Table of Contents Cover Title Page Copyright Publisher's Note Dedication Acknowledgments About the Authors Forewords Introduction Who Should Read This Book What Is Covered in This Book How to Contact the Authors Part I Chapter 1: Automating vCenter Server Deployment and Configuration Prepare the vCenter Installation Create an Automated Installation Set Up Your vCenter Server Folder Structure Define Users and Their Privileges Configure Datacenters and Clusters Licensing Chapter 2: Automating vSphere Hypervisor Deployment and Configuration Prepare for an Installation Automate an Installation Chapter 3: Automating Storage and Networking Set Up the Storage Set Up the Network Chapter 4: Using Advanced vSphere Features Manage vNetwork Distributed Switches Use Fault Tolerance Configure Storage I/O Control Use Distributed Power Management Configure Host Profiles Configure Active Directory Integration Part II Chapter 5: Creating Virtual Machines Use the New-VM Cmdlet Use the SDK Perform a Mass Deployment Identify Eye-Catchers for Auditing Maintain VMware Tools Chapter 6: Using Templates and Customization Specifications Use Customization Specifications Use Templates Chapter 7: Configuring Virtual Machine Hardware Add, Configure, and Remove Virtual Hardware Optimize Storage Usage with Thin Provisioning Chapter 8: Advanced Virtual Machine Features Interact with the Guest OS Use vMotion and Storage vMotion Use and Manage Snapshots Chapter 9: Using vApps Import Virtual Appliances Create Your Own vApps Maintain vApps Part III Chapter 10: Backing Up and Restoring Your Virtual Machines Work with Snapshots Create Do-It-Yourself Backups Restore Your VMs from a DIY Backup Change Block Tracking Use Site Recovery Manager Provide PowerShell Support for Corporate Backup Applications Chapter 11: Organize Your Disaster Recovery Back Up Your vCenter Server Restore Your vCenter Server Export vCenter Server Inventory Items Import vCenter Server Inventory Items Recover Virtual Machines Chapter 12: Hardening the vSphere Environment Use the Hardening Guide Work with the Guidelines Bring It All Together Chapter 13: Maintain Security in Your vSphere Environment Install the vCenter Update Manager PowerCLI Snap-in Work with Baselines Work with Upgrades and Patches Report the Security Status Part IV Chapter 14: Reporting the Status of Your vSphere Environment Determine What to Report Customize Your Reports Chapter 15: Using Statistical Data Understand Some Basic Concepts Gather Statistical Data Offload Statistical Data Chapter 16: Monitoring the vSphere Environment Determine What to Monitor Use Alarms Chapter 17: Auditing the vSphere Environment Understand Tasks and Events Data Report the PowerCLI Way Report the SDK Way Configure Tasks and Events Retention Part V Chapter 18: Scheduling Automation Scripts Use the vCenter Server Scheduler Use the Windows Scheduler Chapter 19: The SDK Work with the vSphere SDK Use the vSphere API Reference Use Managed Objects Code Parameter Objects Find the Method You Need Understand Return Values and Faults Put Some Tips and Tricks to Good Use Chapter 20: The Onyx Project Work with the Onyx Project Let Onyx Help You Use Onyx Work with References Use Onyx in the Real World Chapter 21: PowerGUI and vEcoShell Understand GUI Environments in Managing Automation Use PowerPacks to Manage Automation Scripts Chapter 22: PowerWF Studio Understand PowerWF Studio’s Capabilities Integrate PowerWF Studio Use PowerCLI in PowerWF Studio Use a Workflow Create Typical Workflows Chapter 23: Add a GUI Front-End to Your Automation Scripts Appreciate the Value of a GUI Choose the Correct Tool Create Some Basic WinForms Create a Somewhat Advanced Example Index Appendix A: Basic PowerShell Discover PowerShell’s Origins Develop Your Understanding of Objects Uncover Cmdlets and Get Help Utilize the PowerShell Pipeline Build Your Toolkit of Basic Cmdlets Appendix B: References and Links General Resources Chapter Resources