Getting started with vSphere, soup to nuts to I’m going nuts!

If you know me (Sure you do, right!? ;)) you know that I like to find good value which is quick, effective and often and especially free! :)

I’d like to introduce you to Mike Laverick, Virtualization guru extraordinaire! And what Mike has produced here is amazing videos (which you can actually see, since he converted them to SWF/Shockwave files) and not to mention they’re human, humourous and even more so, extremely valuable and fast!

Oh, did I mention these videos will also be supplemental to his Book?! (the book isn’t out yet, but I’ll pick it up as I know how valuable it will be!)

VMware - vSphere 4 Implementation

So, I highly encourage you to check this out, if you’re familiar with ESX and haven’t touched on vSphere yet, if you’re a master of VMware and want some good insight and value, and most importantly, even if you’ve never touched VMware, or virtualization before – You’ll get a –lot- out of this! So check it out, this is some of the best content you can pay for – and it’s free!

VMware vSphere chargebacks with Business View by @Veeam

Wow that’s a lot of V’s! But seriously! Chargebacks?! Are you serious?! But I wanted to create complicated scripts which really didn’t work and force me to do so much more work than I should! How daaaaaaare you make my life and job easier!

But yes, seriously, allow me to introduce “Business View” from Veeam!

While there is so much you can possibly do! and I’ll show screen shots, you can go click on the links to find out more than just the chargebacks which is all I’ll talk about.. :)

Define your chargeback model

Together with Veeam Monitor and Veeam Reporter Enterprise that provide comprehensive resource utilization and allocation information, Business View gives you the flexibility to define a chargeback model the way you want. In addition, you can easily export the VM groups’ information to a Microsoft Excel document for reporting or integration with other chargeback, inventory, or billing systems.

Veeam Business View Veeam Business View

So I encourage you to check out Business View by Veeam, especially if managing your VMware investment is part of your job, and further trying to make it understandable to upper management :)

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Veeam, infact I think I’m a competitor? :)

VMware says “Fill out our Survey and win a ticket to VMWorld!”

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What? Seriously?! Is everyone giving away free trips to VMWorld? Well, no. This is not a free “Trip!” this is a free “Ticket!”, thus entrance into VMWorld forgoing the $2000 fee for entry!

(Or you could win a free 8GB iPod Touch… :))

Please take the survey – click here
The goal of this survey is to better understand which applications (commercial or in-house developed) you use or develop to manage the VMware vSphere Platform. We need your feedback as it will help us understand which 3rd party vendors or tools VMware needs to focus on.
This survey should take approximately 22 minutes to complete.
We will be awarding great prizes to lucky winners.
Grand Prize – 1 Full Conference Pass to VMworld San Francisco 2009
First Prize is – 1 iPod Touch 8GB
Winners will be chosen in a random drawing
Please review the contest rules, terms, and conditions below.

Contest Information and Rules
o Survey Starts: June 17, 2009 11:59 PM PST
o Closes: Monday August 3rd, 2009 10:00 PM CST
o Winners will be announced on the Developer Center Blog: Friday August 7th 2009
o VMware employees are excluded from entering
o One entry per person
o Raffle participants must fully complete survey
o Winners will be chosen at random by VMware
o You must provide a valid corporate email address – no personal email addresses please
o This contest is for VMware customers, there is no purchase necessary to participate
o Terms and Conditions

Oh, and go here which has all the original details!

VMware vSphere & VI 3.x Management Survey – Cool prizes 1- VMworld Pass, 1- iPod 8 GB Touch

I love @Veeam contest, vote, comment and win a flip?!

So, the finalists are in for the contest I mentioned recently OMG! @Veeam backup supports restoring you to @VMWorld2009 to determine who will be voted on their way to attend VMWorld in San Francisco!

I know I said I’d record a video, and yes I did actually record a video but because I wanted Gabe to win, I opted to not compete (Let’s just say.. I’m a pain in the ass competitor and had a strong chance of taking it from him and everyone else ;)) I may post my video later not for credit to win… but that’s not what we’re here to discuss!

The contestants are in! And you have the opportunity to vote for the best! (Gabe) and comment to win a Flip Camera! (Hey, are you telling me, register, vote, comment = win?!)

Then yes, that is exactly what I’m telling you!  Oh, and check out some really cool software which will help resolve a number of challenges in your infrastructure and virtual environment, that too.  Being that a Flip Camera is not the only free possibility, since they have the Free Veeam Monitor Free Veeam FastSCP and more!

So be sure to go out there, vote for the best of the best! (That’d be Gabrie Van Zanten ;)), comment, and win a Flip Camera! (Check out the goods, make your life and job easier, win!)

It’s all so very straight forward! And be sure to check out Gabe’s blog, it’ll be an investment you’re glad you made!

I love Veeam

So, just click the “I love Veeam” above, Vote, Comment and you could win a Flip!

Disclaimer: I am not a shill, I have no affiliation with Gabe other than the best of respect for his contributions back into the community   Were I to compete with Gabe or anyone else on the team, I likely would have obliterated them as I tend to take things considerably too far, and have at my beck and call a series of video editors and production people. ;)  Just so you don’t think this is biased, he deserves to win :)

OMG! @Veeam backup supports restoring you to @VMWorld2009

Wait, what? I’m not even sure what that means?!   Are you seriously telling me that Veeam will send me to VMWorld 2009 in San Franciso? Where do I sign up?!

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Veeam Video Contest. Win a FREE trip to VMworld 2009 !

In this economy, who wouldn’t like to win a free trip to VMworld 2009 in San Francisco?

Tell us why you love Veeam and get a chance to win a free full pass to VMworld 2009 or Flip video camera!

How to participate

Between now and June 15,

And make sure to post your Video to the Veeam Forum!

And… Then you’re done!  If I don’t see any traction from you folks out there, I’ll have to post a video myself (oh my! will @CXI win a trip to San Francisco!?) Don’t challenge me, I might!  So, post post post! Check it out and get yourself a free trip in this economy, oh and VMWorld2009 should be cool too! ;)   If you need some ideas of what/how to post, hit me up on Twitter and I can help you out also… My idea of a video (for me) likely will be drastically different than you can imagine anyway.. :)

Twitter