I’ve run into a lot of customers who are concerned with how to convert CD’s to ISO files and copy them over to an ESX server. Therefore I thought I’d share a little tip that makes this process extremely simple:
1. Place the CD you want to create an ISO from into the CDROM of an ESX server.

2. Log in to that ESX server’s Service Console as ‘root’.

3. Type in the following command:

cat /dev/cdrom >”filename.iso”

That’s it!

This is another fake RedHat ad…

Technorati Tags: RedHat

Microsoft recently pushed back the BETA release of Viridian from early 2007, to late 2007. For those of you that don’t know, Viridian is the code name for Microsoft’s upcoming hypervisor.

Does this delay surprise me? No. VMware has had 9 years to develop their virtualization technologies. Microsoft can’t expect to steal, oops, I mean develop, comparable technology in 6 months.  Even when the technology is released, they are going to need time to mature it, and beleive me, it will need to mature.

Technorati Tags: Viridian, Microsoft, hypervisor, VMware

After doing some research I have found that ESX 3.0.1 does not currently support jumbo frames. For some customers this is a real problem as they are looking to implement iSCSI in their Virtual Infrastructure.

After doing some asking, there is development in process to support Jumbo Frames in the future, but I haven’t been able to get anyone to give me any sort of timeframe on it.

Interestingly enough, while researching this online I stumbled across this great whitepaper on iSCSI written by my old friend/colleague, Rob Daly.

Technorati Tags: iSCSI, Jumbo Frames, VMware, ESX

This is not a real RedHat ad.. but it should be.

Technorati Tags: RedHat Linux

Here’s a great article / pic showing how far we have come in data storage technologies.

It’s amazing how far computer technology in general has improved in the last 50 years.

You’ve come a long way baby.

Technorati Tags: storage, IBM, Data Storage

It’s almost time for VMware TSX 2007. TSX this year is going to be at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas Nevada.

Unfortunately, this event is for VMware partners only. Everyone else will have to wait for VMworld 2007.

Technorati Tags: VMware, VMworld 2007, VMware TSX

On November 6 2006 Microsoft and Novell signed their “agreement”. This ad was release prior to that.

Funny what $348 million can do…

Technorati Tags: Novell, Microsoft

Lately I’ve had a few questions that keep flying around my head:

In the datacenter of the future, where does the operating system fit, and what’s it’s role going to be?

As virtualization becomes a standard, and our virtual machines become more “appliance-like” will we concern ourselves with operating systems as much as we do now?

Will the operating system be something provided by application vendors?

These are important questions, and their potential answers are a threat to companies like Microsoft. If in the future, more and more companies leverage virtualization to bundle operating system and applications to create “virtual appliances” then the need to purchase Windows lessens. As this starts to happen Microsoft looses control of the industry and more companies have the ability to compete in the market.

Many believe that they are already loosing grasp. Consider the Microsoft/Novell deal. Microsoft is attempting to claim IP rights over software licenses by the GPL. Years ago I had a customer tell me he wouldn’t use Linux because Steve Ballmer allegedly told him that Microsoft already had a legal case prepared against the Linux community for IP and patent infringement.

Does this mean that virtualization can change the world? I wouldn’t go that far, but it can definitely change the IT industry.

Technorati Tags: virtualization, Microsoft monopoly, Steve Ballmer

Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer recently told analysts:

“I would not anticipate that we make a huge additional revenue stream from our Novell deal, but I do think it clearly establishes that open source is not free,” he said, “and open source will have to respect intellectual property rights of others just as any other competitor will.”

Intellectual Property Rights? Microsoft screams about IP rights when they think theirs are being infringed, but never when they are the ones infringing. They seem to think that having a monopoly that allows them to squeeze out competition is fair. They also forget that in all this, they are attempting to trample on the GPL and all IP developed under it. This has in fact, delayed the latest version of the GNU Public License (GPL).

Free Software Foundation President and co-author of the GPL, Richard Stallman, recently weighed in on this:

“The GPL was designed to ensure that all users of a program receive the four essential freedoms which define free software. These freedoms allow you to run the program as you see fit, study and adapt it for your own purposes, redistribute copies to help your neighbor, and release your improvements to the public.

He continued: “The recent patent agreement between Microsoft and Novell aims to undermine these freedoms. In this draft we have worked hard to prevent such deals from making a mockery of free software.”

Technorati Tags: GPL, Richard Stallman, Linux, Microsoft, Steve Ballmer