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Tag Archives: VMware

Congratulations to VMTN Community Warrior, @rcporto

Submit a nomination for the next VMTN Community Warrior. In 2017, this program will be recognizing users who commit time and energy to engaging in the VMTN community. Learn more.

This week’s Community Warrior burst into the VMware Technology Network community program from left field at the end of last year, and has made his mark. Congratulations to the newest Community Warrior, @rcporto!

@rcporto originally joined communities in 2011, became a vExpert in 2014, and came to my attention late last year, when he won a prize in the CloudCred VMTN Challenge. This was a raffle around the VMTN Badge on VMware’s gamification platform, CloudCred.

Not a month later, he reached out with interest in becoming a VMTN Community Moderator. Today @rcporto is not only a User Moderator, he’s a global moderator, who owns and manages the Brazilian Portuguese community.

Thank you for all that you do @rcporto. VMTN would not be the same without your commitment.

Learn a little bit more about @rcporto…

What was the first VMware product you ever used, where and when?

The first VMware product that I used was the vSphere ESXi 3.5, back in 2009, to virtualize some workloads for a client of my company.

What inspired you to become a VMTN Community Moderator recently?

The VMTN community had a lot of great moderators doing a wonderful job to keep the threads clean and in the correct location, but I noticed that a lot of messages, mainly from other languages, like Brazilian Portuguese, do not get the same attention from moderators. I decided to become a moderator to keep my eyes mainly on Brazilian Portuguese messages, since this is my native language, but I spread my attention to English threads as well.

You sure do… Check it out.

How do you work with VMware day-to-day?

I work for a VMware partner, and my main role in my job is to implement, administer and troubleshoot VMware vSphere environments, the vRealize suite products and vCenter Site Recovery Manager, as well as others.

Although I am very experienced with VMware, becoming active in VMTN by replying to user’s threads contributed a lot to my knowledge on real world issues and best practices. I’ve found the VMware KBs and documentation are awesome, and if you search correctly, there is a good chance you’ll find the answer to your problem. Many times when I reply, I don’t know the solution, but since I am familiar with these resources, I can search a solution and reply to the user.

Are you working on any projects you think the VMTN community would be interested in?

Right now, I am busy with my full-time job tasks, but my personal project regarding the VMTN community is to achieve the Guru status in the next six months, so I would like to invite VMTN users to post your questions. It would be my pleasure to try to answer them.

How can people follow/get in touch (Twitter,etc)?

Twitter: @richardsonporto | VMTN: @rcporto

Thanks @rcporto!

This is wise advice from a hard working community warrior: answer questions and ask questions to become a better professional. Get involved and get to know your resources.

Do you see someone frequently answering questions in your favorite forums? Did someone provide support to you recently at a VMUG or over Twitter? Any community involvement counts. Head to the Community Warrior page to nominate a user, or email katieb@vmware.com.

 

Congratulations to #VMTN Community Warrior, @sreec

Submit a nomination for the next VMTN Community Warrior. In 2017, this program will be recognizing and rewarding users who commit time and energy to engaging in the VMTN community. Learn more.

The VMTN Community Warrior program is back and better than ever after a brief break during what may go down in history as the best, and busiest, VMworld season of all time. Thank you to our last Warrior, @firestartah, for keeping the throne warm.

 

Congratulations to @sreec – our newest community warrior!

What makes @sreec a community warrior?

  • He is on the top participants list for three communities on VMTN: vCloud Director, NSX, vCloud Networking and Security.
  • He has achieved vExpert and vExpert-NSX based on community contributions, like the NSX book he wrote and published in 2016.

The list goes on from there… Thanks for all that you do, @sreec.

Needless to say, with NSX adoption growing every day it was exciting to be able to ask this Community Warrior to weigh in on what drew him to network virtualization, VMTN, and his upcoming projects.

Check out what @sreec had to say….

How did you get involved with VMTN?

When I was working with VMware from 2011-2016 I focused on a wide range of VMware products like vRealize Configuration Manager, vSphere, vCloud Director, vCloud Networking and Security, vCloud Connector, NSX, and more.

