core dump file can soon be just a distant memory for your ESXi environment.Continue Reading

• How to stop worrying and learn to love the new vSphere Web Client

  Resistance is futile: If you want access to some of the new vSphere 5.5 features, then you need to get familiar with the vSphere Web Client.Continue Reading

• One way to rev up critical VM performance? Make a priority list

  All virtual machines are equal, but some are more equal than others. Here's how to make sure critical virtual machines get the attention they crave.Continue Reading

• Which CPU settings deliver optimal VMware Workstation 9 performance?

  Newer processors pack more punch, but administrators still need to tailor CPU allocation for a smoother Workstation 9 experience.Continue Reading

• Copy VMDK files if you need to hand over a virtual machine

  Copy VMDK files and then import them into the host if you need to hand over a VM to a client.Continue Reading

• What's the best number of virtual machines for a data store?

  The best number of virtual machines on each data store depends on, among other things, the performance needs of each virtual machine.Continue Reading

• The vdmadmin utility puts the VMware View administrator in command

  Using the vdmadmin tool, a VMware View administrator can make virtual desktops dance through command-line wizardry.Continue Reading

• Correcting misconfigured ESXi shared storage settings

  IT shops that started small may find they need to update their ESXi shared storage settings to prevent significant issues when a host fails.Continue Reading

• Cloud management tasks that VMware vCAC can and cannot do with vCD

  VMware vCloud Director and vCloud Automation Center manage cloud resources together. But depending on your VMware vCAC version, they hardly interact.Continue Reading

• Ways to investigate and fix VMware View Connection Server issues

  VDI admins can troubleshoot and fix problems in a VMware View Connection Server and its LDAP directory using just a few commands.Continue Reading

• VMware snapshot size and other causes for slow snapshots

  Snapshots offer multiple restore points for VMs, but add complication. Poor performance can stem from the VMware snapshot size and other root causes.Continue Reading

• Which VMware network settings to adjust to troubleshoot VM packet loss

  Even the best VMware networking setups hit snags, but you have tools. Adjusting specific VMware network settings can fix packet loss in a VM.Continue Reading

• VMware IaaS: Converting from virtualization to a software-defined data center

  From vSphere virtualization to VMware Iaas: Read how data centers look before and after the adoption of a vCloud software-defined data center.Continue Reading

• How many VMs can vSphere vMotion move at once? And other questions

  VMware vMotion live migrates VMs between hosts. Evolving with vSphere, vMotion has gained a lot of capabilities, but it still has limitations.Continue Reading

• Ways to mirror vSphere networking with VMware Virtual Network Editor

  Not every VMware vSphere networking option is available in Workstation, but it's a useful tool for users to mirror the ESXi network for tests.Continue Reading

• VMware Fusion vs. Workstation: Choosing an end-user virtualization tool

  VMware Fusion and Workstation are similar virtualization tools for end-user computing, and do many of the same tasks. Here's how to select a product.Continue Reading

• Is VMware Capacity Planner free?

  Many consultants offer VMware Capacity Planner free to interested virtualization admins, but if you dread their sales pitch, consider vBenchmark.Continue Reading

• Migrating from a standard switch to VMware vDS with no downtime

  Replacing standard switches with VMware vDS will broaden your virtual network's capabilities. Learn how to migrate switches without powering down VMs.Continue Reading

• Moving VM testing from VMware vSphere ESX/ESXi to Workstation

  VMware admins can't skip VM testing just because it eats up vSphere resources. Testing ESX/ESXi VMs in VMware Workstation frees up vSphere for production.Continue Reading

• VMware Workstation encryption prevents unauthorized VM access

  VMware Workstation encryption helps you protect information on VMs from unauthorized users. Learn how -- and when -- to encrypt virtual machines.Continue Reading

• Choose the right VMware certification path: Data center, cloud or EUC

  Reading the new VMware certification map can get confusing, but most paths start out at VCP-DV. The next step could lead to cloud or EUC titles.Continue Reading

• Monitor VMware ESXi with your existing Nagios application

  Many IT shops already use Nagios monitoring software. With a simple plug-in install and command definitions, Nagios can monitor VMware ESXi.Continue Reading

• Install VMware Workstation 9 without price or performance pain points

  VMware Workstation 9 came out right on the heels of Workstation 8. Here's how to install Workstation 9 so VMs move seamlessly over from Workstation 8.Continue Reading

• Using vSphere distributed switches for virtual networks

  VMware's vSphere distributed switch is shared between hosts in a network, unlike standard switches. Here's how to create and use distributed switches.Continue Reading

• Finding and correcting performance bottlenecks in a vSphere lab

  Performance bottlenecks aren’t limited to production environments. Learn about the tools that can identify problems and prevent slow VMs from bogging down your vSphere lab.Continue Reading

• Installing a CIM provider to improve vSphere Client host monitoring

  While ESXi includes support for many popular hardware platforms, comprehensive server health monitoring with the vSphere Client sometimes requires installing the correct CIM provider.Continue Reading

• Using vCloud Director 1.5 in the real world: Ask the expert

  Although many organizations have been slow to adopt vCloud Director 1.5, one expert predicts a coming increase and offers advice for administrators who are looking to get started.Continue Reading

