The Most Complete, Practical, Solutions-Focused Guide to Running ESX Server 3

VMware ESX Server in the Enterprise is the definitive, real-world guide to planning, deploying, and managing today’s leading virtual infrastructure platform in mission-critical environments.

Drawing on his extensive experience consulting on large-scale ESX Server implementations, Edward L. Haletky brings together an unprecedented collection of tips, best practices, and field-tested solutions. More than any other author, he illuminates the real issues, tradeoffs, and pitfalls associated with ESX Server–and shows how to make the most of it in your unique environment.

Haletky covers the entire lifecycle: planning, installation, system monitoring, tuning, clustering, security, disaster recovery, and much more. Throughout, he supports his recommendations with examples from real-world deployments. He also provides detailed checklists for handling crucial issues such as caching, networking, storage, and hardware selection. Many of his techniques and practices apply to all current virtualization platforms, not just ESX Server.

This book will be an indispensable resource for every network architect, administrator, and IT professional who works with virtual servers. ESX Server newcomers will find the soup-to-nuts introduction they desperately need; experienced users will find an unparalleled source of field-tested answers and solutions.

In this book, you’ll learn how to:

• Identify key differences between ESX v3.x.y and ESX v2.5.x and their implications

• Perform a complete installation–with automated scripting techniques and samples

• Efficiently audit, monitor, and secure ESX Server

• Discover SAN storage pitfalls and solutions–with detailed guidance for specific SANs, switches, and fibre-channel adapters

• Understand ESX Server networking: NIC teaming, vSwitches, network lag, and troubleshooting

• Configure ESX Server via the Management User Interface, Virtual Center client, and command line interface

• Install Windows, Linux, and NetWare VMs: prepare media images, place configuration files, handle sizing and swap files, and more

• Use Dynamic Resource Load Balancing to consistently achieve utilization goals

• Implement effective backup and disaster recovery procedures