VMware vSphere Pro Series Training Vol. 2

VMware Advanced Features Up Close - Eric Siebert

Lesson 1 - VMDirectPath

VMDirectPath can provide increased performance by allowing a VM to bypass the virtualization layer and directly access a device. In this video you’ll learn what the VMDirectPath feature is and how it allows you to dedicate storage and network adapters to a VM for their exclusive use. You’ll also learn the requirements and limitations when using VMDirectPath, how to setup and configure it as well as some tips and best practices for using it.

• VMDirectPath Requirements and Limitations
• How to Use VMDirectPath
• VMDirectPath Tips and Best Practices

Lesson 2 - Paravirtual SCSI Adapters

In this video you’ll learn what the pvSCSI adapter is and how it can provide increased performance over the standard LSI Logic and BusLogic virtual storage adapters. You’ll also learn the requirements and limitations when using the pvSCSI adapter, how to setup and configure them and also when you should consider using a pvSCSI adapter in place of the standard storage adapters.

• pvSCSI Requirements and Limitations
• How to Use pvSCSI
• pvSCSI Tips and Best Practices

Lesson 3 - Virtual Machine Communication Interface

In this video you’ll learn what the special VMCI adapter is and how it can provide a high speed communication interface between VMs on the same host. You’ll also learn the requirements and limitations for using VMCI as well as how to setup and configure it. Plus, you will discover some tips and best practices for using VMCI and also how applications must be adapted to support using a VMCI adapter.

• Requirements, Limitations and How to Use VMCI
• VMCI Tips and Best Practices

Lesson 4 - Fault Tolerance

In this video you’ll learn what the Fault Tolerance feature is and how it can provide continuous availability for your critical VMs. You’ll also learn about the many requirements and limitations when using Fault Tolerance as well as how to setup and configure it. Plus, you will discover some tips and best practices for using Fault Tolerance and also cover some of the caveats that you should be aware of when using it.

• Fault Tolerance Requirements
• Using the Site Survey Tool to Check Compatibility
• Fault Tolerance Limitations
• How to Use Fault Tolerance
• Fault Tolerance Tips and Best Practices

Lesson 5 - Thin Provisioning

In this video you’ll learn what Thin Provisioned virtual disks are and how they can greatly reduce the amount of disk space that your VMs take up on your datastores. You'll also learn how thin disks differ from traditional thick virtual disks and how to convert thick disks to thin disks and vice versa. Plus, you will discover some tips and best practices for using thin disks as well as how to properly monitor and manage them.

• Viewing Disk Information in vSphere Client
• Requirements, Limitations and How to Use Thin Provisioning
• Thin Provisioning Tips and Best Practices

Lesson 6 - VMotion and Storage VMotion

In this lesson you’ll learn about VMotion and Storage VMotion that allow you to move running VMs between hosts and storage datastores. You’ll also learn the requirements and limitations for using VMotion and Storage VMotion as well as how to setup and configure them. Plus, you will take a look at the Enhanced VMotion Compatibility feature, which can help eliminate CPU compatibility issues that can occur between hosts when using VMotion.

• Requirements for Using VMotion, Enhanced VMotion Compatibility (EVC) and Storage VMotion
• How to Use VMotion
• How to Use Enhanced VMotion Compatibility
• How to Use Storage VMotion
• VMotion Tips and Best Practices
• EVC and Storage VMotion Tips and Best Practices

Lesson 7 - Distributed Power Management

In this lesson you’ll be learning what Distributed Power Management (DPM) is and how it can provide dramatic cost savings for your vSphere environment. You will also discover the specific requirements for using DPM as well as the limitations when using it and how to configure it. Finally, you will learn about some tips and best practices for DPM so you can make the most out of this great money saving feature.

• DPM Requirements and Limitations
• How to Use DPM
• DPM Tips and Best Practices

Lesson 8 - Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling

In this lesson you’ll be learning what Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling (DVFS) is and how it can provide dramatic cost savings for your vSphere environment. You will also learn how the technology behind DVFS works, the requirements for using DVFS as well as how to configure it. Finally, you will discover some tips and best practices for DVFS and how you can combine it with DPM for maximum cost savings in your vSphere environment.

