Virtualization Concepts

Overview of virtual machines

• Defining virtual machines (servers and workstations)
• Advantages of deploying VMs

Virtual machine products

• VMware Workstation
• Server
• ESX
• Microsoft Virtual PC
• Hyper-V
• Other alternatives

Creating Virtual Machines

Comparing workstation products

• Functionality
• Performance
• Contrasting Windows and Linux hosts

Abstracting hardware

• Partitioning shared resources
• Accessing raw and virtual disks
• Virtualizing CPU and memory resources

Deploying virtual workstation software

• Planning for automatic installations
• Designing virtual networks
• Bridged, NAT and host-only networking
• Controlling guest OS access

Building guest operating systems

• Allocating host resources
• Configuring virtual hard drives
• Enhancing VMs using virtualization tools
• Managing peripheral devices
• Mapping to floppy and CD images

Exploiting Virtual Workstation Functionality

Creating support platforms

• Readying multiple operating systems
• Managing display modes
• Suspending and resuming virtual workstations

Expanding application support

• Extending legacy application life
• Widening platform options
• Resolving version conflicts

Constructing a test environment

• Accessing host files
• Taking and restoring snapshots

Developing training environments

• Protecting guest operating systems
• Exploiting nonpersistent disks

Partitioning Servers

Establishing requirements

• Justifying server virtualization
• Partitioning via hardware and software
• Recognizing server functionality needs

Choosing virtual server hosts

• Evaluating performance and features
• Considering security implications

Executing Server VMs

• Working in interactive mode
• Implementing headless operation

Managing virtual servers remotely

• Exploiting remote management consoles
• Connecting to the Web interfaces
• Securing remote management

Deploying virtual servers

• Automating tasks via scripting
• Migrating physical to virtual servers
• Optimizing performance
• Accessing Storage Area Networks (SANs)

Clustering virtual machines

• Distributing workloads via network load balancing (NLB)
• Establishing fault tolerance by utilizing clustering services

Data Center Virtualization with ESX

Building the architecture

• Examining ESX architecture
• Planning and configuration

Leveraging ESX features

• Networking with vSwitches and port groups
• Optimizing resource utilization

Managing Microsoft Hyper-V

Maintaining virtual machines

• Contrasting Hyper-V and ESX architecture
• Implementing remote management tools

Securing virtual machine deployments

• Implementing permissions
• Reducing attack surface with Server Core