UIT INSTITUTE: VMware vSphere 4.0 Ultimate Bootcamp

27 August 2021

This instructor-led course teaches advanced virtualization concepts and explores the VMware vSphere 4.0 product suite. The comprehensive material covered prepares the student to become a Certified Professional Virtualization Expert. The course objective is to instill the knowledge required for the student to do their job efficiently and effectively, starting from installation of the product to real-world troubleshooting issues. Focus is not limited only to learning and harnessing the power of VMware but the entire concept of virtualization, and other 3rd party tools and technologies that will enhance VMware capabilities and increase the student's virtualization expertise. This Ultimate Bootcamp offers the value of 6 of VMware's most popular classes all in one comprehensive package:

VMware Install, Configure. Manage (ICM)
VMware Manage Availability (MA)
VMware Manage Scalability (MS)
VMware Troubleshooting
VMware What's New
VMware P2V Assistant: Server Migration

Prerequisites/Audience

This Ultimate Bootcamp is intended for IT Professionals with one or more years of server and infrastructure experience on Microsoft Windows and/or Linux. It is of significant benefit to System Administrators, Engineers, and Operators responsible for the setup, support, and troubleshooting of ESX Server and/or VirtualCenter.

Certification Exam

This course prepares the student for the Certified Virtualization Expert®4.0 Exam.

Course Introduction

Chapter 01 - Course Introduction and Methodology

Course Introduction and Methodology

Learn IT! Do IT! Know IT!

Course Methodology

Certified Virtualization Expert (CVE) Certification 4

Demo - Certification Info - Exam Purchase Process

VMTraining’s Physical Setup

VMTraining’s Setup Student to Datacenter

Demo - Accessing the Student FTP Site

Demo - RDP Connection for Labs

Chapter 01 Review

Chapter 02 - Virtualization Overview

Virtualization Overview

Why Virtualize? - Cost Savings

VMware TCO/ROI Calculator

Why Virtualize? - Simplified Management!

What is Virtual Infrastructure?

What is a Virtual Machine (VM)?

Type 1 and Type 2 Hypervisors

VMware Virtualization Products

vSphere 4

VMware Infrastructure 3

VMware Server 2.0

VMware vCenter Server

vCenter Update Manager

VMware vCenter Server Heartbeat

vCenter Site Recovery Manager (SRM)

VMware vCenter Chargeback

VMware Data Recovery

vCenter Lifecycle Manager

vCenter Lab Manager

VMware Converter

VMware vCenter AppSpeed

VMware vCenter Orchestrator

VMware Capacity Planner

VMmark

VMware View 4 (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, VDI)

VMware View 4 Pricing and Packaging

VMware Workstation 7

VMware ACE 2.5

VMware Fusion 2.0

VMware Player 2.5

Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1

Microsoft Virtual PC 2007

Windows Server Virtualization (Hyper-V) Windows Server 2008 R2

Hyper-V Screenshot

System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008

SCVMM 2008

SCVMM 2008 Architecture

XenServer Enterprise v5.5

Virtualization Platforms

Chapter 02 Review

Chapter 03 - Planning and Installing ESX

Topic: Planning the ESX Deployment

Physical Hardware Requirements

Linux, Windows and ESX

ESX / ESXi Architecture Overview

VMware ESX Server

Service Console (SC or COS)

Service Console Resources

Default and Suggested Partition Scheme

VMware ESXi 4

Booting ESX / ESXi from a SAN LUN (Fibre Channel or iSCSI)

Booting ESX / ESXi Server from a SAN LUN

Topic: vSphere 4 Deployment Guidelines

Overview of Deployment Planning

ESX / ESXi Compatibility Guides

Determining ESX Physical Server Size

VMware Capacity Planner

Guided Consolidation (Mini Capacity Planner)

Storage: Capacity and Performance

Memory Overcommitment

Dell Virtualization Advisor

Demo - Conventions Used in the Lab Manual

Demo - DRAC 4 for Labs

Demo - DRAC 5 for Labs

Topic: ESX Installation

ESX Server Installation

ESX 4.0 Installation

Topic: ESX Management

Physical ESX Server Console

The Management User Interface (MUI)

ESX Host Management Overview

Managing ESX with the vSphere Client (VIC)

Managing VMs with the Web Client

Managing ESX with PuTTY

Topic: Configuring Hostname Resolution and NTP

Hostname Resolution

Configuring DNS Settings

Time Synchronization

Troubleshooting NTP

Topic: Troubleshooting ESX Server

ESX Server Health Check

esx.conf Settings

ESX Server Boot Process

Boot Procedure - GRUB Boot Menu Choices

What if Something Goes Wrong During Boot?

