How to Disable Smart Card Authentication at vCenter Server Level?

Today i got a support request to fix this issue, where at vCenter Server level smart card authentication was enabled only and username and password based authentication was disabled. Due to smart card unavailability user was enable to login. I am going to share the procedure used by me to fix this issue (Where the requirement was to disable smart card authentication and enable password based authentication)

1. Login to vCenter Server through SSH client

2. Now execute this command to enable password based authentication

sso-config.sh -set_authn_policy -pwdAuthn true -t tenant_name

sso-config.sh -set_authn_policy -pwdAuthn true -t vsphere.local 

If you want to know more about sso-config.sh command then refer this KB

Once this command is successfully completed then it will enable username and password based authentication. 

3. Login to vCenter Server through vSphere Client by using username and password

4. Then Click on Menu > Administration > Single Sign On > Configuration > Smart Card Authentication > Click on Edit  > Now Select Option "Enable Password and Windows Session Authentication"  > Click on Save.

 

5. It's Done. Issue is Fixed.

Reference Document

Understanding Image Management Service (IMS) for VMware Horizon Cloud Service on Microsoft Azure

Challenges of Image Management

1. Typical organizations may have five to 15 unique image payloads as source material for provisioned VMs.
2. Given large deployments, organizations may have to manage significant number of copies (five to 20 or more) per unique image, resulting in 25-100+ image objects in the environment.
3. Often these images need to be updated once or twice a week to keep up with security and application updates, this means 10-30 updates per week in the best case.
4. Orchestrating the workflow to produce, validate and publish images and then to replicate and acclimate them to all the different Horizon destinations is a tedious, manual and lengthy process requiring active monitoring and troubleshooting that is prone to error.
5. Organizations may be spending hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars just shuffling content and managing updates of provisioned workloads.
6. There is no content management system that holistically captures and presents the catalog of images fueling the virtual environment and helps you keep track of your change history.

Image Management Service (IMS) Overview

1. Build a single reusable image catalog rather than manage fleets of duplicate objects. 
2. Focus on Windows settings and line of business application changes.
3. Automate and accelerate the process of image publishing and replication to all your connected sites and Pods.
4. Retain historical trail of which image versions came from which previous versions in case you need to troubleshoot image functions. 
5. Update fleets of pools with a single operation of moving a marker (tag) from an existing image version to the target version.
6. Limitation Note: Due to image format, Horizon Cloud Azure images are limited to use within Horizon Cloud on Azure Pods, and Horizon images are limited to use within Horizon Pods.

IMS (Image Management Service) Publish Process

1. Deploy Image from Marketplace

Log in to HCS Universal Console > Inventory > Images-Multi-Pod > New  > Fill the required details

Marker 

• A marker tag is a unique label that is used to identify a use case that a particular image version is suitable for. Markers are unique, but image versions can have one or more markers assigned to them.
• VM assignments refer to the marker tags in order to identify which image to clone and provision virtual machines from. By using these markers, you can orchestrate the updating or rolling back of images as needed for individual user groups or different assignments if necessary. Change history is recorded in an image version tree.
  

2. Customize Image

Connect with MS Azure Portal > Connect with VM deployed by Image Deployment Process using RDP / Bastion > Do Necessary Customization as per use-case

3. Publish Image

Log in to HCS Universal Console > Inventory > Images-Multi-Pod > Open Image > Select Version > Click on Publish > Wait for  approx 20 minutes.

4. Create Desktop Assignments Using Multi-Pod Image and it's marker

Wait for few minutes and once desktops are deployed in all the Pod, end users can start consuming these desktops.

Note:- These desktops are listed as single desktop when you will check these in desktop properties but these desktops are available as different desktops in Azure Portal

Conclusion

All these capabilities are designed to remove the manual labor out of managing images.

Challenges of Image Management

Free Training From VMware - Bitnami Fundamentals

In the world of microservices, open source software are becoming a norm, and it is a challenge to maintain hundreds and thousands of open source software automatically whenever there is an update or CVE patch. Bitnami is a library of installers and software packages that solves this problem.

To Learn Bitnami Fundamentals, You can Enroll yourself for Free Bitnami Fundamentals Training. Click on this button to enroll

 Credit: VMware

Free Training from VMware - Docker Fundamentals

If you are interested in Learning Docker Basics. Here is free Docker Fundamentals training offered by VMware.

