Hancock’s VMware Half Hour
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September 3rd, 2024Free vExpert Stickers Giveaway!
March 18th, 2025
As a small token of appreciation for the incredible vExpert community, I have a special giveaway for current VMware vExperts 2024 or 2025! ?
If you’re a vExpert and would like some free vExpert stickers, just go to my Meltonby Honey shop and select vExpert stickers! ? United Kingdom addresses only, 1 2024/2025 sticker per vExpert !
Not a vExpert yet? This could be your year to join the program! ? Apply today and become part of an elite group of VMware advocates!
I also wrote a song! Starts at 2m 20 sec !
15 Years of vExpert: My Journey & How You Can Join the Elite VMware Community!
March 18th, 2025
It’s time for me to sit down and write a blog post, revisiting a special email I received on February 26th. The subject line read: “Welcome to the vExpert Program!”
That simple yet powerful message signified something truly exciting—an official confirmation that I have once again been recognized as a VMware vExpert for 2025. Receiving this award is always an honor, and it never loses its thrill. However, this year holds even greater significance, as it marks my fifteenth consecutive year as a VMware vExpert.
For a decade and a half, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to the VMware vCommunity—sharing knowledge, providing support, and engaging with fellow professionals who are just as passionate about VMware technologies as I am. This milestone is not just a personal achievement but also a testament to the incredible community that makes the vExpert program so valuable.
I must also take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to Corey Romero, the vExpert Program Manager, who has dedicated so much time and effort to managing and growing the vExpert program over the years. His unwavering support and commitment have played a huge role in making this program what it is today.
Why You Should Apply for the vExpert Program
But the purpose of this blog, if you are reading this, is to encourage you to apply for the vExpert Program. If you’ve ever considered it—or even if this is the first time you’re hearing about it—now is the perfect time to get ready for the 2025 Second Half Application Period!
The VMware vExpert Program is a self-nominated award that recognizes individuals who actively share their VMware expertise with the community. Whether it’s through blogging, public speaking, creating video tutorials, contributing code, or supporting others in forums, vExperts are passionate about giving back.
How to Apply
- Create a vExpert account
- Complete your profile (this is mandatory)
- Submit your application during the next open period
If you’re unsure whether you qualify, keep reading for details on what it takes—or reach out to a vExpert PRO, who is there to help guide you through the process.
Qualifications for the vExpert Award
To be eligible for the vExpert award, you need to demonstrate consistent community contributions beyond your daily job responsibilities. For the 2025H2 (Second Half) award, judges will review your activities from 2024 and 2025 (up to the voting period).
Here’s how you can earn the vExpert Award:
? Enterprise/Internal Influencer – Lead VMware knowledge-sharing sessions, webinars, or workshops within your organization.
? Blogging – Write articles on VMware technologies, best practices, and industry trends.
? Code Sharing – Contribute scripts or tools via GitHub, VMware {code}, or internal repositories.
? Event Speaking – Present at VMUG events, VMware Explore, or other industry conferences.
? Podcasting – Host or co-host a VMware-focused podcast.
? Video Content – Create educational tutorials or product demos on YouTube.
? Online Forums – Provide support in VMTN, Reddit, or other VMware-focused communities.
? VMUG Leadership Support – Assist in running a local VMUG chapter.
Auto-Approved Categories
Certain categories of contributors receive automatic approval, though they must still submit an application:
? Book Authors – If you’ve published a VMware-related book in the past year.
? VCDX Certification Holders – Automatically qualify but must still apply.
? Moderators of VMTN or Reddit – Eligible after verification.
? VMUG Leaders – Active leadership roles qualify for auto-approval.
