How to Add AD/LDAP to VMware NSX-T 3.2

NSX-T-T now allows LDAP/AD as an alternative to using the VMware identity manager solution.  This is perfect for environments that only need to control authentication of the NSX-T environment. When integrating with Active Directory, NSX Manager allows users to log in using their samAccountName, or userPrincipalName. If the @domain portion of the userPrincipalName does not match the … Read more

VMware NSX-T 3.2 Analyzing URL Traffic

FQDN Analysis allows administrators to gain insight into the type of websites accessed within the organization, and understand the reputation and risk of the accessed websites. How to configure: Security > North South Security > URL Analysis You need to enable the service which is disabled by default Highlight your edge and click enable Yes … Read more

Prepare ESXi Hosts to Join VMware NSX-T 3.2

A transport node is a node that is capable of participating in an NSX-T Data Center overlay or NSX-T Data Center VLAN networking. Any node can serve as a transport node if it contains an N-VDS. Such nodes include but are not limited to NSX Edges. How to Prepare ESXi Hosts System > Configuration > … Read more

How to Create TEP IP Pool VMware NSX-T 3.2

The Tunnel endpoint (TEP) enables Transport nodes to participate in an NSX-T overlay. The NSX-T overlay deploys a Layer 2 network on top of an existing Layer 3 network fabric by encapsulating frames inside packets and transferring the packets over an underlying transport network. The underlying transport network can be another Layer 2 network, or … Read more

How to Create Transport Zone in VMware NSX-T 3.2

Whether part of a fresh installation or continue growth and expansion of an existing environment, transport zones will need to be created. Transport zones dictate which hosts and, therefore, which VMs can participate in the use of a particular network. A transport zone does this by limiting the hosts that can “see” a segment—and, therefore, … Read more

How to find Windows 10 License Key

Have you ever found yourself in a position where you never saved your license key in windows 10 and needed it?  It just happened to me recently so here is a quick and easy way to accomplish. Click on the windows key CmdRight click on Command Prompt and select run as administrator $ wmic path … Read more

Importance of VMware NSX-T in the Modern Datacenter VMworld 2020

Back in the day security inside a datacenter was a lot simpler.  You had workloads running onprem and inside the network they were “secure” and you put a firewall on the parameter to keep threats out.  However, with applications living everywhere from traditional infrastructure, private clouds, hybrid clouds, public clouds, and on the edge it … Read more

The Rise of the VMWare Platform Reliability Engineer

In the last few years as a VMWare person I have watched containers and Kubernetes go from people saying containers cannot replace virtual machines to now Kubernetes being integrated into vSphere.  Years ago, I thought containers were really cool but it lacked all the infrastructure features we relied on to run in enterprise environments.  Yet, … Read more

Post RASR Reset of VxRail 4.7 Host Re-Add Host into Additional Virtual Distributed Switch (vDS)

As I’m sure many of you are aware VxRail Manager is only responsible for the virtual distributed switch it creates at install.  What about any additional vDS that you create?  You are 100% responsible for their upgrade and management.  It doesn’t sound so bad right?  How often do we actually interact with a vDS?  Here … Read more

VMWare Virtual Machine can’t migrate / vMotion because the VM is installing VMware Tools and cannot initiate a migration operation quick CLI fix

Have you ever been trying to vMotion a VMWare virtual machine but get an error that prevents you because the VM is attempting to install VMWare Tools?  Has this ever occurred when trying to put a host into Maintenance Mode?  Are you looking for a quick way to vMotion the VM?  Below I have the … Read more

VMWare’s VMWorld will be week of Sept. 28 and Virtual not Physical Due to COVID-19

Every year I weigh the pains of travel vs the networking and knowledge gains of attending VMWorld. Majority of the time the pain doesn’t outweigh the benefits. However, due to COVID-19 VMWare will be making VMWorld virtual this year. I must admit this may get me to attend VMWorld for the first time in three … Read more

Advisory Severity Critical VMware vCenter Server updates address sensitive information disclosure vulnerability in the VMware Directory Service (vmdir) (CVE-2020-3952)

VMWare just posted this advisory:https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2020-0006.html vCenters affected:vCenter Server 6.7 (embedded or external PSC) prior to 6.7u3f is affected by CVE-2020-3952. Only if it was upgraded from previous versions 6.0 or 6.5. Clean installations of vCenter Server 6.7 (embedded or external PSC) are not affected. KB to determine if your vCenter is affected:https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/78543 Resolution:Upgrade to 6.7U3f … Read more