Credit:VMware

Free Training - VMware Cloud Foundation Fundamentals

 If you are looking for understanding VCF (VMware Cloud Foundation) Fundamentals, here is free eLearning available:

 

Credit: VMware

Free VMware NSX Training - VMware NSX-T Datacenter: What's New 3.1

 If you want to learn, What's New in NSX-T DC Version 3.1? Here is Free 1 Day Training Offered by VMware

Enroll for this training from here

 Credit:VMware

Free VMware Training - VMware vRealize Operations: What's New 8.2

 If you are interested in learning What's New in VMware vRealize Operations 8.2. Here is Free 1 Day Training Offered by VMware.

Enroll for this training from here

Credit:VMware

Free VMware vSAN Training - vSAN 7 Plan and Deploy / vSAN Fundamentals

 If you want to learn VMware vSAN Basics, Here is free 1 Day VMware vSAN Version 7 Training offered by VMware. It is renamed as vSAN Fundamentals now.

Enroll for this Free Training

 

 Credit : VMware

Free Course for VMware vRealize Automation

Anyone who is interested in Learning VMware vRealize Automation Migration from 7.x to 8.2, there is an eLearning available at VMware Customer Connect Learning. To acces this course:

1. First Login here https://learning.customerconnect.vmware.com/ 

2. Search for VMware vRealize Automation Migration [v7.x to v8.2] or Click on this Link

3. Click on Get Started to Start this Course

Experience New Improved VMware Product Interoperability Matrix Website

Yesterday, I have noticed that VMware Product Interoperability Matrix website is updated, It is now offering better experience to all VMware Customers.

https://interopmatrix.vmware.com/

This website has three sections:

1. Interoperability - This option is available to check two different VMware Solutions Compatibility

2. Solution/Database Interoperability - This option is available to check Specific VMware Solution Compatibility with Database

 3. Upgrade Path - This option is know, from which version of VMware Solution upgrade is possible to the next version

Metric and Properties Added, Removed and Changed in VMware vROPS 8.3

 Whenever there is a new version of any product then question here is to know What's New. One thing which is important in VMware vROPS is Metrics and Properties. To Know, What are Metrics added/removed/changed in vROPS. Here is the link where you can find info about this:

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/82345

90 Days Trial of Horizon Universal License

To assist customers with their business continuity needs, VMware is expanding free trials of Horizon Universal License options. From now until Feb 1, 2021, Customers who register for a free trial will be entitled to trial the VMware service offering for up to 90 days and up to 100 users at no charge. Additionally, customers will be allowed to use productions data in the free trial. Your trial is subject to the VMware Terms of Service, except as modified above.

Customers all over the world are taking advantage of the speed, flexibility and simplicity of the cloud to deliver and manage virtual desktops and apps. You can get started by requesting a 90-day Horizon Universal License trial supporting the virtual desktop and app deployment of your choice:
Horizon 7 On-Premises
Horizon 7 on VMware Cloud on AWS
Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure
Horizon Cloud on IBM Cloud

Terms and Conditions

• Free trial participants must meet all requirements for their type of trial deployment outlined in the following documentation:
  - Horizon 7 On-Premises or Horizon 7 on VMware Cloud on AWS Checklist
  - Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure Checklist
  - Horizon Cloud on IBM Cloud Documentation
• A VMware sales representative will contact trial participants via phone to gather additional information before free trial is offered.
• Free trial does not include GSS support.
• Any infrastructure costs are not included. Free trial participants must bring or purchase their own infrastructure.
• Free trial participants are granted 90-day access to the cloud control plane for their trial deployment.
• For Horizon 7 On-Premises trial deployments, virtual desktop and app connectivity to the internet is required for cloud control communication.
• 100-user limit on free trial accounts (named or concurrent).
• Participation in the Horizon Cloud free trial program is subject to the VMware Terms of Service.

If you have additional questions, please contact Horizon_Universal_License_Free_Trial@VMware.com.

