VMware Cookbook, 2nd Edition

Chapter 1. VMware Infrastructure Installation

This book aims to be useful for both new and seasoned VMware ESXi users. Because of the intermediate-to-advanced nature of this cookbook, we will assume from time to time that you have advanced knowledge and understanding of how the products work. Before we begin serving the main recipes of our cookbook, we define several terms we will use throughout the rest of the book, and make sure that you have all the necessary components installed.

Virtualization provides a way for multiple operating systems to be installed on the same physical hardware. By using virtual technology, we can consolidate hardware and instantly build production, quality assurance, and test environments. This is a tremendous breakthrough, as it allows underutilized equipment to do more than sit around idly, and allows developers and administrators to test and use multiple software configurations and packages that require different operating systems on the same piece of equipment, without having to purchase, set up, and maintain multiple computers. This savings makes the accounting department and managers happy and gives the technology lovers an opportunity to do all the things they want or need to do at the same time.

A typical IT scenario goes something like this: you have lots of servers in your rack or collection of racks. Most of them run at only about 10%–15% of their capacity the majority of the time, but you let that happen because you want to keep their various ...