Adding Async VMware Tools versions to Update Manager

/Update Manager, VMware Tools, vSphere

Why aren’t VMware Tools at the right version on patched hosts?

A customer called with a question about updating VMware Tools as part of a recent security patch (https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2019-0009.html).    The patch resolves an address out-of-bounds vulnerability in VMware Tools that was present in certain versions of the software (10.2.x and 10.3.x prior to 10.3.10).  He wanted to install the new version; but the VMware Tools installations on his VMs indicated they were current; but still were running an affected version.  His hosts were patched and up-to-date.  He knew he could manually update VMware Tools on each of his VMs; but was hoping there was an easier way – and there is!

The status of VMware Tools on a virtual machine is relative to the the host.  Typically VMware Tools updates are delivered through an ESXi patch.  In this case, the VMware Tools 10.3.10 release hasn’t been rolled into an ESXi patch yet.  It will be shortly.  The amount of testing that goes into an ESXi patch requires a good amount of time.  When VMware patches VMware Tools like they did in the case of this vulnerability, they release it to customers so they can deploy the fix sooner if they choose.  VMware calls this an Async release.

Continue reading “Adding Async VMware Tools versions to Update Manager”

vToolbelt – April 2019

/vToolBelt

We are full on into spring.  The flowers are blooming, and I am cutting grass twice a week.  Welcome to the April 2019 edition of vToolBelt.   vSphere 6.7 Update 2 is the big news this month.  It is out and hot. We will also cover VMware Project Skyline.

For those of you still running vSphere 6.0, don’t look over your shoulder – End of General Support is less than a year away.  Time to start planning the upgrade!

Let’s get to it!

Product Watch

The following products are nearing the End of General Support.  You can find the full list on the VMware Lifecycle Product Matrix.

NSX-T 2.0/2.1 – 9/7/19 vROPS – 6.6/6.7 – 8/23/19
Horizon View 6.x – 6/19/19 User Environment Manager 9.2 – 5-16/19
vRealize Log Insight 4.6/4.7 – 8/23/19 App Volumes 2.13 – 10/19/19
AirWatch Console 9.3 – 9/14/19 Identity Manger 3.12 – 9/14/19
vRealize Lifecycle Manager 1.0-1.3  – 9/19/19
vSphere 6.0 – 3/12/20

 Notes from the Field

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Installing PowerShell and PowerCLI on Linux

/PowerCLI, Scripting

Expanding the Lab

I’ve been working on changing some things in my lab lately, and wanted to build  a jumphost that I could get to from anywhere and use it to work on my VMware Virtualization lab.  While it would be pretty easy to setup a Windows machine, my lab dollars are hard to come by and I wanted to save every bit to grow the capacity.  Ever since PowerShell was made available on multiple platforms, I’ve wanted to try it out on Linux.Tux the Penguin and PowerShell

I am in no way a Linux expert; but have worked in multiple distros and am fairly comfortable – at least for non-production use.  I set up a VM with Ubuntu Desktop and applied all of the patches.  I’ll let others debate the virtues of the various Linux distributions.  I picked Ubuntu a while ago and it seemed to make sense to focus on a single distribution to best develop my expertise.  I chose Ubuntu Desktop as I wanted to have a GUI available should I be working remotely and needed to do a demo or work though something requiring a browser.

What do I need?

The toolset I need for my jumphost is fairly easy to assemble:

  • Modern Web Browser – Chrome and Firefox
  • PowerShell – This is Microsoft’s command-line shell and scripting language.  In the multi-cloud world in which we live in – this can be the tool to help automate all of these platforms together
  • PowerCLI – PowerCli is a PowerShell module for managing VMware vSphere
  • Tools for future projects  (such as Restful API automation, Desired State Configuration , etc)

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Images in Messages App are broken – Fixed!

/MacOS

You can put me in the long time Mac/iPhone user group. Not only do they make excellent hardware – Apple really goes to extraordinary lengths to integrate the software and user experience.  A Macbook Pro has been my daily driver for work for nearly 3 years. Using a Mac all day every day is very enjoyable; but one little irritation has nagged at me.  Images in the Messages MacOS app are broken!  The image would never appear.  An icon with a filename would appear but that was it.

No images in iMessage

At first I thought it was probably the corporate VPN connection that might be blocking them. Work had me so busy, I just ignored it and opened my phone each time a message with a picture came in.

Today there is more work than ever to do; but for whatever reason – I really had to scratch that itch this time!   After some experimentation the solution presented itself!

The Messages app stores incoming images  in a folder (Library/Messages/Attachments).  Upon examining my system, I found a zero byte file (/Users/your-user-name/Library/Messages/Attachments).  That seemed pretty odd.   A bit of searching and I found an article on the Apple Communities site.

Attachments folder is really a file

Remove that file and create a directory with the same name.

Attachments is now a Folder

 

When you restart Messages any new messages with pictures should work just fine!

Images in iMessage now work!

 

 

A few thoughts:

  • It is unclear how this got “broken”.  Maybe something happened when my computer was initially setup
  • There is no obvious way for Messages to clean up the Attachments folder.  It might be a good idea to clear that out once in a while – particularly if you use your computer for work <privacy> or have images you don’t wish anyone to see </privacy>.
  • When you restart Messages any images already in your text streams will remain broken.  Since the folder didn’t exist when they were recieved there was no way to cache them.

 

vToolBelt – March 2019

/vToolBelt

vToolbelt March 2019

Welcome to the middle of March and Saint Patrick’s Day!  February flew by sovToolbelt fast I missed it. Conference season is starting to spin up.  In this edition of vToolbelt, we have important information for those upgrading to Horizon 7.8 or NSX 6.4.4.    There are also a few links to tools that can make your life easier.  Pop open your favorite Irish Beverage and do some reading!

Upcoming Events

Cincinnati VMUG
Join the Cincinnati VMUG team on the University of Cincinnati campus for an overview of VMware AppDefense and Carbon Black.

March 28, 2019 / 11am-1:30
Register

Central Ohio VMUG UserCON

At this free, one-day conference, you will:

  • Connect with hundreds of VMware users in your area
  • Attend educational sessions on the latest industry trends and topics
  • Get an inside look at exciting VMware and partner products and services
  • Experience product demonstrations first hand
  • Mingle with industry experts

April 2, 2019 / 8:00 AM
Register

Continue reading “vToolBelt – March 2019”

Central Ohio VMUG Quarterly Meeting – February 26th

/VMUG

Make plans to attend the Quarterly meeting of the VMware User GroupCentral Ohio VMUG (COVMUG) on February 26th, 2019!

The agenda is

  • 8:30 AM – Peer Networking / Refreshments
  • 9:00 AM – VMware Automation and Configuration Management discussion with Encore Technologies
  • 9:45 AM – Break
  • 10:00 AM – vCenter 6.7 Architecture and Convergence
  • 10:45 AM – Open Discussion
  • 11:00 AM – Wrap up

The event will be held at the Tree of Life Center / 5000 Arlington Centre Blvd / Columbus, Ohio 43220

Register today at VMUG.COM.

Cleveland VMUG meeting for February 2019

/VMUG

Save the date on your calendar for the next VMware user Group meeting in Cleveland!  Make sure to attend this VMUG and join the engineers from Eaton Corp as they share their experiences with using a large number of VMware products to provide infrastructure and services for internal customers all over the world.

The event will be held from on February 27th from 3:30pm-7:00pm at

Eaton Corp

1000 Eaton Blvd

Cleveland, Ohio 44122

 

 

Learn more and register at VMUG.COM.