Host rules with Business Intent
vROPS 7.0 launched with a feature called Business Intent which controls workload placement based on vSphere tags Announcement. This feature tackles several use cases one being controlling the host placement of workloads which have physical licencing requirements. Business Intent settings are configured at the data centre (or custom datacenter) level... more
VCAP7-CMA Objective 1.2
Build Manageability Requirements into the Logical Design
Manageability requirements cover monitoring and maintaining a solution from both complexity and capability perspective. Other requirements can impact how the manageability requirements are met as part of the design. To provide HA functionality, redundant components need to be deployed plus load balancing, this increases the complexity of management. A management... more
vRA Hardening Check
VMware does a great job of releasing hardening guides for its products, helping us to improve the security level of our deployments. If you’re in a position where you need to implement the hardened settings, then it’s likely there’s an audit process to follow. I have been working on a... more
Build Day Live! Supermicro - Big Twin
The Build Day Live! for Supermicro where they built and configured a vSAN cluster on a Supermicro BigTwin. This post is not a review of the build day video, instead focuses on products discussed throughout the build day video to provide thoughts and opinions on Supermicro’s offerings. Build Day Live!... more
Adding vRA Replica Stuck
Recently when attempting to add additional vRA appliances to a 7.4 cluster, I came across an issue where the process became stuck. After clicking Join Cluster the on screen status became stuck at 48% with the message Finishing rabbitmq-server. The node was left alone for a couple of hours, but... more
Enter the Panda
Ducky Miya Mini Pro Panda review
I’d been looking for a new keyboard to replace the Apple Wireless keyboard for a couple of months. Due to my work, I needed something portable that I could fit in my backpack. My search was for something around the TKL size, with either a detachable cable or wireless. The... more
GitHub Acquisition, Cautiously Optimistic
Thoughts on Microsoft acquiring GitHub
Yesterday Microsoft and Github made big news, announcing that MS is acquiring GitHub for 7.5 Billion. Before the official announcement, Twitter polls were against the merger, but afterwards, the response felt more balanced. To those that have @GitHub accounts:If @Microsoft buys GitHub... would you continue to use it? Or would... more
The Move To Jekyll
Experiences moving from WordPress to Jekyll
Towards the end of 2017, I moved my blogging platform from WordPress to Jekyll. It was a time consuming, but an educational experience which I’m happy to have made. When starting out I made sure to properly understand the issues I was having with WordPress and revisit my vision for... more
Configuring NTP with UCSMSDK
Configuring NTP settings with UCSMSDK
Correct and consistent NTP configuration is vital for the health and monitoring of a datacenter. Many systems default to getting time from underlying components, such as BIOS. This makes ensuring correct configuration from the ground up important for the systems higher in the dependancy chain. UCS Manager time settings can... more
Interop ITX 2018 Day2
Wrap up of day 2
#vFit It’s InteropITX, which means it’s vFit time!!! For the last few years Eric Wright @discoposse has been organising a 5KM run under the #vFit banner. This year saw a new running route as the normal round trip to the Las Vegas sign due to change of event. Instead we... more
Interop ITX 2018 Day1
Wrap up of day 1
Whoooo it’s InteropITX time again!!!! The first conference day is done and dusted, now time to frock up and get social. As per standard Interop format Monday and Tuesday are dedicated to the longer workshop sessions. These workshops are aimed to provided in depth training on topics across the technology... more
VCAP7-CMA Objective 2.3
Build Availability Requirements into the Logical Design
Availability requirements are those which refer to service resiliency to service fault. This is seperate from server availability as services could be redundant across multiple servers. Different services handling failures differently. Some have automatic recovery while others might need manual intevention. To complete this objective, you will need to have... more
6 Months of Enjoying Running
Been running a bit, now writting about it
A bit over 12 months ago, I signed up for the Melbourne Run for the Kids charity run. The original goal to was use the looming 15KM race as motivation to improve my aerobic fitness. While I did the race, I disliked pretty much everything about running. It was long... more
Intro to UCSMSDK
First look at the Python SDK for USC Manager
Cisco UCSMSDK Intro UCSMSDK is a Python SDK from Cisco for the configuration of UCS managers. The modules are supports in both Python 2 and 3, my testing has been with Python 3.6 and everything has been going well. GitHub Repo Why Use UCSMSDK Cisco has a number of CLI... more
VCAP7-CMA Objective 2.2
Map Service Dependencies
Mapping service dependencies highlights internal and external communication requirements as well as improves the ability to troubleshoot effectively. In some cases, dependant services are explicitly stated. If this is not the case pre-deployment steps can provide this information. Upstream and Downstream Dependencies Applications are composed of a number of services.... more