Troubleshooting Boot Process

Resetting Root Password

Troubleshooting: vmware-hostd

Purple Screen of Death (PSOD)

Chapter 03 Review

Chapter 04 - Tools to Administer ESX

Topic: Overview of 3rd Party Tools

Veeam (veeam.com)

Veeam nworks 4.5

Veeam - FastSCP 3.0

WinSCP

ISO Programs

Novell - PlateSpin Migrate

Novell - PlateSpin Orchestrate

Vizioncore Tools (Quest Software)

PHD Virtual (phdvirtual.com)

VKERNEL (vkernel.com)

Demo - Third Party Tools

Topic: ESX Configuration Commands

PuTTY

Nano and VI Editor

Windows Commands vs. Linux Commands

Sample ESX Commands

Service Console Linux Commands

Common Command Line Interface (CLI) Options

Datastore Browser

Demo - Command-Line Commands and Usage

Chapter 04 Review

Chapter 05 - Configuring Networking

Topic: Creating and Modifying Virtual Networks

Networking Terms

vSphere 4 Virtual Switch Types

Network Connections

Add Network Wizard

Virtual Switches

Virtual Switch and Connection Type Identification

Virtual Switch and Connection - Details

VMware Assigned MAC Addresses

Virtual Switch Physical NIC Configurations

Ports Used by VMkernel

NIC Teaming

Cisco Discovery Protocol

Modifying vSwitch Properties (Ports Tab)

Modifying vSwitch Properties (Network Adapters Tab)

VLAN Overview

Standard vSwitch VLAN Configuration

VLAN Planning

Standard vSwitch Protection and VLANs

Standard vSwitch and Port Group Policy Exceptions Overview

Standard vSwitch and Port Group Policy Exceptions: Security

Standard vSwitch and Port Group Policy Exceptions: Traffic Shaping

Standard vSwitch and Port Group Policy Exceptions: NIC Teaming

Network Failure and NIC Teaming Options

Load Balancing Method: Route Based on the Originating Virtual Port ID (Default)

Load Balancing Method: Route Based on IP Hash (Destination)

Load Balancing Method: Route Based on Source MAC Hash

Port Group: Override vSwitch Failover Order

Multiple Policies Applied to a Single Team

Physical Switch Configuration

Topic: Creating and Modifying Virtual Networks Using CLI

Physical NIC Commands

Virtual Switch Commands

Configure Virtual Switches

Configure the VMkernel Port

Service Console (vswif) Commands

Additional Service Console (vswif) Commands

Adding a Second Service Console

Chapter 05 Review

Chapter 06 - Configuring Storage

Topic: Storage Concepts

Storage Terms

SAN vs. NAS in vSphere

Multipathing

Path and Device Naming

Pluggable Storage Architecture - PSA

Native Multipathing Plugin (NMP)

Path Selection Considerations

Viewing Multipathing

Multipathing Commands

PSA Commands

Multipathing Command Examples

Topic: iSCSI Storage (GUI and Command Line)

Internet Small Computers Systems Interface (iSCSI) Overview

iSCSI Terms for ESX / ESXi

ESX / ESXi and iSCSI SAN Environment and Addressing

Hardware vs. Software Initiators

Multipathing with iSCSI

iSCSI Software Initiator Networking

Configuring iSCSI

Configure Software Initiator

Bind VMkernel ports to Storage Adapter

Discovering iSCSI Targets

Enable Jumbo Frames

Configure Software Initiator: CHAP Authentication

iSCSI Firewall Access - ESX 3.5

iSCSI Firewall Settings (CLI) ESX 3.5

Software iSCSI Configuration Options (CLI)

Software iSCSI Adapter Enable/Disable/Scan

iSCSI Configuration Options (CLI)

View and Configure iSCSI Adapter (CLI)

iSCSI Software Initiator Troubleshooting

iSCSI Vendors and Products

HP/LeftHand Networks Virtual Storage Appliance (VSA)

Stonefly Hybrid Storage Concentrator (HSC)

Stonefly (HSC) LUN Creation and Volume Management

Topic: Fibre Channel Storage

What is Fibre Channel?

