What VMware Ports Need to Be Open?

Josh — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:23:25 +0000

You may have seen some maps before about what ports need to be opened for a fully functioning VMware virtual infrastructure. A co-worker of mine, Aaron Sweemer has posted the work of one of our non-blogging counterparts, Dudley Smith. Dudley has created not only a diagram (PDF here), but a dynamic mapping list to help cull out the chaff you might not need for your specific deployment:

Connections & Ports in ESX & ESXi

You can filter by vCenter, ESX only, and many other options.

Print the PDF and use it for your office/cube’s wallpaper. I know I sure will.

Free Storage for Your vSphere Lab!

Josh — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:03:49 +0000

A common hurdle I have to overcome in my day-to-day job is trying to get those who haven’t tried the advanced features of vSphere to try them, due almost exclusively to lack of access to the shared storage (Fiber Channel, iSCSI or NAS) that enables them. Understandable, since enterprise level shared storage can start in the 5 figures. Even partners have a hard time justifying the cost of something like that, thus the creation of this list. For almost everyone, it is a lot easier to get a hold of x86 servers than it is to get an array in-house.

Linkbait title aside, the purpose of this list is to get as many options out to VMware customers and partners to allow for set up of evals, proofs of concept and demo labs while minimizing cost of entry.

This list was culled from casual discussions, both internal and on Twitter. I am trying to keep the criteria as objective as possible. Let me know if there is anything criteria or appliance-wise that you think needs adding.

You can find the consistently updated list at Free Storage for Your Lab.

VM Super Genius » vsphere

What VMware Ports Need to Be Open?

Free Storage for Your vSphere Lab!