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Tommy Grot

Events

VMware Explore 2024 | Las Vegas – Recap

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 5 minutes read

VMware Explore Las Vegas

The Venetian Convention and Expo Center
August 26, 2024

Day 1

Its an absolute blast to connect with an incredible group of individuals from the VMware community during day 1 of VMware Explore 2024. The event brought together some of the brightest minds in the industry, including the prestigious VCDX (VMware Certified Design Expert) professionals (John Arrasjid & Mark Gabryjelsk)  and the dedicated team from VMware Education. (Karl Childs & James Robinson)

The energy and passion within the team was exciting, as we shared ideas, discussed emerging trends, and exchanged knowledge. It was inspiring to witness the depth of expertise and commitment demonstrated by each member of this remarkable team. Their dedication to driving innovation, educating the community, and shaping the future of virtualized infrastructure is truly admirable.

The Hub & Expo

This is an awesome area to connect with the community and networking space of VMware Explore. This area welcomes all attendees to kick back and relax, network and learn from the Code Community or Expert Bar. There are many activities and break out sessions and live streaming like the Broadcast Booth featuring theCUBE, the Spring Theater, Hands-on Labs and the VMware Rewards Space. The all-encompassing VMware Communities Space now includes VMUG and more!

Lots of great Vendors giving out great information on their products, and solutions and cant forget, SWAG!! There was vendors giving out light sabers to t-shirts, and so many stickers! Its a great time to collaborate with friends and vendors and get to learn about their products that they are offering that works along with VMware Cloud Foundation!

VMware Communities (vExpert & VMUG)

I enjoyed spending time at the VMware Community Booth, where Corey Romero – Senior Manager of vExpert Community, we talked about many exciting things, from vExpert and the future projects, collaboration with team members, spending quality time with an amazing individual that cares for his vExpert Team, without Corey the community wouldnt be the same, thank you to all you do!

Day 2

The General Session

In the morning it was all about the main stage! Where everyone got together for an innovative general session where attendees heard about cutting-edge developments in private cloud, AI, app delivery, and edge computing. Broadcom leaders, VMware experts, and innovative customers provided real-world insights on optimizing, scaling, and securing enterprise workloads. Check out my other blog post about the General Session here!

The rest of the day 2, was filled with countless hours or sessions and events and networking with fellow vExperts and Broadcom leadership, got invited to a Broadcom Leadership Party where I got to meet and talk to Hock Tan! It was a great time where he answered our questions and as well had fun and made us laugh!

Meeting Hock Tan

Day 3

The Party!

Another long day is over and a successful day! There have been many outstanding sessions around 80 of them, 16 VMware {code} Theater sessions, 27 Meet The Expert Roundtables, 23 Community Quick Talks, and 19 ​​Hands-on Labs Expert-led Workshops. Tons of great knowledge being shared by the community. Networking with fellow team members within many different industries and being able to share knowledge and experiences. Also cant forget about The Party! with a DJ playing music and then live band Jimmy Eat World!

The Party! First there was a DJ that played outstanding music, then around 9pm Jimmy Eat World came up on stage and started off playing great music!

The Party was located indoors in the Main Stage Hall at The Venetian, it was awesome to have it indoors this year, there was a great turn out of Explorer’s that showed up, tons of great food, drinks, and networking going on!

Overall, Day 3 of VMware Explore 2024 delivered valuable insights and practical takeaways for attendees. The conference continues to be a great platform for learning, connecting, and staying updated with the latest trends and advancements in virtualization and cloud computing. In the end The Party was a blast, great DJ and awesome live music – Jimmy Eat World

Day 4

A Farewell for now…

VMware Explore 2024 has come to a close, and it was an incredible week filled with new insights, connections, and innovations. Over the past five days, we’ve had the opportunity to dive into the latest developments in cloud infrastructure, digital transformation, and new product releases.

The event featured thought-provoking general session, breakout sessions, and hands-on labs, offering attendees a well-rounded experience. We heard from industry leaders, got to explore cutting-edge technologies, and connected with like-minded individuals passionate about driving digital change.

One of the standout moments was the announcement of VMware’s new suite of products, VMware Cloud Foundation 9, which is designed to empower organizations in their digital transformation journey with a on premise private cloud. With enhanced security features, improved scalability, and simplified management, these tools will enable businesses to build more efficient and resilient cloud infrastructures.

Another high point was the opportunity to network with peers. The event brought together a diverse range of professionals, allowing for the exchange of ideas, best practices, and even future collaborations. It was inspiring to see the dedication and expertise represented in the room.

As we bid farewell to VMware Explore 2024, we feel grateful for the knowledge shared and connections made. The event has equipped us with fresh perspectives and practical insights that we will carry forward in our journey towards digital excellence.

