Tips

Tips

• Fail at scale: Build failure into virtual infrastructure design

  It's better to be over-prepared than surprised. Design virtual infrastructure around the possibility that it might fail and have a plan in mind for when it does.  Continue Reading

• Manage all your Hyper-V snapshots with PowerShell

  Using PowerShell commands to take and remove Hyper-V snapshots, and to restore VMs to a previous state is easy and efficient, especially when working with bulk VMs.  Continue Reading

• Manage Hyper-V containers and VMs with these best practices

  Containers and VMs should be treated as the separate instance types they are, but there are specific management strategies that work for both that admins should incorporate.  Continue Reading

• Set up Hyper-V nested virtualization for production

  There are several considerations for using nested virtualization in Hyper-V production environments, including system requirements, networking, storage and memory considerations.  Continue Reading

• Use an IT outage communication plan to recover from a host crash

  Efficiently recover from a host crash by maintaining transparency for your stakeholders and evaluating the resources available for a full root cause analysis.  Continue Reading

• Build an IT infrastructure plan from the ground up

  IT infrastructure improvements require careful planning that includes evaluating new technologies, such as converged and hyper-converged, and building for future flexibility.  Continue Reading

• Consider Hyper-V live migration requirements before configuration

  An effective live migration setup is key to a complete Hyper-V configuration. Consider these expert recommendations, such as limiting concurrent live migrations, to ensure success.  Continue Reading

• Prepare a Hyper-V configuration report with PowerShell

  Generate a report with valuable Hyper-V configuration information, such as the virtual disk path, using a PowerShell script to ensure your server settings match the design documentation.  Continue Reading

• KVM troubleshooting in six simple steps

  To troubleshoot common KVM issues, start by checking the logs. Then, isolate the issue and check the VM status using virsh commands. Finally, check the disk space, memory and networking.  Continue Reading

• Manage Switch Embedded Teaming in Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V

  You can create and manage a Switch Embedded Team in Hyper-V using just a few PowerShell commands, but there are specific requirements and limitations you should be aware of.  Continue Reading

• Use Sysprep to generalize Hyper-V VMs for rapid deployment

  Microsoft's Sysprep tool enables rapid Hyper-V VM configuration and deployment through image generalization. Use commands to speed up configuration and disaster recovery.  Continue Reading

• Small-scale infrastructure testing requires transparency

  Use small-scale tests for a cheaper alternative to expensive, duplicate test environments, but be wary of limitations, such as hardware functionality and performance.  Continue Reading

• Enable rapid provisioning of VMs with SCVMM SAN copy

  Achieve VM rapid provisioning with SCVMM by creating a SAN copy template from either an existing or new VM. Then select the required options when deploying the template to the host.  Continue Reading

• Evaluate private cloud service providers in the market

  Red Hat, Microsoft and VMware all provide private cloud environments that offer security and compliance, but it's important to consider other business needs, as well.  Continue Reading

• Top 5 features to look for in private cloud services offerings

  When evaluating private cloud services, consider offerings that provide an intuitive self-service portal, RBAC, capacity planning and policy enforcement for tenant workloads.  Continue Reading

• Amazon Virtual Private Cloud 101: Features, pricing and more

  Evaluate the key features of Amazon Virtual Private Cloud, learn about its advantages and disadvantages, and consider pricing and best practices before implementing the platform.  Continue Reading

• Expedite Ansible KVM provisioning with automation

  Creating KVM virtual machines with virsh and virt-install can be onerous. Use Ansible to automate deployment with templates and modules or to extend to functions like cloning.  Continue Reading

• Manage KVM at scale with these best practices

  KVM management is easy when VM density is low, but managing hundreds or thousands of VMs can present a challenge. Plan ahead, configure the right drivers and optimize for scale.  Continue Reading

• Understand major private cloud services advantages

  Consider the benefits of private cloud services before jumping on the public cloud bandwagon. There's more to private clouds than control over infrastructure and better security.  Continue Reading

• Limit the size of VMware hosts to control VM density

  Large VMware hosts can be advantageous, but VM density can have unforeseen consequences during a system failure. Evaluate VM functionality to ensure you're ready for a disaster.  Continue Reading

