vToolbelt – January 2023
I hope all of you had a Happy New Year – welcome to 2023.
I do want to take a moment and thank you for reading. I have been working on this blog for a few years now with no real expectations other than trying to provide some information that is helpful to others. Getting questions and feedback on what I write provides encouragement to keep going!
I don’t normally make much of New Year’s Resolutions; but thought it might help keep myself accountable so – Here goes!
- Focus more on Education – In almost every industry continual learning is a necessity to some degree. I want to deepen my skillset and branch out a bit
- I just completed the vRealize 8.x Automation Install, Configure, and Manage course. Next step – lab time and maybe the Advanced Features and Troubleshooting course
- Azure Certification – A number of my customers are starting to use Public Cloud environments to compliment their on-premises compute.
- VMware seems to be joining in this resolution as well – check out the new training options below. One course is even complimentary for a limited time!
- I just completed the vRealize 8.x Automation Install, Configure, and Manage course. Next step – lab time and maybe the Advanced Features and Troubleshooting course
- Blog more – The last quarter of 2022 has kept me busy with work and life. The winter months should provide time to share what I am learning. I have a few things on tap that may be of interest so stay tuned!
- Dedicate Time to Physical Health – I know this one is cliche; but for this first time it seems like I am headed in the right direction in this area. Like many who may read this, I spend most of my time on the computer for work or hobby. My wife and I recently decided to help each other be more active and eat better. Doing this together really does seem to be working for us. I have a workout streak going and am having success eating healthier food with little to no snacking. Even after a short time my blood pressure is starting to trend in the right direction and so is the scale. Queue up Rule #1 🤣
VMware Security Advisories
- VMSA-2022-0030 – vCenter and ESXi updates address multiple security vulnerabilities
- VMSA-2022-0031 – vRealize Network Insight updates address command injection and directory traversal vulnerabilities
- VMSA-2022-0032 – Workspace ONE Access and Identity Manager updates address multiple security vulnerabilities. Note: This also affects Identity Manger 3.3.6 used with vRealize Suite and Horizon
- VMSA-2022-0033 – ESXi, Fusion, and Workstation updates address a heap out-of-bands vulnerability
- VMSA-2022-0034 – vRealize Operations updated to address privilege escalation vulnerabilities
Product Support Watch
The following products are nearing the End of General Support. You can find the full list on the VMware Lifecycle Product Matrix.
vSphere – vCenter and ESXi
- General support for versions 6.5 and 6.7 has ended. You can still upgrade to Version 7
Skyline
- Skyline Collector 3.1 – 2/10/23 – Free to upgrade – learn how. If you are not using Skyline yet, check it out ! This tool is free, easy, and useful. It can have immediate impact in helping you manage your environment.
NSX
- NSX-V (all versions) – General Support ended January 16, 2022 – Customers should migrate to NSX-T. Support no longer available after 1/16/23.
- NSX Advanced Load Balancer 20.1.x – 1/31/23
Disaster Recovery
- Site Recovery Manager 8.3, 8.4 – 4/1/23
- vSphere Replication 8.3, 8.4 – 4/1/23
Horizon View / Workspace ONE
- Horizon 7.13 – 4/30/23
- Dynamic Environment Manager 10/2103 – 3/23/23
- App Volumes 4 2012 – 1/7/23
- App Volumes 4 2013 – 3/23/23
- Identity Manager 3.3.5 – 11/20/22
- Workspace ONE UEM Console 2105 – 1/15/23
- Workspace ONE UEM Console 2107 (SaaS only) – 2/8/23
- Workspace ONE UEM Console 2109 – 1/26/23
vRealize
- vRealize Automation – 8.6.2 – 1/18/23
- vRealize Automation – 8.7 – 3/22/23
- vRealize Automation – 8.8 – 4/28/23
- vRealize Automation – 8.8.1 – 6/9/23
- vRealize Orchestrator – 8.6.2 – 1/18/23
- vRealize Orchestrator – 8.7 – 3/22/23
- vRealize Orchestrator – 8.8 – 4/28/23
- vRealize Orchestrator – 8.8.1 – 6/9/23
- vRealize Lifecycle Manager 8.7 – 3/22/23
- vRealize Lifecycle Manager 8.8 – 4/28/23
Notes from the Field
New VMware Cloud Certification – VMware has released a new VCP exam for VMware Cloud. For a limited time the training course is complimentary! – Learn more and sign up before it’s gone!
The Install, Configure, and Manage course for vSphere 8 has been released. If you need to get your skills updated – give it a look!
vSphere News
- Ever wonder what happens to network packets in a Virtual Distributed Switch? This deep dive will explain.
- Are you getting the most out of VMware Support? Did you know you can actually specify contact hours in your profile? This Guide to Working with VMware Support can help.
- If you are using GPUs in your ESXi hosts – you can view GPU Statistics using vCenter
- The Performance Best Practices Guide has been updated for vSphere 8
- Some customers have experiences issues with Active Directory-based logins to vCenter after applying Microsoft KB5021131. Check out VMware KB 90227 to learn more
- Issues running the VCSA installer from your Mac? This article can help get around gatekeeper for the VCSA
- If you are having trouble with a vCenter Server plugin or Extension, you can remove it manually via the Managed Object Browser (MOB)
- If you need to update your VMs with HotPlug and Hot Add (add ram and cpu while VM is on) – you can do that with PowerCLI
vRealize Operations
- You can implement Website checks with vROPs
- Changes beginning with vROPs 8.6.2 has relocated the Object Relationships page. That page is still available – learn how to find it
- Aria Hub has a free tier which allows you to connect up to 2 public cloud accounts and experience Aria. Here’s how to get started.