Until next year, VMware Explore 2025!

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Tips & TricksVMware Cloud Foundation

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 – Tips & Troubleshooting

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 3 minutes read

Today’s blog post is about VCF and how it is a comprehensive cloud management platform that enables organizations to build, deploy, and manage private clouds. With the release of VCF 5.2, VMware has further enhanced the platform’s capabilities, making it an even more attractive choice for businesses looking to modernize their infrastructure. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the process of upgrading specific components in VCF 5.2, including ESXi and Image Management.

This will be a living blog post – Any Issues I encounter will be documented here!

PowerShell Script for VMware Cloud Foundation Bundle Management

Below I will walk you through on using the PowerShell Script which is provided for end-users to be able to safely and easily clean up bundles within their SDDC Manager.

  1. Prepare System Requirements:
    • Windows, Linux, or MacOS running PowerShell Core 7.3.0 or later.
    • VMware PowerCLI 13.1 or later
    • PowerVCF 2.3.0 or later
  2. Download attached script.
  3. Extract script, change to its directory.
  4. Run script
    • with parameters:
      • .\VcfBundleManagement.ps1 -user <SDDC_Manager_user> -server <SDDC_Manager_FQDN> -pass <password> -rootPass <root_password>
      • Where:
        • <SDDC_Manager_user>      is the username to authenticate with SDDC Manager.
        • <password>                          is the password to authenticate with SDDC Manager
        • <SDDC_Manafer_FQDN>    is the fully qualified domain name of the SDDC Manager
        • <root_password>                  is the password for the root user on the SDDC Manager appliance
    • without parameters (script will ask for input parameters):
      • .\VcfBundleManagement.ps1
  5. Select options from the displayed menu and press enter to run it.

Specify your SDDC Manager ->

Once connected with your SSO Account ( I used [email protected], but any administrative privilege account shall work as well)

Selecting #7 Will Delete all obsolete bundles which I had for VCF 5.1.1 and no longer needed them.

Detailed Storage usage of the SDDC Manager is provided by option #4

vLCM Upgrade Preparation

For the vLCM Portion of the upgrade, I encountered a issue where I could not proceed till I built a custom image with all the dell firmware’s and drives addon, due to the reason my previous version of ESXi had the Dell OEM drivers embedded.

Configure Update ->

Select your cluster(s) ->

Select your image, so for this part you will need to go into vCSA and prepare a image that is latest version, and ensure that all OEM drivers are updated.

Once image is created go to Image Management -> Import Image from your Management Workload Domain vCenter

It will take few minutes but once the import is complete for the vSphere 8.0 U3 version, then you will see it appear in the vLCM upgrade window.

Back at the vLCM upgrade window, assign the image(s) that you created earlier and click next.

Upgrading VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 involves updating specific components like ESXi and Image Management. By following the step-by-step guides outlined above, you can ensure a smooth and successful upgrade process that takes advantage of the latest features and capabilities in VCF 5.2. Remember to always back up your configuration and data before upgrading, and plan for downtime accordingly. With these best practices in mind, you’ll be well on your way to modernizing your private cloud infrastructure with VMware Cloud Foundation.

Click Next -> After you have applied your custom image for vLCM Upgrade. Once the vLCM is complete then ESXi will upgrade and below you can specify the deployment orientation. If your servers support Quick Boot keep it enabled or even Live Patch.

Upgrade process is about to begin…

Upgrade in process!

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Events

Top 10 VMware Explore 2024 Sessions & Schedule Builder Is Live!

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 6 minutes read

It’s that time of the year again – VMware Explore 2024 is just around the corner! The premier virtualization and cloud computing event is set to take place on August 26 through 29th, 2024 in Las Vegas, NV. As excitement builds, VMware has announced that the Schedule Builder is now live, giving attendees the opportunity to craft their ideal conference experience.

What’s New at VMware Explore 2024?

This year’s VMware Explore promises to be even more engaging and informative than its predecessors. The event will feature a packed schedule of keynotes, technical sessions, hands-on labs, and networking opportunities. Some of the highlights include:

  • Keynote presentations by industry thought leaders and VMware experts
  • Technical sessions on topics such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning
  • Hands-on labs where attendees can get hands-on experience with VMware products and technologies
  • Networking events and parties to connect with peers and industry professionals

Customize Your Schedule with the Schedule Builder

The Schedule Builder is now live, allowing you to create your personalized schedule for VMware Explore 2024. This powerful tool enables you to:

  • Browse through the conference program and select sessions that align with your interests and goals.
  • Filter sessions by topic, track, or speaker to find relevant content.
  • Create a customized schedule that suits your needs and preferences.
  • Set reminders and notifications to ensure you don’t miss any of your selected sessions.