• Create a private cloud in SCVMM with these factors in mind

  The process of creating a private cloud with System Center Virtual Machine Manager starts with getting to know major private cloud components and calculating resource requirements.  Continue Reading

• Compare virtual private cloud server providers

  Cost is an important factor to consider when evaluating different VPC providers, but the kind of hardware and data lines the providers offer plays a role, too.  Continue Reading

• Virtual private cloud vs. private cloud differences explained

  Virtual private clouds and private clouds differ in terms of architecture, the provider and tenants, and resource delivery. Decide between the two models based on these distinctions.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud vs. private cloud: What's the difference?

  Private clouds, which are owned and operated by the business, provide security, but they have certain limitations. Hybrid clouds incorporate both private and public cloud deployments.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud advantages and disadvantages explained

  Hybrid cloud is touted as providing the best of both private and public clouds, but this type of infrastructure comes with its own pros and cons, such as flexibility and complexity.  Continue Reading

• Best practices for sizing a server

  Serving sizing requires a number of comparisons, especially between having a few large servers or many popcorn servers. Compare use cases to find what fits.  Continue Reading

• Overcome hybrid cloud deployment challenges

  Before adopting a hybrid cloud, think about how it will benefit the business and the ultimate goal. Also, hire IT staff with the appropriate level of expertise and start small.  Continue Reading

• Manage private cloud performance and troubleshoot issues

  Management tools intended for private clouds are key to troubleshooting performance issues because they provide insight that traditional virtualization management tools might not.  Continue Reading

• Enable resource metering in Hyper-V to collect usage data

  Easily monitor resource utilization for your Hyper-V VMs by first enabling the resource metering feature and then collecting data with a few PowerShell commands.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud providers offer different architecture types

  Hybrid cloud means different things to different vendors; some set aside part of the public cloud for private cloud purposes and others simply support an on-premises private cloud.  Continue Reading

• Migrate virtual machines from development to production

  Administrators must prepare carefully before moving test or development VMs to production. Check connectivity, security, compliance and licensing before beginning a migration.  Continue Reading

• Hunt zombie VMs and control virtualization sprawl

  VM tagging is an effective tactic for discovering and eliminating zombie VMs. Cut useless VMs, redundant data and confusing configurations to enable efficient resource consumption and limit VM sprawl.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-V Manager update in Windows Server 2016 replete with features

  Microsoft developed several improvements to Hyper-V Manager in Windows Server 2016. These new Hyper-V features improve VM management with added security and flexibility options.  Continue Reading

• Considerations for creating a VM for a development environment

  Just because admins are working in a test/dev environment doesn't mean they can be lax about creating VMs. There are several items to consider, including licensing and compliance.  Continue Reading

• Add virt-manager to your set of KVM management tools

  KVM virt-manager provides a useful and simple VM management GUI. The console enables VM creation, deletion and troubleshooting. Learn the basics of its management and installation.  Continue Reading

• Get cloud computing certified, but don't abandon virtualization

  Cloud certification training can help an IT administrator's career, but it's only practical if it aligns with your company and you don't forgo virtualization upkeep.  Continue Reading

• Create SCVMM user roles to define management, tighten security

  Using SCVMM user roles provides granular control in a virtual infrastructure. By defining a delegation model, admins also ensure that the infrastructure is more secure.  Continue Reading

• Mount an ISO file to a virtual DVD drive with PowerShell

  It's easy to manage external media from PowerShell. It's worth noting, however, that the command syntax varies depending on whether you're referencing an IDE or SCSI drive.  Continue Reading

• Virtualization trends in 2018 signal edge technology disruption

  New technologies build on virtualization and threaten disruption. Virtualization administrators must familiarize themselves with what's coming and plan their careers accordingly.  Continue Reading

• Nutanix Acropolis hypervisor components and capabilities

  Nutanix hypervisor components, including controller VMs, and Prism, its management control plane, help simplify management. Learn more about how these components work together.  Continue Reading

• Hype for future of container development gets dose of reality

  Realistic timelines have replaced the big promises of container disruption. Virtualization administrators should expect security and microservices features as the market matures.  Continue Reading