VCD is one of the products which I worked extensively with, and that’s where I started liking network virtualization. Considering the complexity of troubleshooting in VCD, I used VCD labs and I started looking at vCloud Director communities to better understand customer queries and then contributing to them as much as I could.

Over a period of time, I realized VMTN is by far one of the best technical hubs for VMware technologies and every day I spend 1-2 hours and follow the NSX & VCD communities.

Why are you passionate about NSX?

VMware NSX is at the forefront of the software-defined networking revolution. I come from a storage background and I switched my job to the virtualization field. I knew this was the right track to focus on and the last 8 years have been truly remarkable for me. I worked with the vCloud Network Security solution during its early days and I liked the concept of network virtualization.

My immediate focus was to clear VCAP-CIA and I achieved it very shortly followed by VCAP-DCA & DCD. I’m a strong believer of learning a technology in a way that makes people understand it very easily. If one cannot explain a feature/design, that shows a lack of knowledge in that area.

After spending a lot of hours in labs and reading blogs/books, I started training candidates on VCD, VCNS & NSX. For me this is where my passion for software-defined networking started. A few months back, I cleared VCAP6-NV and achieved VCIX track.

Having seen the technology transform all the way from VCNS to NSX for all types of workload all I want to say is NSX is a cherry on top of VMware product portfolio. It’s because of the large ecosystem, coupled with the fact that customers can leverage NSX in Private/Public and build a true network hybrid platform. We don’t need to chase a use case for implementing NSX. This product fits in extremely well for all types of workloads & environments and that is why I’m passionate about this technology.

Are you working on any projects you think the VMTN community would be interested in? 

Having learned a few things about NSX, I decided I should give something back to the community. My first contribution was the NSX book – VMware NSX Network Essentials. The focus is on core components of NSX, how to deploy, and manage it effectively.

Thank you for the time, wise words, and great community contributions.

To connect with @sreec for regular updates, follow him here:

Twitter: @sreeec ; VMTN: @sreec ; LinkedIn

Do you see someone frequently answering questions in your favorite forums? Did someone provide server saving support to you recently at a VMUG or over Twitter? Any community involvement counts. Head to the Community Warrior page to nominate a user, or email katieb@vmware.com.

VMworld: 8 VMTN Community Opportunities You Don’t Want to Miss

To recognize VMTN Community contributors, there are going to be 8 fantastic programs running at VMworld – including some for those who cannot attend the event. Get excited and get signed up for the following:

For the Folks at Home:

  1. Beams (VMworld US only):
  • 3 Beams at the VMTN Community Area.
  • Beams are video conferencing tools which provide the freedom to explore VMvillage from the comfort of your own home.
  • Sign up now!
  1. VMTN Homepage Takeover
  • Featuring: livestream videos, VMworld social, live podcasts, blogs, {code}fest updates, and links to the forums with information on the latest VMware announcements.
  • Bookmark this page to Stay Connected.

For the Show-Goers:

  1. vBrownBag TechTalks – A VMTN Member

  1. Closed Booths Available for Podcast, Vlog, or even Webinar creation
  1. Blogger Program
  • Blogger tables will be set-up to provide a space for bloggers to write, charge, and network.
  • VMware Blogger Program Manager, Elsa Mayer, will be manning this area in the US and Europe to introduce her plans for the program and hand-out SWAG do nothing else… Don’t miss the opportunity to stop by.
  1. {code}fest
  • Come visit VMware {code} program manager, Tim Bonnemann, at his VMware {code} in the VMTN Community Area to learn about the program, sign-up, and get more SWAG do nothing else.
  • {code}fest sessions available for registration in the VMworld US and Europe.
  • Sign up for the {code} fest Hackathon on Monday night at VMworld U.S. and VMworld Europe.
  • Amazon Echos will be given away at the VMware {code} booth, at Hackathon Training Sessions, and at the Hackathon.
  1. CloudCred
  • CloudCred will support the VMware Hands-On Labs by running the CloudCred, Hands-On Labs Challenge.
  • Each lab and workshop will have its own unique, corresponding task on the CloudCred website.
  • Every day, CloudCred & the Labs will award Amazon Echoes, along with other prizes to those people landing in the top spots on the CloudCred, Labs Leaderboard
  • Visit CloudCred community manager, Noell Grier, in the Hands-on Labs area at VMworld US or Europe, to learn more.
  1. vExpert Party
  • Each year, vExpert Advocacy Manager, Corey Romero, hosts all of the vExperts for an after-hours event at a fantastic location near VMworld. Inside-scoop: this years US party will be held at the Las Vegas Pinball Hall of Fame.
  • If you are a vExpert, watch your email for invitations to both the US and Europe parties.