Information Source:

https://www.vmware.com/horizon-universal-license-trial.html

VMware Announced New Associate Level VCTA (VMware Certified Technical Associate) Certification's

VMware Introduced 3 new certifications today under a new certification Level VCTA (VMware Certification Technical Associate)

FAQ's

Who is the Target Audience?

Anyone. This entry-level technical certification is for anyone new to the industry or advancing their careers who perform operational tasks typically delegated by administrators of virtualized environments.

Is it available in all Certification's Tracks?

No. Currently It is Only available for Datacenter Virtualization, Network Virtualization and Security Tracks.

Is it a prerequisite for VCP?

No. It is optional

 Is it mandatory to attend the VMware Authorized training before writing this exam?

No. Recommended training will be available soon in VMware Connect Learning (Formerly VMware Learning Zone)

Where can i find more info about VCTA?

Refer this link : https://www.vmware.com/certification

VMware Education Services is Now Rebranded as VMware Learning

VMware now rebranded VMware Education Services to VMware Learning

To Access VMware Learning:

Use www.vmware.com/education or www.vmware.com/learning.

 Here is New Look of this website

 

VMware Certification Update Announcement - It's Important to Know !!!!!

As we all know, if anybody wants to write their First VMware VCP Certification of any track there are few requirements:-

1. One of the Listed Official Course according to the VCP Track
2. Pass the vSphere Foundation Exam
3. Pass the Track specific Core Exam

VCP-DCV with vSphere Foundation Exam

These are the requirements till date, but now there is a change in these requirements for VCP-DCV 2020 and VCP-NV 2020

1. One of the Listed Official Course according to the VCP Track
2. Pass the Track specific Core Exam

VCP-DCV without vSphere Foundation Exam

VCP-NV without vSphere Foundation Exam

This means no need to Pass the Foundation Exam for VCP-DCV and VCP-NV Track but for this you have to attend specific courses as listed on www.vmware.com/certification website

Note: For Other Tracks (other than these two tracks) vSphere Foundation exam is still needed

VCP-CMA 2020

Check Horizon Cloud Service on Microsoft Azure Health Status

As in cloud for cloud service provider it is important to update the customers about the cloud service status, like you cannot login to Horizon Cloud Administration Portal

Example:

If those systems are experiencing a system outage and cannot take authentication requests, you will not be able to log in to the Administration Console during that time period. If you encounter issues logging in to the Administration Console's first login screen, check the Horizon Cloud System Status page at https://status.horizon.vmware.com to see the latest system status. On that page, you can also subscribe to receive updates.

How to Check Horizon Cloud Service Status

1. Open https://status.horizon.vmware.com

2.  You will see this page

Here you can see all systems operational status, past incidents and even Subscribe to Updates to get all these updates in your Mailbox

Understanding the Floating VDI Power Management Modes in VMware Horizon Cloud on Azure

In VDI Environment, there are two types of Desktops Assignment

• Floating = In this case every time user connects with the desktop pool, user can get any available desktop from the desktop pool. Which means desktop is not Persistent

• Dedicated = In this case every time user connects with the desktop pool, user will get the same desktop from the desktop pool. Which means desktop is Persistent.

There is no Power Management Mode available for Dedicated desktops, it is only available for floating desktops.

In this post, i will discuss about if you have created Floating VDI Desktop in Horizon Cloud on Azure then what are the power management modes available and how these are helping organizations to minimize the cost of running Desktops in the Cloud.

Power Management Modes

There are three power management modes available in Horizon Cloud on Azure

Low Threshold = This is used to Power off the VDI Desktop in VDI Deskop Assignment

High Threshold = This is used to Power on the VDI Desktop in VDI Deskop Assignment

Example Scenario

VDI Assignment Setting

• Min Desktops = 1
• Max Desktops = 10
  
• Power Management Mode = Optimized Performance

Formula to Calculate Load

Active sessions / unassigned powered on desktops) x 100 = utilization%

When Desktop is Powered On in VDI Assignment?

As my assignment capacity is Max. 10 Desktops, all 10 VM's will be created upfront but as the min desktops is 1 due to this out of 10 only 1 will be powered on

When Another Desktop is Powered On in VDI Assignment?

