03/06/2012 Oh My-So much going on-Been ahwile since I have been out here

Well after much kicking and screaming I decided to go thru with the surgery on my neck here in Feb 2012. Pain from down my right arm but only a few weeks into recovery so still have awhile yet to go. Looking at rebuilding my Home Lab with new versions of VMware View, vSphere 5 and more goodies from NetApp, Cisco-Fun stuff!
Building a Golden Image
http://www.vmadmin.co.uk/vmware/53/238-viewmasterimagewin7
Setting up a VMware View 5 Connection Broker Server
http://pubs.vmware.com/view-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/view-50-installation.pdf

Go info from Dave at NetApp

http://blogs.netapp.com/dave/

Cirix Farm Designs

SysPrep file location for vCenter 2.5

http://www.vm-help.com/esx/other/sysprep_download_links.html

Sysprep 1.1 files
Location: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware VirtualCenter\sysprep\1.1
Download: [download]
Instructions: Extract the EXE download and copy the contents of the tools folder to the 1.1 folder.

Windows 2000
Location: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware VirtualCenter\sysprep\2k
Download: [ SP4 download]
Instructions: Extract the EXE download and then open this file: i386\deploy.cab. Copy the contents of the file to the 2k folder.

Windows 2003
Location: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware VirtualCenter\sysprep\svr2003
Download: [SP2 download]
Instructions: Run the EXE and then open this file: c:\windows\system32\deploy.cab. Copy the contents to the svr2003 folder.

Windows 2003 x64
Location: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware VirtualCenter\sysprep\svr2003-64
Download: [SP2 download]
Instructions: Extract the contents of the EXE and then extract the file SP2QFE\deploy.cab. Copy those files to the svr2003-64 folder.

Windows XP
Location: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware VirtualCenter\sysprep\xp
Download: [SP2 download]
Instructions: Open the CAB file download and copy the contents to the xp folder.

Windows XP x64
Location: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware VirtualCenter\sysprep\xp-64
Download: [SP2 download]
Instructions: Extract the contents of the EXE and then extract the file SP2QFE\deploy.cab. Copy those files to the xp-64 folder.

"Comparison of VMware Converter editions:VMware Converter Starter:

"Comparison of VMware Converter editions:VMware Converter Starter:

Free product to convert physical machines into virtual machines.
Support needs to be purchased on a per incident basis.
Small scale single server conversions.
Quick backups / clones of a small number of servers.
Hot cloning.
Local conversions to Workstation, VMware Server, Player, GSX, and ESX.
Remote conversions to standalone virtual machines (Workstation, VMware Server, Player, and GSX). Note: If ESX Server or Virtual Center is the destination for the remote conversion, then VMware Converter Enterprise is required.
No license required.VMware Converter Enterprise:
Enterprise-class product for managing and automating large scale conversions.
Support is included in support for Virtual Center Management Server.
Large scale server consolidation projects.
Centralized management of multiple simultaneous conversions.
Hot cloning.
Cold cloning (using a boot CD).
Local conversions to Workstation, VMware Server, Player, GSX, and ESX.
Remote conversions to all destinations, including ESX Server and Virtual Center.
A license file is required for enterprise features of VMware Converter Enterprise."

Work in Progress

Work in Progress Under Construction right now...

Come back in a few days...