• Designing a virtual environment with VMware Capacity Planner

  Using VMware Capacity Planner to inventory data center resources and project hardware needs, IT pros can save time and money when planning a virtual environment.Continue Reading

• Network time synchronization for VMware ESXi: Timing is everything

  Time is money, and in your VMware infrastructure, network time synchronization ensures that your ESXi hosts are timed to work correctly with other hosts and services.Continue Reading

• Installing and configuring VMware vCloud Connector 1.5

  VMware vCloud Connector 1.5 can help admins centrally manage VMs in private and public clouds. This tool shows your cloud workloads in one view.Continue Reading

• VMware MVP and the emerging mobile virtualization era

  Mobile virtualization is taking hold, and VMware MVP allows IT pros to access work and personal data on one device. But the platform still has its limitations.Continue Reading

• Advanced ESXi troubleshooting with Tech Support Mode

  With Tech Support Mode enabled, you can use advanced VMware troubleshooting commands to diagnose and resolve ESXi host problems when the vSphere Client won’t do.Continue Reading

• ESXi console tech support mode: When the vSphere Client isn’t enough

  The ESXi console and its tech support mode can solve many issues that the vSphere Client can’t. Once enabled, you have the power of the Linux command line at your disposal.Continue Reading

• Configuring the ESXi firewall in VMware vSphere 5

  The ESXi 5 hypervisor has a new firewall, similar to the ESX firewall of yore. You can configure it through the vSphere Client or command line, depending on your preference.Continue Reading

• Deleting virtual machine snapshots without wasting disk space

  You can avoid wasting disk space and performance problems when deleting, or committing, virtual machine snapshots.Continue Reading

• Five silly VMware administrator mistakes

  Face it: VMware administrators make mistakes all the time. It’s part of the learning process. That said, some mistakes are downright silly.Continue Reading

• Five VMware security breaches that should never happen

  Some VMware security breaches result from laziness, and sometimes the hard way is the only way to protect your VMs. Stay vigilant so these VMware security breaches won’t happen.Continue Reading

• Installing vCMA and VMware iPad app for remote vSphere management

  To manage vSphere with the VMware iPad app, the vCMA appliance must be installed. After the vCMA installation, you need to configure the VMware iPad app to manage vSphere.Continue Reading

• Top 10 VMware security tips for vShield users

  Installing VMware vShield is complex, but you can reduce the degree of difficulty with these 10 VMware security tips. They’re so easy, even a caveman could do them.Continue Reading

• Installing VMware vShield Zones for a virtual firewall

  VShield Zones is a virtual firewall that filters unauthorized network traffic. After installing VMware vShield Zones, add a license key to upgrade to vShield App.Continue Reading

• VMware Fusion performance tips for Mac users

  VMware Fusion for Mac allows you to run multiple guest OSes on Mac OS X, but VMware Fusion performance depends on several variables, including memory and hardware configuration.Continue Reading

• Why does vendor lock-in get such a bad rap?

  Most companies avoid purchasing components from a single vendor -- otherwise known as 'vendor lock-in.' But a single-vendor approach has its advantages.Continue Reading

• VMware maintenance checklist: Daily, weekly and monthly tasks

  It's easy for systems admins to lose track of tasks when responding to alerts. Break down VMware maintenance into daily, weekly and monthly tasks so that important chores are not overlooked.Continue Reading

• Using login banners with VMware View 4

  Windows XP login banners can force VMware View end-users to log in twice when they're trying to access their virtual desktops. But there's a better way that uses a single sign-on.Continue Reading

• VMware vSphere's built-in performance monitoring tools

  VMware vSphere features several free performance monitoring tools that can help assess the health of your virtual machines and fix resource bottlenecks.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting VMware snapshots

  Virtual machine (VM) snapshots are a great tool to identify problems with VMs. An expert explains troubleshooting common problems that arise with snapshots in VMware ESX Server.Continue Reading

• Configuring VMware vCenter Server Linked Mode: A walkthrough

  VMware vCenter Server's new Linked Mode capability allows administrators to manage complex vSphere virtual environments.Continue Reading

• Upgrading to VMware vSphere: Five pros and five cons

  Increased performance, scalability and new features top the list as to why you should upgrade to vSphere, but proven product stability, third-party product and hardware compatibility are reasons you may want to stay with VMware Infrastructure 3 for ...Continue Reading

• What is the free VMware OVFTOOL and how can it help you?

  VMware's OVFTOOL is a conversion program that eases distribution of virtual machines, converting them from the OVF format to .VMX, .OVA, .VMX files and others.Continue Reading

• VMware vSphere hot-add RAM and hot-plug CPU: Not so 'hot,' but still cool

  In theory, hot-add RAM and hot-plug CPU should allow you to easily add RAM and CPU as necessary while your virtual machine is running ("hot") to meet your workloads' needs. Not so, but the two are still useful add-ons.Continue Reading

• PowersHell: Factory Reset of ESXi

  During the course of my travels in powersHell with VMware – I’ve begun to put together my own JACS (Just-Another-Configuration-Script). The idea is to take a clean-factory set ESXi build, and use purely powersHell to configure it.Continue Reading

• Installing VMware ESXi on a physical server

  In this two-part series, we show you how to convert an existing physical server into a virtual machine, then how to install VMware ESXi on the server hardware and load the virtual machine back onto it.Continue Reading