VMware Training and Certification. Year 2025. Part 2. Introduction. Authorized Training: Datacenter Virtualization. vSphere 8. Brief Summary.

Posted on February 14, 2025 by airra

Introduction

Hello to all readers of the blog about IT Architecture and Learning!

In the previous article of the “VMware Training and Certification. Year 2025” series, we reviewed the structure of VMware Authorized Training, the main learning domains, and the role of certification paths in professional development.

Today, we will focus on the Authorized Training: Datacenter Virtualization learning domain, which forms the foundation of enterprise VMware infrastructure.

The Datacenter Virtualization training direction includes educational programs covering VMware vSphere technologies, such as ESXi, vCenter Server, resource management, availability, scalability, and operational best practices

The number of training programs within this domain is quite extensive. Therefore, in this article we will concentrate specifically on VMware vSphere 8, highlighting their training structure, learning objectives, and certification alignment..

VMware vSphere 8

New version of VMware vSphere 8 is the enterprise workload platform that brings the benefits of cloud to on-premises workloads. It supercharges performance with DPU and GPU based acceleration, enhances operational efficiency through the VMware Cloud Console, seamlessly integrates with add-on hybrid cloud services, and accelerates innovation with an enterprise-ready integrated Kubernetes runtime that runs containers alongside VMs.

The main current training programs for vSphere 8 technologies are:

● VMware vSphere: What’s New [V8]

  • Course code: VSWN8.
  • Duration: 2 days.
  • Level of difficulty: Intermediate (L300).
  • Target audience: System architects, system administrators, IT managers, VMware partners, and individuals responsible for implementing and managing vSphere architectures who want to deploy vSphere 8.0 into their existing vSphere environment.
  • Prerequisites: This course requires completion of one the following courses or equivalent knowledge and administration experience with ESXi and vCenter Server:
    • VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage
    • VMware vSphere: Optimize and Scale
    • VMware vSphere: Fast Track
    • VMware vSphere: Troubleshooting.

In this 2-day course, you will explore the new features and enhancements in VMware vCenter 8.0, VMware ESXi 8.0, and VMware vSphere 8.0. Through use-case scenarios, demonstrations, labs, and simulations, you develop skills to implement and configure vSphere 8.0.

● VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V8]

  • Course code: VSICM8.
  • Duration: 5 days.
  • Level of difficulty: Intermediate (L300).
  • Target audience: System administrators, System engineers.
  • Prerequisites: System administration experience on Microsoft Windows or Linux operating systems.
  • Certification: Attending this course meets the training requirement to achieve the following certification: VMware Certified Professional – Data Center Virtualization (VCP-DCV).

This five-day course features intensive hands-on training that focuses on installing, configuring, and managing VMware vSphere 8, which includes VMware ESXi 8 and VMware vCenter 8. This course prepares you to administer a vSphere infrastructure for an organization of any size. This course is the foundation for most VMware technologies in the software-defined data center.

● VMware vSphere: Operate, Scale and Secure [V8]

  • Course code: VSOSS8.
  • Duration: 5 days.
  • Level of difficulty: Intermediate (L300).
  • Target audience: Senior Administrators, Implementers and Consultants, Architects.
  • Prerequisites: Understanding of concepts presented in the VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V8] course, OR Equivalent knowledge and administration experience with ESXi and vCenter, Experience with working at the command line is highly recommended.
  • Certification: Attending this course meets the training requirement to achieve the following certification: VMware Certified Professional – Data Center Virtualization (VCP-DCV).

This five-day course teaches you advanced skills for configuring and maintaining a highly available and scalable virtual infrastructure. Through a mix of lecture and hands-on labs, you configure and optimize the VMware vSphere 8 features that build a foundation for a truly scalable infrastructure. You also discuss when and where these features have the greatest effect. Attend this course to deepen your understanding of vSphere and learn how its advanced features and controls can benefit your organization.

● VMware vSphere: Troubleshooting [V8]

  • Course code: VSTS8.
  • Duration: 5 days.
  • Level of difficulty: Advanced.
  • Target audience: System architects and system administrators.
  • Prerequisites: VCP-DCV certification or VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage or VMware vSphere: Operate, Scale and Secure.

