Author Archives: Andrew Hald

New Hands-on Labs at VMworld 2016

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VMworld US 2016 is less than a week away. The Hands-on Labs team cannot wait to connect with everyone in Las Vegas as we unveil our new 2017 content catalog. VMworld attendees are the first to experience the labs that are deployed online throughout the following calendar year. This year is no exception, with over 70 lab topics covering vSphere tech preview material, integration with VMware partner solutions, updated NSX content, new Virtual SAN labs, Airwatch, Horizon and vCloud Air. The VMware Hands-on Labs showcase the power of VMware products and solutions in real time. Be sure to visit the Hands-on Labs, Sunday through Thursday, at VMworld US 2016 in Las Vegas.

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Experience Horizon 6 with View today

We are excited to announce that the first lab in the 2014 Hands-on Labs content catalog is the Horizon 6 with View Introduction.

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VMware Horizon 6 with View is an important product release that brings advanced features to your end-user experience. As the first release in the 2014 Hands-on Labs development cycle, HOL-MBL-1451 brings exciting new content in real time with the general availability release of the Horizon 6 with View product. Be the first to experience Horizon 6 with View and see how your applications and desktops can be unified in a single workspace.

Launch

Ready to get started? Launch your own Horizon 6 with View lab experience:

http://labs.hol.vmware.com/HOL/#lab/1184

Explore

Only interested in browsing the lab manual? Explore the content:

Collaborate

Connect with other interested HOL users and discuss Horizon 6 with View:

https://communities.vmware.com/thread/482072

More Details

You can read all about the Horizon 6 with View release over at the Horizon Tech Blog. Enjoy!

http://blogs.vmware.com/horizontech/2014/06/horizon-6-with-view-intro-lab.html

We are looking forward to an exciting VMworld 2014 and cannot wait to share the rest of the labs with you. Be sure to check in regularly at hol.vmware.com for the latest VMware Hands-on Labs news and features.

All the New Lab Manuals are in HTML and PDF!

Good morning! We are busy preparing for VMworld Barcelona, but have some exciting news that we would like to share with you. The full 2013 HOL Content Catalog of lab manuals is now available online in both HTML and PDF formats.

http://docs.hol.vmware.com/HOL-2013/

We wanted to get these resources out to you all as soon as possible, so the lab listings page is a bit sparse. We are trying out a new HTML format this year that consolidates all Modules, Lessons and Steps into a single document. As a result, manuals may take a bit longer to load. Please be patient. 🙂

Please provide feedback regarding your experience with these new manuals in the comments below. We will be continuously updating these pages to improve your experience. Thanks!

Try Out New VMware Products in the Hands-on Labs

The complete catalog of Hands-on Labs from VMworld 2013 is now available online. This is the best place for you to explore new features in the vCloud Suite and vSphere 5.5 and learn about VMware Virtual SAN. Connect to the labs at:

http://labs.hol.vmware.com/

vSphere with Operations Management v5.5

If you are new to vSphere, be sure to take the “vSphere and vSOM 101” lab (HOL-SDC-1310) This provides an introduction to vSphere features and functionality and uses videos and hands-on steps to deepen understanding.

If you are familiar with vSphere already, but would like to experiment with vSphere 5.5, this lab makes an excellent “sandbox.” It includes a “What’s New” appendix to highlight new features in vSphere 5.5.

vSphere Big Data Extensions

Also new with vSphere 5.5 is the VMware Hadoop solution, vSphere Big Data Extensions (HOL-SDC-1309). See how you can deploy scalable application clusters seamlessly with vSphere.

VMware Virtual SAN

The public beta of VMware Virtual SAN is an exciting release. This software-defined storage solution is at your fingertips in HOL-SDC-1308. Take the lab as many times as you like to familiarize yourself with the new interface and features. Be sure to sign up for the VSAN public beta at http://www.vmware.com/vsan-beta-register.html to get your own copy of the software.

vCloud Suite Use Cases

Our vCloud Suite Use Case labs (HOL-SDC-1313 through HOL-SDC-1318) demonstrate the vCloud Suite addressing important business objectives. Not all of these labs have been updated for version 5.5 of the vCloud Suite, but they do demonstrate the power and flexibility available to you, even in earlier versions of the software. Be sure not to miss this exciting content.

