Video

Also, not much in the way of show notes for this one. Enjoy!

Video

Not much in the way of show notes otherwise this weekend.

Tonight we’ll be having the man, myth, and legend that is David Davis on to cover Objective 5 of the VCP5 blueprint.

About David:

David Davis is the author of the best-selling VMware vSphere video training library from TrainSignal. He has written hundreds of virtualization articles on the Web, is a vExpert, VCP, VCAP-DCA, and CCIE #9369 with more than 18 years of enterprise IT experience. His personal Website is VMwareVideos.com.

Register:

Date/Time: 2/8/2012 @ 7P CST
Register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/918511944

Time to clean out the open tabs again. Here’s a line-up of what’s going on in my world:

• Double-Cloud Proxy – http://www.doublecloud.org/doublecloud-proxy/
• Like Onyx, but spits out working Java
• Best of 2011 Security books: http://taosecurity.blogspot.com/2012/01/its-time-to-name-winner-of-best-book.html
• Best of 2011 Presentation/Communication books: http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2012/01/10-books-to-help-you-think-create-communicate-better-in-2012.html
• Per VM Pricing (How much did that VM really cost): http://gabrielchapman.com/?p=159
• vCO Multi-Node: http://blogs.vmware.com/orchestrator/2012/01/vco-multi-node-plug-in.html
• VMware Infrastructure Navigator: http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/infrastructure_operations_management/vmware_vcenter_infrastructure_navigator/1_0
• OpenFlow & SDN Webinar 2/7: http://etherealmind.com/webinar-on-sdn-and-openflow-feb7/
• VCP5 & Certification opinions: http://vninja.net/news/vmware-virtual-customer-labs/
• Not mine, but an interesting read
• http://www.siliconloons.com/?p=71
• Covers OpenStack, oVirt, and other Open Source cloud verbiage for those who live in a VMware centric world.
• Thinking this: http://showyou.com/ along with the BrownBags could be an interesting mash-up.

That’s about it. Some good reading in there.

So all of us have Windows boxes in our shops that need to be installed, have some apps dropped on them and managed, even if we don’t really want them. That install process, has gotten easier over time with templates and what not, however, you still need to build that golden image, etc. Well, for that, there is Ninite.com

Ninite.com

Click the link above and you’ll be presented with a plethora of commonly installed software for Windows boxes. Much like this:

Well, what’s the big deal about that? Well, first it’s all in one place. Second, after you’ve made your selections you download an installer that drops all the packages onto your box silently… That is, there is no “Next, Next, Next, Finish”. Also, if it detects a package that you may have already installed, it will either update it, or ignore it if it’s already current.

Finally, there is a pretty good opportunity here to integrate this tool into your automation efforts. (Hint: Blog post coming).

Security & Other Concerns

Updating based on the comments on this post:

There were some concerns around “does it install the toolbars” and security of the apps. Ninite covers this here: http://ninite.com/help/how-ninite-works/

Specifically:

Ninite tries to behave exactly like a technical friend you’ve asked to install a few apps for you. This means that Ninite installers, regardless of when or where they were created:
Say “No” to toolbars or other junk
Always install the latest version of an app
Install the right 32-bit or 64-bit version for a PC
Install apps in the PC’s language
Skip apps that are already up-to-date
Upgrade an app if it’s out of date

And regarding security:

“Downloads come from the publishers’ sites and are checked for correct digital signatures or matching SHA-1 hashes before Ninite uses them.”

So, while that may not work in all environments, it more or less covers the basics (checking the binary, pulling from the source, killing toolbars, etc. As always, drop a comment if you have a concern or question. Also note: I’m not affiliated with Ninite, just found it extremely useful.

The APAC BrownBags kicked off last night with a VCAP-DCD study group.

