PALO ALTO, Calif., July 28 — VMware Inc., the global leader in virtualization solutions from the desktop to the datacenter, today announced the general availability of the VMware Infrastructure (VI) Toolkit (for Windows), a new addition to its scripting toolkit portfolio that enhances automation of virtual datacenters. Offered free of charge, the toolkit is an easy-to-use scripting interface for administrators who need to manage multiple VMware ESX hypervisors or VMware VirtualCenter instances. Based on the popular Microsoft PowerShell scripting language, it provides a familiar interface that lets administrators automate repetitive tasks such as cloning, moving, starting or stopping virtual machines and hosts in a VMware Infrastructure environment.

Managing a large VMware Infrastructure deployment can require taking similar actions across dozens or hundreds of hosts or virtual machines. Typically, administrators either perform the tasks individually or use less familiar scripting languages to help automate some of the standard tasks.

The VI Toolkit (for Windows) allows VMware Infrastructure to be managed just like any other Windows application. Routine tasks can easily be automated so that hundreds of hosts or virtual machines are just as easy to manage as one. The toolkit includes simple-to-use “commandlets” for deploying hundreds of virtual machines across IT infrastructure, saving administrators the time and effort of repeating management tasks and freeing up their precious time for more creative, productive and impactful efforts.

Download it here.

VMware has announced a new certification called VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX):

The VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX) on VMware Infrastructure 3 is an advanced certification developed for design architects of VMware enterprise deployments.

There are four core validation components to achieve VCDX.

(1) Must be certified as a VMware Certified Professional (VCP) on VMware Infrastructure 3.

(2) Pass the VMware Enterprise Administration Exam. Includes live labs and tests a higher level of skill set than the exam for VCP on VMware Infrastructure 3.

(3) Pass the VMware Design Exam. This exam focuses on actual design scenarios and contains simulations and situational questions.

(4) Submit, present and defend a successful VMware Infrastructure design and implementation plan.

They are also offering new ways to get their training in order to get certified: Live Online and Flex Online. These distance education offering should allow more people to get the training that they need.

There is a recently released update the VI3 Security Hardening Guide.

In it you will find updated info on:

• new content for ESX 3.5 and VirtualCenter 2.5, including VirtualCenter plug-ins
• a section specific to hardening for ESXi.
• new sections for VM configuration as well as client software
• a greater level of depth for the existing recommendations

Get it HERE

As reported elsewhere, there is a way to extract a bootable image from the downloadable ESX3i ISO and use it on different hardware.  This is a great way to test various configurations

This was originally documented here: http://communities.vmware.com/message/825686.

The fine folks over at vm-help.com have detailed instructions and a Flash video demonstrating this technique.

This video combines Ubuntu, VMware Workstation and Compiz Fusion/Beryl.

Truly an amazing demonstration of what is possible with state-of-the-art technology.

Ultimate Virtualization in Ubuntu