This five-day training course provides you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to achieve competence in troubleshooting the VMware vSphere 8 environment. This course increases your skill level and competence in using the command-line interface, VMware vSphere Client, log files, and other tools to analyze and solve problems.

● VMware vSphere: Fast Track [V8]

  • Course code: VSFT8.
  • Duration: 5 days.
  • Level of difficulty: Advanced (L400+), Intermediate (L300).
  • Target audience: System administrators, System engineers.
  • Prerequisites: System administration experience on Microsoft Windows or Linux operating systems.
  • Certification: Attending this course meets the training requirement to achieve the following certification: VMware Certified Professional – Data Center Virtualization (VCP-DCV).

This five-day, extended hour course takes you from introductory to advanced VMware vSphere 8 management skills. Building on the installation and configuration content from our best-selling course, you will also develop advanced skills needed to manage and maintain a highly available and scalable virtual infrastructure. Through a mix of lecture and hands-on labs, you will install, configure, and manage vSphere 8. You will explore the features that build a foundation for a truly scalable infrastructure and discuss when and where these features have the greatest effect. This course prepares you to administer a vSphere infrastructure for an organization of any size using vSphere 8, which includes VMware ESXi 8 and VMware vCenter Server 8.

● VMware vSphere: Design [V8]

  • Course code: VSD8.
  • Duration: 3 days.
  • Level of difficulty: Advanced (L400+).
  • Target audience: Experienced system integrators and consultants responsible for designing and deploying vSphere environments.
  • Prerequisites: Completion of the VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V8] and VMware vSphere: Operate, Scale, and Secure [V8] courses.
  • Certification: This course is recommended if you aim to achieve the following certification: VMware Certified Advanced Professional – Data Center Virtualization (VCAP-DCV) Design.

This three-day course equips you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to design a VMware vSphere 8 virtual infrastructure. You follow a proven approach to design a virtualization solution that ensures availability, manageability, performance, recoverability, and security. The approach presented follows VMware best practices. This course discusses the benefits and risks of available design alternatives and provides information to support making sound design decisions.

● VMware vSphere with Tanzu: Deploy, Configure, Manage [V8]

  • Course code: VSTDCM8.
  • Duration: 3 days.
  • Level of difficulty: Intermediate (L300).
  • Target audience: vSphere administrators and platform operators who are responsible for deploying and managing workloads and services in vSphere with Tanzu.
  • Prerequisites:
    • Experience deploying and managing vSphere;
    • Understanding of Kubernetes and the Kubernetes cluster architecture;
    • Attending one of the following courses is recommended:
      • VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage;
      • Kubernetes Fundamentals and Cluster Operations.

During this three-day course, you focus on deploying and managing VMware vSphere® with VMware Tanzu in a VMware vSphere 8 environment. You learn how vSphere with Tanzu provides services to deploy and manage virtual machines, vSphere Pods, Supervisor Services, and VMware Tanzu® Kubernetes Grid clusters. You will also gain experience with day 2 operations and life cycle management of a vSphere with Tanzu environment.

● VMware vSphere: Advanced Administration [V8]

  • Course code: VSAA8
  • Duration: 5 days.
  • Level of difficulty: Advanced (L400+).
  • Target audience: System administrators, System engineer.
  • Prerequisites: This course requires completion of the following prerequisites:
    • VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage;
    • VMware vSphere: Operate, Scale, and Secure;
    • Working knowledge of VMware vSAN™
    • System administration experience on Microsoft Windows or Linux operating systems.
  • Certification: Attending this course is recommended to achieve the following certification: VMware Certified Advanced Professional – Data Center Virtualization Deploy (VCAP Deploy).

This five-day course provides hands-on training to equip students with a range of skills, from performing routine VMware vSphere 8 administrative tasks to complex vSphere operations and configurations. Through lab-based activities, students are immersed in real-life situations faced by VMBeans, a fictitious company. These situations expose students to real-life scenarios faced by companies that are building and scaling their virtual infrastructure.This course uses scenario-based lab exercises and does not provide guided step-by-step instructions. To complete the scenario-based lab exercises, you are required to analyze the task, research, and deduce the required solution. References and suggested documentation are provided. This course utilizes labs to teach students how to effectively navigate and manage vSphere. The course aligns fully with the VMware Certified Advanced Professional – Data Center Virtualization Deploy exam objectives.