Tips for Maximizing Your VMware Explore 2024 Experience

To get the most out of this year’s VMware Explore , here are some tips:

  • Plan ahead: Use the Schedule Builder to create a schedule that works best for you.
  • Prioritize your interests: Focus on sessions and topics that align with your goals and job responsibilities.
  • Network and collaborate: Take advantage of networking opportunities and engage with fellow attendees and industry professionals.
  • Stay up-to-date: Follow VMware Explore social media channels and official blog to stay informed about the latest updates, announcements, and tips.

Follow VMware Explore – Linkedin for the latest news and Follow all updates on X

My Top Sessions!

These are my top sessions I am excited to attend:

VCF Operations: Getting More Out of It! [ELW2412LV]

VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) is a comprehensive platform that integrates compute, storage, and networking into a single, cloud-based environment. VCF Operations is a critical component of this ecosystem, providing the necessary tools and automation to manage and optimize your VMware-based infrastructure.

Adventures in VMware Home Labs by Virtually Speaking Podcast [CODEP1801LV]

As a technologist, you’re always looking to stay ahead of the curve and learn from others. In this session, Adventures in VMware Home Labs by Virtually Speaking Podcast, you’ll embark on an exciting journey through the world of home labs with the Virtually Speaking Podcast team! Get ready for a unique experience that combines tech-savviness, creativity, and community building.

What’s This Session All About?

Join this awesome session as they share their personal adventures in setting up and running VMware-based home labs. You’ll learn about:

  • The Why: Why build a home lab, and what benefits it can bring to your career and personal growth.
  • The How: Tips and best practices for designing, building, and managing a successful home lab.
  • The What: Real-world examples of how home labs have helped the hosts (and their guests) improve skills, explore new technologies, and collaborate with others.

Shaping The Future Of Cloud And AI Innovation [GEN2495LV]

As we navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of cloud and artificial intelligence (AI), it’s crucial to stay ahead of the curve. In this thought-provoking session, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the latest advancements in cloud and AI innovation, and discuss how they will shape the future of our industry.

What’s This General Session All About?

Join us as we delve into the exciting world of cloud and AI, exploring topics such as:

  • Cloud-Native Applications: Learn about the latest trends and best practices for building cloud-native applications that are scalable, secure, and highly available.
  • AI-Driven Innovation: Discover how AI is transforming industries and driving innovation, from natural language processing to computer vision and beyond.
  • Edge Computing: Understand the importance of edge computing in today’s IoT-enabled world and learn about the latest advancements in this rapidly evolving space.

AI Without GPUs: Using Your Existing CPU Resources To Run AI Workloads [INVB2189LV]

As AI adoption continues to grow, the need for powerful processing capabilities becomes increasingly important. Traditionally, this has meant relying on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) or specialized hardware like TPUs or FPGAs. However, what if you could harness your existing Central Processing Unit (CPU) resources to run AI workloads? In this session, we’ll explore the possibilities and limitations of running AI without GPUs.

What’s This Session All About?

Join us as we delve into the world of CPU-based AI processing. You’ll learn about:

  • CPU-Accelerated AI: Discover how CPUs can be used to accelerate AI workloads, such as machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing.
  • Best Practices for Optimizing CPU-Based AI: Learn strategies for optimizing your CPU-based AI workloads, including data type selection, kernel optimization, and memory management.

VMware Cloud Foundation Infrastructure Design With NSX [VCFB1392LV]

As you embark on the journey of deploying VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), it’s crucial to design an infrastructure that is scalable, secure, and efficient. In this session, we’ll focus on designing a robust VCF infrastructure using NSX (Network Virtualization) as the networking fabric.

What’s This Session All About?

Join us as we explore the best practices for designing a VCF infrastructure with NSX. You’ll learn about:

  • VCF Infrastructure Components: Understand the key components of a VCF infrastructure, including vSphere, vSAN, and NSX.
  • NSX Architecture: Learn about the architecture of NSX and how it provides a software-defined networking (SDN) fabric for your VCF environment.
  • Design Considerations: Discover best practices for designing a VCF infrastructure with NSX, including considerations for scalability, security, and performance.
  • Use Cases: Explore real-world use cases for deploying VCF with NSX, such as edge computing, IoT, and cloud-native applications.

Building A Storage TCO Model: How VMware Cloud Foundation And VSAN Optimize Storage Costs [VCFB1570LV]

As you embark on the journey of deploying VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) with vSAN, it’s crucial to understand how this combination can optimize storage costs. In this session, we’ll delve into the world of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) models and explore how VCF and vSAN can help you build a more cost-effective storage infrastructure.

