VMware vSphere 5.1 Clustering Deepdive is the follow-up to best seller vSphere 5.0 Clustering Deepdive and zooms in on three key components of every VMware based infrastructure and. It provides the knowledge and expertise needed to create a cloud infrastructure based on the solid foundation of vSphere HA, vSphere DRS and vSphere Storage DRS. It explains the concepts and mechanisms behind HA, DRS and Storage DRS which will enable you to make well educated decisions. Besides a brand new stretched cluster use case section it includes a fully rewritten Storage DRS section, and new details on both vSphere HA and vSphere DRS. This book will take you in to the trenches of HA, DRS and Storage DRS and will give you the tools to understand and implement e.g. HA admission control policies, DRS resource pools, Datastore Clusters and resource allocation settings. Each section contains basic design principles that can be used for designing, implementing or improving VMware infrastructures. Coverage includes: Stretched Clusters HA node types HA isolation detection and response HA admission control VM Monitoring HA and DRS integration DRS imbalance algorithm Resource Pools Impact of reservations and limits CPU Resource Scheduling Memory Scheduler DPM Datastore Clusters Storage DRS algorithm Influencing SDRS recommendations

From the author of the vSphere Clustering Deep Dive series - The VMware vSphere 6.5 Host Resources Deep Dive is a guide to building consistent high-performing ESXi hosts. A book that people can't put down. Written for administrators, architects, consultants, aspiring VCDX-es and people eager to learn more about the elements that control the behavior of CPU, memory, storage and network resources. This book shows that we can fundamentally and materially improve the systems we're building. We can make the currently running ones consistently faster by deeply understanding and optimizing our systems. The reality is that specifics of the infrastructure matter. Details matter. Especially for distributed platforms which abstract resource layers, such as NSX and vSAN. Knowing your systems inside and out is the only way to be sure you've properly handled those details. It's about having a passion for these details. It's about loving the systems we build. It's about understanding them end-to-end. This book explains the concepts and mechanisms behind the physical resource components and the VMkernel resource schedulers, which enables you to: Optimize your workload for current and future Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) systems. Discover how vSphere Balanced Power Management takes advantage of the CPU Turbo Boost functionality, and why High Performance does not. How the 3-DIMMs per Channel configuration results in a 10-20% performance drop. How TLB works and why it is bad to disable large pages in virtualized environments. Why 3D XPoint is perfect for the vSAN caching tier. What queues are and where they live inside the end-to-end storage data paths. Tune VMkernel components to optimize performance for VXLAN network traffic and NFV environments. Why Intel's Data Plane Development Kit significantly boosts packet processing performance.

Learn how to virtualize your network and discover the full potential of a Software Defined Data Center. A smarter way to use network resources begins here About This Book Experience the dynamism and flexibility of a virtualized software defined data center with NSX Find out how to design your network infrastructure based on what your organization needs From security to automation, discover how NSX's impressive range of features can unlock a more effective and intelligent approach to system administration Who This Book Is For If you're a network administrator and want a simple but powerful solution to your network virtualization headaches, look no further than this fast-paced, practical guide. What You Will Learn Deep dive into NSX-v Manager, Controller deployment, and design decisions Get to know the strategies needed to make decisions on each mode of VXLAN that is based on physical network design Deploy Edge Gateway and leverage all the gateway features and design decisions Get to grips with NSX-v Security features and automate security Leverage Cross VC, identify the benefits, and work through a few deployment scenarios Troubleshoot an NSX-v to isolate problems and identify solutions through a step-by-step process In Detail VMware NSX is at the forefront of the software-defined networking revolution. It makes it even easier for organizations to unlock the full benefits of a software-defined data center – scalability, flexibility – while adding in vital security and automation features to keep any sysadmin happy. Software alone won't power your business – with NSX you can use it more effectively than ever before, optimizing your resources and reducing costs. Getting started should be easy – this guide makes sure it is. It takes you through the core components of NSX, demonstrating how to set it up, customize it within your current network architecture. You'll learn the principles of effective design, as well as some things you may need to take into consideration when you're creating your virtual networks. We'll also show you how to construct and maintain virtual networks, and how to deal with any tricky situations and failures. By the end, you'll be confident you can deliver, scale and secure an exemplary virtualized network with NSX. Style and approach This book provides you with an introduction to software-defined networking with VMware NSX. Focusing on the most essential elements, so you can put your knowledge into practice quickly, it's a guide dedicated to anyone who understands that sometimes real-world problems require virtualized solutions.

The one-stop guide to modern networking for every VMware® administrator, engineer, and architect Now that virtualization has blurred the lines between networking and servers, many VMware specialists need a stronger understanding of networks than they may have gained in earlier IT roles. Networking for VMware Administrators fills this crucial knowledge gap. Writing for VMware professionals, Christopher Wahl and Steve Pantol illuminate the core concepts of modern networking, and show how to apply them in designing, configuring, and troubleshooting any virtualized network environment. Drawing on their extensive experience with a wide range of virtual network environments, the authors address physical networking, switching, storage networking, and several leading virtualization scenarios, including converged infrastructure. Teaching through relevant examples, they focus on foundational concepts and features that will be valuable for years to come. To support rapid learning and mastery, they present clear learning objectives, questions, problems, a complete glossary, and extensive up-to-date references. Coverage includes: • The absolute basics: network models, layers, and interfaces, and why they matter • Building networks that are less complex, more modular, and fully interoperable • Improving your virtual network stack: tips, tricks, and techniques for avoiding common pitfalls • Collaborating more effectively with network and storage professionals • Understanding Ethernet, Advanced Layer 2, Layer 3, and modern converged infrastructure • Mastering virtual switching and understanding how it differs from physical switching • Designing and operating vSphere standard and distributed switching • Working with third-party switches, including Cisco Nexus 1000V • Creating powerful, resilient virtual networks to handle critical storage network traffic • Deploying rackmount servers with 1 Gb and 10 Gb Ethernet • Virtualizing blade servers with converged traffic and virtual NICs Christopher Wahl has acquired well over a decade of IT experience in enterprise infrastructure design, implementation, and administration. He has provided architectural and engineering expertise in a variety of virtualization, data center, and private cloud based engagements while working with high performance technical teams in tiered data center environments. He currently holds the title of Senior Technical Architect at Ahead, a consulting firm based out of Chicago. Steve Pantol has spent the last 14 years wearing various technical hats, with the last seven or so focused on assorted VMware technologies. He is a Senior Technical Architect at Ahead, working to build better datacenters and drive adoption of cloud technologies.

Use ACI fabrics to drive unprecedented value from your data center environment With the Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) software-defined networking platform, you can achieve dramatic improvements in data center performance, redundancy, security, visibility, efficiency, and agility. In Deploying ACI, three leading Cisco experts introduce this breakthrough platform, and walk network professionals through all facets of design, deployment, and operation. The authors demonstrate how ACI changes data center networking, security, and management; and offer multiple field-proven configurations. Deploying ACI is organized to follow the key decision points associated with implementing data center network fabrics. After a practical introduction to ACI concepts and design, the authors show how to bring your fabric online, integrate virtualization and external connections, and efficiently manage your ACI network. You’ll master new techniques for improving visibility, control, and availability; managing multitenancy; and seamlessly inserting service devices into application data flows. The authors conclude with expert advice for troubleshooting and automation, helping you deliver data center services with unprecedented efficiency. Understand the problems ACI solves,and how it solves them Design your ACI fabric, build it, and interface with devices to bring it to life Integrate virtualization technologieswith your ACI fabric Perform networking within an ACI fabric (and understand how ACI changes data center networking) Connect external networks and devices at Layer 2/Layer 3 levels Coherently manage unified ACI networks with tenants and application policies Migrate to granular policies based on applications and their functions Establish multitenancy, and evolve networking, security, and services to support it Integrate L4–7 services: device types, design scenarios, and implementation Use multisite designs to meet rigorous requirements for redundancy and business continuity Troubleshoot and monitor ACI fabrics Improve operational efficiency through automation and programmability

Improve Manageability, Flexibility, Scalability, and Control with Hyperconverged Infrastructure Hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) combines storage, compute, and networking in one unified system, managed locally or from the cloud. With HCI, you can leverage the cloud’s simplicity, flexibility, and scalability without losing control or compromising your ability to scale. In Hyperconverged Infrastructure Data Centers, best-selling author Sam Halabi demystifies HCI technology, outlines its use cases, and compares solutions from a vendor-neutral perspective. He guides you through evaluation, planning, implementation, and management, helping you decide where HCI makes sense, and how to migrate legacy data centers without disrupting production systems. The author brings together all the HCI knowledge technical professionals and IT managers need, whether their background is in storage, compute, virtualization, switching/routing, automation, or public cloud platforms. He explores leading solutions including the Cisco HyperFlex platform, VMware vSAN, Nutanix Enterprise Cloud, Cisco Application-Centric Infrastructure (ACI), VMware’s NSX, the open source OpenStack and Open vSwitch (OVS) / Open Virtual Network (OVN), and Cisco CloudCenter for multicloud management. As you explore discussions of automation, policy management, and other key HCI capabilities, you’ll discover powerful new opportunities to improve control, security, agility, and performance. Understand and overcome key limits of traditional data center designs Discover improvements made possible by advances in compute, bus interconnect, virtualization, and software-defined storage Simplify rollouts, management, and integration with converged infrastructure (CI) based on the Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) Explore HCI functionality, advanced capabilities, and benefits Evaluate key HCI applications, including DevOps, virtual desktops, ROBO, edge computing, Tier 1 enterprise applications, backup, and disaster recovery Simplify application deployment and policy setting by implementing a new model for provisioning, deployment, and management Plan, integrate, deploy, provision, manage, and optimize the Cisco HyperFlex hyperconverged infrastructure platform Assess alternatives such as VMware vSAN, Nutanix, open source OpenStack, and OVS/OVN, and compare architectural differences with HyperFlex Compare Cisco ACI (Application- Centric Infrastructure) and VMware NSX approaches to network automation, policies, and security This book is part of the Networking Technology Series from Cisco Press, which offers networking professionals valuable information for constructing efficient networks, understanding new technologies, and building successful careers.

Cloud Computing: Implementation, Management, and Security provides an understanding of what cloud computing really means, explores how disruptive it may become in the future, and examines its advantages and disadvantages. It gives business executives the knowledge necessary to make informed, educated decisions regarding cloud initiatives. The authors first discuss the evolution of computing from a historical perspective, focusing primarily on advances that led to the development of cloud computing. They then survey some of the critical components that are necessary to make the cloud computing paradigm feasible. They also present various standards based on the use and implementation issues surrounding cloud computing and describe the infrastructure management that is maintained by cloud computing service providers. After addressing significant legal and philosophical issues, the book concludes with a hard look at successful cloud computing vendors. Helping to overcome the lack of understanding currently preventing even faster adoption of cloud computing, this book arms readers with guidance essential to make smart, strategic decisions on cloud initiatives.

Prepare to succeed at your VCDX panel defense and gain world-class knowledge for designing complex VMware environments VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX) is the highest level of VMware certification, achieved by dedicated professionals who have demonstrated exceptional skill in VMware enterprise deployments. To earn a VCDX, professionals must create a complete enterprise VMware design and undergo an arduous defense at the hands of some of the world's most sophisticated VMware experts. Now, for the first time, there's a comprehensive guide to VCDX defense: VCDX Boot Camp. Based on the legendary standing-room-only boot camps led by VCDX co-creator John Arrasjid, this guide captures the unsurpassed personal experience of three pioneering VCDX certification holders, program developers, and defense panelists. John Arrasjid, Ben Lin, and Mostafa Khalil cover everything you need to know to prepare for certification. They demystify the entire VCDX defense process, clearly explain its format and prerequisites, and offer indispensable tips for maximizing your likelihood of success. Detailed chapters on both design and troubleshooting offer four complete scenarios explaining exactly what VCDX panelists will expect from your defense. Learn how to think like a VCDX, discovering powerful insights and best practices for designing your own world-class virtualized environment. Coverage includes * Authoritative preparation guidance (including expert insights into scheduling your preparation and defense) * Tips for conducting mock defenses, boot camps, and study sessions with your colleagues * How to select, create, and document a superior, defensible design * How to make design choices and incorporate design patterns that support the VCDX blueprint * How to confidently defend your skills in architecture, designing new solutions, and troubleshooting design or implementation flaws * Proven tips for responding to tough questions from panelists * Detailed example defenses of designs incorporating VCDX-DCV, VCDX-Cloud, and VCDX-DT vmwarepress.com vmware.com/go/vcdx

VMware vSphere 5.1 Clustering Deepdive zooms in on three key components of every VMware based infrastructure and is by no means a "how to" guide. It covers the basic steps needed to create a vSphere HA and vSphere DRS cluster and to implement vSphere Storage DRS. Even more important, it explains the concepts and mechanisms behind HA, DRS and Storage DRS which will enable you to make well educated decisions. This book will take you in to the trenches of HA, DRS and Storage DRS and will give you the tools to understand and implement e.g. HA admission control policies, DRS resource pools, Datastore Clusters and resource allocation settings. On top of that each section contains basic design principles that can be used for designing, implementing or improving VMware infrastructures and fundamental supporting features like (Storage) vMotion, Storage I/O Control and much more are described in detail for the very first time.This book is also the ultimate guide to be prepared for any HA, DRS or Storage DRS related question or case study that might be presented during VMware VCDX, VCP and or VCAP exams.Coverage includes:HA node typesHA isolation detection and responseHA admission controlVM MonitoringHA and DRS integrationDRS imbalance algorithmResource PoolsImpact of reservations and limitsCPU Resource SchedulingMemory SchedulerDPMDatastore ClustersStorage DRS algorithmInfluencing SDRS recommendationsStretched ClustersBe prepared to dive deep.

VMware's vSAN has rapidly proven itself in environments ranging from hospitals to oil rigs to e-commerce platforms and is one of the top three players in the hyperconverged space. Along the way, it has matured to offer unsurpassed features for data integrity, availability, and space efficiency. vSAN 6.7 U1 has radically simplified IT operations and supports the transition to hyperconverged infrastructures (HCI). The authors of the vSAN Deep Dive have thoroughly updated their definitive guide to this transformative technology. Writing for vSphere administrators, architects, and consultants, Cormac Hogan, and Duncan Epping explain what vSAN is, how it has evolved, what it now offers, and how to gain maximum value from it. The book offers expert insight into preparation, installation, configuration, policies, provisioning, clusters, architecture, and more. You'll also find practical guidance for using all data services, stretched clusters, and two node configurations. This book is part of the Deep Dive series.Combine this book with the vSphere 6.5 Host Deep Dive, and the vSphere 6.7 Clustering Deep Dive, and you have an in-depth and comprehensive set of books that deliver the information you need to design and administer both vSphere and vSAN in the enterprise.Often referred to in the virtual community as the vSphere Resource kit, the Host Resource Deep Dive zooms in on hardware resources such as CPU and Memory and covers how the vSphere resource scheduler manages these. The vSAN Deep Dive discusses how to leverage local storage devices to create a shared storage platform and the Clustering Deep Dive builds on top of that and zooms in how a group of ESXi hosts work together and provide compute clustering services. Buy all three and become your organizations' private cloud superhero!