And that’s a wrap! I will see you folks either virtually, or in person at the VMTN Community Area in VMvillage in just over a month.

For further information or questions around these programs, email the VMTN Community Manager, katieb@vmware.com.

Congratulations to #VMTN Community Warrior, @firestartah

Submit a nomination for the next VMTN Community Warrior. In 2017, this program will be recognizing and rewarding 25 users who commit time and energy to engaging in community discussions and capturing the values of VMware Technology Network. Learn more.

Congratulations to Gregg, also known on VMTN as, @firestartah and welcome to the VMTN Community Warrior Hall of Fame. Gregg is an exceptional person, someone who has truly embedded giving back to the VMware community into his day-to-day life.

Not only is Gregg a VMTN Community Moderator, he:

  • Co-hosts the EMEA #vBrownBag podcast/webinar series every Tuesday at 7PM GMT
  • Has been a vExpert for 7 years in a row
  • Holds a VCDX-DVC (#205) – and mentors others to help them achieve theirs
  • Regularly speaks at London VMUG

The list goes on! Gregg – thanks for all that you do.

Check out what Gregg had to say…

K: What is it that attracted you to the VMware community? When did you get involved?

G: When I started learning virtualization and VMware in particular almost ten years ago I did what a lot of people did, and still do today, and that is read some of the top blogs. From reading these, I started following these bloggers and anyone else who was talking about VMware on Twitter. The Twitter community was quite small then and I remember being able to read every tweet all the people I followed each day without much issue which allowed me to really connect with fellow vNerds and learn so much from all of them.

K: I remember those days… How did your involvement evolve from there?

G: The number of people who were willing to help really inspired me so I decided to start trying to give back in any way I could so I wrote blog postings about little things I fixed and whose blogs helped me with it, or I would go on the VMware communities and try to help answer people’s problems. Doing the blogging and communities work led me to become a vExpert which I have been graciously awarded every year since. I have also become a communities’ moderator. I loved doing all of it from blogging, to tweeting, to attending the London VMUG, to becoming part of the vBrownbag crew.

What has kept me involved so long is honestly the people in the community. The benefits I have found not just from a work perspective, but also a friendship perspective has been amazing.

           

 

 

K: That’s great. I know you do a lot of mentoring for certifications and are heavily involved in those communities on VMTN. For community members who are looking to gain more certifications, and maybe even looking to achieve their VCDX, how would you recommend preparing?

G: Certification pages were and still partly are what I’m known for in the community as it was the way I could collate the study resources I was using for my VCP’s and VCAP’s and now VCDX. Certainly, learn NSX and do the VCP-NV if you can as I think you’ll never regret learning about SDN. If you are looking at doing the VCAP’s then there are loads of great resources out there which I’ve listed on my blog and some really good VMware courses as well. The VCAP’s are challenging but are really good to do especially the administration ones if you are working with VMware every day.

I would highly recommend getting your VCDX especially for the journey and the number of things you learn along that journey. Doing the VCDX is a very big commitment and I always recommend people speak to their significant other and let them know you will be dedicating time to getting the certification. I always recommend starting as soon as possible on the VCDX journey and there are loads of great resources out there from blogs, to books to podcasts to VCDX Workshops to help you. Also 99% of the current VCDX’s are very approachable people who are happy to help you along on your journey as long as you are willing to pull your own weight.

K: That’s fantastic advice – I know you’ve taken it to the next level… How did you get involved in mentoring others?