Benefits of Being a vExpert
As a vExpert, you receive exclusive benefits, including:
? A one-year complimentary VMUG Advantage subscription
? 3-year VCF or VVF home lab license (requires passing a VCP-VCF or VCP-VVF exam)
? 50% off VMware certification exams
? Access to over 1,300 vExperts worldwide
? Private & technical deep-dive webinars with VMware teams
? Early access to product betas and pre-launch briefings
? Private vExpert-only communication channels
? Recognition in the official vExpert online directory
? Invites to exclusive community leadership events at VMware Explore
When & How to Apply
The vExpert application process occurs twice a year. The first submission period runs from December to mid-January, while the second period opens later in the year, offering another chance to apply.
Once applications close, the vExpert team reviews submissions, and winners are announced via email. If you don’t get selected, you can appeal within five business days or enhance your contributions and reapply in the next period.
If you want to be recognized for your VMware contributions, don’t wait—start preparing your application today!
For guidance, check out the vExpert Best Practice Guide or reach out to a vExpert PRO in your region for tips on improving your application.
HOW TO: STILL Download VMware ESXi for FREE in 2025 – No Clickbait!
February 15th, 2025A year after Broadcom announced the retirement of the FREE VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi), making it unavailable for download without a licensed entitlement, I had a light bulb moment in a dream… ? In this video, I reveal how you can STILL access and download ESXi 6.0, 6.5, 6.7, 7.0, and even 8.0.3—completely FREE! Whether this is an oversight, a loophole, or just pure luck, the fact remains: ESXi is still obtainable, and I’ll show you exactly how. Plus, I’ll also share how you can run your own homelabs for free using VMware Workstation Pro 17.6! No tricks, no gimmicks—just real solutions for those who need ESXi. ? Watch now to take advantage before this disappears! ? #VMware #ESXi #FreeESXi #VMwareHomelab #VMwareWorkstation #Broadcom #virtualizationsoftware
These Arrived Today: The ComputeBlade – A New Era in Compact Computing
December 5th, 2024After much anticipation, The ComputeBlade has finally arrived! This innovative piece of hardware has been making waves in the compact computing and homelab community since its inception as a Kickstarter project, which closed in February 2023. While the Kickstarter campaign was highly successful, the journey to delivery has been anything but smooth.
The ComputeBlade Journey
For those unfamiliar, the ComputeBlade is an ambitious project by Uptime Lab designed to bring powerful, modular computing to a compact blade-style chassis. It offers support for Raspberry Pi Compute Modules (CM4) and similar SBCs, providing a platform for homelab enthusiasts, developers, and small-scale edge computing setups.
However, the project has faced several setbacks that delayed delivery for many backers:
- Russian Screws: Supply chain disruptions included sourcing specific screws, which became problematic due to geopolitical tensions.
- PoE (Power over Ethernet) Issues: The team encountered complications ensuring consistent and safe PoE functionality.
- Certification Challenges: Meeting various regulatory standards across regions added another layer of complexity.
Despite these hurdles, I opted to purchase my ComputeBlades retail, as Kickstarter backers have yet to fully receive their units.
For those interested in the Kickstarter campaign details, you can check it out here.
First Impressions
The retail packaging was sleek, compact, and felt premium. The ComputeBlade itself is a marvel of design, seamlessly blending form and function. Its modularity and expandability immediately stand out, with features such as:
- Support for Raspberry Pi CM4: Making it a natural fit for virtualization, containerization, and other development projects.
- Hot-Swappable Design: Simplifies maintenance and upgrades.
- Integrated Networking: Includes options for advanced network setups, perfect for a homelab.
What’s Next?
Now that the ComputeBlade has arrived, I’m eager to put it through its paces. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be:
- Testing Homelab Applications: From running lightweight virtual machines to hosting containers using Docker or Kubernetes.
- Evaluating Networking Features: Especially the PoE capabilities and how it handles edge computing scenarios.
- Sharing Configurations: I’ll document how I integrate it into my existing homelab setup.
Closing Thoughts
While the journey of the ComputeBlade from Kickstarter to retail has been rocky, the product itself seems poised to live up to its promise. If you’ve been waiting for a scalable and compact compute platform, the ComputeBlade might just be the solution you’ve been looking for.
