VMware ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers [Paperback]

Edward Haletky (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0132302071 | ISBN-13: 978-0132302074 | Publication Date: January 8, 2008 | Edition: 1

VMware ESX Server in the Enterprise

Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers

 

The Most Complete, Practical, Solutions-Focused Guide to Running ESX Server 3

 

VMware ESX Server in the Enterprise is the definitive, real-world guide to planning, deploying, and managing today’s leading virtual infrastructure platform in mission-critical environments.

 

Drawing on his extensive experience consulting on large-scale ESX Server implementations, Edward L. Haletky brings together an unprecedented collection of tips, best practices, and field-tested solutions. More than any other author, he illuminates the real issues, tradeoffs, and pitfalls associated with ESX Server–and shows how to make the most of it in your unique environment.

 

Haletky covers the entire lifecycle: planning, installation, system monitoring, tuning, clustering, security, disaster recovery, and much more. Throughout, he supports his recommendations with examples from real-world deployments. He also provides detailed checklists for handling crucial issues such as caching, networking, storage, and hardware selection. Many of his techniques and practices apply to all current virtualization platforms, not just ESX Server.

 

This book will be an indispensable resource for every network architect, administrator, and IT professional who works with virtual servers. ESX Server newcomers will find the soup-to-nuts introduction they desperately need; experienced users will find an unparalleled source of field-tested answers and solutions.

 

In this book, you’ll learn how to:

•    Identify key differences between ESX v3.x.y and ESX v2.5.x and their implications

•    Perform a complete installation–with automated scripting techniques and samples

•    Efficiently audit, monitor, and secure ESX Server

•    Discover SAN storage pitfalls and solutions–with detailed guidance for specific SANs, switches, and fibre-channel adapters

•    Understand ESX Server networking: NIC teaming, vSwitches, network lag, and troubleshooting

•    Configure ESX Server via the Management User Interface, Virtual Center client, and command line interface

•    Install Windows, Linux, and NetWare VMs: prepare media images, place configuration files, handle sizing and swap files, and more

•    Use Dynamic Resource Load Balancing to consistently achieve utilization goals

•    Implement effective backup and disaster recovery procedures

 

Edward L. Haletky owns AstroArch Consulting, Inc., a consultancy specializing in virtualization, security, and networking. He has been rated by his peers on the VMware Discussion Forums as a “virtuoso” for his work in answering VMware security and configuration questions. Prior to establishing AstroArch, Haletky was a member of Hewlett-Packard’s Virtualization, Linux, and High-Performance Technical Computing teams. He holds a degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Edward L. Haletky graduated from Purdue University with a degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering. Since then, he has worked programming graphics and other lower-level libraries on various UNIX platforms. Edward recently left Hewlett-Packard, where he worked on the Virtualization, Linux, and High- Performance Technical Computing teams. He owns AstroArch Consulting, Inc., providing virtualization, security, and network consulting and development. Edward is very active (rated Virtuoso by his peers) on the VMware discussion forums providing answers to security and configuration questions.

 

Edward is the virtualization Security Analyst at www.virtualizationpractice.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (January 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0132302071
• ISBN-13: 978-0132302074
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #848,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Edward L. Haletky is the author of VMware vSphere(TM) and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing the Virtual Environment as well as VMware ESX and ESXi in the Enterprise: Planning Deployment of Virtualization Servers, 2nd Edition. Edward owns AstroArch Consulting, Inc., providing virtualization, security, network consulting and development and The Virtualization Practice where he is also an Analyst. Edward is the Moderator and Host of the Virtualization Security Podcast as well as a guru and moderator for the VMware Communities Forums, providing answers to security and configuration questions. Edward is working on new books on Virtualization.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!, January 22, 2008

By 

John R. Vacca "Tech Write Independent Reviewer" (Pomeroy, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: VMware ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers (Paperback)

Are you a beginning or advanced administrator? If you are, then this book is for you. Author Edward L. Haletky, has done an outstanding job of writing a book on VMware ESX Server versions 2.5x and 3.0.

Haletky, begin by reviewing the system requirements that you will need. Then, the author covers installation differences, VM differences, and management differences. Next, he covers some of the aspects of automated deployment of ESX Servers and the tools needed to accomplish this task. The author also discusses ESX from the perspective of security. He continues by discussing the not-so-good and the good things about each SAN and what the best practices are for use, support and configuration. Then, the author reviews some operational constraints associated with the management of ESX and the running of VMs. Next, he discusses the networking possibilities within ESX Server and the requirements placed upon the eternal environment if any. The author also shows you how to install, configure and attached storage to your ESX Server. He continues by showing you how to use the management interfaces as he addresses real-world examples of planning installations. Then, the author discusses the use of various performance-monitoring tools that will add to your understanding of how to balance resources across multiple ESX Servers. Finally, the author discusses some third-party tools available to make your backup and restoration tasks simpler.

This most excellent book concludes with a discussion of the future of the ESX Server. Perhaps more importantly, the best practices of the ESX Server sprinkled throughout the book will entice and enlighten, and spark further conversation and possibly well-considered changes to your current environments.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent primer for integration, March 10, 2008

By 

S. Ansari "Secman" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: VMware ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers (Paperback)

If you are looking at implementing virtualization in your hosting facility, I think the book is worth it's weight in gold. It discusses issues that every integrator is going to run into during requirement gathering, concept, design and implementation of projects involving client server architecture. This is a very hot topic which seems to be focus of every organization, and this books gives you the tools you need to discuss related issue intelligently. I would recommend it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent text but overreaching, February 2, 2009

By 

K. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: VMware ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers (Paperback)

Synopsis: Loaded with practical real world scenarios, best practices, and handy checklists, "VMware ESX Server in the Enterprise" is geared toward those who have some ESX 2 experience and need to prepare for and optimize an ESX 3 environment.

Pros:
- One of my favorite aspects of the book are several checklists for preparing for, deploying, and connecting ESX hosts to the rest of the infrastructure. These include not only the steps to installing ESX (which you can find most anywhere), but also some invaluable checklists for securing the hosts, managing storage, networking, etc. This alone may mean the difference between success and failure.
- Mr. Haletky shares not only what he's learned from his own research, but from real world scenarios from customers projects large and small.
- Tables, lists, illustrations and screenshots are clear and well placed.

Cons:
- Although well written, the editing was mediocre at best. Particularly in the opening chapters it is apparent the text was written, re-written, and then edited further. The finished product therefore is sometimes difficult to follow.
- The book reads as if Mr. Haletky began writing about ESX 2 and attempted to extend it to v.3. The result was a text that is over-reaching and lacks focus.
- Lacks a glossary, which is particularly confusing as several acronyms are used without introduction or explanation.
- There are several minor distractions, such as diagram captions referring to colored lines, where the rendering is black and white. However the message is always clear.
- Less than a year old and already a bit dated as ESX 3.5 and new hardware options have changed the rules a bit. This is always a reality with IT reference material, but is felt keenly in this publication as it tends to focus on older yet ESX 2.0.