Fibre Channel Terms for ESX / ESXi

ESX / ESXi and Fibre Channel SAN Environment and Addressing

Scanning Fibre Channel LUNs

Multipathing with Fibre Channel

Configuring Multipathing with Fibre Channel

Fibre Channel Vendors and Products

Topic: VMFS Datastores (GUI and Command Line)

Virtual Machine File System (VMFS-3)

Viewing and Creating a VMFS Datastore

Expanding Your VMFS Datastore Using Extents

Add an Extent to Your Existing VMFS

Expanding Your SAN LUN

LUN Identification using esxcfg-scsidevs

Partition Alignment Using fdisk

Demo – Disk Partitioning

VMFS Operations - vmkfstools

Displaying Disk Usage Detail (vdf -h)

Topic: NAS Storage and NFS Datastores (GUI and Command Line)

Network Attached Storage (NAS) and ESX Server

NFS Components, Addressing and Access Control with NFS on Linux

NFS Target on Windows 2003 R2

Demo - Windows NFS Server Setup

Create an NFS Datastore

NFS Configuration Options (CLI)

NFS Configuration Options (CLI) Examples

Topic: Raw Device Mapping (RDM)

Raw Device Mapping (RDM)

Raw Device Mapping Benefits

RDM Compatibility Modes

RDM CLI Commands

Chapter 06 Review

Chapter 07 - vCenter Server and Licensing

Topic: Licensing

vCenter Server and ESX Server Licensing Model

Manage vSphere Licenses

VI3 License Types and Pricing (per 2 Sockets)

vSphere Essentials for Small Business

vSphere 4 License Types and Pricing (per 1 Socket)

Windows Licensing Calculator 1

Windows Licensing Calculator 2

Topic: vCenter Server Installation

vCenter Server 4 Summary

Managing Multiple Enterprise Locations

vCenter Server Architecture

ESX Host and vCenter Server 4 Functionality

vCenter Server 4 Minimum Requirements

Order of Installation

vCenter Server Database Overview

Topic: vCenter Server Inventory

Hosts and Clusters: Datacenters

Hosts and Clusters: Folders and Subfolders

Hosts and Clusters: Clusters

vCenter Inventory: VMs and Hosts

Virtual Machines and Templates: Subfolders

Topic: Managing vCenter Server

Scheduled Tasks

Events

Sessions

Demo - vCenter Tasks Events & Sessions

System Logs

Guided Consolidation

Client Settings

Topic: Planning vCenter Server Deployment

Virtualcenter Database Sizing VC 2.5

vCenter Server 4 Database Sizing

Demo - vCenter Database Sizing

Backup Strategy for vCenter Server

vCenter Server Heartbeat

Topic: Troubleshooting vCenter Server and Database

Refreshing vCenter Server

ESX Host Agent Hangs

vCenter Server Installation Logs

vCenter Server Log Files

SQL Recovery Models

vCenter Server Service (vpxd) Errors

vCenter Server Standalone Mode

Reinitializing the vCenter Server Database

Topic: Troubleshooting the vSphere Client

vSphere Client Logs

Cannot Login Using vSphere Client

vSphere Client Session Errors

Chapter 07 Review

Chapter 08 - VM Creation Configuration and Snapshots

Topic: Create a VM

VM Virtual Hardware

Types of Virtual NICs (vNIC)

Virtual Machine Files

Virtual Disk

Virtual SCSI Controller Type

Demo – Paravirtualized SCSI Install

VMDirectPath

Virtual Machine Access to Storage

Install Guest OS into VM

VM Console and Menus

VMware Tools

VMware Tools Configurable Features

Topic: Create Multiple VMs, Templates and Clones

Clones and Templates

Deploy VM from Template

Customizing the OS in a Virtual Machine

Customization Specification Manager

Demo – Customization Specification

Deploying Across Datacenters

Topic: Virtual Appliances

Virtual Appliances

Import Virtual Appliances

Export VM to OVF Format

Topic VMware Converter (P2V - V2V)

VMware Converter 4.01

VMware vCenter Converter 4.01 Versions Comparison

Pre Conversion Tasks

Hot/Cold Cloning - 4 Step Process

Post Conversion Steps

Enterprise Converter Usage

VMware Converter Standalone

Troubleshooting VMware Converter

Topic: Manage VMs

Hot and Cold VM Migrations

Hot Add Memory and CPUs

VM Properties - Hardware Tab

VM Properties - Options Tab

Resize a Virtual Disk

Extend VMDK

Renaming a Virtual Machine

vmware-cmd

Topic: VM Startup / Shutdown

Startup/Shutdown of VMs

Enabling VM Startup/Shutdown

VM Startup/Shutdown Override

Topic: VM Snapshots

Virtual Machine Snapshots

Files Used by Snapshots

Taking Snapshots

Snapshot Manager

Reverting to a Snapshot

Deleting Snapshots

Topic: Web Access

Web Access Management

Enable Web Access in ESX

Web Access Tasks

Generate Virtual Machine Shortcut

Demo - MUI and Web Access

Topic: VM Troubleshooting and Best Practices

Troubleshooting VM Problems

Differences Between VMs and Physical Servers (Best Practices)

