Course Content
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage Content
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Course Introduction
Introduction to vSphere and the Software Defined Data Center
As a vSphere administrator, you must be familiar with the components on which vSphere is based. You must also understand the following concepts: Virtualization, the role of the ESXi hypervisor in virtualization and virtual machines Fundamental vSphere components and the use of vSphere in the software-defined data center Use of vSphere clients to administer and manage vSphere environments
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Overview of vSphere and Virtual Machines
vSphere Virtualization of Resources
vSphere User Interfaces
Overview of ESXi
Virtual Machines
You can create a virtual machine in several ways. Choosing the correct method can save you time and make the deployment process manageable and scalable.
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Creating Virtual Machines
Virtual Machine Hardware Deep Dive
Introduction to Containers
vCenter Server
vCenter Server helps you centrally manage multiple ESXi hosts and their virtual machines. If you do not properly deploy, configure, and manage vCenter Server Appliance, your environment might experience reduced administrative efficiency or ESXi host and virtual machine downtime.
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Centralized Management with vCenter Server
Deploying vCenter Server Appliance
vSphere Licensing
Managing the vCenter Server Inventory
vCenter Server Roles and Permissions
Monitoring vCenter Server Appliance
Backing Up and Restoring vCenter Server Appliance
vCenter Server High Availability
Configuring and Managing Virtual Networks
When you configure ESXi networking properly, virtual machines can communicate with other virtual, and physical, machines. In this way, remote host management and IP-based storage operate effectively.
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Introduction to vSphere Standard Switches
Configuring Standard Switch Policies
Configuring and Managing Virtual Storage
Understanding the available storage options helps you set up your storage according to your cost, performance, and manageability requirements. You can use shared storage for disaster recovery, high availability, and moving virtual machines between hosts.
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vSphere Storage Concepts
Fibre Channel Storage
iSCSI Storage
VMFS Datastores
NFS Datastores
vSAN Datastores
Virtual Machine Management
Virtual machines are the foundation of your virtual infrastructure. Managing VMs effectively requires skills in creating templates and clones, modifying VMs, migrating VMs, taking snapshots, and protecting the VMs through replication and backups.
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Creating Templates and Clones
Working with Content Libraries
Modifying Virtual Machines
Migrating VMs with vSphere vMotion
Enhanced vMotion Compatibility
Migrating VMs with vSphere Storage vMotion
Creating Virtual Machine Snapshots
vSphere Replication and Backup
Resource Management and Monitoring
Although the VMkernel works proactively to avoid resource contention, maximizing performance requires both analysis and ongoing monitoring. Developing skills in resource management, you can dynamically reallocate resources so that you can use available capacity more efficiently.
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Virtual CPU and Memory Concepts
vSphere Resource Controls
vSphere Resource Monitoring Tools
Monitoring Resource Use in vSphere
Using Alarms in vSphere
vSphere Clusters
Most organizations rely on computer-based services like email, databases, and web-based applications. The failure of any of these services can mean lost productivity and revenue. By understanding and using vSphere HA, you can configure highly available, computer-based services, which are important for an organization to remain competitive in contemporary business environments. And by developing skills in using vSphere DRS, you can improve service levels by guaranteeing appropriate resources to virtual machines.
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vSphere Clusters Overview
vSphere DRS
Introduction to vSphere HA
vSphere HA Architecture
Configuring vSphere HA
Introduction to vSphere Fault Tolerance
vSphere Lifecycle Management
Managing the life cycle of vSphere involves keeping vCenter Server and ESXi hosts up to date and integrated with other VMware and third-party solutions. To achieve these goals, you must understand how to use the new features provided by vSphere Lifecycle Manager, namely, clusterlevel management of ESXi hosts and the vCenter Server Update Planner.
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vCenter Server Update Planner
Overview of vSphere Lifecycle Manager
Working with Baselines
Working with Images
Managing the Life Cycle of VMware Tools and VM Hardware
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage
About Lesson

iSCSI Storage

Learner Objectives

After completing this lesson, you should be able to meet the following objectives:

  • Identify uses of IP storage with ESXi
  • Describe iSCSI components and addressing
  • Configure iSCSI initiators
  • Recognize storage device naming conventions

iSCSI Components

An iSCSI SAN consists of an iSCSI storage system, which contains LUNs and storage processors. Communication between the host and storage array occurs over a TCP/IP network.

iSCSI Addressing

Storage Device Naming Conventions

Storage devices are identified in several ways:

  • Runtime name: Uses the vmhbaN:C:T:L convention. This name is not persistent through reboots.
  • Target: Identifies the iSCSI target address and port.
  • LUN: A unique identifier designated to individual or collections of hard disk devices. A logical unit is addressed by the SCSI protocol or SAN protocols that encapsulate SCSI, such as iSCSI or Fibre Channel.

iSCSI Adapters

  • You must set up software or hardware iSCSI adapters before an ESXi host can work with iSCSI storage.
  • To access iSCSI targets, your host uses iSCSI initiators.

ESXi Network Configuration for IP Storage

A VMkernel port must be created for ESXi to access software iSCSI. The same port can be used to access NAS and NFS storage. To optimize your vSphere networking setup, separate iSCSI networks from NAS and NFS networks:

  • Physical separation is preferred.
  • If physical separation is not possible, use VLANs.

Activating the Software iSCSI Adapter

To add the software iSCSI adapter:

  1. Select the host and click the Configure tab.
  2. Select Storage Adapters and click Add Software Adapter.

Discovering iSCSI Targets

The iSCSI adapter discovers storage resources on the network and determines which resources are available for access. An ESXi host supports the following discovery methods:

  • Static
  • Dynamic or SendTargets

The SendTargets response returns the IQN and all available IP addresses.

iSCSI Security: CHAP

iSCSI initiators use CHAP for authentication purposes. By default, CHAP is not configured. ESXi supports two types of CHAP authentication:

  • Unidirectional
  • Bidirectional

ESXi also supports per-target CHAP authentication.

Multipathing with iSCSI Storage

Software or dependent hardware iSCSI uses multiple NICs:

  • Each NIC is connected to a separate VMkernel port.
  • Each VMkernel port binds with the iSCSI initiator.

Independent hardware iSCSI uses two or more hardware iSCSI adapters.

Binding VMkernel Ports with the iSCSI Initiator

With port binding, each VMkernel port that is connected to a separate NIC becomes a different path that the iSCSI storage stack can use.

Review of Learner Objectives

After completing this iSCSI Storage lesson, you should be able to meet the following objectives:

  • Identify uses of IP storage with ESXi
  • Describe iSCSI components and addressing
  • Configure iSCSI initiators
  • Recognize storage device naming conventions
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