G: I’m not sure really, I think it’s linked to writing my VCP/VCAP/VCDX study resources pages and trying to give back to the community that helped me so much. I have had and still have loads of people giving me advice and helping me grow and pushing me and so I wanted to give that back as well. When I passed my VCDX and actually even whilst I was still going for it, I wanted to try to help as many people along as possible and connect people aiming for it so we could all learn from each other. The VCDX study/mock group I have run for the last few years has amazed me with the amount people have grown and that everyone who benefitted is now helping others. We have seen a pass from every round of VCDX defenses since we started which is amazing!

Wow! Thank you, Gregg – and congratulations again!

To get in touch with Gregg, you can find him here:

Do you see someone frequently answering questions in your favorite forums? Did someone provide server saving support to you recently at a VMUG or over Twitter? Any community involvement counts. Head to the Community Warrior page to nominate a user, or email katieb@vmware.com.

Congratulations to #VMTN Community Warrior: @jfrappier

Submit a nomination for the next VMTN Community Warrior. In 2017, this program will be recognizing and rewarding 25 users who commit time and energy to engaging in community discussions and capturing the values of VMware Technology Network. Learn more.

Congratulations, and welcome to the VMTN Community Warrior Hall of Fame @Jfrappier.  It is an honor to put the spotlight on you, because you deserve it. Check out the nomintation Jonathan received the following nomination from Community Warrior: @arielsanchezmor:

Jonathan is a veteran of the vExpert and EMCelect communities who has been a big influence in the Boston virtualization groups and has been an integral member of vBrownBag. He has also led the charge in publishing content that bridges the devops tools integrations with vSphere (out of his own time, this is not his job role) at jfrap.com and has helped many in the vCommunity as a mentor and sounding board. Unusually quiet in person, yet one of the funniest I know, my main reason for nominating him is that I know (from being a vBrownBag crew member) that Jonathan is the engine that keeps vBrownBag running, always scheduling people with ample time and doing the hard work of choosing a new topic and getting presenters for it. He takes care of all the little jobs that are needed, and also finds time to regularly present when he is asked to. I have only seen his impact in the last two years, and yet I know he has been doing this for a long time.

 

I think Ariel captured why Jonathon was chosen to receive this badge. Jonathan is not only active on VMTN, but as Ariel says, he is a vExpert who is heavily involved with the vBrownBag organization. Beyond that, the man is also active on GitHub, he recently delivered the keynote at the annual Virtualization Technology User Group (VTUG) Spring Forward meetup, is active in the Boston VMUG, is constantly tweeting, blogging, sharing, learning, and LIVING the foundational principles behind a great community. He even had a book published.

Let’s learn a bit more about this warrior…

K: You are clearly a VMware community guy – what is the unique value for you in each?

J: None, and any…all at once. I am less interested in any particular vertical community and more interested in meeting other people. Since my interests are spread across technology I just choose to meet smart, open, people who are interested in helping others with positive feedback. If that person is a SQL DBA – cool, I’ve played the role of SQL admin before. Network admin? Yup, done that. Developer – I just want to hear more from those people as I think our world is headed towards “everything as code.”

K: How are you going to get involved with community at VMworld?

J: I will be in the hang space (VMvillage) almost the entire event, I’ll pop down to the vendor place but otherwise I’ll be connecting with people and helping vBrownBag produce TechTalks.

K: Do you want to tell me a bit about the vBrownBag TechTalk you will be delivering?

J: At VMworld US I will be doing a vBrownBag Tech Talk on using the vSphere 6.5 REST APIs though an Ansible playbook. I’ve long been a fan of Ansible and being able to use to automate and manage the configuration of my vSphere environment combines two products I enjoy working with.

For those that haven’t worked with APIs before, don’t worry because we will be kicking off a vBrownBag series on APIs right after VMworld US with a ton of great presenters and topics.

Thank you, Jonathan – and congratulations again!

To check out Jonathan’s TechTalk at VMworld U.S., register for VMTN6616U on ScheduleBuilder. To get in touch online, you can reach Jonathan here:

Do you see someone frequently answering questions in your favorite forums? Did someone provide server saving support to you recently at a VMUG or over Twitter? Any community involvement counts. Head to the Community Warrior page to nominate a user, or email katieb@vmware.com.

