If you’re here to gather some of the best practices surrounding vSphere, you’ve come to the right place! Mastering vSphere: Best Practices, Optimizing Configurations & More, the free eBook authored by me, Ryan Birk, is the product of many years working with vSphere as well as teaching others in a professional capacity. In my extensive career as a VMware consultant and teacher (I’m a VMware Certified Instructor) I have worked with people of all competence levels and been asked hundreds - if not thousands - of questions on vSphere. I was approached to write this eBook to put that experience to use to help people currently working with vSphere step up their game and reach that next level. As such, this eBook assumes readers already have a basic understanding of vSphere and will cover the best practices for four key aspects of any vSphere environment.
The best practices covered here will focus largely on management and configuration solutions so should remain relevant for quite some time. However, with that said, things are constantly changing in IT, so I would always recommend obtaining the most up-to-date information from VMware KBs and official documentation especially regarding specific versions of tools and software updates. This eBook is divided into several sections, and although I would advise reading the whole eBook as most elements relate to others, you might want to just focus on a certain area you’re having trouble with. If so, jump to the section you want read about.
Before we begin, I want to note that in a VMware environment, it’s always best to try to keep things simple. Far too often I have seen environments be thrown off the tracks by trying to do too much at once. I try to live by the mentality of “keeping your environment boring” – in other words, keeping your host configurations the same, storage configurations the same and network configurations the same. I don’t mean duplicate IP addresses, but the hosts need identical port groups, access to the same storage networks, etc. Consistency is the name of the game and is key to solving unexpected problems down the line. Furthermore, it enables smooth scalability - when you move from a single host configuration to a cluster configuration, having the same configurations will make live migrations and high availability far easier to configure without having to significantly re-work the entire infrastructure. Now the scene has been set, let’s get started!
Make the Move: Linux Remote Desktops Made Easy
Securely run Linux applications and desktops from the cloud or your data center.
Download this guide and learn...
Assess what you already have
If you have a business continuity plan or a disaster recovery plan in place, that’s a good place to start. This scenario may not fit the definition of disaster that you originally intended, but it can serve to help you test your plan in a more controlled fashion that can benefit both your current situation by giving you a head start, and your overall plan by revealing gaps that would be more problematic in a more urgent or catastrophic environment with less time to prepare and implement.
Does your plan include access to remote desktops in a data center or the cloud? If so, and you already have a service in place ready to transition or expand, you’re well on your way.
Read the guide to learn what it takes for IT teams to set up staff to work effectively from home with virtual desktop deployments. Learn how to get started, if you’re new to VDI or if you already have an existing remote desktop scenario but are looking for alternatives.
To effectively care for patients during the pandemic, healthcare organizations have turned to technologies such as telemedicine and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). These solutions allow providers to continue operations while reducing the risk of contamination among patients, doctors and hospital staff.
VDI allows medical personnel to remotely access software applications, including Electronic Health Records (EHR) and other medical databases, from endpoint devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones.
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) is a VDI solution that effectively reinforces key healthcare IT initiatives so organizations can provide continuous patient care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this white paper, you’ll learn how Parallels RAS:
Download this white paper to learn more about how Parallels RAS helps healthcare organizations safely provide patient care during the pandemic.
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) can be integrated with Microsoft RDS to enable system administrators to centrally manage the delivery of virtual desktops and applications with ease while giving end users the functionality needed to boost productivity.
Parallels RAS is quick and easy to install, and features:
By integrating Parallels RAS with Microsoft RDS, organizations of any size and scale can meet their unique needs.
Download this white paper now to learn how your company can publish applications and virtual desktops seamlessly and securely to any device with the combined capabilities of Microsoft RDS and Parallels RAS.
There are many solutions on the market that can make remote work easier and more accessible so staff can continue to be productive, regardless of their location. But not all are created equal. A solution should be able to be deployed quickly, ensure the security of confidential data and be easy for both admins and employees to use.
That’s where virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solutions come into play.
The benefits of using VDI—rapid deployment, inherent security and simplified management—make a compelling case for its suitability as the technology to adapt to today’s new normal and prepare for future disruptions.
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) is a VDI solution that enables organizations of all sizes to effortlessly deliver applications and virtual desktops to any endpoint device at any time. What’s more, its simple infrastructure makes it easy to implement, manage and scale, while its affordable price point keeps costs down.
Download this white paper today to understand how a VDI solution like Parallels RAS can boost your remote workforce.
In addition to helping propel demand for more mobile solutions (e.g., laptops, thin clients and Bluetooth-enabled accessories), the pandemic has also emphasized the vitalness of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solutions in helping enable successful digital workplaces.
Many VDI solutions offer a centralized architecture, which simplifies various IT processes crucial to supporting remote work environments. While there is no shortage of VDI tools out there, Parallels® Remote Application Server (RAS) certainly stands out.
Parallels RAS is an all-in-one VDI solution that takes simplicity, security and cost-effectiveness to a whole new level while enabling employees to easily access work files, applications and desktops from anywhere, on any device, at any time.
Parallels RAS effectively addresses the common challenges of enabling workforce mobility, such as:
In this white paper, you’ll learn what workforce mobility looks like in today’s business world, the key benefits and drawbacks of a mobile workforce and how Parallels RAS helps solve common remote work solutions.
Download this white paper now to discover how Parallels RAS can help transform your digital workforce to conquer today’s challenges and ensure you're well-prepared for the future.
In today’s fast-moving and often unpredictable business world, companies need a VDI solution that’s provides safe, secure remote access to critical data and apps while remaining simple for IT admins and end users alike.
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) is an all-in-one VDI solution that provides:
When compared to Citrix, Parallels RAS is also much more affordable, faster to deploy and easier to use, which means everything can be up and running in days—not weeks or months.
Download this white paper now to discover why Parallels RAS is the only full-featured VDI solution your organization needs.
Parallels Remote Appplication Server (RAS), on the other hand, is a one stop solution for all your virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) needs.
Parallels RAS offers a single edition for on-premises, hybrid and cloud setups, which comes with a full set of enterprise-level features to help you deliver a secure, scalable and centrally managed solution.
In this white paper, we discuss the common challenges customers face with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops and explore how you can save up to 60% on costs with Parallels RAS—all while reducing the complexity for your IT team and improving the user experience for your employees.
Download the white paper to learn more!