Stay tuned for my follow-up posts where I dive deeper into its performance and practical applications. If you’re also experimenting with the ComputeBlade, feel free to share your experiences in the comments or reach out via social media.
HOW TO: Configure & Install VMware ESXi ARM 8.0.3b on Raspberry Pi CM4 installed on a Turing Pi v2 Mini ITX Clusterboard | FULL MEGA GUIDE
December 3rd, 2024
Welcome to Hancock’s VMware Half Hour! This is the Full Monty Version, the MEGA Full Movie on configuring and installing VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi ARM 8.0.3b on a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4. The CM4 is installed in a Turing Pi v2 Mini ITX Clusterboard, delivering a compact and powerful platform for ARM virtualization.
In this 1 hour and 19-minute guide, I’ll take you step-by-step through every detail, covering:
? Demonstrating Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit booting on CM4.
? Creating and installing the ESXi ARM UEFI boot image.
? Configuring iSCSI storage using Synology NAS.
? Setting up ESXi ARM with licensing, NTP, and NFS storage.
? A full walkthrough of PXE booting and TFTP configuration.
? Netbooting the CM4 and finalizing the ESXi ARM environment.
? Flashing the BMC firmware is covered in this video
? Replacing the self-signed Turing Pi v2 SSL certificate with a certificate from Microsoft Certificate Services. is covered in this video
Exploring ESXi ARM Fling v2.0 with the Turing Pi Mini ITX Board
November 26th, 2024
As an avid enthusiast of VMware’s innovations, I’m diving headfirst into the ESXi ARM Fling v2.0, which is built on the robust VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 8.0.3b codebase. The ARM architecture has always intrigued me, and with this latest version, VMware has pushed the boundaries of what’s possible with ESXi on ARM devices. It’s a playground full of potential for anyone experimenting with lightweight, power-efficient infrastructures.
The Turing Pi Journey
After much anticipation, my Turing Pi Mini ITX boards have arrived! These boards are compatible with the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4, offering a modular, scalable setup perfect for ARM experimentation. With a few Compute Module 4s ready to go, I’m eager to bring this setup to life. However, finding a suitable case for the Turing Pi board has proven to be a bit of a challenge.
Case Conundrum
While Turing Pi has announced an official ITX case for their boards, it’s currently on preorder and comes with a hefty price tag. For now, I’ve decided to go with a practical and versatile option: the Streamcom Mini ITX OpenBench case. Its open-frame design is functional, and it’ll keep the board accessible during testing and configuration.
I’m also considering crafting my own custom case. Using laser-cut wood or acrylic is an appealing option, offering the opportunity to create something unique and tailored to my specific requirements. But for now, the OpenBench case will do nicely as I explore the ESXi ARM Fling.
Why ESXi ARM Fling v2.0?
The ESXi ARM Fling project is an exciting venture for anyone who loves to experiment with virtualization. Running ESXi on ARM hardware offers several advantages:
- Energy efficiency: ARM boards consume far less power compared to traditional x86 systems.
- Cost-effectiveness: Affordable hardware like the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 makes it accessible to a wider audience.
- Flexibility: The compact form factor of ARM devices is ideal for edge computing, IoT, or even small-scale home labs.
The v2.0 update introduces enhanced support, better performance, and bug fixes, making it an excellent choice for exploring the ARM ecosystem.
What’s Next?
With the hardware in hand and the ESXi ARM Fling v2.0 ready to install, I’m planning to dive into:
- Setting up and configuring the Turing Pi board with ESXi.
- Testing the system’s stability, performance, and scalability using multiple Raspberry Pi Compute Modules.
- Exploring practical use cases, such as lightweight Kubernetes clusters or edge computing applications.
I’ll share updates on the build process, challenges, and performance insights in future posts. For now, I’m excited to get started and see what this setup can achieve.