Brief Summary

In the second article of the series “VMware Training and Certification. Year 2025”, we reviewed training programs in Datacenter Virtualization: VMware vSphere 8. The article provided a detailed overview of key courses for administrators and engineers, covering both foundational and advanced training on deployment, configuration, and management of virtualized infrastructure. We also highlighted certification pathways that help professionals validate their skills with vSphere 8 and expand their career opportunities.

The next article will focus on Datacenter Virtualization: VMware vSAN, a modern software-defined storage solution. Readers will learn about training programs and courses that cover deployment, optimization, and management of vSAN, as well as certification preparation to demonstrate competencies in VMware software-defined storage.

Follow the news until the meeting is on air in a few days.
Sincerely, AIRRA.

Posted in Education, Technology, Training, Virtualization, VMware | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VMware Training and Certification. Year 2025. Part 1. Introduction. Authorized Training. VMware after the Broadcom acquisition: Implications for training. Why VMware Authorized Training? Core VMware Authorized Training Domains. VMware Certification as part of the learning journey. Target Audience. Brief Summary.

Posted on January 13, 2025 by airra

Introduction

Hello to all readers of the blog about IT Architecture and Learning!

In previous years, we published a series of articles: “VMware Learning. Year 2023”, “VMware Learning. Year 2022”, “VMware Training. Season 2021–2022”, and “VMware Learning. Year 2020”.

We are now starting a new series called “VMware Training and Certification. Year 2025”, in which we will explore all current educational directions of VMware, update information about previous courses, and consider changes in the platform after VMware’s acquisition by Broadcom.

To begin with, let us recall the features of authorized training, the main learning domains, and how certification paths are integrated into professional development.

Authorized Training

VMware technologies have long served as a foundation of enterprise IT infrastructure — from classic server virtualization to modern hybrid and multi-cloud architectures. Even in the context of significant corporate changes resulting from VMware’s acquisition by Broadcom, the platform continues to play a strategic role in data centers and remains a key building block for scalable, secure, and automated environments.

For organizations and professionals who design, operate, or transform such solutions, practical experience alone is no longer sufficient. A critical factor is structured, vendor-authorized training, built according to the official methodology of the technology owner.

VMware Authorized Training is not a collection of isolated courses, but a cohesive learning ecosystem. Each learning domain corresponds to a specific technology area and professional role – from administrators and support engineers to infrastructure, cloud, and application architects.

VMware after the Broadcom acquisition: Implications for training

Following VMware’s integration into Broadcom, the platform’s development focus has shifted toward enterprise customers, large-scale data centers, and mission-critical workloads. This shift is also reflected in the training model: courses have become more architecture-oriented, scenario-driven, and closely aligned with real-world operational practices.

In this context, authorized training serves a dual purpose. It delivers up-to-date product and platform knowledge while also establishing consistent approaches to infrastructure design, lifecycle management, and long-term operational stability.

Why VMware Authorized Training?

VMware authorized courses are developed directly by the platform vendor and:

  • are based on real-world architectural scenarios, not simplified lab exercises;
  • align with current and strategic VMware (Broadcom) product directions;
  • build competencies required for VMware certification programs;
  • establish a common terminology and methodology for design, operations, and troubleshooting.

As a result, authorized training is an optimal starting point both for professionals new to VMware and for experienced engineers seeking to structure their knowledge or progress to an architectural level.

Core VMware Authorized Training Domains

Core VMware Authorized Training Domains:

  • Datacenter Virtualization: Compute virtualization based on vSphere: ESXi, vCenter, resource management, high availability, scalability, and data center operations.
  • Cloud Management and Automation: Infrastructure and service lifecycle management, monitoring, and automation using VMware Aria (vRealize).
  • Network Virtualization: Software-defined networking with VMware NSX: switching, routing, microsegmentation, and integrated security.
  • Application Modernization: Platforms for modern applications and containers: Kubernetes, Tanzu, and hybrid application architectures.
  • End-User Computing: Virtual desktops, endpoint management, and secure access using Horizon and Workspace ONE.
  • Security: VMware Carbon Black Cloud, VMware NSX Security, Device Security.

Each learning domain – Datacenter Virtualization, Cloud Management and Automation, Network Virtualization, Application Modernization, End-User Computing, Security – has its own certification track, enabling a structured and long-term professional development path.

