Virtualization Strategies for the CIO
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Virtualizing your Exchange Server: Fact vs. fiction
Find out what's fact and what's fiction about virtualizing your Exchange Server. What steps should you take, and how can you ensure success? Explore all these questions and more in this e-book. E-Book
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The next generation of virtual servers
Virtualization is driving the choices that data center managers are making when it comes to hardware, software and systems management. Drill down into TechTarget's survey results to learn more about the latest data center trends. Also in this month's... E-Zine
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Configuration management keeps control
The proliferation of virtual machines has dramatically expanded the concept of configuration management in today's data centers. Stephen J. Bigelow sizes up the latest configuration management tools for you in Volume 12 of Virtual Data Center. Also i... E-Zine
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Developing a virtual machine placement plan
In Vol. 9 of Virtual Data Center, learn how to become more assertive with your virtual machine placement. Nelson Ruest and Danielle Ruest make the case that a good VM placement plan can increase the workload density of servers. Bridget Botelho compar... E-Zine
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Memory paging techniques hypervisors use to improve VM performance
Virtualization often puts memory at a premium, but hypervisors employ a set of memory paging features to enhance performance and do more with less. Feature
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How hypervisors dynamically allocate memory to improve VM performance
How hypervisors dynamically allocate memory to improve VM performance Feature
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How to achieve optimal resource allocation and why that matters
Optimal resource allocation is a tricky tightrope act for even experienced IT pros, but you can ease the process by asking yourself a few questions. FAQ
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Strike a common-sense balance when deciding what to automate
Consider the many factors that determine the potential return on investment when deciding when and what to automate. Advisory Board
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Know your virtual hard disks: VHDX format quiz
Most IT pros know that the VHDX format in Hyper-V 2012 is a step up from the legacy VHD format, but do you know why? Take this quiz and find out. Quiz
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Demystifying heterogeneous hypervisor management
Multiple hypervisors are no longer taboo, but conflicting opinions persist. Learn the (sometimes ugly) truth of heterogeneous environments. Guide
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How much do you really know about Hyper-V 3.0 features?
The allure of new Hyper-V 3.0 features might have you itching to upgrade. Before you begin a potentially costly project, put your knowledge to the test. Quiz
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Private cloud deployment made easy
To ensure a smooth private cloud deployment, it's vital that you learn the best practices and how to apply virtualization techniques in a new way. guide
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Pop quiz: Virtual appliances
Virtual appliances are a popular way to deploy applications. So how much do you know about this vital virtualization technology? Quiz
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The complete buyer's guide for virtual infrastructure tools
Searching for the right virtual infrastructure tools can feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack, unless you're using our buyer's guide. Tutorial
- See more Essential Knowledge on Virtual machine provisioning and configuration
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Puppet, VMware bring DevOps automation tools to vCenter
New automation tools from Puppet aim to introduce VMware admins to the world of DevOps, but programming knowledge remains a barrier for some IT pros. News | 08 Mar 2013
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Admins have mixed feelings toward new virtual storage techniques
As new virtual storage techniques and hypervisors with improved storage capabilities hit the market, reaction among admins has been mixed. Feature | 30 Oct 2012
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Why virtualization admins and desktop hypervisors should be BFFs
For time-crunched server virtualization admins, desktop hypervisors offer an ideal environment for troubleshooting, configuring and distributing VMs. Column | 20 Aug 2012
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Proceed with caution: Multi-hypervisor management tools
If you’re considering a heterogeneous virtualization shop, don’t count on multi-hypervisor management tools to solve all of your administration woes. Column | 02 Jul 2012
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Quest vRanger, VKernel customers weigh in on potential Dell takeover
Quest’s virtualization management customers say there’s room for improvement by a larger-scale company, but aren’t sure whether Dell would be the best fit. News | 27 Jun 2012
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IT trends: Where hardware innovation leads, software follows
Over time, certain IT trends emerge. And if you look closely, you’ll find that major advances in software usually follow hardware innovation. Column | 30 May 2012
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VMware shops grapple with VM stall