New Labs and New Languages

Today we have added seven labs created by VMware Partners. These labs demonstrate the strong VMware partner ecosystem and the variety of solutions that are available. We also are highlighting our localized lab manuals in Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Spanish. Some of our most popular labs are available, localized into these languages to better serve the global audience for Hands-on Labs.

Click here for detailed instructions on how to change your preferred language in the Hands-on Labs Online portal.

Partner Labs

HOL-PRT-1301 – NetApp Virtual Storage Console

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You will take a guided tour of the NetApp Virtual Storage Console (VSC) and see how VMware and NetApp solutions work together to simplify storage management.

Enroll in HOL-PRT-1301

HOL-PRT-1302 – IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for Virtual Environments

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IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for Virtual Environments is simplified data protection for virtual machines. You will use Tivoli Storage Manager to provide scheduled protection and simplified recovery of mission-critical virtual machine data.

 Enroll in HOL-PRT-1302

HOL-PRT-1303 – EMC – Using Puppet and the vSphere Web Client

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Connect your infrastructure components to the VMware vCloud Suite using EMC infrastructure. Leverage vCenter Orchestrator, EMC ViPR, Avamar, and Puppet Open Source from Puppet Labs.

Enroll in HOL-PRT-1303

HOL-PRT-1304 – Infoblox – Automate with vCAC and the vCO IPAM plug-in

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IP address management (IPAM) can be a challenge in today’s data centers. See how the Infoblox vCenter Orchestrator IPAM plug-in works with with vCloud Automation Center (vCAC), vCenter Server and vCloud Director to provision virtual machines.

Enroll in HOL-PRT-1304

HOL-PRT-1305 – Cisco Nexus 1000V – Enhanced VXLAN Networking in vCloud Director

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Leverage the Cisco Nexus 1000v to deliver enhanced VXLAN networking in vCloud Director deployments.

Enroll in HOL-PRT-1305

HOL-PRT-1306 – Catbird-Hytrust-LogRhythm – Partner Security and Compliance

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Achieve Higher Consolidation Ratios Without Increased Risk by Leveraging VMware and Partner Technologies for Security and Compliance.

Enroll in HOL-PRT-1306

HOL-PRT-1307 – Puppet Labs – Automate vSphere Provisioning and Management

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Puppet Enterprise enables IT teams to automate VM lifecycle management and scale services quickly, reliably, and efficiently. You will walk through common configuration steps and automate repetitive tasks.

Enroll in HOL-PRT-1307

The VMware NSX Labs are now Available in the HOL Online Portal

The wait is over. The VMware NSX for vSphere Lab (HOL-SDC-1303) has arrived. You consumed over 2,000 sessions of this lab, totaling 124,000 lab minutes during the four days of VMworld. That is roughly equivalent to locking yourself in a room with your laptop and doing nothing but take this lab 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for three months straight. Creepy . . . 🙂

We are bringing additional NSX content to the online portal as well as the remaining labs in the Mobility catalog. This is a big day of HOL goodness! Enjoy.

Remember to participate in the HOL Community page at http://hol.vmware.com/, take labs at http://labs.hol.vmware.com/ and tweet us @VMwareHOL.


VMware NSX Labs

HOL-SDC-1303 – VMware NSX Network Virtualization Platform

A Tech Preview of the exciting new VMware NSX for vSphere product announced at VMworld. Learn how VMware NSX virtualizes your network and simplifies your datacenter. This lab is currently based on a beta version of code and you may encounter some user interface issues during the lab exercises. The lab will be improved with newer code as the product moves closer to release. For now, brave the rapids, jump in with both feet and have a go at at VMware NSX, the premier solution for Network Virtualization.

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1303

HOL-SDC-1319 – VMware NSX for Multi-Hypervisor Environments

Also a Tech Preview, this lab focuses on the multi-hypervisor version of VMware NSX. This is a great opportunity to see how NSX can help, even with the non-vSphere portions of your datacenter.

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1319

Mobility

HOL-MBL-1301-UC – Horizon View Use Cases

VMware Horizon View is changing the way desktop computing is delivered. These use cases, drawn from real-world experience, clearly demonstrate the inherent value within the Horizon View solution. If you are curious as to what ways Horizon View is actually used today, this lab provides excellent examples.