Chapter 08 Review

Chapter 09 - Security and Permissions

Topic: Controlling User Access and Passwords

Types of Users

vCenter/ESX Host Security Model

Permissions

Roles

Privileges Explained

ESX Host Permissions

vCenter Permissions

Multiple Group Permissions No Conflicts - Groups Only

Multiple Group Permissions No Conflicts - Users and Groups

Multiple Group Permissions Conflicting Permissions

Multiple Group Permissions User Overrides and Unions

Multiple User Permissions Explicit vs. Inherited

ESX/Linux User and Group Management Tools

ESX/Linux User Authentication

Configuring ESX Authentication

ESX Authentication Settings

Reusing Passwords

Configuring Password Complexity

Topic: ESX / Active Directory (AD) Integration

AD-ESX Authentication Integration

UNIX Authentication Model

Authentication Flow

Topic: Managing Firewalls

Firewall Configurations

TCP and UDP Ports

Default Service Console Security

Certificates and Data Encryption

Firewall Configuration in the vSphere Client

Firewall Commands

Service Console Security Levels

Service Console Firewall

Topic: SSH Access

Secure Shell (SSH)

Controlling SSH Access

SSH/Console Banner Message

Monitoring Service Console Access

last Command

fuser Command

Topic: Running Elevated Commands (su, sudo, setuid/setgid)

root Logon

Restricting substitute user (su)

Configure the Wheel Group

sudo

sudo Usage

Topic: VMsafe and vShield Zones

VMsafe Overview

Current VMsafe Partners

vShield Zones Overview

vShield VM Wall Features

vShield VM Flow Features

Chapter 09 Review

Chapter 10 - Advanced ESX and vCenter Management

Topic: Configuring VMotion

VMotion Migration

How VMotion Works

VMotion: ESX Host Requirements

Identifying CPU Characteristics

Enable or Disable Nx/xD

VMotion Errors and Warnings

vCenter Topology Maps

Cluster Map View

VM Map View

Advanced VMotion Errors

Topic: Storage VMotion

Storage VMotion Migration

Requirements for Storage VMotion

Remote Command-Line (RCLI)

(RCLI/vCLI) Non-interactive Mode: SVMotion Examples

Storage VMotion Plug-in for vCenter 2.5

Storage VMotion in vSphere 4

Topic: Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) Cluster

Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) Overview

DRS Cluster in the vCenter Inventory

vCenter Cluster

Initial Placement

Dynamic Balancing / History

Configure Automation Level

Affinity / Anti-Affinity Rules

Virtual Machine Options

Distributed Power Management (DPM)

Enhanced VMotion Compatibility (EVC)

VM Swapfile location

Topic: Resource Pools and Monitoring

VMs CPU and Memory Resource Setting Terms

CPU Resource Settings

Memory Resource Settings

Memory Overhead

Resource Shares

Resource Pools

Expandable Reservations

Resource Pool Example Summary

Resource Pool Example: CPU Limits

Troubleshooting Memory Resources

Retaining ESX Host Resource Pools

Best Practices for VM Resources

Monitoring the DRS Cluster - Resource Allocation

Monitoring the DRS Cluster - DRS Resource Distribution Graph

Monitor Cluster Usage

Topic: vNetwork Distributed Virtual Switches

Distributed vSwitch Overview

Creating a Distributed Virtual Switch

Edit dvSwitch Settings

Edit dvSwitch Policy Settings

Edit dvSwitch Port Group Settings

Cisco Nexus 1000v Virtual Switch

Nexus 1000v Architecture

Topic: Host Profiles

Host Profiles Overview

Create Host Profile

Edit Host Profile

Attach Host Profile

Check Compliance with Host Profile

Apply Host Profile

Export a Host Profile

Topic: Linked Mode Group of vCenter Servers

Linked vCenter Servers Overview

Linked Mode Group Prerequisites

Create a Linked Mode Group

Manage Multiple vCenters

Chapter 10 Review

Chapter 11 - Patching and Upgrading ESX

Topic: Patching ESX Server

Planned Downtime: Maintenance Mode

Patch Installation: esxupdate

Scripted Patch Installation

GUI Patch Installation - VMTS Patch Manager (VMTS.net, FREE)