Users report that ongoing VM stall in vSphere environments mainly arises from interoperability glitches with underlying infrastructure and finger-pointing among vendors. News | 02 Mar 2011
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Closing the VM sprawl floodgates
VM sprawl is the result of irresponsible server provisioning, so you need to implement stringent resource-allocation policies. Column | 18 Nov 2010
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Prepping for IT services? Virtualize and centralize resources
Before even considering IT as a Service, you have to lay some groundwork. Virtualizing everything and centralizing resources are key, but is your infrastructure ready? Article | 28 Oct 2010
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Enterprises face integration hurdles to private clouds
Enterprises that want to offer IT as a Service face challenges that include virtualization stall, bleeding-edge infrastructure automation tools and thorny policy orchestration problems. Article | 28 Oct 2010
- See more News on Virtual machine provisioning and configuration
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Troubleshooting the top five virtual machine migration errors
It's not uncommon for a virtual machine restart to fail. Combat VM migration errors by learning to diagnose the error and prevent it from recurring. Tip
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Five tips for building a VMware virtual infrastructure
Building a virtual infrastructure starts with good design and careful planning. These five tips will get you started with a VMware infrastructure. Tip
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Adding Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V hosts to SCVMM the easy way
If you're looking to speed up a deployment and add new Hyper-V hosts faster, ditch the graphical tool and use PowerShell to automate the process. Tip
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SCVMM 2012 SP1 management: There's a PowerShell cmdlet for that
If you think you have to memorize 529 cmdlets to use PowerShell to manage SCVMM 2012 SP1, think again. Tip
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Despite the appeal of IT automation, don't rush to automate everything
IT automation isn't for everyone. Deciding what and how much to automate is an important point to consider before jumping headfirst into automation. Tip
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SCVMM PowerShell module trick: Skip the management tool install
Learn how to get the cmdlets you need to manage SCVMM from anywhere in the world by using Remoting to import a PowerShell module. Tip
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Determining what type of server is a good candidate for virtualization
There's no easy answer when it comes to deciding what type of server to virtualize, but there are important guidelines to help sway your decision. Tip
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Cross-VM side-channel attacks: How to defend cloud infrastructures
Expert Dave Shackleford analyzes the likelihood and effects of cross-VM side channel attacks in the cloud and offers mitigations for concerned users. Tip
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What's the best command-line shell: PowerShell vs. CMD vs. Bash
PowerShell is a relative newcomer among command-line shells, but it's easy to see why it's so popular when you compare PowerShell vs. CMD and Bash. Ask the Expert
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Using PowerShell scripting to provision VMs from a golden image
Simple PowerShell scripting makes the process of creating and deploying any number of VMs a routine with minimal effort. Tip
- See more Tips on Virtual machine provisioning and configuration
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How can I enable automated VM resource provisioning?
As with many other facets of virtualization, VM resource allocation is becoming automated. Find out what tools you can use for automated provisioning. ATE
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Application benchmarking paints a true picture of VM resources
You try to avoid overallocating VM resources, but requirements aren't always obvious. This is when application benchmarking comes in handy. Answer
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Use your PowerShell prowess to add VHD files to a Hyper-V VM
Need to import VHD files into Hyper-V, but don't know how to go about it? PowerShell to the rescue! Answer
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Ask the expert: When to use thin provisioning
Thin provisioning is an important part of your data center. Our expert explains how it can add flexibility and storage space to an infrastructure. Answer
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What will the future hold for multi-hypervisor management?
Multi-hypervisor management sounds great, but the tools lack critical features. Our advisory board members discuss this market’s future and potential. Answer
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What’s your most terrifying virtualization management story?
We asked our advisory board to share their most terrifying virtualization management tales. Their stories may scare you … into another career. Answer
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Automating VHD recognition in Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
A reader asks why his guest OS does not recognize a new VHD on his network, and whether or not there's a script that can force the guest OS to recognize the VHD automatically. Ask the Expert
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Virtual machine hosts as domain controllers?
