In a previous post, we covered how to create a virtual machine from a VM template in vSphere using Python and the REST API as an example of service-agnostic methods to invoke infrastructure resources. VMware's PowerCLI is a fantastic tool, but it's not for me. Tweaking or porting functionality from PowerCLI to other …

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VMware introduced RESTful APIs with their vSphere 7.0 release train; migrating from the old MOB APIs is a welcome choice. REST clients provide a powerful tool for automating processes, but it's important to embody reliable practices when interacting with infrastructure. The neat thing about published and documented …

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Distributed Virtual Port-Groups (dvPGs) in vSphere are a powerful tool for controlling network traffic behavior. vSphere Distributed Switches (vDS) are non-transitive Layer 2 proxies and provide us the ability to modify packets in-flight in a variety of complex ways. Note: Cisco UCS implements something similar with …

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Let's take a look at the new lifecycle management process for vCenter. The old process via the VAMI was easy to execute - the industry is upping the ante with automated pre- and post-testing. Cisco's NX-OS installer is another example - complex procedures (in Cisco's case, sequential PGA or microcode updates) invite …

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Not every application is designed to leverage a load balancer. Early load balancing solutions capitalized on this fact - which may seem odd. The solution to the supportability issue creates new opportunity; we'll look at some examples here. Adjusting application behaviors quickly becomes a powerful tool when enhancing …

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Rapidly deploying Linux servers to meet a whim represents the essence of home lab activities, but we spend a great deal of time spinning/configuring machines to meet our specs. Worse, we lose a great deal of time keeping them properly configured and up to date, and none have the privilege of unlimited lab time. Let's …

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NSX 4 is now available, and it was a surprisingly sparse release in terms of new capabilities. NSX 4.0 appears to be a "clean house" initiative, so while it's missing "whizz-bang" new data plane features it does address a variety of issues I am happy to say are now closed: Numerous documented API …

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VMware introduced the ability to double-encapsulate layer 2 frames in via the "Access VLAN" option for VRF instances in NSX Data Center: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-NSX-T-Data-Center/3.2/administration/GUID-4CB5796A-1CED-4F0E-ADE0-72BF7B3F762C.html Q-in-VNI provides a capable infrastructure engineer the …

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VMware's vDS is a bit of a misnomer In a previous post, I covered the concept of transitivity in networking - but in Layer 2 (Ethernet) land, transitivity is critically important to understanding how VMware's Virtual Distributed Switch (vDS) works. The statement "VMware's Virtual Distributed Switch is not a …

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Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) has turned out to be a great tool for deploying virtual network resources, but the "only Cisco VNFs" limitation is a bit much. Let's use this opportunity to really take advantage of the capabilities that NSX-T has for virtual network labs! Overview For the purpose of lab …

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