VMworld 2017: Closed Booths Available in the VMTN Community Area

This year, VMTN is making it a priority to empower podcasters, vloggers, and content creators. At our VMTN Community Area in VMvillage we will have booths available to enable the VMware community to produce quality audio content in a quiet area. This means, when you’re sharing news and opinions, you won’t have to share the background noise of 9,999+ people walking around a convention center.

In the U.S. there will be 2 booths and in Europe there will be 1. These booths will have four walls and a ceiling to optimize audio within the booth. Time within these booths will be allocated in a first come first serve basis. To reserve a time please fill out the following form:

RESERVE YOUR TIMESLOT HERE:

Europe: https://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-35674

U.S.: https://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-35644

*There will be no AV tools provided. Please bring your own recording devices if necessary.

VMTN will also promote your podcasts should you opt in. At the top of the above documents, there will be a link to a form. Should you choose to fill out the form, your podcast will be added to our featured podcasts list on VMTN.

See you at VMworld 2017!

Discover VMTN: 3 Remarkable Reasons to Come to Communities for Support

Blog 3 – series predecessors: VMTN Global Forums, 7 Ways to Gain Points

VMware Technology Network is a communities’ platform comprised of 3.2 million members and only three, as of today, can boast that they host this badge on their profile.

What makes these 3 users remarkable? They are a part of VMware’s Global Services team – they are Knowledge Champions* – and they have integrated into the VMTN ecosystem to spread that knowledge to whoever is in need. These users are committing time to ensure that any  query that is not addressed with peer-to-peer support within a reasonable window receives the attention it needs to reach a resolution.

*At VMware, the title of Knowledge Champion is given to those responsible for coordinating with engineering and the technical support team to publish accurate internal and external knowledge base articles. Communities is a hot bed for content – as they support VMTN, VMTN inspires them!

Meet 3 of the great reasons VMTN should be your go-to site for VMware support:

Knowledge Champion: @AishR

IT experience of 10 years, where she worked as an SE on various domains – hardware and software. She is passionate about resolving customer queries and validating technical documents.

Main VMware areas of Interest:  Virtualization, Networking, Data center technology

Technical Certifications: VCA-5, VCP-5

Other Certifications: Six sigma Green belt, Certified Scrum Master

Fun fact: Dancing makes one smarter and it worked for me 😊

 

Knowledge Champion: @mhampto

Previously a TSE in the Sysops group prior to being a Knowledge Champion.

Main VMware areas of interest: certifications, and history

Technical Certifications: VCP4 and 5, six in progress. Specialize in vSphere (ESXi, vCenter Server)

Fun fact: Enjoys riding motorcycles in the Rockies

 

Knowledge Champion: @parmarr

Rahul spent 7 years in the Support Industry, working on product releases, content editing, and the VMware Licensing Support Team, before joining the Knowledge Experience team.

Main VMware areas of interest: licensing & account management

Technical Certifications: VCA-5, VSP, VTSP, Working on VCP-6

Fun fact: People friendly 😊 I like to meet and know new people.

 

 

We’re happy to welcome these folks on board as catalysts for customer success. Follow them on communities to track their progress, message them to welcome them to our thriving community ecosystem, and follow @VMTNcommunity on Twitter for updates on the program.

And don’t forget to bookmark communities in your browser: VMTN Communities.

NOTE: these additions to the ecosystem do not cannibalize our Community Warrior program, or our VMTN User Moderators, both of whom volunteer their time to make our community great.

For further information on status/badge levels, visit the Community Rewards Points System FAQ or for questions around this program, email the VMTN Community Manager, katieb@vmware.com.

Congratulations to #VMTN Community Warrior: @iiliev

*Submit a nomination for the next VMTN Community Warrior*

I’d like to extend my congratulations a full 6,500 miles to our newest Community Warrior… In Sofia, Bulgaria. Thank you @iiliev for your contributions to VMTN and to VMware as a Staff Engineer. Welcome to the Community Warrior Hall of Fame!

How did @iiliev get here? He was nominated by Hazenet, twice. Once in February when the program started, and once more this month. He was also nominated by tschoergez who said:

He is the most active member in the vRealize Orchestrator forums https://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/vcenter/orchestrator?view=discussions, Answering questions quickly and with super high quality information.

