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Prerequisite:  While there is really no prerequisite other than a thirst for knowledge in this subject, attendees are assumed to have a basic understanding of networking architecture and configurations, a working knowledge of the getting around in a Microsoft Windows environment, some knowledge of DNS, DHCP, NTP, SMTP, SSH and other basic server services, and a basic understanding of the hardware and software components in standard x86 and x64 computing environment.

Targeted for:  This course is for individuals looking for an overview of the current state of VMware virtualization from the ground up, and ideal for IT professionals wanting to strengthen their knowledge of building and managing a virtual infrastructure  on top of VMware Infrastructure 3. The class will proceed at a fast pace, allowing most individuals making an effort to learn this material, to keep up with the class.  The class is structured to be as interactive as possible by making use of live demonstrations that review some of the concepts taught in the class. Suggestions for optional homework assignments will be given to those that have access to VMware ESX3.x.

Handouts:  Copies of the course outline slides will be provided along with relevant handouts when appropriate.

Course Description:

Opposed to data center server sprawl and escalating IT cost?  Tired of rebuilding test machines from scratch?

Virtualization is the process of implementing multiple instances of a software application (including its underlying operating system environment) to run concurrently on one physical server. It frees us from the shackles of the “one server, one application” of the past.  The result is significant cost savings from reduced equipment, administrative, and facilities expenses.

Companies with plans to implement virtualized computing environments look to gain many benefits, from server consolidation with increased server utilization and easier [data-center] system management, to rapid server provisioning, server cloning and new options in disaster recovery.

The course introduces attendees to the concepts of virtualization, as well as the features, installation procedures and customization of VMware’s Infrastructure III (VI3) product suite composed of ESX Server 3.5, Virtual Center 2, VI Client, VMotion, etc. It also discusses some tricks and best practices in the creation, management, monitoring, and troubleshooting of virtual machines.  Whenever possible, implementations will be shown using both Windows GUI and Linux command line interface (cli) versions of the appropriate VMware commands. Geared towards the aspiring and the practicing virtualization professional, this mini course will provides information to help plan, implement, manage, maintain, and troubleshoot a production enterprise virtualized data center.

DETAILED AGENDA:

Session 1:

Introduction to Virtualization: technology and terminology.

Introduction to VMware Infrastructure III.

Planning and Installing ESX Server: including server disk partitioning, service console config, time synchronization.

Session 2:

Creating and Managing Virtual Networks and Virtual Switches: including NIC teaming and load balancing, and virtual switch security.

Configuring and Managing Storage Devices: including iSCSI, NAS/NFS, and fiber channel storage, VMFS Datastores.

Installing and Configuring VirtualCenter II: Touch upon VirtualCenter’s back-end Database, Managing inventory using VirtualCenter.

Session 3:

Creating and Deploying Virtual Machines: Installing guest operating systems, VMware Tools, Using templates and deploying virtual machines.

Migrating and Importing Virtual Machines (hot and cold migrations)

Configuring and Managing Virtual Infrastructure: Access Controls, ESX and VirtualCenter permissions.

Session 4:

Managing and Monitoring Resource Access: including allocating memory and CPU (reservations and limits)

High Availability and Business Continuity: VMware high availability, backups, disaster recovery, and if time, VMotion and Clustering.

Monitoring Virtual Infrastructure Performance and Resource Usage: CPU, memory, network and disk usage of guest virtual machine and hosts.

Session 5:

Securing a Virtual Infrastructure: Managing user access to VirtualCenter and ESX Server.

Managing and Configuring the Service Console Firewall.

VMware Update Manager.

Time permitting, possibly an introduction to ESXi.

VMware Infrastructure 3 Best Practices and some real-world examples.

Course wrapup.

Lecturer’s biography:

An honor graduate of Tufts University, Jeffrey M. Goldberg has served the engineering and academic community in various roles from principle design engineer / project leader to senior consultant and educator at companies such as Hewlett Packard, Siemens, Picturetel, 3Com, IBM, NMS, and EMC. Mr. Goldberg is a long-time innovative user of UNIX and networked services.

He currently provides IT solution consulting and delivers public seminars and on-site professional training classes, flexibly scheduled to avoid project disruption, in cutting-edge technologies and programming languages. Specialties include Perl and Shell Scripting, Linux/Solaris/UNIX System Administration, TCP/IP Networking, Web Technologies such as Visual Basic, Delphi, JavaScript, PHP Apache, C/C++, Java/JSP and SQL Database Access, Computer and Network Security. For more information, please visit http://www.qualware.com/training or contact Jeff Goldberg at 781-229-1530 x2.

copywrite 2008 Qualware Instructional Services and Jeff Goldberg.

Decision (Run/Cancel) Date for  this Courses is Friday, October 24, 2008

Course Fee Schedule:

On-line Registration and Payment

This course has been cancelled.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the IEEE office at 781-245-5405.

Copyright © 2009 IEEE Boston Section. All rights reserved.
Maintained by R M Stelting

Updated Thursday June 11, 2009