VMware vSphere Masterclass 1/2: Beginner to Intermediate

Learn how virtualization consolidates several operating systems on one physical machine to save cost, improve resource use, and simplify management with type one and type two hypervisors, including VMware ESXi.

Discover how VMware vSphere architecture uses the ESXi hypervisor to run virtual machines on bare metal, and how vCenter Server centralizes management for multiple hosts.

Choose laptop, PC, server, or VMware hands-on lab to build your home vSphere lab, meeting virtualization-ready cpu, 16 gb ram, 1 gb network, two ESXi hosts, and 8 gb vCenter.

Enroll in the VMware hands-on lab HOL to access vSphere labs, start and extend sessions, and work with virtual machines to learn virtualization concepts.

Set up a VMware vSphere lab with two esxi hosts at four gigabytes each, a Windows server for vcenter, a domain controller, a vSphere client via browser, and a switch.

Download the free VMware Workstation to build your home lab and practice vSphere fundamentals. Use Workstation Player or alternatives like VirtualBox or Hyper-V, noting version differences from 12 to 16.

Discover how to obtain ESXi and vCenter trial versions after Broadcom's acquisition, including a pre-acquisition download resource and steps to access the ISO images for a home lab.

Discover how to download the free 16-day VMware vSphere trial, obtain the ESXi hypervisor ISO, and install the vCenter Server appliance for use in your home lab.

Use ESXi and vCenter Server version 7, with 6.5 material remaining applicable; only about 1% of features differ, and VMware Workstation 16 or 17 is supported.

Create a new virtual machine on the esxi hypervisor using an iso image, allocate minimum hardware (4 gb ram, 2 cpu cores, 14 gb disk), and select bridged networking.

Perform a step-by-step ESXi 7.0 installation and show it mirrors the 6.5 process, including updating VMware Workstation, creating a new virtual machine, and adding a new hard disk.

Install esxi 6.5 inside a virtual machine, create a 14 gb disk, boot from iso, accept the license, set the root password, and run in evaluation mode for 16 days.

Configure the esxi management network by selecting the active vmnic, setting a static ipv4 address, disabling ipv6, configuring dns and host name, then reboot to apply.

Explore the ESXi iSCSI interface and configure network management. Test connectivity with ping and DNS, enable iSCSI shell and SSH for troubleshooting, and review system and VM logs.

Log in to the ESXi host with the vSphere web client using the host IP address and root credentials. Manage virtual machine, storage, and networking from the browser.

Navigate the ESXi user interface to configure hardware, time settings, and licensing; assign a license key, understand evolution mode versus free licenses, and view features enabled by the license.

Create a new virtual machine, choose a name and operating system, set ESXi compatibility, and prepare for future migrations, with Windows Server 2016 as an example.

Create a new vm on the ESXi host, configure 1–2 CPUs, 4 GB RAM, and a 14 GB disk; compare thick and thin provisioning and choose thin for efficiency.

Explore managing a virtual machine on the ESXi host, including editing RAM, resizing disks, and attaching an ISO via the datastore or host CD-DVD drive to boot the OS.

Power on the virtual machine and connect a local iso image via the vmware remote console to install the guest operating system faster.

Power on a virtual machine using various methods, compare browser vs VMware tool experiences, and install VMware tools to improve resolution, mouse control, and graceful shutdown options.

Install VMware Tools in a Windows VM by mounting the ISO, running setup, and rebooting to enable better video resolution, smoother mouse, and enhanced guest integration.

Explore the essential files that define a virtual machine in esxi: the vmx configuration and vmdk disk, plus snapshots, logs, swap, and hardware details like ram, cpu, and network adapters.

install vcenter server appliance 7.0.3, covering ova deployment, command-line, and gui installation, with deprecated external platform service controller and stage-by-stage configuration.

Compare the ESXi 7 and vCenter 7 UI to 6.5, showing most options like shutdown and reboot stay the same, with added data center, vCenter Server System, and HTML5 login.

Master vCenter server requirements and deployment options, including Windows Server vs appliance, platform service controller configurations, and database needs for scalable vCenter environments.

Set up a domain controller in a Windows server lab, install Active Directory, configure a static IP and DNS, and promote the server to a domain controller for vCenter integration.