• How to Use Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling (DVFS)
• DVFS Tips and Best Practices

Lesson 9 - VMFS Volume Grow and Hot Extend Virtual Disks

In this lesson you’ll be learning how to dynamically grow VMFS volumes without using extents as well as extending virtual disk sizes on a running VM. You will also learn some great tips and best practices on sizing your LUNs properly, choosing VMFS volume block sizes and extending operating system disk partitions after you have extended virtual disks.

• How to Use VMFS Volume Grow
• How to Use Hot Extend Virtual Disks
• VMFS Volume Grow and Hot Extend Virtual Disks Tips and Best Practices

VMware Site Recovery Manager 4 - Sean Clark

Lesson 1 - Virtualization for Disaster Recovery

In this video you will learn how virtualization enables superior disaster recovery (DR) and how VMware simplifies DR. Plus, you will get an overview of the Site Recovery Manager Architecture Prerequisites for installation.

• Virtualization Enables Superior Disaster Recovery (DR)
• Disaster Recovery Before VMware
• VMware Simplifies Disaster Recovery
• Site Recovery Manager (SRM) Automates DR
• SRM High Level Architecture and Introduction

Lesson 2 - Preparing for SRM Installation

In this video you will learn about the VMware software requirements, database requirements, and server & network requirements, which you will need to plan out before your SRM Installation.

• Supported Storage Replication
• Install and Configure the HP Lefthand P4000 Virtual SAN Appliance
• VMware Software Requirements
• Database Requirements
• Server and Network Requirements

Lesson 3 - Installing SRM

In this video you will learn how to install SRM, SRA, and the SRM plug-in for the vSphere Client. Plus, you will work hands-on to install SRM and SRA on protected sites and SRM Servers.

• Review the Install Architecture
• Install SRM
• Install the Storage Replication Adapter (SRA)
• Install the SRM Plugin for vSphere Client

Lesson 4 - Configuring SRM

In this video you will work step-by-step to configure SRM by configuring array managers (SRA) & inventory mappings, creating protection groups & recovery plans, and ultimately working to test your recovery plan.

• Pair Protected Site with Recovery Site
• Configure Array Managers
• Configure Inventory Mappings
• Create Protection Groups
• Create and Test Recovery Plans

Lesson 5 - Custom Recovery Plans

In this video you will work to customize recovery plan steps and recovery options for VMs. Plus, you will learn how to reconfigure network settings for recovered machines, using VMware methods for individual VMs and groups, and non-VMware methods.

• Custom Recovery Plan Steps
• Custom Recovery Plan Gotchas
• Demonstration of Recovery Steps
• Custom Recovery for VMs
• Demonstration of Custom Recovery Options for VMs
• Options to Avoid VM Network Reconfigure
• Pros and Cons of Common Layer 2 Network

Lesson 6 - Administering SRM

In this video you will learn about the various methods you will utilize to adjust your SRM setup to respond to changes in your environment, as well as help you with the day-to-day activities you will be required to handle as an SRM Administrator.

• Protection Group Administration
• Protected Datastore Administration
• Inventory Mapping Administration
• Administering SRM Alarms
• Configuring Access Control for SRM
• SRM Logs
• Recovery Plan Reporting

Lesson 7 - Failover and Failback

In this video you will learn the best practices for planning and executing failover and you will discover the differences between synchronous and asynchronous replication for failover. Also, you will work hands-on to plan and execute Failback.

• What is Failover?
• Failover Best Practices
• Demonstration of Executing Failover
• Failback Planning and Setup
• Executing Failback After Losing Protected Site
• Executing Failback to Functioning Protected Site
• Demonstration of Executing Failback

Introduction to Third-Party Virtualization Tools - David Davis

Lesson 1 - Introduction to Third-Party Virtualization Tools

In this video you will learn about the different third-party virtualization tools that are available and how they can help you.

• Why You Need Third-Party Tools
• Overview of Third-Party Tools for Virtualization
• Why Virtualization on Specific Backup Products?

