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

vSphere HA Architecture

Learner Objectives

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

  • Identify the heartbeat mechanisms used by vSphere HA
  • Describe failure scenarios
  • Recognize vSphere HA design considerations

vSphere HA Architecture: Agent Communication

When vSphere HA is enabled in a cluster, the Fault Domain Manager (FDM) service starts on the hosts in the cluster.

vSphere HA Architecture: Network Heartbeats

The master host sends periodic heartbeats to the subordinate hosts. In this way, the subordinate hosts know that the master host is alive and the master host knows that the subordinate hosts are alive.

vSphere HA Architecture: Datastore Heartbeats

When the master host cannot communicate with a subordinate host over the management network, the master host uses datastore heartbeating to determine the cause:

  • Subordinate host failure
  • Network partition
  • Network isolation

vSphere HA Failure Scenarios

vSphere HA can identify and respond to various types of failures:

  • Subordinate host failure
  • Master host failure
  • Network failure (host isolation)

VMCP enables vSphere HA to detect and respond to datastore access failures:

  • APD
  • PDL

Failed Subordinate Hosts

 

When a subordinate host does not respond to the network heartbeat issued by the master host, the master host tries to identify the cause.

Failed Master Hosts

When the master host is placed in maintenance mode or fails, the subordinate hosts detect that the master host is no longer issuing heartbeats.

Isolated Hosts

A host is declared isolated when the following conditions occur:

  • The host is not receiving network heartbeats.
  • The host cannot ping its isolation addresses.

VM Storage Failures

 

Storage connectivity problems might arise because of:

  • Network or switch failure
  • Array misconfiguration
  • Power outage

Storage connectivity problems affect VM availability:

  • VMs on affected hosts are difficult to manage.
  • Applications with attached disks fail.

Protecting Against Storage Failures with VMCP

VM Component Protection protects against storage failures on a VM.

  • If VMCP is enabled, vSphere HA can detect datastore accessibility failures and provide automated recovery for affected VMs.
  • VMCP is not supported with vSAN.

vSphere HA Design Considerations

When designing your vSphere HA cluster, consider these guidelines:

  • Implement redundant heartbeat networks and redundant isolation addresses:
    • Redundancy minimizes host isolation events.
  • Physically separate VM networks from the heartbeat networks.
  • Implement datastores so that they are separated from the management network by using one or both of the following approaches:
    • Use Fibre Channel over fiber optic for your datastores.
    • If you use IP storage, physically separate your IP storage network from the management network.

Review of Learner Objectives

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

  • Identify the heartbeat mechanisms used by vSphere HA
  • Describe failure scenarios
  • Recognize vSphere HA design considerations
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