Virtualization: From Desktop to the Enterprise (Books for Professionals by Professionals) [Hardcover]

Chris Wolf (Author), Erick M. Halter (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1590594959 | ISBN-13: 978-1590594957 | Publication Date: June 2005 | Edition: 1

Creating a virtual network gives network administrators a way to maximize the usage of their servers. This will be the only book on the market that outlines how to manage all aspects of virtualization across an enterprise. Other books focus on single aspects of virtualization, without delving into the interrelationships of the technologies. Coverage of all aspects of virtualization, including virtual machines, virtual file systems, clustering, and virtualized storage solutions, will enable readers to understand which virtualization technologies may be right for their environment.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chris Wolf is an instructor with ECPI Technical College and a leading industry consultant in the areas of enterprise storage, virtualization solutions and network infrastructure management. He has authored four books to date, frequently contributes to Redmond Magazine and Windows IT Pro Magazine, and speaks at computer conferences across the nation.

Wolf has a master’s degree in information technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology, and his IT certification list includes: MCSE, MCT, and CCNA. Wolf has published MCSE Supporting and Maintaining NT Server 4.0 Exam Cram (1588801802), Windows 2000 Enterprise Storage Solutions (0782128831), and Troubleshooting Microsoft Technologies (0321133455).

Erick Halter was a respected educator for three years, winning multiple student retention and professional development awards. He currently works as a network engineer for a technology-based law firm where he is virtualizing the current network and optimizing system processes for the World Wide Web. In addition, Halter configures and maintains infrastructure equipment to include security and performance. He has several industry certifications, a degree in english, and 10 years of network experience. He resides in Richmond, Virginia with his wife and three dogs.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 600 pages
• Publisher: A-Press; 1 edition (June 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590594959
• ISBN-13: 978-1590594957
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,021,699 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Book from VM Integrator, August 18, 2005

By 

TJ - See all my reviews

This review is from: Virtualization: From Desktop to the Enterprise (Books for Professionals by Professionals) (Hardcover)

I am an uncertified VMware integrator. I would take the certification test, but you have to go through official training first (quite expensive). I am generally apprehensive about buying a computer book that gets a really low review from what seems to be a credible sources. But I took a chance and bought Virtualization: From the Desktop to the Enterprise.

Basically, I would like to share with you that this book is darn good and it covers virtualization applications, like ESX Server and Virtual Server really well. Moreover, the book does a really good job of taking you through virtual file systems, clustering, and virtual machine backups on a budget. One thing I noticed about the book is that it is pretty darn vendor neutral and will get you up and running in not time.

After reading the book, I wanted to share with you what I found out about the one-star review.

Allegation in Review:
"-It says ESX [runs on the] bare metal but then lists the size requirements to install it on Linux and Windows [which is impossible, if it runs on the bare metal]"

What I found out:
On page 154, the text states that "ESX server directly communicates with your system's hardware and is said to run on the metal." Within two paragraphs, hardware requirements are discussed. No mention of Linux or Windows is made. Moreover, the first paragraph in the section under "Installing VMware ESX Server" (p.154) states that ESX Server is "a stand-alone product, which means an operating system isn't required to host the ESX Server virtualization application". No where in the text are the requirements of ESX server conflated with GSX server which installs on top of Linux and Windows. This statement by the reviewer is false.

Allegation in Review:
"-It totally mixes the concepts of SC swap with vmkernel swap by applying sizing recommendations for SC swap to vmkernel swap."

What I found out:
The book discusses swap file configuration location for the Service Console (SC) on page 167: no mention of sizing requirements is made. As noted in the chapter introduction (Chapter 5), the book is taking a "step-by-step approach when showing how to install each virtualization application". Moreover, on page 154, the book discusses that "two configuration scenarios [will be covered:] the first scenario covers what might be involved with a troubled installation, and the second scenario details what you'll experience with a typical configuration." If the reader of this review actually read the book and was performing a troubled install as noted in the introduction, the information on page 168 regarding swap files is about the current Swap Configuration screens. The text makes no distinction between the vmkernel swap file and the SC swap file.

Allegation in Review:
"-It talks about USB on ESX [which is currently not supported] "

What I found out:
The book does cover the configuration and use of USB devices and the book acknowledges that it is currently not supported. The book, beginning on page 185, provides detailed steps to make USB function. In addition, on page 185, the book states "VMware fully documents disabling USB support" and on page 187, the book discusses that "USB devices aren't supported within ESX Server...and VMware briefly explains this in Answer ID 1015 in its knowledge base." Despite that USB is not "officially" supported, it does work and enabling USB is clearly documented by VMware in its knowledge base. The statement by the reviewer is a misrepresentation of the text.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete Guide to Virtualization..., June 1, 2005

By 

Jack Frost (Jacksonville, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Virtualization: From Desktop to the Enterprise (Books for Professionals by Professionals) (Hardcover)

This book was an excellent buy. Finally someone has covered virtualization in its entirety. I was looking for a book that covered installing and best practices when using VMware GSX and ESX server but was pleasantly surprised to find out that I had ended up with a book that covered a whole lot more. The authors not only covered VMware products but also covered virtual file systems including DFS and AFS and load-balanced virtual clusters. This book also included helpful tips and scripts for backing up virtual machines. If you have attended the VMware class on ESX and Virtual Center, like I have, this book covers most of that material and fills any gaps left by that class. It also includes a number of helpful tips and tricks not covered in the VMware class. I would highly recommend this book to any IT professional that is thinking about or is currently using virtualization products.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the money, September 16, 2005

By 

Joel Livingston (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Virtualization: From Desktop to the Enterprise (Books for Professionals by Professionals) (Hardcover)

I recently was assigned to a newly created virtualization and storage division within my company and based on a recommendation from a friend bought this book. I must say that I have been very impressed with its content. The authors cover all of the major virtual machine software technologies, including VMware, Microsoft Virtual Server, and Microsoft Virtual PC. At first I was afraid that with so much coverage, this book would be a rehash of existing online docs, but this wasn't the case at all. While the book does offer some simple guidance to get you started with each technology (with both coverage on Windows and Linux), its real value comes in the many tips, tricks, and hacks discovered by the authors. For example, there is a chapter full of backup scripts that can be used for VMware VMs on each platform type, Microsoft Virtual Server, and Virtual PC. The book also describes how to resize virtual disk files. This is not supported, but pretty good to know if you have a virtual disk that is too small.

The book also covers distributed file systems and clustering. I had wanted to setup DFS on Samba for a long time, but didn't have time to do all of the research. After following the procedures in the book, the process was pretty easy. There are also steps provided for setting up Windows and Linux failover and load balanced clusters.

The book finishes up by describing SANs and storage virtualization. If you're like me and are faced with supporting a number of different virtualization technologies, you need this book.