This book will detail the default and custom installation of VMwares ESX
server as well as basic and advanced virtual machine configurations. It
will then walk the reader through post installation configurations
including installation and configuration of VirtualCenter. From here,
readers will learn to efficiently create and deploy virtual machine
templates. Best practices for securing and backing up your virtual
environment are also provided. The book concludes with a series of
handy, time-saving command and configuration for: bash shell keystrokes,
Linux commands, configuration files, common/proc files, VMware ESX
commands, and troubleshooting.

* Follows Syngress’ proven “How to Cheat” pedagogy providing readers with
everything they need and nothing they don’t
* Gartner has stated that if companies have not begun or have planned to
begin a virtualization effort; they are quickly falling behind the
mainstream for IT organizations
* Currently, VMware has 2.5 million users and more than 5,500 enterprise
server customers for their products

URL: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1597491942/

Server Sprawl and escalating IT costs have managers and system
administrators scrambling to find ways to cut costs and reduce Total
Cost of Ownership of their physical infrastructure. Combining software
applications onto a single server, even if those applications are from
the same software vendor, can be dangerous and problems hard to
troubleshoot. Virtualization allows you to consolidate many servers onto
a single physical server reducing hardware, electrical, cooling, and
administrative costs. These virtual servers run completely independent
of each other so if one crashes the other are not affected. Planning and
implementing a server consolidation is a complex process. This book
details the requirements for such a project, includes sample forms and
templates, and delivers several physical to virtual migration strategies
which will save both time and costs. Readers of this book will easily be
able to plan and deploy VMware, Microsoft Virtual Server, and Xen. Key
Features:

* Create a virtual network to exchange information or provide a service
to other virtual machines or computers.

* Use virtualization to support removable media such as CD or DVD
optical disks

* Reduce server costs, administration overhead, and complexity

URL: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1597492175/

VMware ESX Server in the Enterprise
Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers

The Most Complete, Practical, Solutions-Focused Guide to Running ESX
Server 3

VMware ESX Server in the Enterprise is the definitive, real-world guide
to planning, deploying, and managing today’s leading virtual
infrastructure platform in mission-critical environments.

Drawing on his extensive experience consulting on large-scale ESX Server
implementations, Edward L. Haletky brings together an unprecedented
collection of tips, best practices, and field-tested solutions. More
than any other author, he illuminates the real issues, tradeoffs, and
pitfalls associated with ESX Server-and shows how to make the most of it
in your unique environment.

Haletky covers the entire lifecycle: planning, installation, system
monitoring, tuning, clustering, security, disaster recovery, and much
more. Throughout, he supports his recommendations with examples from
real-world deployments. He also provides detailed checklists for
handling crucial issues such as caching, networking, storage, and
hardware selection. Many of his techniques and practices apply to all
current virtualization platforms, not just ESX Server.

This book will be an indispensable resource for every network architect,
administrator, and IT professional who works with virtual servers. ESX
Server newcomers will find the soup-to-nuts introduction they
desperately need; experienced users will find an unparalleled source of
field-tested answers and solutions.

In this book, you’ll learn how to:

- Identify key differences between ESX v3.x.y and ESX v2.5.x and
their implications
- Perform a complete installation-with automated scripting techniques
and samples
- Efficiently audit, monitor, and secure ESX Server
- Discover SAN storage pitfalls and solutions-with detailed guidance
for specific SANs, switches, and fibre-channel adapters
- Understand ESX Server networking: NIC teaming, vSwitches, network
lag, and troubleshooting
- Configure ESX Server via the Management User Interface, Virtual
Center client, and command line interface
- Install Windows, Linux, and NetWare VMs: prepare media images,
place configuration files, handle sizing and swap files, and more
- Use Dynamic Resource Load Balancing to consistently achieve
utilization goals
- Implement effective backup and disaster recovery procedures.

URL: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0132302071/

Title: Professional VMwareServer (Programmer to Programmer)
Author: Eric Hammersley
Publisher: Wrox
ISBN: 0470079886
Pub-Date: 2006-12-11

Book Description
Developing software and testing within virtual machines provides you with countless advantages in terms of automation, stability, disaster recovery, and overall code quality. With this book as your guide, you get the tools you need to create a fleet of virtual machine images that you can use to build your own secure applications.

Beginning with the basics of virtualization and its place within the development and testing environment, the book then delves into the APIs and provides a deep, example-rich reference to their function and purpose. VMware expert Eric Hammersley shares his vast experience in using VMware in the development process and shows you how you can streamline your own development with the new VMware Server.

You’ll learn to integrate VMware Server into your existing environment using CruiseControl.NET and Visual Studio(r) Team System as examples. Plus, you’ll get a clear understanding of virtual hardware, networks, and the server console, and find out how to build base images. You’ll discover the benefits of software development and testing within virtual machines and the advantages they have to offer. This will help you rapidly deploy new machines, set up multiple platforms on a single machine, and dramatically increase the utilization of your hardware.

What you will learn from this book
* Steps on how to install and configure VMware Server
* Tips to follow when creating development base images
* Methods on how to organize your image libraries and prepare them for use
* Best practices for using VmCOM, VmPerl, and the Programming API
* How to integrate VMware Server into your existing environment and automate its functionality
* Ways to leverage VMware Server to provide banks of testing machines on demand

Who this book is for

This book is for software developers, lead developers, and software testing engineers who want to integrate VMware Server into their existing systems in order to create and test applications on various platforms.

Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?path=ASIN%2F0470079886