Stay tuned for more! If you’ve experimented with the ESXi ARM Fling or have tips for working with the Turing Pi board, I’d love to hear from you.
Part 56: HOW TO: Manually remove a failed vSAN disk group from a VMware vSphere vSAN cluster using ESXCLI
November 25th, 2024
In this video presentation which is part of the Hancock’s VMware Half Hour I will show you HOW TO: Manually remove a failed vSAN disk group from a VMware vSphere vSAN cluster using ESXCLI.
The VMware vSphere vCenter Server web client has difficulty in performing some vSAN actions, so we need to connect via SSH to the bash shell of the ESXI host to perform this action using the following command
esxcli vsan storage remove -u <VSAN Disk Group UUID>
see here
How to manually remove and recreate a vSAN disk group using esxcli
Part 54: HOW TO: Migrate physical, virtual and cloud based workloads with real-time replication to VMware vSphere (ESXi) or Microsoft Hyper-V using OpenText Migrate
November 25th, 2024
In this video presentation which is part of the Hancock’s VMware Half Hour I will show you HOW TO: Migrate physical, virtual and cloud based workloads with real-time replication to VMware vSphere (ESXi) or Microsoft Hyper-V using OpenText Migrate.
Ten years ago I wrote the following article about the product Double-Take MOVE by Vision Solutions. It’s been acquired in the last ten years, by Carbonite, and now is in the hand of OpenText, and is name going forward will be OpenText Migrate.
HOW TO: Migrate physical, virtual and cloud based workloads with real-time replication to VMware vSphere (ESXi) using Double-Take MOVE
In these uncertain times, when you may be required to migrate workloads between platforms, such as VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V etc I can highly recommend OpenText Migrate. as one of the best products on the market for your Migration Project.
In this video I will demonstrate the migration of an Linux Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Server from Microsoft Hyper-V to VMware vSphere, and concurrently migrate a Microsoft Windows 2022 Server from VMware vSphere to Microsoft Hyper-V, with very little downtime.
Part 55: HOW TO: Check if you have compromised your VMware ESXi 7.0 Hosts if you have added them to Microsoft Active Directory
November 25th, 2024
This video was created in response to Experts Exchange members asking the question “have I compromised my ESXi host be adding to AD?”
In this video presentation which is part of the Hancock’s VMware Half Hour I will show you HOW TO: Check if you have compromised your VMware ESXi 8.0 Hosts if you have added them to Microsoft Active Directory.
In this video demonstration the ESXi servers are ESXi 8.0.3, which have the “fix” detailed below
Secure Default Settings for ESXi Active Directory integration
To demonstrate the differences between a compromised and non-compromised server, I have deliberately changed the default settings on esxi002.cyrus-consultants.co.uk, so the server can be compromised.
HOW NOT TO: Compromise your VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 5.1, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 6.7, 7.0, 8.0 by adding to Microsoft Active Directory
On the 29th July 2024, Microsoft discovered a vulnerability in ESXi hypervisors being exploited by several ransomware operators to obtain full administrative permissions on domain-joined ESXi hypervisors.
this publication is here – https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2024/07/29/ransomware-operators-exploit-esxi-hypervisor-vulnerability-for-mass-encryption/
VMware vExperts – Christian Mohn wrote about it here – VMware vSphere CVE-2024-37085 – A Nothing Burger
and Bob Plankers goes into more detail here – Thoughts on CVE-2024-37085 & VMSA-2024-0013
Please have a read of these publications.
Broadcom have issued updates and fixes to vSphere 7.0 and 8.0, and VCF 4.x and 5.x only. There is no security update for 6.7.
https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/24505
The Tale of Two Pumpkins – Happy Halloween
October 31st, 2024Halloween has always held a special place in our family, marked by a long-standing tradition involving two carved pumpkins meant to ward off evil spirits. In truth, it may have started because of my mother, who is a “Real Witch” (at least, that’s what she’d have you believe), born on Halloween itself! Her influence has certainly kept the spirit alive—quite literally, perhaps.