Create an Active Directory user with a password, join the vCenter Windows machine to the VM lab domain, and configure a static IP and DNS to the domain controller.

Download the vCenter Server 6.5 image from the VMware website and start the free trial by selecting the Windows version and logging in.

Install vCenter Server for Windows by mounting the ISO, logging in as administrator. Choose embedded deployment for small labs, or external deployment with PSC first for larger environments.

Configure a vCenter single sign-on domain named vSphere.local, create administrator credentials, and set the vCenter service account, Postgres SQL database, and seat name with the required ports and storage.

Access vCenter with the vSphere Web Client using the single sign-on administrator account (administrator.vSphere.local) after installation completes, and manage the server before the evaluation period expires to prevent host disconnections.

Access the vCenter server user interface through the web client, log in with administrator credentials, and navigate data centers, hosts, and virtual machines using flash or HTML5.

Learn to set up a vCenter data center, add an ESXi host, assign licenses, and configure lockdown mode for centralized host management.

Discover the differences between the host and vCenter Server user interfaces, and learn how vCenter unlocks advanced options for managing virtual machines, hosts, clusters, and data centers.

Manage ESXi hosts from the vCenter server, viewing host details, monitoring status, and configuring hardware, networks, per-host VMs, and data stores.

Create your first virtual machine in vCenter by selecting a data center and host. Configure hardware, storage, and OS settings, including thick provisioning and ISO deployment.

Use the work in progress feature to save and restore your VMware configuration tasks, like VM creation, memory adjustments, and network adapters, without losing progress.

Explore the vCenter Server Appliance, a Linux-based alternative that deploys quickly with a web interface and PostgreSQL for up to 1,000 hosts and 10,000 VMs, with Oracle for external databases.

Download the vCenter Server appliance ISO from the VMware site. Deploy a pre-installed vCenter Server Appliance via OVF/OVA or install it through the user interface on an ESXi host.

Learn to deploy the vCenter Server Appliance on an ESXi host via the graphical installer, choosing install, upgrade, migrate, or restore, and configure a small-lab setup.

Configure the vCenter Server appliance by assigning an IP, DNS, and domain (vSphere.local), enable time synchronization, secure SSH and admin credentials, then access the vSphere web client.

Learn to log in to vCenter Server and the vCenter Server Appliance, using the vSphere client or Web client, via IP address and the appliance management port 5418.

Clone virtual machines using the vCenter server to deploy across hosts. Use cloning as a backup option with external storage to quickly recover SQL databases and other VMs.

Clone a Windows virtual machine using the clone to virtual machine option, or clone to a template or library; avoid duplicate names on the same host and verify compatibility.

Clone a Windows virtual machine by checking data store compatibility and free space, selecting thick or thin provisioning, and customize the OS and hardware to prevent conflicts.

Create a Windows customization specification in the vSphere client to customize the guest OS and prevent conflicts in name, IP, and data when cloning and powering on a new VM.

Configure virtual machine network with DHCP by default or a prompted static IP, edit adapters, and apply IPv4, DNS, gateway in the guest customization specification; ensure unique security IDs.

Demonstrates running and completing a VM clone in VMware vSphere, including naming the new VM and hardware customization. It covers IP configuration, network settings, and using a specification file.

Clone a linux virtual machine in VMware vCenter by creating a linux guest specification, then customize the domain name, time zone, and network settings with dhcp or static ip.

Create, edit, and manage customization specification files in vCenter to streamline VM cloning across Windows and Linux, including setting network, time zone, IP, and export or duplicate options.

Learn how to clone a powered-on virtual machine in vSphere, including snapshot creation at finish, Windows customization options, and how changes before finish are saved in the clone.

Clone a virtual machine to a template in vCenter and deploy new machines quickly from it, with OS and software preinstalled for faster provisioning.

Clone a virtual machine to a template to create a master image of Windows 2012 R2 with updates and configurations that can deploy identical new virtual machines.

Deploy a virtual machine from a template by cloning or converting templates, with OS and hardware customization, and export or clone to a library in vSphere.

Create a content library to store vm templates and files, then clone a vm to a library template and export it as an ovf package for deployment across vCenter servers.