After gaining a whopping 6,120 points in this one community, I’d have to agree. You are a vRealize Orchestrator community star @iiliev.

I would also like to take a second, before letting @iiliev speak for himself, to reflect on the current Community Warrior ratio:

  • 2 U.S. based users
  • 1 New Zealand resident
  • 6 Europeans

VMTN: Stay Connected… To other customers near and far. *pause for chills*

Moving on… The VMTN team had the privilege of talking to @iiliev about his experience on VMTN in more detail. Check it out:

K: How were you originally introduced to communities and what inspired you to stay involved?

I: I subscribed to VMTN back in 2009. Initially, I wasn’t very active, but later I started to contribute when I gained more knowledge about the product, inspired by other active contributors (cdecanini_, Burke-, and tschoergez, to name a few). I believe having a friendly and helpful forum/community is essential for every successful product.

K: I completely agree! What have you gained through your involvement with VMTN?

I: VMTN forums turned out to be a direct and fast way to get in touch with the customers, and to find out what their real problems are with the product. It is surprising how often you can learn something new while trying to answer a seemingly easy question. And it is always rewarding to see happy customers whose day has been saved by your answers.

Sometimes, it could also have more direct impact; eg. spending 10 minutes educating the customer how to troubleshoot an issue or writing a sample code snippet could prevent opening an official SR costing your team several days/weeks to resolve.

K: Interesting – what is your job at VMware? Is answering community questions a part of your job description?

I: I’m part of vRO R&D team, working on developing the future versions and supporting the current versions of the product. Answering community questions is not a strict requirement for my job, but I think all VMware engineers should be encouraged to do it. It is beneficial for both parties.

K: Why do you believe vRealize Orchestrator is an amazing product?

I: Who is saying this? 😊 vRO definitely has some rough edges, but it is also a very powerful and flexible product, and if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, it could do almost everything related to automating/orchestrating tasks. And it is free (sort of)! Everyone loves free stuff, right?

K: Wise words! Thanks for your time and congratulations again.

If you are interested on picking @iiliev’s brain on vRealize Orchestrator, VMware, or VMTN, you can follow him here:

VMTN: @iiliev

Posting great content like:

Technical Preview version of VMware vRealize Orchestrator plug-in for vAPI

Do you see someone frequently answering questions in your favorite forums? Did someone provide server saving support to you recently at a VMUG or over Twitter? Any community involvement counts. Head to the Community Warrior page to nominate a user, or email katieb@vmware.com.

Community Warrior: Cheers to 10 Years

*With the below announcement, nominations are now open for the next Community Warrior*

Please join me in congratulating VMware Technology Network’s newest Community Warrior. This man is a jack-of-all-VMware products, dedicated to sharing his knowledge with others, and well known throughout the communities… @a.p.… Congratulations!!

André has several reasons to be proud of his involvement on VMTN. I will take the liberty to name a few…

  • May 18 André celebrated 10 years of membership on VMTN
  • He holds the #1 spot on the All-Time Communities Leaderboard
  • He has achieved both vExpert and User Moderator status several years in a row
  • His peers, for example @Wila who nominated him, speak of his knowledge and selflessness…

“He’s the real warrior as he is able to – and does – help out all across the board with the most advanced topics. He has an incredible amount of knowledge and is very good at getting problems solved.”

The facts outlined above speak volumes, check out what André had to say for himself:

K: How were you originally introduced to communities and what inspired you to stay involved?

A: I subscribed to VMTN after moving to a new company – a VMware partner – almost exactly 10 years ago. For the first ~2 years I used communities as a resource to learn and search for help. Inspired by all these great people on VMTN, like Troy, Ulli, Woody, Brian, Wil, and many others, I started contributing, and I still enjoy helping people around the globe, no matter whether it’s a newbie question, or an issue which requires advanced troubleshooting. Another reason for me to stay active in the communities is that I’ve been a user moderator several years now.

K: What have you gained through your involvement with VMTN?

A: Short version: Knowledge and friends!

Long version: VMTN is one of the most active communities that I’m aware of. As an IT consultant it’s important for me to be up to date. Vendor documentations usually describe how things are supposed to work, but the communities also contain a lot of information about issues, and possible fixes, quite often prior to the knowledge base. It’s always great if users provide feedback once their issues are resolved. Over the years, quite some users contacted me to say thanks. What more could one want?