The Video

Slides

More BrownBags

You can find all our past recordings for both the VCP5 series as well as every other topic we’ve covered (50+ hours) here: http://professionalvmware.com/brownbags/

The Video:

Some Notes (From #BrownBag on twitter)

• @DuncanYB: New Article: Creating an IP-Pool for VC Ops – http://bit.ly/yKSLdM
• If you’re up in 6 hours, join @DemitasseNZ for an APAC version http://t.co/ZSCLaX9O
• Another great VCP5 resource can be found on @mwpreston’s blog: http://bit.ly/wAh5aU
• Synch MSCS/AD with common NTP server, and disable host based time synchronization http://bit.ly/rIl4X
• You can use VMware’s OSPs ( http://www.vmware.com/download/packages.html )
• Res Mgmt Guide http://bit.ly/zNqhVq
• Jason Langer @jaslanger has a GREAT VCP5 study resource at http://bit.ly/x2rKYJ

More BrownBags

You can find all our past recordings for both the VCP5 series as well as every other topic we’ve covered (50+ hours) here: http://professionalvmware.com/brownbags/

Long at last, the follow-up post. Sorry it took so long this time, I was traveling and on a crummy connection, and then well, family first. That said, to the folks in the BrownBag family, here is the VCP5 Objective 2, Networking BrownBag video featuring Scott Lowe (blog) along side our own Damian Karlson.

Video

Show Notes

Port mirroring with vDS
http://blogs.vmware.com/networking/2011/08/vsphere-5-new-networking-features-port-mirroring.html
http://jasonnash.com/2011/08/11/vsphere-5-how-to-series-vds-port-mirroring/

VMware whitepaper covering the migration from vds to vss
http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vsphere-vnetwork-ds-migration-configuration-wp.pdf

http://www.valcolabs.com/2011/09/18/objective-2-3-%E2%80%93-configure-vss-and-vds-policies/

Note: There were no slides this time… Scott is just that hardcore, and worked directly from the Blueprint.

About the BrownBags

You can find all our past recordings for both the VCP5 series as well as every other topic we’ve covered (50+ hours) here: http://professionalvmware.com/brownbags/

You know… it’s that time of week again. The time of week where you will do the most awesome, career advancing, personal enrichment, raise producing thing you do all week. That is, you will come join VMware expert Scott Lowe (twitter / blog) as we cover section 2, vSphere Networking, on the VCP Exam Blueprint. Even if you aren’t studying for your VCP, and just want to know more about networking in vSphere 5, this is sure to be educational.

About Scott Lowe

Scott Lowe has been in the IT industry for more than 17 years, and has worked as an instructor, a Microsoft Certified Trainer, systems administrator, IT manager, systems engineer, consultant, and technical lead for the virtualization practice at ePlus Technology. Scott currently works as CTO of the global EMC vSpecialist team where he specializes in the intersection and integration of VMware, Cisco, and EMC solutions, products, and technologies. Scott is also a published author, and has written or co-written four books on VMware vSphere.

Register Here

Date/Time: 1/25/2011 @ 7PM CST
Register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/918511944

Also, past BrownBags (VCP, VCAP, etc) here

You can find all our past recordings for both the VCP5 series as well as every other topic we’ve covered (50+ hours) here: http://professionalvmware.com/brownbags/

I’ve talked about vMA and Active Directory (AD) integration before, also upgrading and troubleshooting it. This time out, we’re going to talk about doing this on vMA 5.0. I’ll start with the assumption that you’ve deployed vMA already.

Attaching vMA 5.0 to Active Directory (AD)

1. Make sure vMA is in DNS
   
2. Make sure vMA is using your DNS server(s):
   
3. Check DNS:
   
4. Set the hostname:
   sudo hostname vma.provmware.local
5. Do this stuff:
   vi-admin@localhost:~> sudo domainjoin-cli join provmware.local provmware@provmware.local
   vi-admin’s password:
   Joining to AD Domain:   provmware.local
   With Computer DNS Name: vma.provmware.local

   provmware@PROVMWARE.LOCAL’s password:
   Warning: System restart required
   Your system has been configured to authenticate to Active Directory for the first time.  It is recommended that
   you restart your system to ensure that all applications recognize the new settings.

   SUCCESS

Once you’ve rebooted, all should be good! Really: