Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #230164 in Books
• Published on: 2008-01-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 576 pages

From the Back Cover

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.

Edward is the virtualization Security Analyst at www.virtualizationpractice.com

Customer Reviews

Some good content - but dreadfully presented
I agree with the earlier reviewer, who noted that whilst there is some useful information here - some of it at a relatively advanced level, its buried in what I can only describe as the biggest mess of a technical manual I've ever seen.

There appears to have been almost no proof-reading done at all - page after page of spelling mistakes, grammar that makes entire paragraphs look like they were written by a five year old child and information that is very poorly presented all add to the feeling that this book was deliberately rushed out to print.

Compare this with the excellent 'Mastering VMWare Infrastructure 3' by Chris McCain - which is well-written, concise, informative and (most importantly) proof-read before publication!

Rushed to print?
There's a lot of useful information in this book and it's obvious that the author has significant field experience. However the book is let down by the lack of adequate proof-reading which becomes increasingly irritating, chapter after chapter.

There is no coverage of ESX 3.5 or ESXi and the effort to cover 2.5.x is worthy but of questionable relevance, beyond describing issues to be considered when upgrading.

A second edition, properly edited, proof-read, minus the 2.5.x references and updated to take account of recent VMware developments would be a welcome prospect.

Just brilliant !
This book is to ESX v3 what the Advanced Technical Guide was to ESX 2. The book is full, crammed, packed with useful info. It has extremely in-depth commentary on such topics as SCSI Bus reservations and planning how to avoid upsetting your LUN. This book is immense. I can't imagine there is anything he's left out.