• Meet these SCVMM 2016 requirements before upgrading

  Before upgrading to SCVMM 2016, ensure that you meet its hardware requirements, including SCVMM 2012 R2 and Update Rollup 9 or later, and have a supported version of SQL Server.  Continue Reading

• Preserve Hyper-V security from Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities

  Protect Hyper-V VMs from Meltdown and Spectre security vulnerabilities, and install patches from Microsoft. Watch out for future revisions, performance impacts and recalls.  Continue Reading

• Small business virtualization grows in mature market

  Virtualization isn't only for large enterprises anymore. New technology at cheaper prices has made SMB virtualization practical, while increased competition has made it necessary.  Continue Reading

• Customize a Hyper-V network adapter for security, performance

  Look beyond basic network adapter settings in Hyper-V to enable features like IPsec task offloading, DHCP guard, protected networks, port mirroring and NIC teaming, among others.  Continue Reading

• Expand KVM storage with virsh commands

  With a few steps -- the creation of files, the addition of XML code and the execution of commands -- you can use the virsh command-line interface to add storage to existing VMs.  Continue Reading

• Bulk manage a Hyper-V server group with PowerShell

  With only a few steps, you can use SCVMM to bring a Hyper-V server under management. This is limited, however, so use the SCVMM Command Shell to bulk manage Hyper-V servers.  Continue Reading

• Evaluate VMware, public cloud provider integration

  Hybrid cloud providers don't yet have the seamless integration they promised. VMware cluster admins need to evaluate available options in order to formulate a VMware cloud strategy.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-V cmdlets for daily operational tasks

  With simple scripts, enable or disable VM Integration Services and Live Migration on Hyper-V hosts, reset VM replication stats, grant or revoke VM access, and optimize VHD files.  Continue Reading

• Copy files from the host to a Hyper-V machine

  There are many ways to copy files from the host to a Hyper-V machine, including Enhanced Session Mode and the Copy-VMFile PowerShell cmdlet. Follow these steps for each method.  Continue Reading

• Migrate cloud applications back to on-premises applications

  In the cloud frenzy, it's easy to lose sight of what to do if the cloud doesn't work. With time, patience and cost planning, administrators can migrate applications back on premises.  Continue Reading

• Use virt-install to install VMs from the command line

  Learn the basics of virt-install, including standard use cases, executing it on CentOS 7, different command-line options and the creation of kickstart files.  Continue Reading

• Address bulk VMM agent updates with PowerShell automation

  The SCVMM agent upgrade process is a regular, but sometimes laborious, part of VM management. Use PowerShell to make light work of bulk updates through commands and loops.  Continue Reading

• Execute PowerCLI commands to manage VMware infrastructure

  PowerCLI cmdlets like Get-VM can be built out to obtain information about VMs in a VMware infrastructure, including those with attached CD-ROMs and those with snapshots.  Continue Reading

• PowerShell commands for Hyper-V update bulk VM configuration

  Admins who don't have access to SCVMM can make configuration changes to multiple Hyper-V VMs at once with a few PowerShell scripts and the ForEach loop approach.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-V PowerShell commands to delete and re-create VMs

  Use PowerShell cmdlets to remove and re-create a Hyper-V VM in development. This includes removing VHDs, reconfiguring the VM and installing the OS in the new VM.  Continue Reading

• Achieve virtualization abstraction with Infrastructure as Code

  Infrastructure as Code offers virtualization admins a framework of automation tools, configuration management and DevOps methods that can replace manual processes.  Continue Reading

• The virtual infrastructure manager leads data center collaboration

  Virtualization is increasingly central to the data center, but it often remains isolated. Admins need to set an example of openly communicating about virtualized infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Guide your virtualization, IT investment strategy with 2017's top tips

  2017 presented virtualization admins with the development of new technology and products. Read the year's best tips on how to compare functionalities, weigh costs and make investments.  Continue Reading

• Perfect your virtual processor management best practices

  Proper vCPU allocation can be difficult to achieve, but if you have a good understanding of the technology and take advantage of these helpful features, it will be within reach.  Continue Reading

