How to use PowerShell Modules with vRA 8.2

January 18, 2021 in - "Options to use PowerShell Modules"

I like to review VMware vRA (vRealize Automation) 8.2 as a Microsoft Windows Server Admin. Most of the reviews you see are creating Linux VMs and customizing the OS using tools for Linux. I create Windows/Linux VMs and customize the OS using a new feature added to vRA 8.x, Action Based Extensibility (ABX) with PowerShell. In my vRA 7.6 environment I use a PowerShell Host to run processes and on the PowerShell Host is where I install all the PS Modules that I use.

How to be successful with VMware vRealize Products in your environment

January 15, 2021 in - "Recipe for Success"

I often get asked to speak to different organizations about what I have accomplished with the VMware vRealize Suite of products. The one question that almost always gets asked is how are you able to do everything that you have setup in your environment. After being asked this question a lot I thought I would give my thoughts in a Blog Post. Here is my “Recipe for Success”: Ingredients: Enjoy what you do.

Creating Charts with ChartJS and displaying in vRealize Operations

January 3, 2021 in - "ChartJS"

I like the idea of using VMware vRealize Operations as the “Single Pane of Glass” for all monitoring. The Citrix Team recently asked me if I could show license usage within vRealize Operations. They wanted to see the highest usage in the last 30 days, 10 days and 24 hours. Citrix license usage is not built into vROPS but I have used the “Text Display Widget” to show other information within vROPS.

ESXi on Raspberry PI

October 11, 2020 in - "Running ESXi on Raspberry PI..."

I have always be fascinated with everything that you can do with a Raspberry PI. When VMware released their Fling to install ESXi on the Raspberry PI I have become even more fascinated. An ESXi Host for the Home Lab for $50. Sign me up. During VMworld 2020, VMware announced that they would be releasing a Fling to install ESXi on the Raspberry PI. Before the VMworld session was over I had a new Raspberry PI ordered and it was delivered the next day, ahead of the Fling release, so that I would be ready.

vBrownbag VMworld Presentation

October 1, 2020 in - "vRealize Operations"

How to use vRealize Operations as your monitoring “Single Pane of Glass” For the 2020 VMware VMworld my presentation for the vBrownbag TechTalks was selected. Learn how to use the “Text Display” Widget on Dashboards to display data that is not within vRealize Operations. Display Weather Forecasts, Radar Maps, Data from SQL DBs on your next NOC Dashboard. Socials: Twitter: https://twitter.com/vBrownBag Facebook: https://facebook.com/vBrownBag iTunes: http://bit.ly/vbrownbagitunes https://vBrownBag.com is a community of people who believe in helping other people.

Text Display Widget - More Powerful than just displaying text on a Dashboard...

July 17, 2020 in - "vRealize Operations - Dashboards"

I was recently reviewing some sample custom vRealize Operations Dashboards and I seen where some of the Dashboards had custom text and images. I reviewed how they included the text and images and in some of the sample Dashboards they used the “Text Display” Widget and used a url for the content. They would display images saved on a web server. I thought this was interesting and started reviewing what else could be displayed by using a url with the “Text Display” Widget.

Smart Desk and Homelab.

July 11, 2020 in - "Working from Home and My New Homelab."

Smart Desk: Like most people that work in the Technology Field I have been “WFH” (Working From Home) since the beginning of March. I already had a dedicated office area but it wasn’t setup for full time employment. I always liked a L-Shaped desk and I had this layout by pushing to straight desks together. Worked OK but could use improvement. So I started looking at new desks. I had two requirements, L-Shaped and I also wanted my next desk to be a standup Desk.

Infoblox 1.1 plugin for vRA 8.1

June 14, 2020 in - "Infoblox IPAM integration - Dan Grove"

I recently setup the Infoblox 1.1 plugin for vRA 8.1 and ran into an interesting challenge that I thought I would share. The setup of the plugin is straight forward; follow the documentation and you’ll likely be set. However, if you use custom DNS views in Infoblox (internal, external, etc.) then some additional configuration is required that’s not easily identified. Out of the box, the Infoblox IPAM integration comes with only a few default properties.

What is vRealize Automation - Episode 21

May 29, 2020 in - "IT Reality Podcast"

I have been listening to Podcasts for many years. Everyday while driving to and from work I would listen to a Podcast. Anytime I traveled to a conference I would download hours worth of Podcasts to listen to while flying. Most of the Podcasts I listen to are Technology related. Here are some of my favorites: IT Reality Virtual Speaking Podcast Develop Great Managers vBrown Bag Automators Mac Power Users Twit Network of Podcasts I have had an interest to be a guest on a Podcast for several years.

vRealize Automation 8.1 - PowerShell ABX

May 17, 2020 in - "Creating PowerSell ABX for the Windows Admin using vRA"

I wanted to review VMware vRA (vRealize Automation) 8.x as a Microsoft Windows Server Admin. Most of the reviews you see are creating Linux VMs and customizing the OS using tools for Linux. I am going to create Windows Server VMs and customize the OS using a new feature added to vRA 8.1, Action Based Extensibility (ABX) with PowerShell. No vRO (Orchestrator) Workflows will be used. This is completely different compared to how I create Windows Servers with vRA 7.

Dale Hassinger