VMware ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing...

• Cover Type: Paperback with 576 pages
• Published by: Prentice Hall PTR
• Edition: 1st Edition January 8, 2008
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0132302071
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0132302074
• Book Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Weighs: 1.8 pounds

VMware ESX Server in the Enterprise

Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers

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

Edward L. Haletky owns AstroArch Consulting, Inc., a consultancy specializing in virtualization, security, and networking. He has been rated by his peers on the VMware Discussion Forums as a “virtuoso” for his work in answering VMware security and configuration questions. Prior to establishing AstroArch, Haletky was a member of Hewlett-Packard’s Virtualization, Linux, and High-Performance Technical Computing teams. He holds a degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University.

About The Author

Edward L. Haletky graduated from Purdue University with a degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering. Since then, he has worked programming graphics and other lower-level libraries on various UNIX platforms. Edward recently left Hewlett-Packard, where he worked on the Virtualization, Linux, and High- Performance Technical Computing teams. He owns AstroArch Consulting, Inc., providing virtualization, security, and network consulting and development. Edward is very active (rated Virtuoso by his peers) on the VMware discussion forums providing answers to security and configuration questions.

Reader Reviews
Are you a beginning or advanced administrator? If you are, then this book is for you. Author Edward L. Haletky, has done an outstanding job of writing a book on VMware ESX Server versions 2.5x and 3.0. Haletky, begin by reviewing the system requirements that you will need. Then, the author covers installation differences, VM differences, and management differences. Next, he covers some of the aspects of automated deployment of ESX Servers and the tools needed to accomplish this task. The author also discusses ESX from the perspective of security. He continues by discussing the not-so-good and the good things about each SAN and what the best practices are for use, support and configuration. Then, the author reviews some operational constraints associated with the management of ESX and the running of VMs. Next, he discusses the networking possibilities within ESX Server and the requirements placed upon the eternal environment if any. The author also shows you how to install, configure and attached storage to your ESX Server. He continues by showing you how to use the management interfaces as he addresses real-world examples of planning installations. Then, the author discusses the use of various performance-monitoring tools that will add to your understanding of how to balance resources across multiple ESX Servers. Finally, the author discusses some third-party tools available to make your backup and restoration tasks simpler. This most excellent book concludes with a discussion of the future of the ESX Server. Perhaps more importantly, the best practices of the ESX Server sprinkled throughout the book will entice and enlighten, and spark further conversation and possibly well-considered changes to your current environments. Comment | | (Report this)