Each of these learning domains has its own training paths — from foundational courses for administrators to advanced programs for architects and consultants.

VMware Certification as part of the learning journey

VMware Authorized Training is closely integrated with the official VMware certification framework, which validates a professional’s technical readiness to work with enterprise environments. VMware certifications are not an end in themselves – they serve as indicators of proven competencies gained through structured learning and hands-on experience.

Depending on the technology domain and professional role, training paths align with the following certification levels:

  • VMware Certified Professional (VCP): Core professional level for administrators and operations engineers, validating installation, configuration, and daily operations skills.
  • VMware Certified Advanced Professional (VCAP): Advanced level focused on solution design or deployment and optimization, requiring deep architectural understanding.
  • VMware Certified Implementation Expert (VCIX): A combined credential demonstrating both design and implementation expertise within a specific domain.
  • VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX): The highest architectural certification, confirming the ability to design complex, large-scale, mission-critical VMware solutions.

Target Audience

This series of articles is intended for:

  • VMware infrastructure engineers and administrators;
  • architects of on-premises, hybrid, and cloud solutions;
  • technical leaders and consultants;
  • participants of mentoring and corporate training programs;
  • organizations planning the development or transformation of their infrastructure.

In the following publications, each VMware Authorized Training domain will be reviewed separately, with explanations of roles, skill levels, typical use cases, and the logical progression between courses.

Brief Summary

This article opens the “VMware Training and Certification. Year 2025” series and provides an overview of VMware Authorized Training in the context of VMware by Broadcom. It explains the structure of official learning domains, the role of authorized courses, and how certification paths (VCP, VCAP, VCIX, VCDX) support long-term professional development for administrators, engineers, and architects working with enterprise VMware platforms.

The next article in the series will focus on Authorized Training: Datacenter Virtualization, covering VMware vSphere 8.

Follow the news until the meeting is on air in a few days.
Sincerely, AIRRA.

Posted in Certification, Education, Technology, Training, Virtualization, VMware | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VMware Training. Year 2023. Part 18. Introduction. Authorized Training: Virtual Cloud Network: VMware HCX. Brief Summary.

Posted on October 11, 2023 by airra

Introduction

Hello to all readers of my blog!

In the previous article of the series “VMware Training. Year 2023″ we considered a list of training programs in the direction of Virtual Cloud Network: vRealize Network Insight.

Today we will talk about the main training programs in the field Virtual Cloud Network: VMware HCX.

VMware HCX

VMware HCX is an application mobility platform designed for simplifying application migration, rebalancing workloads, and optimizing disaster recovery across data centers and clouds.

Key current VMware HCX technology training programs are:

● VMware HCX: Management and Operations

  • Duration: 4 days.
  • Level of difficulty: Intermediate (L300).
  • Target audience:
    • System administrators;
    • System engineers;
    • Migration engineers;
    • Migration architects.
  • Prerequisites: This course has the following prerequisites:
    • VMware NSX-T: Install, Configure, Manage [V3.0] or equivalent strong networking experience;
    • VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7];
    • Disaster recovery and business continuity fundamentals.

This four-day course gives you knowledge and practical exercises sufficient to manage VMware HCX and to migrate virtual machines using VMware HCX. The course focuses on configuration and management of VMware HCX. The course equips system administrators with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to achieve competence in migrating virtual machines.

● VMware HCX: Deploy, Configure, Manage

  • Duration: 3 days.
  • Level of difficulty: Intermediate (L300).
  • Target audience: System administrators, system engineers, migration engineers, and migration architects.
  • Prerequisites: This course has the following prerequisites:
    • VMware NSX: Install, Configure, Manage [V4.0] or equivalent strong networking experience;
    • VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V8];
    • Disaster recovery and business continuity fundamentals.

This three-day training course provides you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to achieve competence with VMware HCX. This course teaches you how to deploy the different architectural components of HCX, and perform the tasks required to migrate and rebalance workloads across data centers and clouds.

Brief Summary

In this article, we got acquainted with the main training programs in the field of Virtual Cloud Network: VMware HCX.

In the next publication of the cycle “VMware Training. Year 2023″ we will talk about training programs in the field of Anywhere Workspace: Horizon 8.

