Data Services Manager (DSM) 9.0…
A short video to highlight the steps involved in installing DSM version 9.0. This appliance is available as an OVA but must be installed through the vCenter Client “Add Plugin” mechanism.
Category: VMware
Quick Tip – Disable ESX Live Patching…
Quick Tip – Disable ESX Live Patching…
While enabling the vSphere Supervisor Service on my VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0 setup, I came across an error I had not seen before as I have performed this numerous times across both vSphere 8.x and vSphere 9.0: A general system error occurred: Solution specification in the image […]
Minimal VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0 Lab…
Minimal VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0 Lab Setup
Minimal VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0 Lab…
I have been a huge fan of using the Minisforum MS-A2 to deploy VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0, which has been a fantastic way to get hands-on experience with the latest release of VCF! Best of all, it allows us to explore all the exciting new capabilities that VCF 9 has to offer, while balancing […]
Custom UEFI Boot Menu for ESXi 9.0 using rEFInd
Custom UEFI Boot Menu for ESXi 9.0 using rEFInd
Unless I am working with an unreleased version of ESXi, I usually install it by booting from a USB drive that includes an embedded Kickstart configuration file, that will fully automate the installation. For a single ESXi host deployment, this workflow works great but if you have more than one […]
Microsoft SQL Server now tech preview in Data…
Microsoft SQL Server now tech preview in Data Services Manager 9.0
Microsoft SQL Server now tech preview in Data…
As I highlighted in my previous post, we are delighted to announce that Microsoft SQL Server is now a technical preview in Data Services Manager version 9.0. This is one of the most requested data services that customers have been asking for. We have heard requests for MS SQL Server at various DSM events held over the past year or so. It’s great to finally have this as a service we can offer our customers, not just the day 0 provisioning aspect, but also the various day 2 operations including…Read More
VCF 9.0 Single Sign-On (SSO) with Keycloak IdP
VCF 9.0 Single Sign-On (SSO) with Keycloak IdP
VCF 9.0 Single Sign-On (SSO) with Keycloak IdP
As part of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0, users can now enable the new VCF Single Sign-On (SSO) capability, allowing true single sign-on across all components within the VCF solution. While modern IdPs such as Okta, PingFederate, Microsoft Entra ID and Microsoft ADFS continue to be supported for Production deployments, users might want to play […]
Is my NIC supported with Enhanced Data Path…
Is my NIC supported with Enhanced Data Path (EDP) with VCF 9.0
Is my NIC supported with Enhanced Data Path…
By default, VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0 will use the optimized Enhanced Data Path (EDP) Standard switch mode when configuring NSX, which will require you to have an EDP capable network adaptor. One way to check whether your network adaptor supports EDP is by using the Broadcom Compatibility Guide (BCG) and ensuring “Enhanced Data Path […]
PowerCLI remediation script for running NSX…
PowerCLI remediation script for running NSX Edge on AMD Ryzen for VCF 9.0
PowerCLI remediation script for running NSX…
If you are planning to deploy VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0 on an AMD Ryzen processor (consumer CPU), make sure you are aware of the required workaround to get the NSX Edge node to function properly, which I had shared the solution back in 2020. Fortunately or unfortunately, the workaround is still applicable with VCF […]
Session Scheduling Is Now Live: VMware Explore 2025 Las Vegas
If you’re planning to attend VMware Explore 2025 in Las Vegas, now’s the time to act—Session Scheduling Is Now Live! 🚨
Don’t risk landing on a waiting list for the most sought-after sessions. Some of them fill up quickly, especially those focused on VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 (VCF), Private AI, and hands-on labs led by community legends.
🎯 Why I’m Excited About Explore 2025
As someone who’s both a cloud infrastructure nerd and an AI enthusiast, VMware Explore is the perfect blend of both worlds. From the latest features in VCF 9.0 to deep dives into AI inference at scale, this year’s agenda is packed with innovation. I’m especially hyped for the sessions that explore how to run enterprise-grade workloads (like LLMs!) on VMware infrastructure, even in constrained environments like home labs.
🧠 My Personal Session Picks
I’ve handpicked 10+ sessions I consider absolute must-attends—whether you’re an AI practitioner, SDDC architect, or storage performance junkie.
📝 I shared my detailed picks already in this post:
👉 My Top 10 Sessions You Can’t Miss at VMware Explore 2025
Here’s a quick refresher:
Top 10 Sessions You Should Lock In Right Now
1️⃣ Deploying Minimal VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 Lab
📎 CLOB1201LV – William Lam
Perfect for home labbers and resource-conscious architects.
2️⃣ Real-World Lessons in Rightsizing VCF for On-Prem AI Workloads
📎 INVB1300LV – Frank Denneman & Johan van Amersfoort
A deep and practical look at balancing AI infra needs.
3️⃣ Unleashing AI Inference at Scale with NVIDIA Dynamo
📎 INVB1070LV – Denneman & Kelly
Mind-blowing scale potential for LLMs on VMware Private AI.
4️⃣ Encryption, Keys & Secrets for Kubernetes – Part 1 & 2
📎 CMTYQT1284LV & CMTYQT1285LV – Waldemar Pera
Security-first deep dive for modern hybrid cloud architectures.
5️⃣ Six Innovations Redefining Storage and DR in VCF
📎 CLOB1028LV – Duncan Epping
From ransomware recovery to S3, this is storage future today.
6️⃣ vSAN Express Storage Architecture Deep Dive
📎 CLOB1067LV – Epping & Nicholson
If you thought vSAN couldn’t get faster—you’ll be surprised.
7️⃣ Mastering vGPU Management in VMware for AI
📎 INVB1158LV – Shawn Kelly & Justin Murray
GPU slicing, vMotion, best practices—all in one session.
8️⃣ Security & Resilience for Sovereign AI
📎 CLOB1262LV – Bob Plankers & Justin Murray
Vital for organizations building compliant, sovereign AI solutions.
9️⃣ What’s New in VCF 9.0 Security & Compliance
📎 CLOB1261LV – Bob Plankers
Stay audit-ready with the latest VCF 9.0 compliance updates.
✨ BONUS: SPECIAL INVITE – Homelab Meets SAM2: Fine-Tune Like a Pro
📎 CMTYQT1227LV
I’ll be co-presenting this one! We’ll show how we fine-tuned SAM2 for video segmentation using just a homelab.
📌 Why You Should Go to VMware Explore
Whether you’re an enterprise architect, a cloud engineer, or just a tinkerer with a homelab and ambition—VMware Explore is where the future of infrastructure gets built. It’s not just about announcements—it’s about ideas, connections, and the spark that fuels your next big project.
🌐 Register now and lock in your schedule:
👉 https://brcm.tech/3YYd1yg
Don’t miss out. I’ll see you there—maybe at the SAM2 session! 😉
Failed to locate kickstart on Nested ESXi VM…
Failed to locate kickstart on Nested ESXi VM…
If you are automating the installation of ESXi using a scripted installation (aka Kickstart) and the KS.CFG is located on a CD-ROM device and you happen to be using a Nested ESXi VM and see the following message: cannot find kickstart file on cd-rom with path — /KS.CFG You are probably using […]