The VMware vExpert is a given title from VMware to individuals who have significantly contributed to the community and have spread the message of VMware to customers and partners worldwide. This is nothing you get by passing an exam. It’s given to you by VMware in respect of your work. The vExpert title is something which differates you inside the commnity. Individuals who participate in the program, have access to betas, free licenses, early access briefings, free access to VMworld conference materials online, access to a private community, use of logos etc.

Today I was at a customers site. My attention was initially directed on a vCOps deployment. vCOps is a good startpoint if you need a quick overview over a vSphere environment. Unfortunately vCOps wasn’t working any more. The license was expired and the login page wasn’t accessable, but the admin login page was workingI restarted the vApp but this doesn’t solve the problem. The customer owns a VMware vSphere with Operations Management Enterprise Plus license and it would be a shame, if he wouldn’t use vCOps in his environment (> 15 hosts).

The title of this blog post mentions two terms that have to be explained. First, a VMware vSphere Metro Storage Cluster (or VMware vMSC) is a configuration of a VMware vSphere cluster, that is based on a a stretched storage cluster. Secondly, HP 3PAR Peer Persistence adds functionalities to HP 3PAR Remote Copy software and HP 3PAR OS, that two 3PAR storage systems form a nearly continuous storage system. HP 3PAR Peer Persistence allows you, to create a VMware vMSC configuration and to achieve a new quality of availability and reliability.

Disclaimer: I use a NFR license that was provided to me as a vExpert by code4ward free of charge. I have searched for a relatively long time for a solution to manage multiple remote connections, like RDP, VNC or SSH. I tried different free tools, but none of them fulfilled my requirements, which are quite simple: Manage different connections & credentials. First I’ve tried Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager, which was quite good.

In addition to the benefits that VMware grants to vExperts, a couple of vendors grant also benefits to vExperts. This includes free licenses, subscriptions or other offers. This is only a loose compilation of vExperts benefits. Vendor Offer Link Solarwinds Virtualization Manager NFR http://bit.ly/1gYJtBB Veeam Backup & Replication NFR http://bit.ly/1esRaFn Pluralsight Annual Plus Subscription http://bit.ly/1esTa0o Tintri Polo Shirt http://bit.ly/1eJqgE2 Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager 1y NFR http://bit.ly/1iRVXfm Login VSI VIP program http://bit.

The VMware vExperts program is a annual given title from VMware to individuals who have significantly contributed to the community. It’s an award for sharing their knowledge with the community. It’s a nice way to say “Thank you” from VMware. There are three different tracks you can apply: The Evangelist Path is for bloggers, authors and other members of the community, who demonstrate their passion and knowledge. The Customer Path is for customers.