K: What is your area of expertise when it comes to VMware products?

A: My main focus is on server and client virtualization, i.e. vCenter Server, ESXi, Horizon View. In most cases my customer projects include setting up the required servers, networking, SAN, storage, and backup too. I’m also familiar with several other VMware products, but cannot focus on a single vendor’s products.

K: How did you become so well versed in the technical depths of so many products?

A: I’ve always been interested in technologies, and spend a lot of time reading documentations, KB articles, and community posts as well as “playing” with the products in my test lab. I also attended a few trainings at the beginning, and learned a lot from colleagues. It’s certainly also a matter of time, and experience to get the technical depth. I also had the opportunity to work as a Technical Editor on Brian Atkinson’s VCP-DCV 5.5 study guide, which “forced” me to deep dive into several product features.

K: What method would you recommend for someone trying to attain your level of knowledge?

A: Simply try to forget a lot of what you learned, and you will soon be on my level ;-)))

Seriously, the method (if it can be called a method at all) is to be interested, work with passion, willing to spend time, reading a lot, talking with others (face-to-face or e.g. on VMTN), setting up a test lab, break and fix. If possible, attend a training to get a good base knowledge on which you can build upon.

Thanks André for the amazing support and content you have added to communities over the past 10 years! Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!

If you’d like to contact André, please reach out to him by messaging him on VMTN: @a.p.

Do you see someone frequently answering questions in your favorite forums? Did someone provide server saving support to you recently at a VMUG or over Twitter? Any community involvement counts. Head to the Community Warrior page to nominate, or email katieb@vmware.com.

Turn the (App) Volume up for our Newest Community Warrior

Congratulations to this week’s VMware Community Warrior: @Ray_Handels. I could write Volumes about our newest 2017 Hall of Famer *pause for laughter* but his activity in the VMware App Volumes Community speaks for itself (1,151 points…).

Not a workstation management expert? Check out this brief video introduction:

Ray was nominated by sachindsharma (featured in the video above) for his involvement within the community, his seat on the App Volumes customer council, and his involvement in testing the latest and greatest App Volume builds as they roll out.

What makes Ray remarkable, is that he maintains a strong relationship upstream, with the VMware product team, and downstream, with customers like himself. He provides support to others in the forums, listens, and constructively communicates to the VMware product teams to improve App Volumes for all users.

Learn a bit more about how Ray manages these relationships…

K: What makes you passionate about VMware App Volumes and answering community questions?

R: I have been in workstation management for over 8 years but haven’t seen anything like App Volumes (formerly known as CloudVolumes) for our environment. The technique and idea, providing the application to the user while he is actually logging in, was a perfect fit for our business model as we never know what user is logging in to what machine.

Also, the writable volume feature enables us to provide users with a virtual machine, but they don’t even know that they are actually using a virtual machine because they get all of their applications and settings. Looking at the applications progress from CloudVolumes 1.8 (yes, we did use that version) to 2.12.1, which we are using now, it’s great to see where the program is going.

K: You have a unique relationship with the VMware App Volumes product team… Tell me a bit about that.

R: We started using the application as one of the first customers worldwide and really believed in it’s technical features. Because the old team was (and still is) very customer driven we had multiple sessions with people like Jason Marshall (product engineering) and Matt Connover about what features we would like to see added to the product, and tested a lot of those features for them. This gave us a unique opportunity to be a part of the building process for App Volumes.

K: How can community members get as involved with our product teams as you are?

R: I’d say the best way to start is to be active on the forums, not only to ask questions and take information, but also to share knowledge with other customers. The larger and more active the user base, the better the products will be for customers and users.

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Thanks Ray!

Contact Ray with any follow-up questions here:

VMTN: @Ray_Handels

LinkedIn: Raymond Handels

Twitter: @raymondhandels

Do you see someone frequently answering questions in your favorite forums? Did someone provide server saving support to you recently at a VMUG or over Twitter? Any community involvement counts. Head to the Community Warrior page to nominate, or email katieb@vmware.com.