Enroll in HOL-MBL-1301-UC

HOL-MBL-1304 – Horizon Workspace – Explore and Deploy

Hours of new content have been added to this refresh of the successful 2012 Horizon Workspace lab. This is a phenomenal opportunity to experience Horizon Workspace for the first time. Log in and try it out!

Enroll in HOL-MBL-1304

HOL-MBL-1309 – HORIZON MIRAGE – Manage Physical Desktops

Layers and image management are at the heart of the VMware Horizon Mirage desktop management software. This lab will get you acquainted with this powerful solution in just a few minutes.

Enroll in HOL-MBL-1309

HOL-MBL-1311 – Applied ThinApp with the Horizon Suite

Also a Tech Preview, this lab focuses on the multi-hypervisor version of VMware NSX. This is a great opportunity to see how NSX can help, even with the non-vSphere portions of your datacenter.

Enroll in HOL-MBL-1311

Nine New VMware Hands-on Labs – Now Posted Online

Just in time for your Friday morning coffee, we are pleased to announce nine new 2013 VMware Hands-on Labs freshly brewed in the HOL Online portal. The focus today is all about your cloud, how you can automate it and how you can deploy big data applications. Register, sign-in and start taking labs in less than five minutes.

http://labs.hol.vmware.com/

Big Data

HOL-SDC-1309 – vSphere Big Data Extensions

Hadoop has emerged as a powerful new technology that provides users with an inexpensive and efficient way of storing and processing large amounts of data. Did you know that through VMware vSphere Big Data Extensions you can run clustered, scale-out Hadoop applications through vSphere, with only a single virtual appliance to install. Yeah, you should definitely check this out.

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1309

Cloud Automation

HOL-SDC-1307 – VCLOUD AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS

This lab puts all of your favorites together under one roof. Explore vCloud Automation Center (vCAC), Orchestrator, PowerCLI and AutoDeploy working harmoniously to solve real issues that real architects and admins face. Loaded with hours of content, you will need at least two lab sittings to complete all of the modules.

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1307

HOL-SDC-1305 – Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery In Action

VMware offers complete solutions to your Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery needs. From Site Recovery Manager to vCenter Heartbeat to vSphere Data Protection to vCenter Heartbeat, this lab has you covered.

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1305

vCloud Suite

The vCloud Suite Use Cases labs have been refreshed with new content for VMworld 2013. The labs in the online catalog have now been updated, as well. These six labs highlight practical ways in which the VMware vCloud Suite empowers you to do more with your Hybrid Cloud solution.

HOL-SDC-1313 – vCloud Suite Use Cases – Infrastructure Provisioning (IaaS)

See how vCloud Director (vCD) and vCloud Automation Center (vCAC) work together to deliver Infrastructure as a Service.

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1313

HOL-SDC-1314 – vCloud Suite Use Cases – Application Provisioning (PaaS)

The VMware vCloud Suite goes well beyond simple infrastructure delivery. Gain hands-on experience deploying and managing a 3-tier web application with App Director and vCloud Automation Center (vCAC).

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1314

HOL-SDC-1315 – vCloud Suite Use Cases – Control & Compliance

How is your posture? This lab will get you straightened out! Control and Compliance can be critical areas of need for today’s IT organizations. Learn the elegant solutions available through the vCloud Suite.

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1315

HOL-SDC-1316 – vCloud Suite Use Cases – Quality of Service

Do you always keep your promises? With the QoS lab you can learn how the vCloud Suite allows you to identify key metrics and then measure your service quality. Set targets and then deliver. Sounds like a plan!

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1316

HOL-SDC-1317 – vCloud Suite Use Cases – Business Critical Applications

How do you ensure that your most critical applications get the high-quality infrastructure that they deserve? Deliver them using vCenter Operations Manager and Hyperic. This lab shows you how.

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1317

HOL-SDC-1318 – vCloud Suite Use Cases – Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery

Dive deeper into BC/DR use cases and explore vSphere Replication working in tandem with Site Recovery Manager.