Follow the news until the meeting is on air in a few days.
Sincerely, AIRRA.

Posted in Cloud, Education, Technology, Training, Virtualization, VMware | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Anything as Code: Check Uploaded File Hash. Introduction. Function Check-UploadedFileHash. Brief Summary.

Posted on October 1, 2023 by airra

Introduction

Hello to all readers of the SDDC and Architecture, Solution, Implementation and Operations as Code blog.

Today, I will continue to talk about such a conceptual approach as Operations as Code as a component of the Anything as Code strategy.

In the previous post, Anything as code: Upload File to ESXi Datasore, I talked about the function that performs the task of uploading a file to the ESXi datasore. Functions are passed to the input the necessary parameters in the form of a variable, changing which you can also use a code reuse strategy.

Today we will take the next step and consider the following situation: The file is uploaded to the datastore of the hypervisor, but during operation we observe some errors. So I want to be sure that the file was uploaded correctly. To do this, you need to calculate the hash of the file and compare it with the correct one.

Moreover, for the efficiency of the work process, this action should be performed on the hypervisor side with the appropriate built-in tools.

So, for your attention, the PowerShell function Check-UploadedFileHash.

Check-UploadedFileHash

So let’s look at the code for the Check-UploadedFileHash function:

Function Check-UploadedFileHash {

<#
.SYNOPSIS
    Check file Hash Uploaded to ESXi datastore.  

.DESCRIPTION
    Check file Hash Uploaded to ESXi datastore. 

.PARAMETER Target
    Name or IP Address of the VMware ESXi.

.PARAMETER File
    Name of file.

.PARAMETER Datastore
    Name of ESXi Datastore.

.PARAMETER Folder
    Name of ESXi Datastore Folder.

.PARAMETER Algorithm
    Algorithm for calculate Hash.

.PARAMETER Hash
    Reference File Hash.

.NOTES
    Version:        0.1
    Author:         Andrii Romanenko
    Website:        blogs.airra.net
    Creation Date:  10.08.2023
    Purpose/Change: Initial script development

    Version:        0.2
    Author:         Andrii Romanenko
    Change Date:    02.01.2024
    Purpose/Change: Purpose/Change: Reorganize Function. Add Workflow Time Measuring External Function: Get-CalculateWorkingTime.
                                                         Add ValidateSet $Algorithm in Input Parameters
                                                         Add Case Algorithm Command and Output
    Version:        0.3
    Author:         Andrii Romanenko
    Change Date:    08.01.2024
    Purpose/Change: Purpose/Change: Reorganize Function. Rename function name to Check-UploadedFileHash and some variables.

.EXAMPLE

    $Parameters = @{
        Target    = $ESXiHost
        Datastore = $ISODatastore
        Folder    = "ISO\"
        File      = "en_windows_8_1_x64_dvd_2707217.iso"
        Algorithm = "SHA256"
        Hash      = "23DCCB255FA73CE6E93B12FEFEEFB7204C1681B9A343B51126D3D79F3A34BCD3"
    }
    Check-UploadedFileHash @Parameters

    $Parameters = @{
        Target    = $ESXiHost
        Datastore = $ISODatastore
        Folder    = "ISO\"
        File      = "en_windows_8_1_x64_dvd_2707217.iso"
        Algorithm = "MD5"
        Hash      = "f104b78019e86e74b149ae5e510f7be9"
    }
    Check-UploadedFileHash @Parameters

    $Parameters = @{
        Target    = $ESXiHost
        Datastore = $ISODatastore
        Folder    = "ISO\"
        File      = "en_windows_8_1_x64_dvd_2707217.iso"
        Algorithm = "SHA1"
        Hash      = "bc2f7ff5c91c9f0f8676e39e703085c65072139b"
    }
    Check-UploadedFileHash @Parameters

    $Parameters = @{
        Target    = $ESXiHost
        Datastore = $ISODatastore
        Folder    = "ISO\"
        File      = "en_windows_8_1_x64_dvd_2707217.iso"
        Algorithm = "SHA512"
        Hash      = "25446f98ea6cf35e95ecb0cb3ff9584e67c252d78ca0ac98f08e97d9aa62ddf537ea9c55f6e730abfa09b5759c16d4d2a6ad64ff356a62db914495f203b92807"
    }
    Check-UploadedFileHash @Parameters
#>

param ( 
    [Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$Target,
    [Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$File,
    [Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$Datastore,
    [Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$Folder,
    [Parameter(Mandatory)][ValidateSet('SHA1','SHA256','SHA512','MD5')][string]$Algorithm,
    [Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$Hash
)