Topic: Patching with Update Manager

Update Manager Overview

Update Manager vSphere Client Plugin

Update Manager Baselines

Update Manager Tab

Update Manager Remediation Defaults and Configuration Options

Update Manager Downloads

Update Manager Download Service

Remediation

Update Manager Events

Topic: Upgrades and Migrations

Upgrade Methodology

Upgrade VirtualCenter to a New Version

ESX Migration to New Hardware 3.x to Any Version

ESX 4.x Migration to New Hardware ESX Enterprise Plus Environment

ESX Upgrade Using Update Manager

ESX Upgrade Using vSphere Host Update Utility

Overview of Scripted Upgrade

Upgrade the Virtual Machines

Use the vSphere Client to Upgrade the VMware Tools

Use vSphere Client to Upgrade Virtual Machine Hardware

Use Update Manager to Upgrade Virtual Machines

Chapter 11 Review

Chapter 12 - Disaster Recovery and Backup

Topic: Site Recovery Manager (SRM)

VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) v4.0.0

SRM Architecture Overview

SRM - Site Recovery Infrastructure

SRM - Create Recovery Plans

SRM - Test Recovery Plans

SRM - Automated Failover

Topic: High Availability (HA)

VMware High Availability

VMware HA in Action

Configure HA Cluster

VMware HA: Virtual Machine Options

Host Isolation

Guidelines for Isolation Response Setting

HA VM Monitoring

Viewing your HA Cluster

Allowable Host Failure Tolerance

Troubleshooting VMware HA

Demo - HA in Action

Topic: VM Fault Tolerance

Fault Tolerance Overview

Fault Tolerance Requirements

Configure VMkernel NIC

Turn on Host Certificate Checking

Turn on Fault Tolerance

Topic: Microsoft Clustering

Virtualizing Microsoft Clusters

Microsoft Cluster Services

Microsoft Cluster Services Requirements

Topic: Backup Strategies

Backup Strategies for VMs

VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB) Features

VM File-Level Backup Using Backup Agent

Recommendations for Backups

VCB Components

Centralized Restore

Per-Department Restore

Self-Service Restore

Best Practices

Best Practices - Proxy Performance

Service Console Backup and Restore

Topic: Using VCB Command Line Utilities

Using VCB Command-Line Utilities

Full VM Identification and Backup

Files that Make Up a Full VM Backup

Back Up and Restore Individual Virtual Disks from Service Console

Restore a Full VM Backup (Any VM Operating System)

Restore Single Files from Full Windows VM Backup

Topic: VMware Data Recovery

What is Data Recovery?

Configure Data Recovery

Configure Virtual Appliance

Configure VMs to Backup

Configure Data Recovery Appliance and Setup Backup Job

Topic: Third Party Backups

esXpress v3.6.1

esXpress v3.6.1 - vCenter Plugin

Vizioncore - vRanger Pro 4.0 DPP

Vizioncore - vRanger Pro 3.3

vRanger Pro - Screenshot

Veeam Backup and Replication v4

Veeam Backup - Screenshot

Symantec Netbackup

Veritas Netbackup - Screenshots

Chapter 12 Review

Chapter 13 - Server and VM Monitoring

Topic: Tools for Optimization

Balloon-Driver: vmmemctl

VMkernel Swap - Defined

VMkernel Swap (vm-name.vswp)

Transparent Memory Page Sharing

Demo – Memory and CPU Utilization

Virtual CPUs (vCPUs)

VMkernel CPU Load Balancing

Topic: VM Performance Monitoring

Performance Monitoring

Customize Performance Chart

Troubleshooting Performance

Problem: High CPU Utilization

Problem: High Memory Utilization

Problem: High Disk Utilization

Problem: High Network Utilization

Veeam Monitor

Veeam Monitor Demo

Vizioncore vFoglight

Vizioncore vFoglight - Monitoring

Topic: Configuring Alarms

vCenter Alarms

Alarm Settings

Default Alarms in vCenter

Configure vCenter Notifications

Topic: ESX and vCenter Logs

Using esxtop

Performance Snapshots from CLI

ESX Log File Locations

ESX Log Files

vCenter Log Files and Rotation

Collecting vCenter Log Files

Collecting Diagnostics Data

Demo – Log Dump

Sending Logs to a Syslog Server

Chapter 13 Review

Chapter 14 - Installing and Configuring ESXi

Topic: ESXi Overview

ESXi 4.0 Server Overview

Topic: ESXi Installation

Installing ESXi 4.0 Server

Installation of ESXi 4.0

Local Configuration of ESXi 4.0

Topic: ESXi Management

vSphere Command Line Interface (vCLI)

vCLI Commands

Managing ESXi 4.0 Directly from vSphere Client (VIC)

ESXi 4.0 Management

Managing ESXi 4.0 from vCenter

Managing ESXi 4.0 in a DRS Cluster

Chapter 14 Review

Course Closure