Setup Database Mail (you can even use Gmail!)

So here's a quick write up on how to setup Database Mail (I even included how you can use gmail if this is just a test server you have running at home! how cool). I hope some of you find this helpful.

As always I'm always open to suggestions, criticisms etc...

VSphere in a Box: Storage VMotion

The Storage VMotion feature allows an administrator to migrate Virtual Machine Disk files from one datastore to another all while the virtual machine is still accessible.

Please feel free to download the document below using the download button. As always, I welcome any comments/suggestions.

VSphere in a Box: Vmotion

Vmotion allows us to move a running virtual machine from one ESX host to another without any type of disruption. In a perfect scenario, this is transparent to any end users involved. This PDF documents the steps to perform a successful Virtual Machine host migration using VMotion.

Feel free to download the document below using the download button. As always, I welcome any comments/suggestions.

VSphere in a Box: Adding Sysprep files for Windows Guest OS

Sysprep is what Vcenter uses to customize a Microsoft Windows machine when we clone it, or deploy it from a template. For those not familiar with it, it's also used when creating standard images (ie with symantec Ghost etc...) of desktops/servers etc...for deployment throughout your organization.

Windows Vista/2008 already have Sysprep installed. So this is mainly for Windows 2003 and prior operating systems.

Please feel free to download the document below using the download button. As always I welcome any comments/suggestions.

VSphere in a Box: Create and Deploy a VM Template

Using Templates to deploy or create virtual machines is one of the many benefits of virtualization. You can have a server configured exactly as you like and it saves a lot of time.

Imagine being able to setup a new server within minutes. Some might argue that it's even faster than installing a traditional image using a utility like Symantec Ghost or Acronis.

Please feel free to download the document below using the download link. As always, I welcome any comments or suggestions.

VSphere in a Box: Installing an OS in a Virtual Machine

We've created the virtual machine, and copied the ISO file over to our ESX hosts. This next piece of documentation will walk you through on how to install an OS within our newly created Virtual Machine.

Please feel free to download the document below using the download button. And as always, I welcome any comments, suggestions, criticisms.

VSphere in a Box: Create a Virtual Machine

Now that we have a datastore mapped to our VCenter/ESX hosts, we can create some Virtual Machines and store the VM's and Virtual Disks on the datastore.

Please feel free to download the document below using the download button.

As always, please feel free to share any comments/suggestions/criticims.