As Powered on desktop is assigned to one of user now based on formula i have discussed my pool utilization is 100%

1/1*100 = 100%

As the result of this one more vm will be powered on as shown in this example vm2 is powered on

Now if two desktops are assigned to two users, again both the powered on vms are consumed as the utilization is again 100% (2/2*100) then two more vm's wlll be powered on to keep the utilization as per the threshold

2/4*100 = 50% Utilization

When Desktop is Powered off

Lets assume 6 VM's were powered on over the time period and out of this only 1 is in assigned to the user. Now the current utilization is below the low threshold

1/6*100 = 16.67% Utilization

Now 4 VMs will be powered off

Once all the users are logged out, then only number of minimum desktops specified in the Pool will be in the powered on state, rest all will be powered off. In our scenario Min Desktops is equal to 1.

Welcome to VMware Cloud Tech Zone - VMware Cloud Community

If you are interested in learning VMC on AWS, check this new community page started by VMware.

You can access following here:

- Feature Briefs

- Quick Start

- Design Guide

- Tools

- Reference Guides

- Cloud Field Day Recordings and alot more

Here is the link https://vmc.techzone.vmware.com/

VMware Learning Zone Premium Package 6 Month Promotion

The VMware Learning Zone is your single source for digital training from VMware. 24/7 access to training delivered by top VMware experts and Certified Instructors lets you learn when, where, and how you want.

Get everything in the Basic and Standard subscriptions PLUS access to 12 Certification Exam Prep courses (including more than 650 videos). You can review the latest technical content and get help to prepare for some of VMware’s most popular certification exams. Now you can take your skills to the next level with complimentary access to the Premium Subscription for 6 months.

Length of Subscription - 182 Days (No Payment Required)

Link To Enroll - Click Here

FAQs - Access it from Here

Understanding RDSH Farm Power Management Modes in VMware Horizon Cloud on Azure

These days due to Pandemic, whole world is struggling to support remote workforce. In this case there is Cloud based VDI solution available from VMware which is VMware Horizon Cloud on Azure, in this you can Bring your own Azure Infrastructure and use it for running the workloads for remote workers with the help of Horizon Cloud on Azure. You need Few Subscriptions needed for this setup:

1. Azure Subscription (BYO Subscription)

2. Horizon Cloud on Azure Subscription (Get it from VMware)

3. Windows Licenses (Check Microsoft Website)

In this post, i will discuss about if you have created RDSH Farm in Horizon Cloud on Azure then what are the power management modes available and how these are helping organizations to minimize the cost of running Desktops in the Cloud.

Workflow of Publishing Apps and Desktops in VMware Horizon Cloud on Azure

RDSH Farm is basically the collection of RDS Servers with similar configuration

Power Management Modes

There are three power management modes available in Horizon Cloud on Azure

Low Threshold = This is used to Power off the RDS Server in RDS Farm

High Threshold = This is used to Power on the RDS Server in RDS Farm

Example Scenario

RDS Farm Setting

• Min VMs = 1
• Max VMs = 2
• Session per VM = 20
• Power Management Mode = Optimized Performance

Serveral Users to whom RDS Farm is Assigned

Now as soon as this farm is created it will create 2 RDS VM's upfront, out of these two VMs one will be powered on as Min VMs is one. If Min VMs is Zero, no RDS VM will be powered on

Formula to Calculate Load

Active Sessions on RDS Server / Max Sessions Per VM * 100

When New Server Is Powered On?

In this example i have RDS Server with 12 Sessions and RDS 2 is Powered Off

12/20*100 =  i have 60% load on RDS1, which is beyond optimized performance high threshold. Now RDS 2 will be Powered on and all new sessions will start on RDS 2.

If Both the servers usage is above the high threshold, New session is placed in round robin manner. Server which has less number of active connections will be selected, like in this example RDS2 will be selected.

When Existing Server Is Powered Off?

Now both the Servers usage is below high threshold as number of active sessions are reduced, lease loaded server will be quiesced and no new session will be placed on that server like in this example lease loaded server is RDS 2.

As soon as all the users will logout from RDS 2, RDS 2 will be powered off

This example is based on Optimized Performance mode. You can set any mode out of three modes, the only difference is different thresholds. Now you can notice the benefit of Power Management Modes is servers will be Powered off and Powered on automatically to help you in minimize the cost of running Desktops in cloud.

Source - VMware Whitepaper