Preserving the Legacy of Gaming and Inspiring Future Engineers: My VMware Anniversary Celebration
A few weeks ago, I celebrated my remarkable 12-year journey with VMware, a company that truly values its employees and their passions. To commemorate this milestone, VMware generously offered to donate ~$3K USD to a non-profit of my choice and granted me two weeks of respite. After some consideration, I decided to direct the donation to the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum in Las Vegas. Beyond merely contributing to a unique and exciting attraction, my decision was fueled by a profound belief in preserving arcade games for future generations of IT engineers.
Why did I choose to preserve video games and support the Pinball Hall of Fame?
- The Pinball Hall of Fame A Beacon of Community Support: The Pinball Hall of Fame Museum is not just an ordinary arcade; it stands as a testament to the power of giving back to the community. A significant factor in my decision to support this establishment was its admirable mission of using its profits to reinvest in the local community. Knowing that my donation would directly contribute to the betterment of Las Vegas was incredibly fulfilling.
- Preserving the Past to Inspire the Future: Growing up in the 80s, I experienced an unforgettable event that profoundly influenced my career path. While playing Space Invaders on an Atari 2600, a simple question from my mother sparked an insatiable curiosity about computers and electronics. Her question was, “I wonder how they know when to shoot when you are under them.” From that moment on, my passion for technology became the driving force behind my education and career decisions. My story, though unique to me, resonates with countless IT professionals who also found their calling through the love of gaming.
- Arcade and Pinball Games: These games are more than entertainment. To me they are catalysts for aspiring engineers. Arcade and pinball games have served as unexpected gateways into the world of technology for many professionals like myself. It is awe-inspiring to discover the multitude of individuals in the IT industry who share similar stories of finding their passion through gaming. Supporting the Pinball Hall of Fame is not merely a gesture of nostalgia; it is a dedication to nurturing the next generation of engineers who may experience their own transformative moments within those vibrant halls.
- Volunteering for a Greater Cause: As part of my anniversary celebration, I chose to dedicate my 2 week respite by volunteering at the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum. Not only is this a wonderful opportunity to give back to the Las Vegas community, but it also allows me to witness firsthand how this extraordinary place continues to inspire young minds. By volunteering, I hope to contribute to the nurturing environment that fosters the technological geniuses of tomorrow.
My 12-year anniversary with VMware will be an opportunity to reflect on my journey and appreciate the pivotal role that arcade games played in shaping my life. Choosing to support the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum through VMware’s generous donation and volunteering is a way to give back to a community-focused organization and inspire future engineers to embrace their passions fearlessly. Let us continue to preserve the legacy of gaming and kindle the spark of curiosity in generations to come.
Your #ChatGPT generated justification letter for attending #VMwareExplore 2023!
I think I found one of the best use cases for ChatCPT. A buddy and I were fooling around with ChatGPT the other day. We were mostly making funny songs lyrics and that is when it hit me. Why not use ChatGPT to write my next blog post. How about having it come up with a justification letter that my readers could give to their boss.
Well folks below is that letter, I must say it did a pretty good job, and I do hope it helps you too!
I asked ChatGPT: “Write me a justification letter for VMware Explore 2023”
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
I am writing to provide a comprehensive justification for attending VMware Explore 2023, highlighting the immense value and benefits it offers to our organization. VMware Explore is an exceptional event that brings together industry experts, thought leaders, and technology enthusiasts from around the world. Attending this event will greatly contribute to our knowledge base, professional development, and competitive advantage.
- Cutting-Edge Technology Insights: VMware Explore is renowned for providing in-depth insights into the latest advancements and trends in virtualization, cloud computing, and digital transformation. By attending, we will gain firsthand knowledge of VMware’s cutting-edge technologies, product roadmaps, and strategic vision. This will enable us to align our IT strategies with industry best practices and leverage VMware solutions effectively.
- Expert-Led Sessions and Workshops: The event offers a diverse range of sessions, workshops, and hands-on labs led by industry experts and VMware professionals. These interactive sessions delve into key topics such as hybrid cloud, security, containerization, and modern application development. By participating in these sessions, we will gain practical knowledge, learn from real-world use cases, and acquire skills that can be immediately applied to our organization’s IT infrastructure.
- Networking and Collaboration Opportunities: VMware Explore provides a unique platform for networking and collaboration with IT professionals, solution architects, and fellow VMware users. Engaging with peers and industry leaders will allow us to exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn from their successes and challenges. This invaluable networking opportunity can lead to partnerships, innovative solutions, and potential business opportunities.
- Solutions Showcase: The event features an expansive solutions showcase, where VMware and its ecosystem partners demonstrate their latest technologies and solutions. Exploring this showcase will enable us to discover new products, explore integrations, and evaluate potential vendors. This hands-on experience will assist us in making informed decisions regarding our IT infrastructure, future investments, and digital transformation initiatives.
- Professional Growth and Certifications: VMware Explore offers opportunities for professional growth through training and certifications. By attending the event, our team members can participate in technical training sessions and earn certifications that validate their expertise in VMware technologies. These certifications can enhance their professional profiles, strengthen our organization’s competency, and improve our overall operational efficiency.
- Return on Investment (ROI): Investing in attendance at VMware Explore can yield substantial returns for our organization. The knowledge gained, industry connections established, and insights into VMware’s roadmap will empower us to optimize our IT infrastructure, streamline operations, and drive innovation. The event’s takeaways can result in cost savings, improved productivity, and enhanced business agility.
In conclusion, attending VMware Explore 2023 will provide us with unparalleled opportunities to stay at the forefront of technology, expand our knowledge base, collaborate with industry leaders, and strengthen our competitive position. I recommend our organization’s participation in this event as it will yield significant benefits, both in terms of professional development and business growth.
Thank you for considering this justification, and I look forward to your approval to attend VMware Explore 2023.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
VMware Workstation 17 Nested Home Lab Part 9: Performance Testing
Part 9 is the last video in this series. In this part we step by step install and configure the HCI Bench APP into our Nested vSphere environment. This APP will allow us to benchmark our nested #vSAN ESA environment. I’ll show you a few tips and tricks for getting it installed and operational. At the end of this video we review the results.
A BIG THANK YOU to my sponsor #Intel and the #vExpert program. Their generous support of the Intel #Optane samples made this series possible.
Check out this link for more information: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/details/memory-storage/data-center-ssds/optane-dc-ssd-series.html
#Optane #IntelXeon #Xeon #vExpert #VMware #Cloud #datacenter
VMware Workstation 17 Nested Home Lab Part 8: Setting up vSAN ESA
In Part 8 we install and configure the vSAN ESA into our Nested vSphere environment. We’ll do a quick review of the networking setup with vDS, some tips/tricks to setting up vSAN ESA, validate the ESA datastore, and enable the vSAN License key. All these steps will prepare us for Part 9 where we’ll run HCIBench to performance test our nested cluster.
VMware Workstation 17 Nested Home Lab Part 7: Setting up vSphere Environment
In Part 7 we start the setup of our vSphere environment and get it ready for the vSAN ESA Install. The steps we’ll cover are as follows – Power On all the systems, Ensure NTP, DNS, and network connectivity are working, Add License Keys, Create Datacenter and Cluster, Add Hosts to the cluster, Validate Host NTP Settings, and finally Suppress Shell and SSH Warnings.
#Optane #IntelXeon #Xeon #vExpert #VMware #Cloud #datacenter
VMware Workstation 17 Nested Home Lab Part 6: Installation of ESXi 8 Hosts
We’ve turned the corner on our series and in Part 6 we install ESXi 8 on to our Workstation 17 deployment. Additionally, I cover a few tips and tricks for getting the install to go smoothly!
#Optane #IntelXeon #Xeon #vExpert #VMware #Cloud #datacenter
VMware Workstation 17 Nested Home Lab Part 5: Installation of VCSA 8
In Part 5, I show you all the tips you’ll need to successfully install VCSA 8 on to Workstation 17.
#Optane #IntelXeon #Xeon #vExpert #VMware #Cloud #DataCenter
VMware Workstation 17 Nested Home Lab Part 4A/B
In Part 4A, I cover installing Windows 2022 Server, setting up AD, and DNS. Part B we complete the installation of Windows 2022 Server services (NTP, DHCP, RAS) and validate them. Towards the end of the video I make some adjustments to the DNS server allowing it to work properly.
#Optane #IntelXeon #Xeon #vExpert #VMware #Cloud #DataCenter
VMware Workstation 17 Nested Home Lab Part 3
In Part 3, I go over some OS Clean Up items, reviewing our network plan, and setting up Workstation 17 for the networks we’ll need. As motioned in the video check out @VMwareTAMLab for more information around alternative Windows AD/DS services.
#Optane #IntelXeon #Xeon #vExpert #VMware #Cloud #DataCenter
VMware Workstation 17 Nested Home Lab Part 2
In Part 2, I go into a physical hardware overview, show how to enable VT-X and VT-D, installation of Windows 11 (which includes a trick to disable the TPM requirement), install of Workstation 17, and review common issues when Hyper V is enabled. At the end of this video #windows11 and #workstation 17 are installed and operational. Coming up in Part 3 we’ll build out or Workstations Networks, start building the Windows 2022 server with AD, DNS, RAS, DHCP, and other services.
#Optane #IntelXeon #Xeon #vExpert #VMware #Cloud #datacenter
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