• Manage your VM resources effectively with these tips

  With this guide, you'll be better equipped to manage CPU, memory, storage and network resources. Not sure how to clean up your virtual infrastructure? We've got you covered.  Continue Reading

• Run legacy COBOL in a virtual infrastructure or cloud

  COBOL forms the core of many legacy systems, and virtualizing it can be challenging. Organizations can use migration tools and Visual COBOL to modernize it.  Continue Reading

• Use virsh commands to manage KVM networking

  Virsh commands enable you to manage network properties and can be used alongside brctl commands to help you create additional virtual bridges in your KVM environment.  Continue Reading

• Use SCVMM to diagram VM network connectivity

  Diagraming VM networks makes it much easier to visualize the way the various infrastructure components relate to one another. Learn how to create diagrams in SCVMM.  Continue Reading

• Use this PowerShell cmdlet to retrieve Hyper-V guest OS info

  You can't get detailed information about a Hyper-V guest OS with the Get-VM cmdlet; you have to use the Invoke-Command cmdlet to run the Get-CimInstance cmdlet against a VM instead.  Continue Reading

• On-premises to Azure AD synchronization tips for success

  There are benefits to synchronizing on-premises AD users to Azure AD, but to do so effectively, you need to fully understand the process and the restrictions associated with it.  Continue Reading

• When backing up VMs, overcome any issues you encounter

  Common problems with VM backups include low disk space, low memory, interdependencies and so on. Learn how to overcome these issues and more with this expert advice.  Continue Reading

• Use this Chef tutorial to learn the basics and install Nginx

  Opscode Chef is a complex tool for configuration management and software distribution. Learn about its structure and the basics of how it works by installing Nginx with this Chef tutorial.  Continue Reading

• Mitigate Windows Server 2016 licensing cost concerns

  Microsoft's Windows Server 2016 licensing change could put a serious strain on IT budgets. Though it carries performance risks, IT admins can defray costs with a split environment.  Continue Reading

• Use libvirt and the libvirtd daemon to manage your hypervisor

  Libvirt provides essential functionality that eases hypervisor and VM management in Linux environments. Learn more about the configuration and use of this open source API.  Continue Reading

• Choose between hyper-converged servers and conventional

  HCI presents a compelling case for admins choosing virtual server systems because of its inexpensive price point, improved throughput, latency reduction and bandwidth expansion.  Continue Reading

• The virtualization admin role redefined

  As more organizations move to hybrid cloud, multi-hypervisor and multi-cloud environments, virtualization administrator responsibilities evolve to accommodate those changes.  Continue Reading

• Understand Azure VM boot diagnostics

  Enable Azure VM boot diagnostics with Azure Portal or PowerShell to capture logs that can help you troubleshoot boot failures and obtain screenshots to see the VM's current state.  Continue Reading

• Google Cloud nested virtualization popularizes the technology

  Due to adoption from large cloud providers like Google Cloud, nested virtualization -- the ability to run a hypervisor on a virtual server -- is poised for growth.  Continue Reading

• Learn more about what VMware AppDefense is and how it works

  VMware AppDefense turns traditional security on its head and offers valuable integrations and benefits, but also carries with it the potential for additional cost and complexity.  Continue Reading

• Strengthen security in virtualization with these best practices

  Prioritize security across your organization, and establish policies that employ best practices, like least-privilege tactics, security audits and update and patch automation.  Continue Reading

• Use these Hyper-V management tools to boost efficiency

  Common Hyper-V administration tasks are time-consuming and risk slowing down your workflow. Use these tools to simplify and automate your administration.  Continue Reading

• Use Azure AD authentication and authorization services

  To configure Azure AD authentication, use express settings if the application registration is already done or manual steps if you need to create a new application registration.  Continue Reading

• Practice with Puppet examples to improve VM management

  Learn the basics of VM management with Puppet by following these examples. Puppet is a powerful tool, and with practice, it can become an important asset.  Continue Reading

• Use virtualized GPU power to boost efficiency and innovation

  GPUs enable complex graphics and boost the power of virtual environments. As resource consumption rises with compute-intensive applications, GPUs can be essential assets.  Continue Reading

