By the end of the course, you should be able to meet the following objectives:

• Use the command-line interface, log files, and vSphere Client to diagnose and resolve problems in the vSphere environment
• Practice Linux commands that aid in the troubleshooting process
• Analyze vSphere log files and determine the root cause of specific problems
• Troubleshoot storage problems and apply the appropriate resolution to these problems
• Troubleshoot and resolve networking problems
• Troubleshoot virtual machine problems, including migration problems, snapshot problems, and connection problems
• Identify VMware ESXi™ host and VMware vCenter Server® problems, analyze failure scenarios or misconfigurations, and rectify them
• Troubleshoot performance problems with vSphere components and apply mitigations
• Configure and manage the vSphere infrastructure to improve availability and operational stability

1. Course Introduction

• Introductions and course logistics
• Course objectives

2. Troubleshooting Tools

• Identify the tools available for troubleshooting a vSphere environment
• Explain the purpose of commonly used vSphere log files
• Use Linux commands that will assist you with troubleshooting vSphere
• Use the vim-cmd tool to manage hosts and virtual machines

3. Storage Troubleshooting

• Review the vSphere storage architecture and functionality necessary to troubleshoot storage problems
• Use ESXi and Linux commands to troubleshoot storage problems
• Analyze log file entries to identify the root cause of storage problems
• Investigate ESXi disk and storage issues
• Troubleshoot virtual machine snapshots
• Troubleshoot storage performance problems
• Troubleshoot storage all paths down and permanent device loss conditions
• Troubleshoot problems due to file locking on the ESXi host
• Configuration task: Configure iSCSI multi-pathing

4. Network Troubleshooting

• Review vSphere virtual switch architecture and functionality necessary to troubleshoot networking problems
• Use ESXi and Linux commands to troubleshoot networking problems
• Analyze log file entries to identify the root cause of networking problems
• Recover from a management network failure
• Troubleshoot VMware vSphere® vMotion® migration problems
• Configuration task: Modify network card options and drivers
• Configuration task: Migrate networking from a standard switch to a distributed switch
• Monitor the behavior of NIC teaming failover and load balancing
• Use the command line to isolate and resolve networking failures

5. System Troubleshooting

• Review virtual infrastructure architecture and functionality necessary to troubleshoot ESXi and vCenter Server problems
• Analyze log file entries to identify the root cause of virtual infrastructure problems
• Use the command line to manage and troubleshoot the vSphere virtual infrastructure
• Analyze virtual machine CPU performance
• Troubleshoot ESXi host connection problems
• Troubleshoot virtual machine power-on failures
• Troubleshoot vCenter Server connection problems
• Restart ESXi management agents and VMware vCenter® Server Appliance™ services from the command line
• Perform a file-based backup of vCenter Server Appliance
• Resolve Solution User certificate problems

• Senior system administrators, experienced system administrators
• Senior system integrators, experienced system integrators

This course requires completion of one of the following prerequisites:

• VMware Certified Professional 6.5 – Data Center Virtualization (VCP6.5-DCV)
• VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V6.7] (with two years production experience)
• VMware vSphere: Optimize and Scale [V6.7]
• VMware vSphere: Troubleshooting Workshop [V6.7]
• VMware vSphere: Fast Track [V6.7]
• Equivalent knowledge and administration experience with ESXi and vCenter Server

Experience in working with a command-line interface is highly recommended, as is completion of VMware vSphere: Optimize and Scale [V6.7].