Just a short one for this post.
Read all about my views on VMware Cloud on AWS (VMConAWS) in this new article here .
TL:DR Version
VMConAWS is an #awesome joint proposition from VMware and AWS but like with most Public Cloud Platforms/Services, it isn’t without its barriers to adoption. However, we have to remember that the service is in initial availability so therefore it is expected that the service may have some limitations and options that are not available right now.
Written by Christopher Lewis on October 17, 2017 .
Skills and Abilities
Objective 6.2 - Configure and Manage Universal Logical Network Objects
- Create/configure Universal Logical Switches
- Create/configure Universal Distributed Logical Routers
- Configure local egress
Objective Prerequisites
The following prerequisites are assumed for this Objective:
- A working VMware vSphere 6.x environment.
- A working VMware NSX 6.x environment configured for Cross-vCenter NSX
Objective Breakdown
Create Universal Logical Switches
This is essentially the same as the creation of NSX Logical Switches (which is covered in Objective 2.1 ) except that you connect them to the Universal Transport Zone rather than a local Transport Zone. However, we’ll cover the steps again below.
Written by Christopher Lewis on October 13, 2017 .
Skills and Abilities
Objective 6.1 - Configure Cross vCenter VMware NSX infrastructure components
- Configure NSX manager roles (Primary, Secondary, Standalone, Transit) according to a deployment plan:
- Assign Primary role to specified NSX Manager
- Assign Secondary role to specified NSX Manager(s)
- Deploy/Configure Universal Controller Cluster
- Configure Universal segment ID pools
- Create/Manage Universal transport zones
Objective Prerequisites
The following prerequisites are assumed for this Objective:
- A working VMware vSphere 6.x environment with 2 vCenters, 2 PSC configured in ELM configuration.
- A working VMware NSX 6.x Manager deployed to both sites.
Objective Breakdown
Assign Primary role to specified NSX Manager
Note: These steps assume you are not even logged into vCenter Server. Skip the first few steps if you are!
Written by Christopher Lewis on October 12, 2017 .
The following post is a part of my unofficial study guide for the VMware Specialist: vSAN Digital Badge. The full study guide can be found here .
Objective 2.1 - Provide a high-level description of vSAN
VMware vSAN™ aggregates local or direct-attached data storage devices to create a single storage pool shared across all hosts in the vSAN cluster. vSAN eliminates the need for external shared storage, and simplifies storage configuration and virtual machine provisioning.
Written by Christopher Lewis on October 9, 2017 .
In my constant strive to learn new technologies I have decided to create an unofficial study guide containing my notes for the VMware Specialist: vSAN Digital Badge exam.
The Study Guide can be found here .
Written by Christopher Lewis on October 4, 2017 .
I have worked in “the industry” for the last 17+ years, so picking up new technologies and learning as much as I can (or at least as much I need to know to be dangerous) has become second nature to me.
If I was just starting out in IT today, I’m not sure where I would start. I know when I started back in the day with software packaging with WISE Package Studio, Networking was a dark art. Still today, some of its intricacies are a mystery to me and thats not because it is particularly difficult, its because there is only so much time in the day and so much you can know.
Written by Christopher Lewis on September 25, 2017 .
Wednesday night is PARTY night at VMworld Barcelona and who better to party with than friends, fellow #vExperts and the Kaiser Chiefs! Here is a selection of photo’s from the party. The Kaiser Chiefs were a lot better than expected!
Written by Christopher Lewis on September 18, 2017 .
I am working away a lot at the moment in Paris, so this week was going to be one of the only opportunities I’m going to get to take exams before Christmas (scary fact - there is only 100 days left!) . So, after a jam packed 4 days at VMworld, I decided to end my week by taking the newly released VMware Certified Advanced Professional 7 - Cloud Management and Automation Design (3V0-732) exam.
Written by Christopher Lewis on September 15, 2017 .
Day 3 is the day after the VMworld Party and it is normally a very quiet day around VMworld. There is no General Session and a lot of people either do not attend any sessions or just leave the conference early.
Personally, I only tend to minimize the sessions I go to on this day and spend some time in the Hands On Lab and just walking around the Solutions Exchange. The only session I did attend was :
Written by Christopher Lewis on September 14, 2017 .
For the second day running at VMworld 2017, I decided to sit outside of the General Session and watch it on the screen whilst sitting at table with my laptop.
General Session
The General Session on day 2 started with an attendee Q&A session with Pat Gelsinger, Sanjay Poonen and Ray O’Farrell. The questions covered all sorts of topics, including:
VMware in the age of the cloud? - Pat and Sanjay gave a consistent message around VMware’s vision of any cloud, any application and any device. Pat talked about how VMware’s partnership with AWS was just the start and Sanjay talked about Horizon cloud.
Written by Christopher Lewis on September 13, 2017 .
- Operating a Private Cloud - Part 3: Creating a Pricing Card in VMware Aria Automation
- Operating a Private Cloud - Part 2: Creating a Pricing Card in VMware Aria Operations
- Operating a Private Cloud - Part 1: Understanding Pricing Cards in VMware Aria
- Zero2Hero - Using Aria Automation to Deploy Multiple Machines with Multiple Disks - Part 5
- Zero2Hero - Using Aria Automation to Deploy Multiple Machines with Multiple Disks - Part 4