Should a host server be used as a domain controller? Ron Oglesby offers his thoughts in this expert response. Ask the Expert
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Help with the VI3 SDK
Learn how to shut down and power on guest virtual machines outside of VirtualCenter with the VMware Infrastructure 3 (VI3) SDK. Ask the Expert
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Managing multiple virtualization solutions
Trying to manage multiple virtualization solutions concurrently? Expert Anil Desai suggests some tools that will help in this expert response. Ask the Expert
- See more Expert Advice on Virtual machine provisioning and configuration
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virtual machine lifecycle management (VMLM)
Virtual machine lifecycle management is a set of processes designed to help administrators oversee the implementation, delivery, operation, and maintenance of virtual machines (VMs) over the course of their existence. Definition
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virtual server farm
A virtual server farm is a networking environment that employs multiple application and infrastructure servers running on two or more physical servers using a server virtualization program such as VMware or Microsoft Virtual Server. Definition
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shared nothing live migration
Shared nothing live migration is a term used to describe the process of moving a virtual machine (VM) from one physical host to another, without the need for clustering or a common shared storage location. Definition
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VMDK file (virtual machine disk file)
The VMDK (Virtual Machine Disk) file format is the disk-format specification originally developed by VMware for its virtual machine (VM) files, but is now an open format. Definition
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golden image
A golden image is a template for a virtual machine (VM), virtual desktop, server or hard disk drive. A golden image may also be referred to as a clone image or master image. Definition
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VMware Tools
VMware Tools is an optional, free set of drivers and utilities that enhances both the performance of a virtual machine’s guest operating system and interaction between the guest and the host. Definition
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VMware memory overcommit
Memory overcommit is the memory allocation feature for Vmware. Definition
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virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is the practice of hosting a desktop operating system within a virtual machine (VM) running on a centralized server. Definition
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VSMP (virtual symmetric multiprocessing)
VSMP (virtual symmetric multiprocessing) is a method of SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) in which two or more virtual processors are mapped inside a single virtual machine or partition... (Continued) Definition
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The five best Windows PowerShell v3 commands every admin should know
Windows PowerShell v3 can even trip up IT pros, but it behooves you to master the syntax. Here are five of the most useful PowerShell v3 commands. Photo Story
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Memory paging techniques hypervisors use to improve VM performance
Virtualization often puts memory at a premium, but hypervisors employ a set of memory paging features to enhance performance and do more with less. Feature
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Troubleshooting the top five virtual machine migration errors
It's not uncommon for a virtual machine restart to fail. Combat VM migration errors by learning to diagnose the error and prevent it from recurring. Tip
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How hypervisors dynamically allocate memory to improve VM performance
How hypervisors dynamically allocate memory to improve VM performance Feature
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How to achieve optimal resource allocation and why that matters
Optimal resource allocation is a tricky tightrope act for even experienced IT pros, but you can ease the process by asking yourself a few questions. FAQ
-
Strike a common-sense balance when deciding what to automate
Consider the many factors that determine the potential return on investment when deciding when and what to automate. Advisory Board
-
How can I enable automated VM resource provisioning?
As with many other facets of virtualization, VM resource allocation is becoming automated. Find out what tools you can use for automated provisioning. ATE
-
Application benchmarking paints a true picture of VM resources
You try to avoid overallocating VM resources, but requirements aren't always obvious. This is when application benchmarking comes in handy. Answer
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Five tips for building a VMware virtual infrastructure
Building a virtual infrastructure starts with good design and careful planning. These five tips will get you started with a VMware infrastructure. Tip
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Use your PowerShell prowess to add VHD files to a Hyper-V VM
Need to import VHD files into Hyper-V, but don't know how to go about it? PowerShell to the rescue! Answer
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Adding Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V hosts to SCVMM the easy way
If you're looking to speed up a deployment and add new Hyper-V hosts faster, ditch the graphical tool and use PowerShell to automate the process. Tip
- See more All on Virtual machine provisioning and configuration
About Virtual machine provisioning and configuration
As a server virtualization administrator, one of your chief goals is finding ways to ease the administrative and management burdens of your virtualized server environment. How you provision virtual servers and configure virtual machines (VMs) is a critical piece of streamlining those management challenges, especially as your virtualized environment grows. In this section, we offer advice, case studies and step-by-step tutorials on efficient, rapid provisioning and configuration software for VMs; automated tools to provision, configure, and load-balance virtual machines; using PowerShell scripts to power on VMs, how to use templates to provision and manage VMs; and we coach you on how to compare provisioning and configuration tools from various virtualization providers.