Veeam Monitor - David Davis

Lesson 1 - Introduction to Veeam Monitor

Monitoring and altering the performance of your virtual infrastructure is critical for any organization. In this video, you’ll learn about the latest version of Veeam’s Performance Reporting and Alerting tool and how it can help you fulfill these needs at your company.

• What Does Veeam Monitor Offer?
• Differences Between the Free and Commercial Veeam Monitor
• What’s New in the Latest Version of Monitor?
• Overview Demo of Veeam Monitor

Lesson 2 - Installing Veeam Monitor

In this video you will learn about the installation requirements, where to download, and how to install Veeam Monitor. Plus, you will work step-by-step to install Veeam Monitor in your own environment.

• Veeam Monitor System Requirements
• Downloading and Installing Veeam Monitor

Lesson 3 - Configuring and Using Veeam Monitor

Once Monitor is up and running, you need to perform the initial configuration to connect it to your vSphere infrastructure. From there, you will work hands-on to customize performance charts, generate reports, configure alarms, and connect Monitor to Business View.

• Connecting Monitor to vCenter
• Using Performance Charts
• Customizing Performance Charts
• Configuring Alarms and Using Modeling
• Viewing Events
• Generating Reports
• Integrating Veeam Monitor with Business View

Veeam Reporter 4.0 - David Davis

Lesson 1 - Introduction to Veeam Reporter

In this video you will learn how to utilize the exciting new features of the most recent release of Veeam Reporter, including: Increased reporting functionality on changes happening in vCenter, creating documentation for disaster recovery, and reporting on the performance of multiple virtual infrastructures.

• How Veeam Reporter Can Help You
• Common Uses of Veeam Reporter
• System Requirements to Use Reporter
• New Features in Reporter 4.0

Lesson 2 - Installing Veeam Reporter

In this video you will learn some of the intracacies of how Veeam Reporter works, how to download it and properly install it, the first time.

• Veeam Reporter Architecture
• Veeam Reporter Licensing
• Downloading Veeam Reporter
• Installing Veeam Reporter Server

Lesson 3 - Configuring and Using Veeam Reporter

With Reporter installed, you’ll learn how to configure collection jobs to pull data from your vCenter servers. Plus, you will work to create automated report jobs, view offline reports with Report Viewer, and you will see how to export virtual infrastructure reports and diagrams to Microsoft Excel, Word, and Visio.

• Overview of Veeam Reporter Interface
• Controlling User Access to Reporter
• Creating Collection Jobs to Pull vSphere Stats
• Understanding Report Packs
• Creating Manual Reports
• Creating Automated Reports
• Customizing Your Dashboard
• Integrating Reporter with Business View
• Viewing Offline Reports with Report Viewer
• Exporting Reports to Word, Excel, and Visio

Veeam Backup and Replication - David Davis

Lesson 1 - Introduction to Veeam Backup and Replication

In this video you will work hands-on with Veeam Backup and Recovery to learn how to properly utilize it’s powerful features to help secure your virtual environment.

• Feature Overview: Veeam Backup and Replication
• Demo: Veeam Backup and Replication

Lesson 2 - Installing Veeam Backup and Replication

In this video you will learn about the various backup transport modes and system requirements of Veeam Backup. Plus, you will work step-by-step to install Veeam Backup and Replication.

• Veeam Backup Architecture
• Supported Backup Transport Modes
• Veeam Backup Requirements
• Veeam Backup Licensing
• Downloading Veeam Backup
• Installing Veeam Backup and Replication

Lesson 3 - Configuring and Backing up VMs with Veeam Backup

In this video you will learn how to connect Veeam Backup to vSphere, how to configure email notifications, and you’ll see how to properly utilize user roles. Plus, you will work hands-on to create and run a backup job, troubleshoot the backup job, and adjust backup jobs for various data transports.

• Connecting Veeam Backup to vSphere
• Configuring Email Notification
• Understanding User Roles in Veeam Backup
• Creating & Running a Backup Job
• Reviewing Backup Job
• Re-adjusting a Backup Job
• Creating & Running a Backup Using Network Block Device Protocol
• 10 Things You Must Know About Backup Jobs

Lesson 4 - Restoring Virtual Machines with Veeam Backup

The reason you are backing up your virtual infrastructure is so that you can restore it, right? In this video you will learn how to perform an image level and file level restore on a virtual machine to prove that those backups truly worked!

