Posts

vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager 1.0

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Something got a release note today known as vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager 1.0.  What is this software about?
VMware has a bundle known as vCloud Suite.  Just a breakdown what is in vCloud Suite/ vCloud Suite is a comprises of two things: vRealize Suite + vSphere Enterprise Plus.
vRealize Suite (depending on Editions) will consist of some or all of the below: vRealize AutomationvRealize BusinessvRealize Operations ManagervRealize Log Insight
vSphere (depending on edition) will consist of some or all of the below: vCenter Standard (purchase separately)ESXivSphere ReplicationvSphere Data Protection (last major edition)vSphere Big Data Extension
Looking at the above, you start to see that installing and managing the upgrade will be a big tedious process.  Lots of planning and double and triple check the compatibility matrix.
So here comes vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager.  This handles the deployment and patching the vRealize Suite components that you own.  For your Day 0 to Day 2 tasks …
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Questions on vSphere Enterprise Edition

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Recently, I get a lot of questions regarding vSphere Enterprise Edition and some confusion around it.

The reason of these questions because VMware announced the end of availability (EOA) of vSphere Enterprise Edition on 9th Feb.  What this means that if you want to purchase vSphere Enterprise, this will no longer be available, you are left with only 3 options; vSphere Standard, vSphere Enterprise Plus or vSphere with Operations Management Enterprise Plus (vSOM) (excluding all those small kits e.g. vSphere Essentials, etc.).

What will happen to vSphere Enterprise in terms of support?
Support will still be valid until March 2020 as long support and maintenance is still valid.

Can I upgrade/downgrade my existing vSphere Enterprise to a valid edition?
You can only upgrade but not downgrade.  In this case, you can only move up to vSphere Enterprise Plus or vSphere with Operations Management Enterprise Plus (vSOM).

Am currently on vSphere 6.0 Enterprise or below, can I still upgrade to 6.5 sin…
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VMware Security Advisories

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If you are new to VMware or not aware, VMware has a Security Advisories page that publishes any new vulnerabilities found in any of its products, including VMware Fusion and Workstation.

In fact, to keep yourself updated, it is good to subscribe for such new notices.  Just head over to the page to subscribe.

Just yesterday, 15th Sept, there is a critical vulnerability notice which affects ESXi 6.5 (not the Update 1).

Always good to stay up to date and apply such critical patches as soon as you can.
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VMware License Is Latest Version What If I Needed a version Behind Or More?

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I get this so often and decide to just clear this up.

In any ISV or software vendors where you purchase their software, the license received will always be the latest.  This applies the same for any VMware products.

You won't want to purchase something from the market to find that it was 1 year ago right?

So what if your environment is running an older version and you just acquire new licenses which are a newer version than yours when you want to scale?

Don't worry, you can always go to your VMware license portal and select a number of licenses that you want to downgrade to.  The version available is the Products version that is still supported.

You can also upgrade your older version of the product to the later or latest version as long your licenses are still under Support & Subscription (SnS).

At the time of writing, using vSphere version 5.5 is still supported so the lowest version will be 5.5.  This also to give you a reminder, never to run an out of support version o…
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VMWorld 2017 Updates

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Catch up with all these articles with the announcement page.

Day 1

VMware Cloud on AWS
It is now LIVE!
https://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/vmw-newsfeed.VMware-and-AWS-Announce-Initial-Availability-of-VMware-Cloud-on-AWS.2184706.html

AppDefense
Beyond what NSX provide you with micro-segmentation, today with AppDefense you will be able to identify and realize misbehavior in your VM and action on them if you have NSX for distributed enforcement.
https://blogs.vmware.com/networkvirtualization/2017/08/introducing-vmware-appdefense-expanding-beyond-micro-segmentation-threat-detection-response.html

NSX-T 2.0
Extension of supporting VM and containers alike and AWS workloads.  Ability to support vSphere and KVM.
https://blogs.vmware.com/networkvirtualization/2017/08/nsx-t-2-0.html/


OpenStack 4.0
Multiple vCenter Servers and containers support is one of the key release feature.
https://blogs.vmware.com/openstack/vmware-integrated-openstack-4-0/


Simplified Management of VMware Cloud on AWS with v…
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VMware Certified Advanced Professional 6.5 - Data Center Virtualization Released

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Yes the VCAP6.5-DCV has been released on 7th Aug 2017.  I was fortunate to be part of the exam creation, and experience the process to understand how much effort and time is put into creating an exam, is never simple.

You can find out the requirement to take this exam. Do read the exam guide to make sure you are up to the level to take this exam.

The exam is targeted at an advanced level that is someone who has the experience above VCP.  I have seen many try to attempt this exam and failed right after their VCP exam.  There is a different for a reason.  Some have attended the recommended vSphere Design Workshop and mention the exam is not covering what is covered in the workshop.

Do note that this is a certification exam and it is to assess your level of expertise and not your memorize work on a particular course like what we study in schools.  In all certification exams, it is to test on your know how and knowledge level.

This year, there is a catch, unlike the past version 5.x certi…
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vExpert 2017 Second Half Announcement

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The vExpert 2017 second half list is released. There is 105 new vExpert for 2017 on top of the existing 1471 which was previously announced.

Once again congrats to the new vExpert 2017 and hope to see each and everyone again next year.

Check out some of your benefit from the vExpert community forum and if you are heading to VMworld 2017, do check out some of the sponsor booth listed.
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