VMware esxi training

[4saken]

So we run a 95% virtualized esxi 4.1/5.01 environment here. We experienced some issues, not directly relating to esxi, but being more 'expert' on esxi would definitely have helped our recovery process quicker.

So that being said our CIO basically said to me and 3 other SAN/VM guys that we need to find whatever esxi/vsphere/etc training we want and book it.

We dont necessarily care about becoming VCP, but if the bootcamp is the best bet to get a top to bottom overview of esxi then thats what we will do. I am basically asking if we are going to get 5 days, travel, etc to pick vmware esxi training, what options and recommendations would best suit for people already working with vmware to get a higher level understanding of all the ins and outs?

 

[itrsteve]

If you already have a decent background I would skip the fast track course and shoot for the "Scale and Optimize" course, it's more targeted for intermediate vSphere guys and you can skip the formalities.

http://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrreg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=one&id_subject=31835

Also the Design Workshop could have some value as well. I went to the 5.0 one and enjoyed it, more of a think tank thing then a typical class but still pretty cool

 

[lynn_heinemann]

I took the VCP class for the 4 and got the 5 out of the way before the class was a requirement. I seem to remember that the class (even though it was required for the VCP exam) felt more like marketing slides then actual setup and administration. If your end goal is to get a VCP cert, you will need the class. If you simply want more information about administering a vSphere cluster, the PDF documents work very well.

http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-pubs.html

The Virtual Machine Administration, Server and Host Mgmt, and Networking guides were the most useful for me. I guess it would depend on your specific role within the IT office on which one benefits you the most.

 

[Adam12176]

I took the install/configure/manage class straight from vmware. The content was ok, but it was exactly what it said - basics for installing, configuring and managing. Taking it won't give you a deep understanding of those topics. I don't have experience with these other classes, but they do offer an Optimize and Scale 5 day class, and a Design Workshop 3 day class.

If you're honestly comfortable with the basics, I'd look at those two. Your SAN design is largely dictated by the vendor - have they offered any resources? In Dell EQL land, they have a best practices guide that reads like a paint by numbers for switch config. Pretty hard to mess that up.

What was your original problem that prompted the need for training?

 

[4saken]

Thanks. We arent looking for howto guides, but indepth high level training for folks who have been working in a vmware environment for a few years but want to get engineer level type know how as far as troubleshooting, DR, etc etc.


We have SAN training lined up through netapp as we just migrated to them. We had a compellent failure that was used for one of our big clusters and due to some very unfortunate timing of this completely compellent SAN failure it really fubar'd our vmware environment up. Once we got the compellent back online(hardware replacements, HA, yadda yadda). Dealing with the complete recovery of vmware started, we got it all back up, but not without lots of little issues that our execs looked at as just a lack of high level training which they now want to get us. Obviously we arent complaining, so taking that into consideration we are looking at our training options. If we get a VCP out of it great, but if we dont, thats not a big deal.

 

[Adam12176]

Looking at the descriptions the two classes others and myself linked might be a good springboard.

I haven't had the pleasure of staring down a full SAN failure/replacement - but reading your comments I'm left wondering what the DR plan is/was. Having one NetApp array and having it die for whatever reason would be just as catastrophic as having one EMC, EQL or Compellent array and having it go offline. I honestly don't know what Compellent offers, again my hands on experience is limited to EqualLogic arrays at this point - but they must offer array or LUN based replication across units?

The VMWare classes will give you direction, but it kind of sounds like this was a hardware failure with no backups to speak of. Classes won't fix that, talking to your SAN vendor or looking into software based replication to another unit/site will.

 

[squirrelz]

I went on the VSphere Advanced Fast Track course last year (which I think is the 4.x version of what is now Optimize and Scale for 5.x) and it was good.

I've been working with VMware for 7 years now, in a large datacenter environment (~500 hosts, 1000's of VMs), and I found it worthwhile.

The guy running the course was Scott Vessey (http://vmwaretraining.blogspot.com/) and for anyone in the UK I would definitely recommend trying to get on a course he's taking, he's a *very* knowledgeable chap.

 

[shabazkilla]

Hmmm, I'm in a similar boat except I am going to be paying for the training myself. I've been working with VMware since version 3.5 and have a very solid understanding on the install, configure, and manage aspects. I'm looking for something more advanced and it sounds like the Optimize and Scale class if a good fit. Thanks.

 

[Vader]

I'm not going to sugarcoat this. I learned more from using Scott Lowe's Mastering vSphere books and applying that in my lab then asking questions here and there than any other training material. I certainly used the Blueprints as a guide but Scott's books still sit on my desk.

I sat the troubleshooting class which I thought was a better choice. They get into using the vMA which at the time, I had no clue about. Now it's standard in all my environments and my customer's environments.

 

[mct]

What Vader said. I recommend Scott Lowe's Mastering vSphere books as well as the VMware vSphere 4.1 HA and DRS Technical Deepdive and VMware vSphere 5 Clustering Technical Deepdive which are written by Duncan Epping and Frank Denneman. You will learn more by reading these books and applying the concepts in your own lab than you would from any class. I would see if your company would be willing to fund a lab for you.

 

[4saken]

Looking at the descriptions the two classes others and myself linked might be a good springboard.

I haven't had the pleasure of staring down a full SAN failure/replacement - but reading your comments I'm left wondering what the DR plan is/was. Having one NetApp array and having it die for whatever reason would be just as catastrophic as having one EMC, EQL or Compellent array and having it go offline. I honestly don't know what Compellent offers, again my hands on experience is limited to EqualLogic arrays at this point - but they must offer array or LUN based replication across units?

The VMWare classes will give you direction, but it kind of sounds like this was a hardware failure with no backups to speak of. Classes won't fix that, talking to your SAN vendor or looking into software based replication to another unit/site will.

Well lets just say compellent techs are idiots. During a replacement of one of our HA units they issued the failover which failed, apparently to a known bug they didnt check, then while back up running on one controller they decided to rebalance the raid which caused a memory heap error and killed the remaining controller basically taking down 75% of our vmware(along with a lot of fiber attached SQL boxes). So basically we had to recover twice in a short span and with vmware migrating and moving and getting things back up, yadda yadda,(there were a plethora of things going on here i could talk about) im talking WORST case scenario here. I will never trust compellent again.

Our new HA netapp solution will/should avoid any sort of issue like this, and we are keen to complete this cutover.


Appreciate all the info, will definitely look into the books vader suggested along with some of the training that our company wants to pay for.