This series of posts will show you how to configure SQL 2014 on VMware vSphere 5.5 using SQL Always-On Availability Groups (AGs). Always-on Availability Groups is the 'next generation' in high availability technology that relies on application level data replication versus shared SCSI disks like traditional failover clustering. No more shared...
While I was at VMworld 2014 in San Francisco last week I got a lot of very positive feedback about my 20 part vSphere 5.5 install series and my vSphere toolkit script. I'm glad its helped so many people make their vSphere SSL life easier. Up until now my Toolkit...
So VMworld 2014 was my sixth VMworld, if I'm counting correctly and was in many respects the best one to date. It had two firsts for me:  my first VMworld as a VCDX and the first time attending as a VMware partner/vendor employee. VMworld 2013 was big for me, as encouraging comments by...
Session: INF1736 Jon Kohler (Nutanix), Josh Odgers (Nutanix), Matt Cowger (EMC), Scott Lowe (VMware), Jason Nash (Varrow) This was a very lively session with a panel of five VCDXs from a variety of companies. I was taking real time notes, so I didn't capture all of comments and some of...
Session EUC2551 VDI 1.0 challenges: Storage cost and performance; 3D Graphics; Application management; Provisioning: All adds up to a frustrating experience Broad Goals for Next Gen VDI Efficient use of infrastructure - just in time desktops w/ zero copy architecture - Building at the point of demand Improved flexibility- user...
Session INF1273 This was a very technical session on how to implement the DISA STIG's (security lockdowns) for DoD/Government customers. Many of the slides contained script snippets that help automate the process. Thus my session notes are very light. If you are a U.S. Government Federal customer that must comply...
Panel: William Lam, Duncan Epping, Chad Sakac, Scott Lowe Moderator: Rick Scherer This was a pure question driven session, and I tried to capture the questions and response as best I could. Please forgive any grammatical errors or typos. Q: Is there any capability to address any external storage? A:...
Session BCO2701. This was very fast paced, and I missed jotting down a lot of the slide content. If you attended VMworld then I recommend you listen to the recording to get all of the good bits of information. vSphere HA - what's new in 5.5 VSAN Support AppHA integration...
Session INF2311, Justin King vCenter Server Configuration Options: 5.0 - Configuration Option for v5.5 #1: Use simple installer Multiple vCenters for different geographic locations Single SSO authentication domain Configuration for 5.5 #2: Centralized SSO on dedicated VM A datacenter with 3 or more solutions (e.g. vCAC, etc.) Availability uses vSphere...
Session BCO2629 Software defined storage and availability Bringing the efficient operational model of virtualization to storage Common policy based model VM centric data services Abstraction and pooling of infrastructure vCenter Site Recovery Manager Industry-leading disaster recovery automation solution for vSphere environments Uses array-based replication Use cases include DR, disaster avoidance,...
Session STO2480, Rawlinson Rivera, Wade Holmes This was a great session by the dual which covered VMware storage technology, the VCDX way. The session was a continuation of Part 1, which was at VMworld 2013. As a side note, the great Part 1 session was one of the factors figuring...
Session STO2496 with Rawlingson Rivera (VMware), Chad Sakac (EMC), and Vaughn Stewart (Pure Storage) Simplicity is the key to success: Use large datastores Limit use of RDMs Use datastore clusters Use array automated tiering storage Avoid jumbo frames for iSCSI and NFS KISS gets you out of jail a lot...