• Restoring an Entire VM
• Restoring VM Files Like VMDK or VMX
• Restoring Individual VM Files

Lesson 5 - Using the Veeam File Level Restore Wizard

With Veeam Backup, a file-level restore of Linux virtual machines is performed with the Veeam File Level Restore client. To do this, you will see how to install the File Level Restore Client on another PC, Use VMware Player, import backup jobs, and restore a Linux file from a mounted virtual machine.

• Difference Between File Level Restore Wizard and Backup Browser
• Considerations: VMware Player, VM Inside VM
• Importing Backups to Veeam Backup and FastSCP
• Restoring Linux Files with the File Level Restore Wizard

Lesson 6 - Replicate Virtual Machines with Veeam Replication for Disaster Recovery

The biggest differentiator between Veeam Backup and other virtualization backup products is that Replication is included. In this video you will learn how to replicate your virtual infrastructure with Veeam Backup and Replication, using near CDP replication with VSS, to protect your virtual machines (and data) from disaster.

• Why You Need Replication for Disaster Recovery
• Creating a Replication Job
• Failing Over VM Replicas
• Undoing Failover
• Configuring Near CDP Replication Using Veeam Backup and Replication

Lesson 7 - Managing Backup Servers with Veeam Enterprise Manager

When your infrastructure grows and you have multiple Veeam Backup Servers, Veeam Enterprise Manager is included with Veeam Backup to provide centralized web-based management of all backup servers. In this video you will learn how to install it, add backup servers, and view consolidated backup reports.

• What is Veeam Enterprise Manager?
• Installing Veeam Enterprise Manager
• Adding Veeam Backup Servers to Enterprise Manager
• Viewing Consolidated Backup Data with Enterprise Manager

Lesson 8 - Backing Up vCenter with Veeam Backup and VSS

In this video you will discover the special steps you need to take to backup a virtualized vCenter with VSS and how to preserve the functionality of that backup job if you are using DRS.

• Problem: Why vCenter Requires a Special Backup with VSS
• Solution: Creating a Special Backup Job for vCenter
• Issues with VMotion and DRS Related to vCenter
• Checking Backup Report
• Setting Automation Level to Disabled in DRS Configuration

Lesson 9 - Sneak Peak: Veeam Backup 5.0 with SureBackup

VMware Data Recovery (VDR) – David Davis

Lesson 1 - Introduction to VMware Data Recovery (VDR)

In this video you will watch a demonstration of VMware Data Recovery (VDR) while you learn what’s new in the most recent version and see, first hand, what makes VDR so unique.

• VMware Data Recovery (VDR) Overview
• VMware Data Recovery Demo
• Why Do I Need VMware Data Recovery?
• VDR and vSphere Packaging
• Benefits of Using VDR
• New Features of VDR 1.2
• Limitations of Using VDR
• How Does VDR Work?

Lesson 2 - Installation and Initial Configuration of VMware Data Recovery (VDR)

In this video you will work hands-on to install VDR, perform initial configuration, and properly administer the new backup appliance.

• Downloading VMware Data Recovery (VDR)
• Installing the VDR Plug-in
• Installing the VDR Appliance
• Adding Storage Destinations
• Powering Up VDR
• Verifying Initial Configuration
• Basic Administration of the VDR Appliance

Lesson 3 - Performing Backups and Restores with VMware Data Recovery (VDR)

In this video you will put VDR to the test by working hands-on to create backup jobs, back up virtual machines, perform recovery of deleted VMs, and report on backup status.

• Creating Backup Jobs in VDR
• Defining a Backup Window
• Setting Backup Retention Policies
• Grouping VMs for Backup
• Creating and Running a Demo Backup Job
• Performing Restore Using VDR
• Restore Rehearsals
• Monitoring and Reporting on Backup Jobs
• Getting Backup Data on the Tape

Lesson 4 - Performing File Level Restores in Windows with VDR

While restoring an entire virtual machine can be easy, at some point you will just want to restore a file or folder from that VM. In this video you will learn how to perform file level restores of Windows VMs using standard and advanced restore modes.

