VM /ETC

Archive for February, 2011

Like everyone else, I have been reviewing the Release Notes for the latest Update 1 release of vSphere 4.1, but I decided to point out specific fixes that will make full image VM backups better for everyone. Note that I work for Veeam Software, but the fixes I am referring to are all VMware resolved issues that surface from time to no matter what backup solution you use. There are numerous other fixes and impovements in the U1 release, but, since most of my world is backup these days, these particular items “popped out” at me.

For a great overview of the entire U1 release check out Rick Vanover’s post vSphere 4.1 update 1 released from his Rickatron Blog and via his Servers and Storage Column/Blog at TechRepublic.

The rest of this post contains cut and pastes from the Release Notes and some commentary about them from me. I want to stress again that these are issues that have now been fixed!

Finally, I’ll point out the one huge VM backup issue (that I can think of right now) that still does not appear to be resolved.

Read the rest of this entry »

The average virtualization admin, engineer, manager, and general IT person probably goes to half a dozen events a year where they receive a name badge. I’m just guessing, but at least 2/3 of those event badges are now in the form of a necklace/lanyard. Just guessing again, but I’d be willing to bet that 99% of all the lanyards get thrown away shortly after. That same average IT person probably attends 1 or 2 big events or conferences a year where they are lucky enough to receive a backpack, computer bag, or other schwag with zippers. Unfortunately, the pull tabs on the zippers more than likely will break off leaving an awkward and often painful to pull open/closed zipper head. I’ve stopped using several otherwise very functional bags just for this reason. But, while planning for a recent vacation, an idea so simple struck me that I was amazed I hadn’t thought of it already.

I did not want to take my full computer bag on the vacation. It’s an oversized bag designed for an entire file cabinet and a night’s change of clothes. One of my old backpacks was perfect for my notebook, iPad, magazines, and the various accessories my wife and I would need on the plane and while sightseeing. When I went to grab a backpack in my basement I noticed the nail of badges hanging above them.

For some reason, I can not bring myself to throw away my event badges. I can’t tell you why. I just knew I would do something with them one day. But now I have a new purpose for them, and I am quickly reducing the bulk hanging on that nail. Besides, you never would have seen a headline like “North Georgia Man Saves Family From Burning House With A Linked Lanyard Ladder”, now would you?

So if you are like me you already have what you need to repair your luggage, backpacks, and various other pull zippers around the house. Here’s my quick how to and list of tools needed:

Read the rest of this entry »

What was once just a fun Twitter game (OK, annoying to some) at previous VMware VMworld and Partner Exchange Conferences is now a chance to win real prizes at VMware’s Partner Exchange 2011 (PEX2011) next week in Orlando, FL. Thanks to several vendors and individuals that responded to Kelly Culwell (@kculw) and my last minute requests, if you are an attendee at PEX2011 and play PEX3WORD you can win the following prizes in the following ways:

• EMC Iomega IX2 – awarded to the best #pex3word tweet with a twit pic of Chad Sakac (@sakacc). Chad knows of this requirement to win, but he prefers the twit pic be one where he does not know it is being taken. Chad will help judge the winner. BTW, it doesn’t have to be an actual “twitpic”. Use whatever tweet photo service you want, but just follow the #pex3word game rules.
• VMware Workstation or Fusion -  awarded to the most informative or insightful #pex3word tweet. John Troyer (@jtroyer) has thrown these licenses in the pot for the game, and he will help us decide a winner for this category. Use 3 words to express your thoughts during a keynote, breakout session, lab, or just when you experience a general technological epiphany!
• Train Signal vSphere Troubleshooting DVD – awarded to the best / funniest /entertaining #pex3word conversation. David Davis (@davidmdavis) will help us decide the winner from the many series of #pex3word RTs and linked replies. Be sure to adhere to the rules of 3word tweeting! If you don’t know already, the Train Signal series of video training  is awesome training to have on your shelf or on your iPod/iPad/iPhone or smartphone, and the latest vSphere Troubleshooting DVD dives even deeper into VMware vSphere management.
• VMware vSphere Design by Forbes Guthrie, Scott Lowe, and Maish Saidel-Keesing. – awarded to the most frequent #pex3word tweeter. Scott Lowe (@scott_lowe) has agreed to ship this winner a copy when the books comes out! By frequent tweets we mean relevant and unique. Tweeting “one two three” a million times for example won’t win you anything, but Scott will ultimately help us decide this winner. No bots or scripts either. To be fair, we are only counting number of tweets between Tues and Thurs during the conference for this award. That way, those showing up early for boot camps and meetings do not have an unfair advantage.

Finally, we have several miscellaneous items such as t-shirts, umbrellas, bottle openers, etc. from Veeam and InterWorks for those #pex3word tweeters that don’t win anything above. This is not the booth swag that anyone can get at the conference, but these items were donated specifically for this game.

How to play and General Game Info

Read the rest of this entry »