Growing up in the 80s, pumpkins were a rare sight where I lived. Back then, we didn’t have those big, orange squash that glow so perfectly in the night. Instead, we carved whatever was at hand—turnips and swedes, mostly. If you’ve never hollowed out a turnip, let me tell you, it’s no small feat! They’re tough little things, but my siblings and I would spend hours carving faces into those root vegetables, sticking candles inside, and setting them proudly by the front door.
Fast forward nearly forty years, and here I am, still keeping up the Halloween ritual. Today, pumpkins are plentiful, and I go out of my way each year to get just the right two. Some years I even grow them myself, but I usually end up scouting a local shop or pumpkin patch for just the right pair. Each Halloween, my part is to hollow them out carefully, while Lindsey brings them to life with her carving skills, adding those frightful faces that we hope still ward off whatever might be lurking in the shadows.
One year, about 20 years ago, I was away working and didn’t expect to be home for Halloween. But I managed to get back a bit earlier than planned. As I approached the house, two familiar jack-o’-lanterns glowed in the dark, flickering as if they’d been waiting for me. Lindsey had kept up the tradition, knowing how much it meant, and it was a simple but unforgettable moment that reminded me why these little customs are worth holding onto.
This year, on the night of October 30th, I thought I was all set. I’d bought the pumpkins early, choosing two that seemed perfect. They’d been safely stored in the back of the car, waiting for their transformation into guardians of the doorstep. But as I went to take them out, my heart sank—they were a soggy mess, leaking pumpkin juice all over the back of my “bee-mobile.” Disheartened but determined, I considered scouring the countryside for replacements. But Lindsey, ever practical (and with perhaps a touch of witchy wisdom herself), insisted I stay put. “Don’t go out in the dark!” she warned.
Halloween morning arrived, and the search began. I thought surely Pocklington Sainsbury’s would have some, but after a fruitless search, I moved on to Aldi—again, no pumpkins. Next stop was the Coop, then Browns the Grocers. Still nothing! It was turning into a real Halloween scavenger hunt. With optimism waning, I set out for Tescos in Market Weighton—surely they’d have some. But, no luck. Determined not to give up, I headed for Langlands Garden Centre. And yet, not a pumpkin in sight there, either.
Just as I was starting to think the tradition might be doomed, I remembered a nearby “Pick Your Own” (PYO) pumpkin farm. With renewed hope, I drove over, imagining rows of pumpkins just waiting for a home. But as I neared the entrance, I saw the sign on the gate—CLOSED. Still, something nudged me to check further. The padlock was open, and as I peered in, I saw a trailer and pickup truck in the distance. A man climbed out of the truck, and as I got closer, I recognized him from my days at the allotments years ago.
I approached, and we had a good chat. I learned that he’d owned the PYO farm for years. I told him about my pumpkin predicament and how the ones in my “bee-mobile” had rotted. He nodded knowingly and said, “It’s been a terrible year for pumpkins with all the rain. They’ve been rotting early everywhere. That’s why all the supermarkets had them out so early—suppliers just dumped them on them. Tesco’s has had loads of complaints with people returning rotten pumpkins!”
I told him about my search, and he said he’d just delivered the last trailer load to a local nursery. Everything left in the field was likely rotten, too. But then he smiled and said, “Help yourself for free. If you can find any good ones, they’re yours.” I thanked him, told him I’d be back next year, and set off through the field with renewed determination.
With a bit of luck (and perhaps a touch of magic), I found two pumpkins that were just good enough to carve. As I left, I couldn’t help but feel grateful—and maybe even a bit triumphant. This year’s search had turned out to be a true Halloween tale. So, never give up, and never surrender! Come Halloween night, those two faces would be glowing on our doorstep, keeping the family tradition alive.
And somewhere, my mother is likely cackling in approval.
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