• Time-saving tips for the vSphere administrator

  Apply meaningful tags to inventory items in vSphere to make locating them easier. Also, use PowerCLI to automate common tasks and perform bulk management operations.  Continue Reading

• Create Hyper-V VMs with PowerShell, SCVMM or Hyper-V Manager

  Hyper-V Manager, SCVMM and PowerShell can all be used to create a Hyper-V VM, but if you want to configure certain parameters beforehand, you need to use SCVMM.  Continue Reading

• Windows Server containers and Hyper-V containers explained

  It's important to not only understand the differences between these two container types but also the specific requirements, deployment considerations and management practices.  Continue Reading

• VHPC is on the rise, but comes with its own challenges

  Improved virtualization support has helped high-performance computing gain ground; even cloud service providers have expressed interest. But there are still issues to overcome.  Continue Reading

• Understand the benefits of VMware Cloud on AWS

  As you consider transitioning to cloud, especially with the benefits of VMware Cloud on AWS now available, the methods and reasons for transitioning must be examined and justified.  Continue Reading

• IT soft skills are necessary for the modern workplace

  By finding like-minded peers and interest groups, IT admins can develop the soft skills necessary for a modern workplace that depends on communication.  Continue Reading

• Be flexible as you navigate the transition to cloud

  Virtualization's standing is uncertain in an increasingly cloud-based world. IT admins must consider the costs and savings of their infrastructure and staff as they transition.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-V PowerShell commands for every occasion

  Although you can use Hyper-V Manager or SCVMM to manage your host and VMs, Hyper-V PowerShell commands are relatively straightforward and can be used for the same tasks.  Continue Reading

• Use VMware automation tools to streamline your environment

  By selecting the right tools and preparing for potential implementation challenges, automation can make VMware environments easier, faster and more efficient.  Continue Reading

• Prepare for VMware patches as if they were firmware upgrades

  VMware patches, due to interconnections with the rest of your system, require as much coordination as firmware upgrades. Balance update scheduling carefully to maintain control.  Continue Reading

• Can overprovisioned VMs make five 9s availability possible?

  Virtualization makes a highly available environment possible and practical by running parallel instances. This overprovisioned model can be cheaper than using special hardware.  Continue Reading

• Troubleshoot a hyper-converged system and work with vendors

  Thoroughly evaluate potential hyper-converged platforms, and establish best practices to avoid common challenges and fully realize the benefits of this technology.  Continue Reading

• How to install Oracle VM Server for x86 and Oracle VM Manager

  With Oracle VM Manager, not only can you easily manage VMs, you can also set up server pools, define your own networking and connect to different types of storage.  Continue Reading

• Use Python for easy VM management

  Python continues to grow in popularity, as different use cases are established and new features are added. Follow this guide to manage VMs with the simple programming language.  Continue Reading

• VMware Cloud on AWS shows potential despite limitations

  Powerful specs of VMware Cloud on AWS point toward better bursting to the cloud for disaster recovery, but future success relies on ease and flexibility.  Continue Reading

• Use Azure Storage Explorer to manage Azure storage accounts

  With Azure Storage Explorer, you can perform all Azure storage operations-related tasks from an easy-to use GUI tool that is installed on a desktop machine.  Continue Reading

• VMware Cloud on AWS pricing versus on-premises vSphere

  It's important to run the numbers before jumping to VMware Cloud on AWS, as on-premises vSphere on similar hardware might be the more cost-effective option.  Continue Reading

• Create a Linux VM with these potential limitations in mind

  When installing Linux onto a VM, there are some additional steps you should take beyond meeting the basic OS hardware requirements to ensure the desired level of support.  Continue Reading

• Do high cores per CPU work for virtual servers?

  Deciding how many cores per CPU to have in your virtual servers can be tricky, but if you take these factors into consideration, you're bound to choose the right number.  Continue Reading

• Run your Xen VMs on the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

  If you have the right type of environment, SLES can be used as a platform for Xen, but you need to understand the installation pattern and DIY configuration.  Continue Reading