VMware

Omaha-Area VMUG

The Omaha-Area VMware User Group was started in May 2006 to help VMware users and enthusiasts get together to discuss VMware and virtualization technologies and ideas. Since then, we've been meeting every two to three months. Our membership continues to grow each meeting, with no sign of slowing down. More information about the group can be found on our VMUG discussion forum.

Here is a breakdown of the meetings that have already occured:

May 3, 2006 For our first meeting (in the First National Bank tower), Ladd Parrish from VMware kicked off our user group and outlined some of the successes of the VMware User Groups. Finn Agenbroad, also with VMware, then gave a presentation on ESX3/VC2 (very exciting stuff!).
August 2, 2006 A rough meeting to schedule, but all worked out well. MSI sponsored the location (UNO Alumni Center) and the meal, but wasn't able to arrange a speaker. Topics discussed:
  • Damon Howell did a high level SAN technology session where he explained some key topics and fielded a few audience questions.
  • Following lunch, Finn Agenbroad did a presentation on the upcoming release of VI3 and discussed some of the recommendations for upgrading to it.
  • We finished with an open Q&A session.  I think this worked well for most and seemed like a great way for the group to help each other out.
October 18, 2006 Our third meeting was conducted at BlueCross BlueShield of Nebraska and saw a continued increase in attendance. Starting with this meeting, I started an email list.  Topics discussed:
  • Thomas Bryant, Vizioncore, spoke to us about his company's offerings. Some very interesting products, especially in the VI3 migration field, that I wouldn't mind having a chance to play with.
  • Tim Stephenson presented the story on how BCBSNE justified and implemented ESX.
  • Following up on Tim's presentation, I did a live demonstration of BCBSNE's environment and discussed how the environment is managed.  The most interesting topic that was discussed was definitely the disk offset procedures that are used to maximize disk performance (more information can be found in the useful information section).
December 13, 2006 Our first sub-meeting was held at HDR to have an open discussion on VI3 implementation and strategies.
January 10, 2007 Another meeting with big difficulties.  We were back in the First National Bank tower, but had a room that didn't allow enough capacity for everyone that showed up (and they wouldn't let us go above the posted fire code number). Some people were allowed into a side room where we conducted all the presentations a second time. Given our growing membership, we'll make sure this doesn't happen again.

Topics:

  • John Chambers, Nebraska Health and Human Services, spoke to us about how they use and manage VMware Workstation for desktop application testing and packaging.
  • Jarod Martin, our VMware SE in Nebraska, presented the Virtual Desktop Inititive. This usage concept allows end users to use thin clients to connect to a Windows XP VM on an ESX server to use as their desktop. presentation
  • Platespin, represented by Peter Dyer, was our vendor for this quarter and picked up the food bill.  He gave a presentation on their product offerings and how they can enhance a companies DR plans. presentation
March 14, 2007 Our growth continues, but is slowing down. This meeting saw us trying a new format.  Instead of putting everyone in one big room, the group was divided into four seperate rooms, each with a different topic over three different session times.  This gave everyone a wider variety of topic choices, and also allowed for more interactive sessions. These sessions topics ranged from ESX Basics, to VMware ACE, to ESX Design.  Lots of good feedback about the format and the location, so I think we'll be repeating both.

Special thanks to Forsythe for sponsoring the lunch and a couple of the presentations, and to the Peter Kiewit Institute for allowing us to use their facilities.
May 29, 2007 Another successful use of the multiroom format. Topics presented:

11:00 am Greetings, group business and other announcements (computer lab)
11:30 am Session Break-outs
- Room 1 - VMware ESX Server Design, Ron Oglesby, RapidApp
- Room 2 - ESX 2.5 Server > VI3 Migrations, Chris Kraft, Union Bank and Trust
- Room 3 - P2V Tools, Warren Dugas, Physicians Mutual and Rod Hurley, Tenaska
- Room 4 - VMware Virtual Lab Manager, AOS
12:15 pm Lunch Break
01:00 pm Session Break-outs
- Room 1 - Citrix, VDI and ESX Server, Ron Oglesby, RapidApp
- Room 2 - ESX Server and the SAN, Rod Hurley, Tenaska
- Room 3 - ESX Security, Mike Hoesing, First National Bank
- Room 4 - I want to virtualize, now what?, Drew Kleinschmidt, VMware
01:45 pm Break
02:00 pm Session Break-outs
- Room 1 - ESX Server Optimization, John Weyenberg, Mutual of Omaha
- Room 2 - VI3 Troubleshooting, Chris Kraft, Union Bank and Trust
- Room 3 - VMware Virtual Appliances and Enterprise Software 2.0, VMware
- Room 4 - Justifying Virtual Infrastructure, Clint Pearson, HDR

RapidApp sponsored this meeting and provided lunch. Again, big thanks to the Peter Kiewit Institute for allowing us to use their facilities.
November 11, 2007 Post-VMWorld meeting.
January 23, 30 & February 13, 2008 Three mini-meetings were held using an open discussion format on the topic of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure. A very popular topic, all meetings were fairly well attended.
March 19, 2008 Hands-on Labs were featured for the first time in this meeting using the multi-room configuration at the Peter Kiewit Institute. This format was very well received and will probably be used again.

Vital Support Systems sponsored the event and developed and presented the labs.  A very big thanks to them for all they did!

July 16, 2008 A traditional format meeting, featuring a security expert from VMWare, a presentation on PanoLogic and their Pano device, and birds of a feather discussions.

PanoLogic sponsored the event.

This meeting was my final as VMUG leader.