What’s This Session All About?

Join us as we explore the art of building a storage TCO model. You’ll learn about:

  • Storage TCO Model: Understand what a storage TCO model is, why it’s important, and how to create one.
  • vSAN Architecture: Learn about the architecture of vSAN and how it provides a software-defined storage solution for your VCF environment.
  • Cost Optimization Strategies: Discover best practices for optimizing storage costs using VCF and vSAN, including strategies for right-sizing storage, leveraging flash storage, and managing storage capacity.
  • Real-World Examples: Explore real-world examples of how customers have used VCF and vSAN to optimize their storage costs and improve their overall IT efficiency.

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VMware Cloud Foundation

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2!

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 5 minutes read

The ever-evolving landscape of cloud infrastructure demands constant innovation and adaptability from technology solutions. VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 5.2 arrives with a plethora of groundbreaking features and add-ons, empowering you to build, deploy, and manage modern infrastructure with unmatched efficiency and agility.

This release is a significant milestone in the journey of VCF, introducing cutting-edge advancements across AI-powered automation, data processing, and storage management. From intelligent workload placement to dynamic performance optimization and automated data handling, VCF 5.2 empowers you to:

  • Maximize resource utilization: Leverage AI-powered insights to allocate workloads optimally across the cluster, ensuring efficient resource allocation and improved performance.
  • Boost data agility: Embrace intelligent data management with automated data processing units (DPUs), enabling high-performance data analytics and persistent data storage.
  • Simplify storage management: Introduce new vSAN Extended Storage Architecture (ESA) policies for automated data tiering and disaster recovery, ensuring optimal storage utilization and enhanced resilience.
  • And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
VCF 5.2 comes packed with numerous other exciting features and enhancements, including:
  • Enhanced networking capabilities: Improved routing performance and stability with support for BGP routing in private networks.
  • Expanded automation: Streamline workflows with additional self-service capabilities for users and automated infrastructure provisioning.
  • Improved security: Strengthen data protection with advanced encryption options and role-based access controls. Utilizing Identity Federation Support with Microsoft Entra ID and also 3rd party authentication services or well known AD/LDAP or okta and ADFS.
  • Import an existing vSphere Infrastructure into your VMware Cloud Foundation infrastructure.

Here in this blog post we will go over many different topics but we will go in depth in future blog posts on other areas of VCF 5.2!

With the new VCF 5.2 you can import a standalone vSphere environment which it can be a new or existing one and let you manage its lifecycle through one single pane window through the SDDC Manager.

Flexible Deployments

Now you can deploy VCF in many different use cases, from a data center in the edge or even a air-gapped environment. Now in VCF 5.2 you have the flexibility to deploy as your heart desires!

Lifecycle Management

Now this is an exciting addition to VCF 5.2! We can upgrade SDDC Manager independently where before it was apart of the management workload domain, this provides a lot of flexibility where before some customers needed to stay on a specific version before it could get upgraded, it had to go through thorough tests.

Software Bill of Materials

Patch Individual Components using SDDC Manager

I made a great blog post on how to utilize the SDDC Manager Async Patch tool, well before it was a CLI driven automation utility where you would have to stage your commands and prepare for upgrading the indiviual products outside the Software Bill of Materials

The VMware SDDC Manager async patch tool allows you to upgrade individual products outside of the standard VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) baseline. This tool can be used to upgrade products such as vCenter, NSX, and ESXi to newer versions without affecting the overall VCF deployment.

From My Blog Post Here

Offline Bundle Repo

Now, this is a improvement for Air-Gapped environments or secured environments where there is no internet connection, with hosting your own repo for all the upgrades for VCF this will be a game-changer where it will save time and re-downloading each bundle or all the bundles.

vSphere 8 u3 Update

Key highlights of this release include:

  • Ability to manage Kubernetes clusters independent of vSphere, offering greater flexibility and autonomy for hybrid and multi-cloud deployments.
  • Simplified management of TKG clusters through the vSphere web client, streamlining workflows and reducing administrative overhead.
  • Automated scaling of virtual machines (VMs) based on workload demands, ensuring optimal resource utilization and cost efficiency.
  • Support for scale-up and scale-down of CPU, memory, and vCPUs simultaneously, enabling efficient adaptation to dynamic workloads.

vSAN Stretched Cluster Support:

  • Expansion of vSAN to support stretched clusters across geographically dispersed locations.
  • Continuous data consistency and disaster recovery across sites, ensuring high availability and business continuity.
  • VM Backup and Restore:
  • Comprehensive snapshot-based backup of TKGs, enabling easy restoration and disaster recovery.