# Get start time of the Check File Hash operation
$StartTime = Get-Date           
$Message = "Begin Check Hash: "  + $Image + " on Datastore: " + $Datastore + " on Target:" + $Target + "."
Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green $Message

# Check if SSH service on ESXI is running
$SSHServiceStatus = Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where { $_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" }
If ($SSHServiceStatus.Running -eq "True")
{
$Message = "SSH Service is running. Nothing To Do."
Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green $Message
}
Else
{
$Message = "SSH Service is NOT running. Starting Service"
Write-Host -ForegroundColor Red $Message
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where { $_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService
}

# Open SSH session
$Message = "Open SSH Session to host: " + $Target + "."
Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green $Message
$SSHSession = New-SSHSession -ComputerName $Target –AcceptKey -Credential $Script:ESXISessionCredentials

# Check File Hash
$Message = "Begin Calculate Hash of file: " + $File + " on Datastore: " + $Datastore + "." 
Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green $Message

# Get Datasore ID
$DataStoreID = (Get-VMHost | Get-Datastore -Name $Datastore)
$DataStoreID = $DataStoreID.ID.Substring(10)

# Case AlgoritmCommand
Switch ($Algorithm) {
    "SHA1" { $AlgorithmCommand = "sha1sum"}
    "SHA256" { $AlgorithmCommand = "sha256sum"}
    "SHA512" { $AlgorithmCommand = "sha512sum"}
    "MD5" { $AlgorithmCommand = "md5sum"}
}

$SSHCommand = $AlgorithmCommand
$SSHCommand += ' /vmfs/volumes/'
$SSHCommand += $DataStoreID
$SSHCommand += '/'
$SSHCommand += $Folder.Replace("\", "/")
$SSHCommand += $File

$Result = Invoke-SSHCommand -SSHSession $SSHSession -Command $SSHCommand
#Write-Host $Result.Output

# Case Algoritm Output
Switch ($Algorithm) {
    "SHA1" { $HashResult = $Result.Output.Substring(0,40)}
    "SHA256" { $HashResult = $Result.Output.Substring(0,64)}
    "SHA512" { $HashResult = $Result.Output.Substring(0,128)}
    "MD5" { $HashResult = $Result.Output.Substring(0,32)}
}

$Message = "End Calculate Hash of file: " + $File + " on Datastore: " + $Datastore + "." 
Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green $Message

# Check Result
$Message = "Begin Check Hash of file: " + $File + "." 
Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green $Message

$Result=$HashResult.ToUpper().Equals($Hash.ToUpper())

If ($Result -eq "True")
{
$Message = "Hash Valid"
Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green $Message
}
Else
{
$Message = "Hash Not Valid"
Write-Host -ForegroundColor Red $Message
}
$Message = "End Check Hash of file: " + $File + "." 
Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green $Message

# Remove SSH Session
$Message = "Close SSH Session to host: " + $Target + "."
Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green $Message
Remove-SSHSession $SSHSession | Out-Null

# Get end time of the operation
$EndTime = Get-Date

# Calculate Elapsed Time of the operation
Get-CalculateWorkingTime -StartTime $StartTime -EndTime $EndTime
}

The function accepts the following mandatory parameters as input in the form of the @Parameters variable:

  • Target – Name or IP Address of the VMware ESXi;
  • File – Checked File Name;
  • Datastore – Name of ESXi Datastore;
  • Folder – Name of ESXi Datastore Folder;
  • Algorithm – Algorithm for calculate Hash;
  • Hash – Reference File Hash.

At the beginning of work, the start time is fixed in the form of the $StartTime variable.

The function will use the Posh-SSH Powershell module for its work to connect to the ESXi hypervisor and execute commands in the SSH environment. Therefore, the next step is to check whether this service is running on the hypervisor side, and if not, to start it.

This action is performed by standard PowerCLI cmdlets Get-VMHost, Get-VMHostService, Start-VMHostService.

