Search Results for: cycling

Power off VM from Guest OS Reboot capability in vSphere 8

09.26.2022 by William Lam // 3 Comments

In 2019, a new VM advanced setting called vmx.reboot.PowerCycle was introduced and greatly simplified the remediation of CPU vulnerabilities for our customers. The operational challenge that came with applying CPU microcode updates was that all running VMs on an ESXi host would need to go through a complete power cycle (power off and power back on) before the guest operating system(s) would be fully protected.

The new VM setting would notify ESXi to convert a guest operating system reboot into a VM power cycle operation, which aligns nicely when an organization applies a guest OS update or patch and the guest OS is then rebooted afterwards. The benefit to our customers is that the remediation of CPU vulnerabilities can co-exists with an organizations existing maintenance window and the OS is remediated through a regular guest OS reboot. From the guest OS point of view, nothing has changed, it still sees a reboot but from the VM virtual hardware point of view, a complete power cycle has occurred. A very cool and innovative solution if you ask me!?

The reason for this background, there is another use case that has also been operationally challenging which is upgrading the VM Compatibility, also known as VM Virtual Hardware. A VM must be powered off before you can change the VM Compatibility and a simliar challenge arises with coordinating the downtime of a VM with application owners/teams. What if we had a simliar capability like the guest OS reboot triggering a power cycle, but instead of power cycling the VM, it would simply power it off?

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Help support JWOC's Racing4Change on #GivingTuesday

12.01.2014 by William Lam // Leave a Comment

During our Good Gigs Trek in Cambodia, I learned from one of the JWOC (Journeys Within Our Community) staff members, Victoria Neff that they were raising funds for an upcoming event cycling and running event to help raise awareness and funds for JWOC. I was really hoping the event was during our stay, but unfortunately it was not and that it would be taking place on Dec 6th and 7th. As many of you know, I enjoy cycling and have ridden in the past for several great charities and running is something I am now just taking up.

To support my friends over at JWOC, I have donated to Victoria's half marathon event as it was something near and dear to my heart because I will be attempting a similar run next year. I would also like to ask all of my followers to consider supporting this great cause, I know many of you have supported me in the past and for this #GivingTuesday, I would like to ask for your support for these wonderful folks over at JWOC.

Here is a bit more about the event and you can donate by going here.

Help us, help our community. Help our scholarship students and staff raise $9000 to allow crucial aspects of our projects to continue. This fundraiser will allow us to provide 140 water filters, continue our art and science classes for one year, fund 15 microloans and provide one whole village with 60 Home gardens. We want to help our community, but we need your help to make it possible.

On December 6th, Scholarship students and staff from Journeys Within Our Community (JWOC) will take part in a 30km bike ride to raise awareness and funds for JWOC. In addition, Victoria, our Education Manager and Makara, a graduated scholarship student, will run the Angkor half marathon on December 7th. Alex, JWOC's Managing Director, will be taking part in the Angkor 10k run to raise funds across the projects for JWOC.

We work to promote economic, educational and improved health opportunities through access to basic services such as clean water, microfinance, education and community liaison programs. JWOC builds capacity and increases self-reliance, helping struggling communities to face daily challenges and better their own future.

Good luck to everyone at JWOC taking part in the cycling and running events, you guys all rock!

Support my challenge - Bike MS: Waves to Wine Ride 2014

08.18.2014 by William Lam // 1 Comment

When I am not playing with the latest VMware products or exploring new technologies, one of my passions outside of work is cycling (road bike). Yesterday, I decided to take the plunge and signed up for the annual Bike MS: Waves to Wine Ride 2014 which takes place the weekend of September 20-21, 2014. The ride is to help bring both awareness as well as help raise funds towards curing MS (multiple sclerosis). I personally do not know of anyone with MS or have it myself, but I think it is a worthy cause to ride for and here is some more details regarding the disease from the website:

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling, disease of the central nervous system that interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Millions of people are affected by MS and the challenges of living with its unpredictable symptoms, which range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS.

I have decided to challenge myself by taking on the century route (104 miles) which starts from San Francisco and goes all the way up to Sonoma County. This will be an interesting ride as it will be my first "official" century (accidentally did one about month ago from Sunnyvale to San Francisco) and will be my first time riding with large number of cyclists. I think it will be fun and quite challenging and I am really looking forward to it.

To participate in the event, I will need to personally raise a minimum of $350 USD (16 days left), which I have already donated a small amount myself. I am reaching out to greater Virtualization community to ask for your help and support. If you would like to support me and the National MS Society, please consider making a small donation here. I have also created a group called Team VMware, as one did not exists and others would like to join. I have also set a new optimistic fundraising goal of $5,000 after being blown away from all the support from my fellow VMware colleagues and the Virtualization community. I will definitely be leveraging our VMware Foundation benefits to match whatever amount I have been able to raise. I hope you will share this with your colleagues, friends and family and assist me with this worthy cause! For VMware employees who donate, you will be able to get the VMware Foundation to match your contributions. You simply just need to "Request a Match" on our Intranet and provide proof of contributions and they will handle the rest!

I also plan on renting a GoPro to capture my ride and the spectacular views as a token of my appreciation.

Click here to Donate!

Thanks for your considerations!