Keeping your vSphere Updated

This ensures the following:

  • Optimal infrastructure performance and efficiency.
  • Enhanced security and compliance.
  • Improved management and automation capabilities.
  • Support for modern workloads.
  • Access to continuous innovation and support.

But also, now we can patch vSphere environment much faster and without taking too many services down and causing unhappy customers. So, now with the new upgrade process the host enters a partial maintained mode where the host has existing workloads operating on it but no new workloads will migrate nor any new VMs or containers will get deployed on it till it gets upgraded.

Hardware Support

Protecting crucial workloads utilizing DPUs, (Data Processing Units) this provides high availability with active and standby states for workloads where if there is any outage that could occur the operations switch over to the standby DPU. Which this is a really neat addon for mission critical workloads that rely on DPUs!

Also even taking off the load from the primary DPU and being able to provide additional bandwidth by utilizing DPUs to provide double the networking throughput and keeping workloads always on.

Also, with Intel’s AI/ML Workloads, the Intel CPU Max Series is an whole new type of CPU where they have high bandwidth memory on the chip to accelerate AI/ML workloads by ensuring advanced security and reducing bottlenecks during high demands.

vSphere with Different Types of GPU Workloads

Now with this release, customers have the opportunity now to use different types of workloads on a single GPU, where it could be Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning or even like utilizing graphics or VDI. This will help the GPU resources be shared among different deployments as well allowing customers to have the flexibility as they choose.

Security & Compliance

  • More Choices in Identity Management

TLS Ciphers allowing quicker implementation

STIG and PCI Compliance with easy to use hardening guides

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 is a groundbreaking advancement in your own private or hybrid cloud infrastructure management, offering a comprehensive suite of features and enhancements to empower you to build, deploy, and manage modern infrastructure with unparalleled efficiency and agility.

With intelligent automation, enhanced security, and innovative storage capabilities, VCF 5.2 provides a foundation for building resilient, adaptable, and efficient cloud-native environments.

Stay tuned for further blog posts where we’ll delve deeper into each of these features and explore how they can transform your infrastructure management practices!

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Events

Exciting New Sessions at VMware Explore 2024!

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 4 minutes read

The VMware Explore 2024 content library is now live! Get ready for a week of insightful sessions, thought-provoking discussions, and innovative showcases from industry leaders and VMware experts. 💡

Beyond the insightful keynotes and thought-provoking discussions, VMware Explore 2024 offers an unparalleled opportunity to get your hands dirty with the latest technologies and deepen your knowledge in various domains.

Here’s what awaits you in the hands-on labs:

  • Practical workshops: Master new skills in areas like Kubernetes, security, networking, and more.
  • Solution-focused labs: Solve real-world challenges with hands-on guidance from VMware experts.
  • Dedicated lab environments: Ensure a focused and productive learning experience with curated lab settings.

Make sure to stop by the Hands On Labs during a break or downtime where you can test, learn and enjoy tinkering with HOL Environments that are provided to you during the event!

General sessions will cover a diverse range of topics:

  • Industry trends: Explore the future of technology across sectors like healthcare, finance, and sustainability.
  • Product updates: Get the latest news and insights on new products. Many exciting new advancements in private cloud, AI, app delivery and the edge.
  • Customer success stories: Learn how organizations are leveraging VMware solutions to achieve business outcomes.

Keynotes will inspire and challenge you:

  • Visionary leaders: Gain valuable perspectives from industry leaders who will share their insights on the most pressing challenges and opportunities in technology.
  • Inspiring talks: Prepare to be captivated by thought-provoking discussions covering a wide range of topics, from digital transformation to sustainability.

Session Recommendations!

Link to Session Accelerate Your Journey To Private Cloud With VMware Cloud Foundation [VCFP1362LV]

In this breakout session, William Lam and Karia Parb will talk about an exiting journey to being utilizing and modernizing your data center environments using VMware Cloud Foundation. How VCF can improve your business operations and systems! I have attended previous sessions by William Lam and they were outstanding!

Link to Session 4 Ways to Enhance the Network Experience Across Hybrid and Multi-Cloud [AODB1894LV]

This session will go into deep dive on how to enhance your Networking experience using VCF and NSX, and being able to migrate workloads from hybrid cloud to on prem, this is a great sessions for many organizations to attend due to the complexities that are involved with the unknowns of the Internet, where how things need to be configured properly to seamlessly scale and migrate workloads between the on-prem datacenter and hybrid cloud. So make sure to book this session!

Link to Session Shaping the Future of Cloud and AI Innovation [GEN2495LV]

Are you ready to shape your future of Cloud and Artificial Intelligence? Well this session is going to be a kick! With all the new advancements from Private AI on VCF and how organizations can improve and scale and operate their enterprise workloads by implementing and designing a solid VMware Cloud Foundation environment, this general session will be an awesome outlook on how AI, applications and data center computing will help the industry!

