vCenter Server applies storage filters to prevent undesirable LUNs to be displayed during the storage operation. For example if a LUN is used for RDM, a LUN will not be displayed in the list of available LUNs when you try creating a new VMFS Datastore. I cannot find or think about any use case of disabling these features but it can be tested in VCAP exam.
Archive for VMware Blog
VCAP5-DCA Objective 1.1 – Implement and Manage Complex Storage Solutions – Skills and Abilities
- Determine use cases for and configure VMware DirectPath I/O
- Determine requirements for and configure NPIV
- Determine appropriate RAID level for various Virtual Machine workloads
- Apply VMware storage best practices
- Understand use cases for Raw Device Mapping
- Configure vCenter Server storage filters
- Understand and apply VMFS re-signaturing
- Understand and apply LUN masking using PSA-related commands
- Analyze I/O workloads to determine storage performance requirements
- Identify and tag SSD devices
- Administer hardware acceleration for VAAI
- Configure and administer profile-based storage
- Prepare storage for maintenance
- Upgrade VMware storage infrastructure
Creating Virtual Lab Environment – Part 7
Creating Virtual Lab Environment – Part 6
Step 14 – Installing vCenter Server
- Attach vCenter Installation ISO to vCenter VM.
- Start vCenter Server Installation
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Creating Virtual Lab Environment – Part 5
Step 13 –Configuring ESXi Server Network Settings
- Log in to ESXi Server DCUI by pressing F2.
- Select “Configure Management Network” Option
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Creating Virtual Lab Environment – Part 4
Step 8 – Creating Openfiler VM
- Create a new VM for Openfiler. VMware Workstation does not automatically detect OS for Openfiler. Select Other Linux 2.6 kernel as I have x32 version of Openfiler. Select appropriate version according ISO image you have.
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Creating Virtual Lab Environment – Part 3
Step 4 – Preparing DC
- Create a new Virtual Machine, Select Windows 2003 Server x32 ISO. You will be asked for Key and Administrator Name, then enter thenaccordingly.
- Name Virtual Machine such as DC. Then Next.
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Creating Virtual Lab Environment – Part 2
Step 2 – Creating ESXi Server VMs.
- You will need minimum of two ESXi Servers. ESXi Server which runs in VM is called “Nested ESXi”.
- Create a New Virtual Machine with Custom Mode.
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Creating Virtual Lab Environment – Part 1
I have been asked by my students how to setup the Lab Environment within VMware Workstation so many times. Although I have tried to explain as much as I can, I think it will be easier to understand if there is an instruction for how to setup. So finally I decided to write this instruction about it.
Tools you need
- Laptop/Desktop with minimum of 8GB RAM (10GB or more is preferable)
- VMware Workstation 9 ( Can be done with other editions but the instruction is based on 9)
- Windows 2003 x64 ISO
- Windows 2003 x32 ISO
- vCenter Server 5 Windows Edition ISO
- ESXi 5 ISO
- Openfiler ISO
My Environment
Network Diagram
VMware ESXi Total Lockdown
I assume that you already know what Lockdown Mode is. With Lockdown Mode enabled ESXi server, you will need to use vCenter to Administrator ESXi Server therefore you can enforce centrally managed permission control via vCenter Server, rather than configuring and managing permissions at each ESXi Server.
When Lockdown Mode is configured on ESXi server, vCenter Server has to be highly available as Loss of vCenter Server makes your ESXi Server unmanageable. Luckily you have a workaround. if your vCneter Server goes down, and need to access ESXi Server, then you can login to DCUI (Direct Console User Interface) of ESXi Server to disable Lockdown Mode.