Next, open an SSH session to the ESXi host New-SSHSession. This cmdlet is already from the Posh-SSH module.

For the algorithm to calculate the hash of the file, you will need to specify the path to the location of the file on the ESXi datastore. To do this, you should get a datastore identifier:

$DataStoreID = (Get-VMHost | Get-Datastore -Name $Datastore)

$DataStoreID = $DataStoreID.ID.Substring(10)

Different algorithms can be used to calculate the hash of a file. Their list is limited to the input variable $Algorithm and contains the following values: ‘SHA1′,’SHA256′,’SHA512′,’MD5’.

Depending on the value of the variable, the appropriate command will be used: sha1sum, sha256sum, sha512sum, md5sum. The Switch ($Algorithm) Powershell structure helps in this.

The $SSHCommand variable forms a command that should be sent to the SSH session. The result of the SSH Command goes into the $Result variable.

Depending on the hash calculation algorithm, the variable will contain a text fragment of different lengths. Therefore, depending on the $Algorithm variable, the required number of characters will be allocated. What will correspond to the calculated hash: sha1sum – Substring(0.40), sha256sum – Substring(0.64), sha512sum – Substring(0,128), md5sum – Substring(0,32).

Finally, the calculated hash is compared with the reference value from the $Hash variable. The result is displayed as Hash Valid or Hash Not Valid in green and red, respectively.

At the end of the work, we delete the SSH Session and calculate the duration of work with the Get-CalculateWorkingTime function, which I talked about in the previous post.

The result of the function is shown in the following figure:

Figure 1. The result of the execution of the Check-UploadedFileHash Powershell function

Brief Summary

So, in today’s post, I’ve shared with you some code snippets that demonstrate the strategy and practice of Operations as Code.

I note that you can use this code at your discretion, adding there, for example, verification codes and handling of exceptional situations, etc.

Also, don’t forget that the function requires the presence of the VMware PowerCLI and Posh-SSH.

That’s all for today. Follow the next publications of this direction.

Follow the news until the meeting is on air in a few days.
Sincerely, AIRRA.

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VMware Training. Year 2023. Part 17. Introduction. Authorized Training: Virtual Cloud Network: VMware vRealize Network Insight. Brief Summary.

Posted on September 23, 2023 by airra

Introduction

Hello to all readers of my blog!

In the previous article of the series “VMware Training. Year 2023″ we considered a list of training programs in the direction of Virtual Cloud Network: VMware SD-WAN.

Today we will talk about the main training programs in the field Virtual Cloud Network: vRealize Network Insight.

vRealize Network Insight

vRealize Network Insight is a network monitoring tool that helps you build an optimized, highly available and secure network infrastructure across your cloud environments including NSX, VMware SD-WAN, vSphere, VMware Cloud on AWS and Kubernetes deployments.

Key current VMware vRealize Network Insight technology training programs are:

● VMware vRealize Network Insight: Install, Configure, Manage [V6.1]

  • Duration: 2 days.
  • Level of difficulty: Intermediate (L300).
  • Target audience: Network professionals and who design, build, operate, manage, and troubleshoot software-defined networking and security, and application owners who need visibility across multi-cloud environments.
  • Prerequisites: Students taking this course should have general networking concepts including TCP/IP service and protocols, security knowledge and familiar with NSX architecture.
    • Before taking this course, students are recommended to take the following courses or have equivalent knowledge and experience:
      • VMware NSX-T Data Center: Install, Configure, Manage.

This two-day, hands-on course gives you the skills to deploy and use VMware vRealize Network Insight to ensure an optimized, highly available, and secure infrastructure for your applications. You will learn the features, components, architecture, and benefits of vRealize Network Insight and how to use it to simplify daily operation and troubleshooting tasks.

WARNING! This course was removed from the catalog, and replaced by the following course: VMware Aria Operations for Networks: Install, Configure, Manage.

The courses of the VMware Aria direction will be considered in one of the following publications of this cycle.

Brief Summary

In this article, we got acquainted with the main training programs in the field of Virtual Cloud Network: VMware vRealize Network Insight.

In the next publication of the cycle “VMware Training. Year 2023″ we will talk about training programs in the field of Virtual Cloud Network: VMware HCX.

Follow the news until the meeting is on air in a few days.
Sincerely, AIRRA.

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