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Here are some bookmarks for resources that I have recently referenced:

• vCenter 4 and ESX 4 Now Use 10 Year Default SSL Certificate | VM /ETC – Rich Brambly has some guidance on installing a new SSL certificate on vCenter, with very useful links in his post to official VMware documentation and KB’s on the subject.
• VMware vSphere Client on Microsoft Windows 7! | Virtual Lifestyle – Heiko Verlande has found a way to run the VMware vSphere Client on Windows 7.
• Virtu-Al » PowerCLI: Daily Report V2 – Version two of a handy PowerShell based VMware Environment Daily Report from VMware vExpert and PowerShell guru Alan Renouf
  What’s new/Bug Fixes
  * Active VMs count
  * Inactive VMs count
  * DRS Migrations count and list
  * Correct NTP Server check for each host
  * VMs stored on local datastores
  * NTP Service check for each host
  * vmkernel warning messages for each host
  * VM CPU ready over x%
• VMware Self-Service- VMware Update Manager Plug-In fails to install -Troubleshooting steps for vCenter Plug-in install problems.
• Using VMware VDI and vmSight for Stronger and Sustainable HIPAA and PCI Compliance – Virtualization brings new options for protecting sensitive data by moving it from the desktop into the datacenter.
• Counter of the Week : Analyzing Storage Performance – The purpose of this article is to provide prescriptive guidance on how to troubleshoot logical and physical disk response times in regards to Windows performance analysis. Start with the following performance counters to analyze disk response…
• NetApp, Compellent, HP, Dell top the field in 12-product test – Network World – A terabyte isn’t what it used to be. Disks are slower than you think. And a Gigabit Ethernet is plenty of bandwidth for many storage applications.

I wrote some time back about networking problems with a clean install of ESX 3.5 U3 on a HP DL380 G3 server in a lab environment.  A simple downgrade to ESX 3.5 RTM corrected the issue and I didn’t think much about it.  One of the servers in the lab died and I went about the business of rebuilding it.  Having learned my lesson, I started with an ESX 3.5 RTM install and then patched to Update 3 plus other applicable updates.  Much to my chagrin, the server began crapping out on me randomly.  Some reboots, some networking issues, and other assorted not so good things.  Now the DL380 G3 is not the spring chicken it used to be, so I assumed some faulty hardware was probably to blame.  Some diagnostics and log reviews yielded no hardware issues.

On a whim, I decided to check the VMware HCL to see if the DL380 G3 was still on the list of compatible servers for ESX.  Now, I had checked, or rather ‘remembered’ checking, the HCL before that first problematic install, but a recheck never hurts.  When I arrived at the VMware HCL page I saw the same old trusty PDF link with a slightly newer revision date than my previous visit.  I was pleasantly surprised when I clicked the PDF link to find that I was redirected to a searchable, filterable forms-based version of the HCL.  Nice!  Let’s do this thing….

I’m a little lazy, so I simply used a keyword search to look up ‘DL380 G3′.  Presto-chango: I’ve got results, and I like what I see:

Search Results for DL380 G3 on the VMware HCL

My eyes jump right to ESX 3.5 – Supported, on my platform, no further questions your honor.  Close the old browser window and move on with my life, my life being troubleshooting this darn server.

A few hours later I am still struggling with the server and turn to Ebay for salvation.  “If you can’t beat em, cheat em,” my grandfather used to say.  I’ll find new hardware for my lab.  I identified some other hunk of junk that just might work and decided to check the HCL for it.  That’s when it jumped out at me: there are Update versions included in the HCL and I had been to quick to see it on my DL380 G3 search.  Back to the HCL.

This time I just do a search for ‘DL380′, leaving off the Generational notation and get the following:

Search Results for DL380 from the VMware HCL

The ProLiant DL380 G5 with Quad-core Intel Xeon processors lists ESX 3.5 U3, ESX 3.5 U2, and ESX 3.5 U1 as supported releases, along with the RTM ESX 3.5.  The Update versions are not listed for the G3 or G4.  After some self-deprecating curses and a reinstall of ESX 3.5 Update-nada, stability returned.

The lesson learned, double-check the HCL (or if you are a little slow like me, a triple-check doesn’t hurt).  The HCL is major version and Update-revision sensitive.  And, not all models are treated equally.  You’ll notice in the picture to the left that the DL380 G5 has different supported releases depending on the CPU Model.

Also, keep in mind that you need to verify that all components of your VMware infrastructure are on the HCL from Servers and Systems to IO Devices, and Storage/SAN.  The VMware HCL site offers some basic tips for searching here: http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/help.php.

Here’s the real take-away: The VMware HCL is there for a reason.  Sure, you might be able to get something that is not on the HCL to work, but you may experience instability along the way.  In the event that you are running a non-HCL system you may also find that VMware Support may be limited in what they can do for you.

As the New Year rolls around you may find yourself looking for a new paying gig. Times are tough, but the virtualization space shows continued strength as companies seek to consolidate servers, reduce administrative burden, and hunt down cost savings in the data center. We will look at how you can land that new virtualization gig quickly.

Virtualization jobs come in all shapes and sizes, from the small shop IT guy who runs everything from the desktop to the data center (or data closet as the case may be) to large silo-structured enterprise environments where IT staff rarely deviate from their narrowly defined set of tasks.  Then there is the whole consulting side of the business, with small and large shop mentalities to go along with it.

Step 1 in getting a new job that will really satisfy (Snickers, anyone?) is to define what it is that you want to do.  Are you a big picture thinker who likes to pull in all of the pieces of the puzzle and assemble them over time – maybe a small IT shop is for you.  Do you like rapid-fire problem solving?  Check out a consulting gig where you can solve a variety of problems for customers.  Figure out what you want to do first, then start looking.

Step 2: Target your search.  Sure the big sites like Dice.com, Monster.com, and CareerBuilder.com have a ton of jobs listed, but to find that really great job you should look for other search resources.  Some of the new job search sites, including SimplyHired.com, Juju.com, and Indeed.com can turn up hits that you won’t find other places.  TheLadders.com also yeilds some great gems.  Social networking tools like Facebook and LinkedIn can get you closer to the hiring manager than search sites can.  Here in the Washington DC area we have a bunch of resources such as the Washington Post’s Job , Craigslist Jobs, The Northern Virginia Technology Council’s Job Site, and DCJobs.com.  A little Googling and personal networking will surely reveal similar resources in your area.  You can also get creative.  Use the VMware Partner Directory to identify companies in your area offering virtualization sales, services, hardware, etc.  Also be sure to check out job sites that focus on virtualization, such as VM People.

Step 3: Think outside the box.  Use search terms other than VMware.  Recruiters don’t always know the technology they are looking to staff.  Search for VM Vare, virtual, virtualization, ESX, HyperV.  Think of related related industries in the virtualization ecosystem (think storage vendors, software vendors, startups, systems integrators, etc.).  Visit the websites of those companies and find their ‘Careers’ section.

Step 4: Get your resume updated.  Show your skills and certifications.  Get your resume out there using social networking tools, leverage sites like VisualCV.com to build your portfolio and showcase your accomplishments.

Step 5: Give back to the community after you get that awesome new job.  Is your company hiring more staff?  Post those openings on VMtoday.com.  The stronger your team is, the better your chances are of being noticed for promtion and expanded responsibilities.

Do you have any great sources for finding virtualization jobs?  Leave your ideas in the comments!