Link to Session AI Without GPUs: Using Your Existing CPU Resources To Run AI Workloads [INVB2189LV]

This is a session I want to attend my self, even for my home lab where I have a large environment to do lots of CPU workloads but when it comes to having GPUs they get very costly, so being able to run AI/ML workloads on CPU resources will be a game changer for many organizations as well, due to cost savings and also ease of use whereas GPUs require more infrastructure and also the cooling. This will be a popular session I can already see it filling up!

Don’t miss the chance to:

  • Network with fellow attendees and industry professionals.
  • Discover new ideas and innovations.
  • Gain practical skills and knowledge to enhance your career.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • Register for sessions soon: Secure your spot for the sessions you’re most interested in and receive notifications when they go live.
  • Bookmark your sessions using the “♡” Icon so when the catalog opens for session registration then you will be notified.

Don’t forget to:

  • Follow VMware Explore on social media for updates, highlights, and exclusive content. ✨
  • Join the #VMwareExplore hashtag conversation to connect with other attendees and share your thoughts. 💬
  • Ready to explore the future of technology? Head over to the VMware Explore 2024 content library and start planning your viewing experience!
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AIVMware Cloud Foundation

How To Setup Ollama + OpenWebUI on VCF

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 4 minutes read

In this blog post, we will explore how to host your very own ChatGPT using the powerful combination of Ollama and OpenWebUI, all powered by VMware Cloud Foundation. By leveraging these cutting-edge technologies, you’ll be able to create a seamless and interactive chatbot experience that will impress your users. Get ready to dive into the world of AI and virtualization as we walk you through the steps to set up your own ChatGPT. Exciting times are ahead, so let’s get started on this journey together!

This walkthrough will only guide you through how to setup Ollama and Open WebUI – you will need to provide your own Linux VM, for my deployment I used Ubuntu 22.04.

Next blog post we will go into customizing and adding onto Ollama and OpenWebUI with for example Automatic1111 and Diffusion and Image Generation LLMs.

The Hardware:

  • 2 x Intel Platinum 8158 3.0GHz 12 Cores
  • 1 x Nvidia Tesla P40 24GB DDR5
  • 1 x Dell PERC H740P RAID Card
  • 4 x 32GB Samsung DDR4 2666MHz (128GB)
  • 2 x 50Gb/s Mellanox Connectx-4 Data Traffic
  • 4 x 10Gb/s X710 NDC for NSX Overlay
  • 1 x Boss S1 w/ M.2 SSD for ESXi Boot
  • 2 x 2000 watt PSUs
  • 8 x 800GB SAS SSD – Capacity Storage
  • 2 x 280GB Intel Optane Storage – Fast Storage

The Virtual Machine:

  • Deploy a Ubuntu or any choice of Debian distro if you want to utilize the commands I have apart of this walkthrough.
  • Enabling Hardware Device Passthrough for the GPU also apart of your VMX add the following in:
pciPassthru.use64bitMMIO=”TRUE”
pciPassthru.64bitMMIOSizeGB=”128″

Once the Virtual Machine is deployed, you will want to ensure that your Server or Desktop Hardware is prepared to have a GPU, in my Dell PowerEdge R740XD I have a NVIDIA Tesla P40.

The Specifications:

This will vary, for my initial deployment I setup 8 vCPUs with the Automatic CPU Topology enabled, but this will all depend on your use case, since I have powerful CPUs and lots of memory I can increase the resource allocation later on.

The Software:

Download & Install Ollama:

curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh

Time to Shutdown The Virtual Machine and Pass Through the NVIDIA Tesla P40

  • With the above requirements satisfied, two entries must be added to the VM’s VMX file, either by modifying the file directly or by using the vSphere client to add these capabilities. The first entry is:
pciPassthru.use64bitMMIO=”TRUE”
  • Specifying the second entry requires a simple calculation. Sum the GPU memory sizes of all GPU devices(*) you intend to pass into the VM and then round up to the next power of two. For example, to use passthrough with 4 16 GB A2 devices, the value would be: 32 + 32 = 64, rounded up to the next power of two to yield 128. Use this value in the second entry:
pciPassthru.64bitMMIOSizeGB=”128″

Add Docker’s official GPG key:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ca-certificates curl
sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
sudo curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc
sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc

Add the repository to Apt sources:

echo \
"deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu \
$(. /etc/os-release && echo "$VERSION_CODENAME") stable" | \
sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null
sudo apt-get update

Next, we will install docker and all its dependencies:

sudo apt-get install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin

Now we will setup the docker container for Open WebUI to run, on port 11434 – Yeah the port number looks like (LLAMA haha) 

docker run -d --network=host -v open-webui:/app/backend/data -e OLLAMA_BASE_URL=http://127.0.0.1:11434 --name open-webui --restart always ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main

After you run the command above, then your webserver should start running – Open up your browser and login! You will be directed to setup a username / email. Once that is done, have fun and enjoy your own private AI!