• Windows System Requirements to Perform File Level Restore (FLR)
• Standard vs. Advanced Restore Mode
• Performing File Level Restore in Windows with VDR

Lesson 5 - Performing File Level Restores in Linux with VDR

New in the latest version of VDR is the ability to perform Linux file-level restores. In this video you will work step-by-step to properly utilize Linux FLR.

• Linux System Requirements to Perform File Level Restore (FLR)
• Performing File Level Restore in Linux with VDR Using Command Line

Lesson 6 - VMware Data Recover (VDR) Best Practices

There are critical best practices that you need to implement in order to ensure VDR will be able to successfully backup and recover your virtual infrastructure, for the long term. In this video, you will learn the best practices of VDR, how to update VDR, monitor backup destinations for growth, and extend backup destinations.

• VDR Maximums
• How to Update VDR
• Backing Up vCenter VM
• Installing VMware Tools
• Upgrading Virtual Hardware
• Archiving Backups for Offsite Storage
• Monitoring Backups Destination Growth
• Extending Your Backup Destination
• Improve Backup Performance
• Creating a VDR Log Bundle for Support

PowerCLI – Hal Rottenberg

Lesson 1 - Reporting with PowerCLI

In this video you will walk step-by-step through the process of generating useful reports of your virtual environment using PowerCLI. Also, you will take a detailed look at the various ways to get data out of vSphere and vCenter. Plus, you will work hands-on to generate several reports that will be useful in managing your ever-changing virtual landscape.

• A Special Note About ESXi
• How to Create Great Reports - A Brief Overview
• Who Is Your Audience?
• What Are Your Requirements?
• Requirements - Output Formats
• Requirements - Report Destinations
• Interpret the Data
• Automate! If You Repeat It, Script It!
• When Is PowerCLI Useful for Reporting?
• Using PowerCLI to Create Reports
• Report 1: Host Inventory
• Using VMHostReport.ps1 Script
• Report 2: VM Inventory
• Using VMReport.ps1 Script
• Sending an E-mail with VM Report
• Report 3: Storage Utilization
• Using Export-DSReport.ps1 Script
• Using Search Datastore Function

Lesson 2 - Performance with PowerCLI

As virtualization matures within your organization, you will find it necessary to ""prove"" that the hypervisor layer is not at the heart of performance bottleneck issues in your environment. At other times during the planning and building stages of your virtualization projects, as well as the expansion of existing environments, you will need to understand how VM workloads affect each other, and the resources available to an entire cluster. In this video you will learn how to monitor performance in your vSphere environment using PowerCLI as the tool to gather the right data to keep your service levels where they need to be.

• Introduction to Performance Monitoring
• Vocabulary Lesson
• Performance Manager
• Counter Groups
• Metrics & Counters
• Rollup Types
• Sampling Periods & Intervals
• Statistics Collection Levels
• The Get-Stat Cmdlet
• Get-Stat Parameters
• Working with the Get-Stat Cmdlet
• Start and Finish Parameters for Get-Stat Cmdlet
• Using Get-Stat Type Cmdlet
• Exporting to CSV
• Creating Charts with PowerBoots

Lesson 3 - Diagnostics with PowerCLI

PowerCLI can be used to great benefit in helping to simplify and manage complex changes to your virtual environment. In this video you will work hands-on with the most useful tools in the PowerCLI toolbox. You will learn how to utilize these tools to reduce your troubleshooting time and keep your environment running in peak condition.

• Diagnostics & Troubleshooting with PowerCLI
• Discovery: Working with Logs
• Using Get-Log Cmdlet
• ParameterSet: logBundleSet
• Discovery: Comparing Tasks & Events
• Discovery: Retrieve Tasks
• Discovery: Configure Remote Syslog
• ConfigMgmt: Get-Cmdlets
• ConfigMgmt: Advanced Options
• ConfigMgmt: Privileges, Roles, and Permission
• ConfigMgmt: Authorization Cmdlets
• ConfigMgmt: Host Profiles
• Additional Resources