A virtual evolution in IT shops large and small has begun. VMware's ESX Server is the enterprise tool to free your infrastructure from its physical limitations providing the great transformation into a virtual environment--this book shows you how. Use Syngress' proven "How to Cheat methodology to configure and build VMware's ESX Server version 3. This clear, concise guide provides all the information you need to become a virtual whiz!This book will detail the default and custom installation of VMware's ESX server as well as basic and advanced virtual machine configurations. It will then walk the reader through post installation configurations including installation and configuration of VirtualCenter. From here, readers will learn to efficiently create and deploy virtual machine templates. Best practices for securing and backing up your virtual environment are also provided. The book concludes with a series of handy, time-saving command and configuration for: bash shell keystrokes, Linux commands, configuration files, common/proc files, VMware ESX commands, and troubleshooting.•Reap the Benefits of Server VirtualizationRealize improved ROI, ensure efficient mergers and acquisitions, and reduce compliance risk exposure through server virtualization and consolidation.•Build a Virtual MachineCreate a Gold Master and use your VMlibrary to leverage the power and flexibility of VMware. •Manage Your Virtual InfrastructureUse VMware tools to partition physical servers and manage virtual machines.•Set Up Scripted InstallationSee how a scripted installation method can be a fast and efficient way to provision ESX hosts.•Master ESX Native ToolsUse tools like Esxtop to diagnose performance issues and vmkfstools to import and export•Install and Use VMware Scripting APIsDevelop programs to help automate and ease administration—even with a limited background in scripting or programming.•Learn the Fundamentals of a VM BackupVMware ESX ships with three scripts that work together to create a backup and restore system: vmsnap.pl, vmsnap_all.pl, and vmres.pl.•Extend a Cloned Windows VM's Root PartitionUse Microsoft's Sysprep utility to extend a newly deployed virtual machine's root partition from the original clone size to a larger size.

Flexible and efficient, VMware ESX is the tool of choice for enterprise data centers looking to make the most of the latest virtualization methods. However, to date, no single manual provides users with a systematic way to understand and take full advantage of all its features and options.Novel Solutions for Every Level of the IT ChainVMware ESX Es

As part of the highly acclaimed Mastering series from Sybex, this book offers a comprehensive look at VMware vSphere 4, how to implement it, and how to make the most of what it offers. Coverage Includes: Shows administrators how to use VMware to realize significant savings in hardware costs while still providing adequate "servers" for their users Demonstrates how to partition a physical server into several virtual machines, reducing the overall server footprint within the operations center Explains how VMware subsumes a network to centralize and simplify its management, thus alleviating the effects of "virtual server sprawl" Now that virtualization is a key cost-saving strategy, Mastering VMware vSphere 4 is the strategic guide you need to maximize the opportunities.

This book contains simple and advanced scripting using both ESX and Linux commands to provide awesome virtual tools to automate administrative tasks of ESX Server. This book will cover the native tools that VMware provides with ESX Server. It will then discuss in detail the different scripting API's and how they can be leveraged to provide some very useful, practical and time saving tools to manage a virtual infrastructure. From virtual server provisioning to backups and everything in between, this book is a one stop shop for virtual tools. * An essential guide to virtualisation using both Linux and ESX commands * The companion Web site for book provides dozens for working scripts and tools presented in the book * Maximise VMware's powerful scripting language to automate time consuming administrative tasks

Over 95% of computers around the world are running at least one Microsoft product. Microsoft Windows Software Update Service is designed to provide patches and updates to every one of these computers. The book will begin by describing the feature set of WSUS, and the benefits it provides to system administrators. Next, the reader will learn the steps that must be taken to configure their servers and workstations to make the compatible with WSUS. A special section then follows to help readers migrate from Microsoft's earlier update service, Software Update Service (SUS) to WSUS. The next chapters will then address the particular needs and complexities of managing WSUS on an enterprise network. Although WSUS is designed to streamline the update process, this service can still be a challenge for administrators to use effectively. To address these issues, the next chapters deal specifically with common problems that occur and the reader is provides with invaluable troubleshooting information. One of the other primary objectives of WSUS is to improve the overall security of Windows networks by ensuring that all systems have the most recent security updates and patches. To help achieve this goal, the next sections cover securing WSUS itself, so that critical security patches are always applied and cannot be compromised by malicious hackers.* Only book available on Microsoft's brand new, Windows Server Update Services* Employs Syngress' proven "How to Cheat" methodology providing readers with everything they need and nothing they don't* WSUS works with every Microsoft product, meaning any system administrator running a Windows-based network is a potential customer for this book

This book is written with the IT professional in mind. It provides a clear, concise system for managing IT projects, regardless of the size or complexity of the project. It avoids the jargon and complexity of traditional project management (PM) books. Instead, it provides a unique approach to IT project management, combining strategic business concepts (project ROI, strategic alignment, etc.) with the very practical, step-by-step instructions for developing and managing a successful IT project. It's short enough to be easily read and used but long enough to be comprehensive in the right places.* Essential information on how to provide a clear, concise system for managing IT projects, regardless of the size or complexity of the project* As IT jobs are outsourced, there is a growing demand for project managers to manage outsourced IT projects* Companion Web site for the book provides dozens of working templates to help readers manage their own IT projects

A second edition filled with new and improved content, taking your ICS cybersecurity journey to the next level Key Features Architect, design, and build ICS networks with security in mind Perform a variety of security assessments, checks, and verifications Ensure that your security processes are effective, complete, and relevant Book DescriptionWith Industrial Control Systems (ICS) expanding into traditional IT space and even into the cloud, the attack surface of ICS environments has increased significantly, making it crucial to recognize your ICS vulnerabilities and implement advanced techniques for monitoring and defending against rapidly evolving cyber threats to critical infrastructure. This second edition covers the updated Industrial Demilitarized Zone (IDMZ) architecture and shows you how to implement, verify, and monitor a holistic security program for your ICS environment. You'll begin by learning how to design security-oriented architecture that allows you to implement the tools, techniques, and activities covered in this book effectively and easily. You'll get to grips with the monitoring, tracking, and trending (visualizing) and procedures of ICS cybersecurity risks as well as understand the overall security program and posture/hygiene of the ICS environment. The book then introduces you to threat hunting principles, tools, and techniques to help you identify malicious activity successfully. Finally, you'll work with incident response and incident recovery tools and techniques in an ICS environment. By the end of this book, you'll have gained a solid understanding of industrial cybersecurity monitoring, assessments, incident response activities, as well as threat hunting.What you will learn Monitor the ICS security posture actively as well as passively Respond to incidents in a controlled and standard way Understand what incident response activities are required in your ICS environment Perform threat-hunting exercises using the Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana (ELK) stack Assess the overall effectiveness of your ICS cybersecurity program Discover tools, techniques, methodologies, and activities to perform risk assessments for your ICS environment Who this book is for If you are an ICS security professional or anyone curious about ICS cybersecurity for extending, improving, monitoring, and validating your ICS cybersecurity posture, then this book is for you. IT/OT professionals interested in entering the ICS cybersecurity monitoring domain or searching for additional learning material for different industry-leading cybersecurity certifications will also find this book useful.