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1318

Optimize Your Cloud Operations – more labs available

vSphere with Operations Management is a hot commodity right now. The Hands-on Labs are no exception. For our second group of VMworld 2013 labs to be released, we highlight vSphere 5.5, vSOM, vCenter Operations Manager, vCenter Log Insight and the IT Business Management Suite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiHE87NnvUI

HOL-SDC-1301 – Applied Cloud Operations

Awesome possibilities await in the “Applied Cloud Operations” lab topic. vCenter Operations Manager and vCenter Log Insight are simplifying the way that companies monitor and manage their cloud. With this lab, you can experiment with a fully populated set of operational data. There is no other way to experience these products at this level of detail short of building your own datacenter and running it for a couple of weeks. Aren’t Hands-on Labs great?! 🙂

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1301

HOL-SDC-1310 – vSphere and vSOM 101

This lab is the perfect place to start if you are new to the concept of operations management, or even virtualization in general. You will walk through a step-by-step introduction of vSphere and basic features in network, storage, compute and management. The lab manual ties in with an expansive video library that enables you to dive deep when you need to learn more, but skip over content that you are already familiar with.

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1310

HOL-SDC-1311 – VMware IT Business Management

How much value are you delivering through your IT services? The VMware IT Business Management Suite can make the answer to this question much more transparent. Go beyond simply reporting on your infrastructure. Proactively analyze your costs and IT service delivery to make informed decisions for future success. Do not miss this lab and the opportunity that it opens for IT service optimization within your environment.

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1311

Please do not forget to check out the labs we released yesterday and keep an eye on this space as we continue to roll-out the 2013 VMware Hands-on Labs.

The first of the 2013 VMware Hands-on Labs are now online!

Today we are excited to announce that we have released the first four labs from the 2013 Hands-on Labs Content catalog to the HOL Online portal. These four labs were among the most popular at our 10th Annual VMworld US show last week in San Francisco. They demonstrate some of the most talked about new products and features in networking, storage, performance and mobility.

Click on the lab icon or the link below each lab description to enroll and begin your VMware Hands-on Labs Online session. To connect to the HOL Online portal in general, please use http://labs.hol.vmware.com/

HOL-SDC-1302 – VSPHERE DISTRIBUTED SWITCH FROM A TO Z

Explore features of the vSphere Distributed Switch from beginning to advanced perspectives. There are modules that explore QoS and ERSPAN and others that provide a basic introduction to the vSphere Distributed Switch. If you want to explore vSphere networking, this is your lab.

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1302

HOL-SDC-1304 – vSphere Performance Optimization

The vSphere Performance lab is a perennial favorite and this year is no exception. There is content for all levels of expertise and multiple tracks through the lab. The optional modules at the end allow you to customize your lab experience around topics of interest to you. Be sure to take the lab more than once so that you can experience all of the modules.

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1304

HOL-SDC-1308 – Virtual Storage Solutions

VMware Virtual SAN pools compute and direct-attached storage resources and clusters server disks and flash to create resilient shared storage. This idea is so cool, you just have to see it in action! Get your first taste of this exciting new technology in this Hands-on Lab, then visit vmware.com to sign up for the free beta.

Enroll in HOL-SDC-1308

HOL-MBL-1301-AZ – Horizon View from A to Z

VMware Horizon View is changing the way that companies manage their desktop systems. This lab includes a beginning-level guided tour module as well as advanced troubleshooting and optimization content. See what all of the buzz is about and try out Horizon View.

Enroll in HOL-MBL-1301-AZ

Over the next few weeks, we will continue a phased rollout of the 2013 VMware Hands-on Labs. With each release, be sure to take labs that you may have missed at VMworld or something outside of your core competency. We build these labs for you. It is our privilege to present them to you and join in the conversation around VMware products and solutions.

Continue to watch these blog pages for future lab release announcements, follow us on twitter @VMwareHOL and participate in the online community at http://hol.vmware.com/

Choosing Your Hands-on Labs Adventure

The doors are open to our new VMworld 2013 Hands-on Labs experience! To make sure that you can find the content that you are looking for, I would like to point you to some useful resources. There are 31 lab topics that make your content easy to find. Each lab topic has multiple modules and anywhere from 60 minutes to 7 hours of content.

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