Now, you will be presented the dashboard for your very own ChatGPT Privately Hosted!

Enjoy! 🙂

Depending on what LLMs you want to pull here is a example of how to do it via CLI

ollama pull aya

There we pulled aya LLM!

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Events

VMware Explore 2024

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 4 minutes read

VMware Explore Las Vegas 2024

Get ready to experience the ultimate tech extravaganza at VMware Explore 2024 in Las Vegas! August 26th – 29th. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever as we dive into the world of multi cloud computing, virtualization, containerization and many more technologies. Join us as we embark on a journey through the latest innovations in technology and network with industry experts and like-minded individuals. Get ready to expand your knowledge, cultivate new ideas, and collaborate with friends old and new. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just beginning your tech journey, VMware Explore 2024 is the place to be. So mark your calendars, pack your bags, and get ready for an unforgettable experience in the heart of Sin City. Let’s explore the future together!

Early-Bird Registration Is Open

Below are few links – VMware Explore Registration, also go and follow VMware Explore LinkedIn Channel

What Am I Looking Forward to VMware Explore 2024 –

This event promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience, featuring insightful keynotes, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities with industry experts. As well getting the chance expand on my knowledge from others within the community, as well as meeting creators of many products, last year I got to meet with Stephen Evanchik – VMware Cloud Director creator, as well as the VMware Cloud Team, I enjoyed showcasing my work project and skills I have acquired and collaborated with others.

VMware Explore 2023 Recap –

More Info About My VMware Explore 2023 – Here

VMware Explore 2023 was an absolute blast, I got invited to the Presidents Dinner and got to meet the CEO Raghu and explore and find friends and colleges. Even spending time with the VMware Education Team was a blast!

How VMware Explore Has Benefited My Career?

  • VMware Explore has been instrumental in advancing my career by providing me with the knowledge needed to excel in the field of virtualization.

  • The hands-on labs offered by VMware Explore have allowed me to gain practical experience and a deeper understanding of VMware products.

  • Additionally, earning a VMware certification through Explore has not only validated my skills but has also opened up new opportunities for career advancement.

  • Networking with professionals in the industry through VMware Explore has been invaluable in building connections and receiving mentorship from experts in the field.

  • VMware Explore has been a crucial stepping stone in my career development, equipping me with the tools and resources necessary to thrive in the ever-evolving world of virtualization technology.

Top Reasons to Attend VMware Explore 2024
  • Uncomplicate your cloud – Leverage a large ecosystem that is powered by the community and partners to accelerate you VMware Cloud journey.
  • Learn directly from the source – Meet the Creators of certain VMware Products, ask questions to the Expert Bar, where they can help you with all your IT needs and support.
  • Accelerate your next move – Check out the VMware Education Exam Center, get certified with discounts on many VMware Exams.
  • Meet friends and influence people – Hang out with other colleges, experts and even many certifieds VMware experts, gain knowledge and experience from other team members and share stories!

VMware Explore Benefits

(All Images are from VMware Explore 2023 Las Vegas!)

The Hub

The Hub welcomes all attendees to relax, recharge, network and learn. Lots of awesome booths to check out along with the vExpert Communities, and VMware Rewards and VMware CODE! Make sure to make a stop at the vExpert Booth and Learn what it takes and how to become a vExpert and join the awesome VMware vExpert Family!

Certification Exams

This is an awesome offer to not take advantage of! because your full event pass registration allows you to purchase VMware Certified Professional (VCP) and VMware Certified Advanced Professional (VCAP) certification exam vouchers at a 50 percent discount (exams must be taken onsite during Explore Las Vegas).

Hands-on Labs

The Hands-on Labs Command Center – This is a really neat tool that has been developed for HOL utilizing VMware Aria Operations. This allows everyone to see how important health and monitoring of any environment is critical to ensure a optimized and smooth HOL Experience. Also there are expert-led workshops, interactive labs, and production-quality VMware Test-drive demos, you’ll get hands-on experience with the full VMware by Broadcom portfolio of products. Subject matter experts will be available to answer questions and deep dive into innovative solutions.

