Vote for the top virtualization blogs

On vSphere-land the yearly voting for the top VMware and virtualization blog(s) is open.  

By voting you can reward the bloggers for their hard work and dedication by letting them know that you appreciate them.

You can vote till 7 February 2012, so please take a couple of minutes and vote for your favorite 10 blogs and rank them (if you want to vote for my blog it’s on the left side in the middle). You can win a copy of the Train Signal’s  new vSphere 5 and View 5 video training courses.

image

Please vote by clicking the button or here.

image

 

The result will be announced on a special podcast after 7 February 2012.

Last year my blog was listed as “Virtual Ief”. This year as “Ivo Beerens”.

VMware Desktop Reference Architecture Workload Simulator (RAWC)

VMware released last week the desktop Reference Architecture Workload Simulator (RAWC). 

When validating VMware View™ designs it is important to simulate real world usage as closely as possible. The Desktop Reference Architecture Workload SImulator (RAWC) can be used to simulate a user workload in a typical Microsoft Windows® desktop environment.

Desktop RAWC runs on a Windows XP guest operating system and is executed on each desktop virtual machine (VM) on one or more ESX™ hosts. Each target desktop VM is equipped to run a RAWC workload that simulates typical user behavior, running an application set commonly used across a broad array of desktop environments.

image 

The workload has a set of randomly executed functions that perform operations on a variety of applications. Each test is configured using the Desktop RAWC UI

 image

The UI enables you to save and retrieve test parameters, create log folders, and define unique workloads based on Active Directory groups. You can use the UI to increase the load or adjust the user behavior, such as the number of words per minute that are typed and the delay between applications being launched.

The workload configuration typically used includes Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, Java, Adobe Acrobat, McAfee Virus Scan, and 7-Zip. During the execution of the workload, multiple applications are opened at the same time and windows are minimized and maximized as the workload progresses, randomly switching between each application. Individual application operations that are randomly performed can include:

·        Microsoft Word – Open, minimize, maximize, close, insert text, save modifications

·        Microsoft Word (Random) – Open, minimize, maximize, close, write random words/numbers, save modifications

·        Microsoft Excel – Open, minimize, maximize, close, write random numbers, insert/delete columns/rows, copy/paste formulas, save modifications

·        Microsoft PowerPoint – Open, minimize, maximize, close, conduct a slide show presentation

·        Microsoft Outlook – Open, minimize, maximize, close, create/send emails

·        Internet Explorer – Open, minimize, maximize, close, browse page

·        Windows Media Player – Open, close, view a video

·        Java – Compile a java project comprised of several hundred files using the JDK to create a software

·        engineering type of workload

·        Adobe Acrobat Reader – Open, minimize, maximize, close, browse pages in PDF document

·        McAfee Anti-virus – Real time scanning

·        7-Zip – Open, close, compress a large file

The RAWC kit is available for download from  the VMware partner central website.

[ad#verticaal]

Dutch VMware User Group (VMUG) 2009 event

 

On 11 December 2009 the 5th Dutch VMUG event will be held. It is a technical one day event about virtualization. Last year there were more than 600 visitors.  Here’s a list in my opinion of must see presentations:

– Managing VMware vSphere 4 m.b.v. de Virtualization EcoShell by Eric Sloof – VMUG / ntpro.nl

Project Virtual Reality Check by Ruben Spruijt – VMUG / PQR

Disitributed Virtual Switch Drill Down by Viktor van den Berg – XTG

Ontdek de mogelijkheden van vCenter Lab Manager by Joep Piscaer – VMUG / virtuallifestyle.nl
– Performance Troubleshooting Howto by Bouke Groenescheij – VMUG / Jume.nl
– Wat komt er kijken bij het Design van een Virtual Infrastructure? by Gabrie van Zanten – VMUG / gabesvirtualworld.com
– PowerCLI en de SDK: automatiseer je vSphere omgeving by Luc Dekens – VMUG / lucd.info

To see the whole agenda click here.

The VMUG event  is a great opportunity to expand your knowledge on virtualization. See you on 11 December at the Dutch VMUG event in Nieuwegein! 

To register for the event you must have or create a forum account. For more information visit the VMUG website.

 

 [ad#verticaal]