Unit 1: Virtual Infrastructure Overview

This unit introduces virtualization in the real world. It also discusses real-world scenarios and reasons for moving from a physical network to a virtual one utilizing VMware.

Lessons:

a. What is VMware’s Virtual Infrastructure product and its relationship with

ESX Server and Virtual Center?

b. What is virtualization?

Lab 1: Virtual Infrastructure Overview

This lab will introduce the functions and features of VMware products

Unit 2: ESX Server Installation

This unit will introduce all of the components needed to complete a successful installation of ESX Server. It will also explore the specific hardware and software requirements for various configuration scenarios to meet the resource demands.

Lab 2: ESX Server Installation

This lab will allow the students to complete an ESX Server installation and test it.

Unit 3: Networking Components

This unit will introduce all of the necessary networking components within VMware’s ESX Server product and how to configure it so that the various virtual machines can successfully communicate with each other and respond to requests from other connected hosts.

Lab 3: Networking Components

This lab will show users how to configure virtual switches, connections, and port groups.

Unit 4: Managing Storage

This unit will introduce all of the storage management capabilities of VMware. It will also provide the vast flexibility of VMware’s ability to connect to and manipulate storage devices. It also opens a discussion on the many limitations of traditional storage mechanisms and how virtual environment provided by VMware can eliminate those limitations while preserving the reliability required to maintain a stable network.

Lab 4: Storage

This lab will show users how to manipulate storage devices

Unit 5: Virtual Center 2.5

This unit will provide an in-depth look at Virtual Center 2.5 along with its functions and features. It will also discuss its relationship with ESX Server.

Lab 5: Virtual Center 2.5

This lab will show users how to completely install and configure the Virtual Center 2.5 product.

Unit 6: Virtual Machines

This unit will show how virtual machines are constructed using VMware ESX server and how virtual machines can be used. It will also open a discussion on the many benefits of running a network in the virtual world.

Lab 6: Creation and Management of VMs

This lab will provide methods to construct and configure virtual machines from scratch using VMware. Participants will utilize template, conduct cold and vmotion migrations, and manage virtual machines using Virtual Center 2.5 and Web Access.

Unit 7: Management of system resources

This unit will explore the many ways VMware can provide unparallel flexibility when it comes to the management of system resources. It will also open a discussion on the limitations of traditional networks as it is related management of system resources and how VMware can eliminate those limitations.

Lab 7: Management of system resources

This lab will provide instruction on how to set virtual machine priorities on processor, memory usage, and other vital system resources.

Unit 8: Controlling access to resources

This unit will explore the numerous methods of administratively controlling the access to virtual machine resources. It will also open a discussion about the difficulties associated with controlling resources in traditional environments and the benefits of utilizing a virtual environment to help alleviate some of the pain associated with controlling resource access.

Lab 8: Controlling access to resources

This lab will allow participants to control administrator rights to the virtual machines so that only authorized users are able to gain access to, and manipulate, the virtual world.

Unit 9: Monitoring the virtual environment

This unit will provide an in-depth look at the many challenges administrators have had to face while running traditional networks as it is related to the monitoring of the 10s or 100s of networking resources and how VMware makes it possible to keep the monitoring tasks of its virtual machines under control.

Lab 9: Monitoring the virtual environment

This lab will provide tools needed to conduct workload assessment and how to do service console monitoring using VMware.

Unit 10: Maintaining high availability

This unit will discuss the challenges that are faced by members of the technical staff in order to maintain a 24x7x365 uptime and how VMware addresses those challenges.

Lab 10: Maintaining high availability

This lab will allow students to dive into the features and functions of VMware as it is related to maintaining high availability such as clustering, backups, and failover.

Unit 11: Correcting issues

This unit will introduce the tools and methods available within VMware to allow its administrators to address issues with production virtual machines both as they occur and use proactive means to avoid issues from occurring.

Lab 11: Correcting issues

This lab will allow students to evaluate system architecture and methodically isolate problems along with learning to fix some of the common issues.