The Expo

Visit The Expo to explore the latest products and solutions from sponsors and exhibitors. While there, be sure to head to the VMware by Broadcom booth where you can learn more about the latest offerings, attend our in-booth theater presentations, and get your questions answered by product specialists.

VMware Explore YouTube Channel
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VMware Cloud FoundationVMware Troubleshooting

vCenter 8.0u2 Upgrade Issue vCHA – postInstallHook

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 2 minutes read

Have you recently attempted to upgrade your vCenter to version 8.0.2.00300 from 8.0.2.00100, only to be met with an unexpected roadblock in the form of VMware vCenter High Availability (vCHA)? Well, you’re not alone! In this blog post, we’ll dive into the common pitfalls and challenges that users face when trying to upgrade vCenter with vCHA enabled. We’ll discuss the potential causes of the failure, troubleshooting tips, and possible solutions to get your upgrade back on track.

What is vCHA?

vCenter High Availability (vCenter HA) protects vCenter Server against host and hardware failures. The active-passive architecture of the solution can also help you reduce downtime significantly when you patch vCenter Server

For this vCenter Release, there has been many other issues that end-users have seen from issues where time zone, or local host dns. But, for my issue it was vCHA!

  • Time zone not being set to ETC/UTC within VAMI or CLI
  • Local Host and DNS Resolution within /etc/hosts file
  • vCenter Server High Availability Service enabled but not configured – This was my issue!

Performing start operation on profile: ALL Service-control failed. Error: Failed to start services in profile ALL. RC=2, stderr=Failed to start vcha services. Error: Service crashed while starting.

The Cause – vCHA was set to Automatic Start Up and Not Configured

The Fix –

Either GUI or CLI can be utilized to fix.

  • Take a fresh snapshot
  • SSH into vCenter, if you are running VCF, then you will need to lookup your password with VCF Lookup_password Service:
  • Execute Command to see if the vCHA service is running –

Command Line

vmon-cli -s vcha
vmon-cli -S DISABLED -U vcha

After service is stopped, try to resume patch or revert snapshot and redo the steps above to ensure that the vCHA service is disabled.

GUI –

  • Log into VAMI, Go to Services ->
  • Select – VMware vCenter High Availability -> Set Start Up Type Manual ( still to verify execute the command above to disable and ensure it is disabled)

Once, rebooted or re-verted snapshot and all previous steps are completed, you should have a successful upgrade of your vCSA!

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VMware Cloud Foundation

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.x Posters

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 1 minutes read

Get ready to dive into the world of a private cloud platform, with the new and exciting poster that showcases the intricate topology and architecture of VMware Cloud Foundation 5.x. This comprehensive visual guide will take you on a journey through the innovative features and capabilities of VMware’s cutting-edge cloud platform. Whether you’re a seasoned IT professional looking to enhance your knowledge or a newcomer eager to explore the possibilities of VCF, this poster is sure to spark your curiosity and ignite your passion for cloud technology. Join us as we unravel the complexities of VCF and unlock the potential of cloud computing like never before!

Download your copy today and get it printed at your favorite print shop!

Overview

Two Persona – Cloud Admin & Developer

Management Workload Domain

Workload Domain

Workload Domain with Tanzu

Workload Domain Physical Networking

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VMware Cloud FoundationVMware Troubleshooting

Decoupling or Redeploying VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 1 minutes read

Are you looking to know how to decouple or need to re-deploy the Aria Suite Lifecycle Manager from VMware Cloud Foundation? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

  • Take a Snapshot of your SDDC Manager (Offline) and a snapshot your vCenter Server appliance.
  • Then SSH to your SDDC Manager and elevate to root
su

Below are the psql commands you will need to execute to remove the old vRSLCM entries.

psql -h localhost -U postgres -d platform -c "truncate vrslcm;"
psql -h localhost -U postgres -d platform -c "delete from vm_and_vm_type_and_domain where vm_type ='VRSLCM';"

As well as cleaning up the old Passwords, this will also remove the Life Cycle Suite from the Password UI.

psql -h localhost -U postgres -d platform -c "delete from credentialhistory where credential_id in (select id from credential where entitytype ='VRSLCM');"
psql -h localhost -U postgres -d platform -c "delete from credential where entitytype ='VRSLCM';"

Lets re-deploy through SDDC Manager!

After all is removed, you may restart the deployment, for the deployment you will be asked few questions on DNS, IP , and as well a Tier 1 Load Balancer, I used the next available IP address where i knew that the previous one was locked in and couldn’t clean it up, but after the deployment the old load balancer IP was cleaned up!

That’s it! Once you vRSLCM gets re-deployed re-run your Certificate generations from CSR and re-install the cert! Don’t forget to rotate your vRSLCM password but also enable password rotation to prevent any issues in the future.

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