Virtual Observer

Improve Your Knowledge of Hyper-V in a Converged VMware Infrastructure

Or, how to get free training on Hyper-V and VMware.

• By James Brown
• 12/18/2013

Having a mixed virtualized infrastructure is more commonplace now than it was a few years ago. As virtualization deployments expand, some of you have virtualized infrastructures that are configured to support a mix of VMware and Microsoft technology and several other virtual platforms, whether they are pre-configured virtual appliances or open source.

Converged infrastructures happen often by accident. Some of you who have virtualized infrastructures may have had Hyper-V initially and are migrating toward VMware, or it could have happened other way around. Regardless, we are still responsible for maintaining both, and the learning curve has not increased as both platforms continue to improve to compete for customers.

Microsoft has realized this issue of converged infrastructures and it knows that companies aren't going to remove their VMware deployments anytime soon. Given that fact, Microsoft has been offering Hyper-V classes targeting anyone who is using VMware along with Hyper-V in their infrastructures.

Training is provided free via the company's Microsoft Virtual Academy or in person at limited, select locations.

Although the training is designed to help you learn Hyper-V in configurations that use Microsoft System Center, the company is uisng it as an opportunity to show Hyper-V's competitive advantages over VMware. You will have to make that decision for yourself, but this training is a good opportunity for anyone to learn the basics and move toward the advance aspects of Hyper-V that you can utilize within your converged VMware and Hyper-V infrastructure.

To get started, create you a Microsoft Virtual Academy account at
http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/. Once your account is created, you can enroll in all the free Hyper-V courses, from Introduction to Hyper-V Jump Start, Microsoft Virtualization: VMware Professionals, Microsoft Tools for VMware Integration & Migration Jump Start; there are 14 free ones currently listed.

In addition Microsoft is also providing the opportunity for a free virtualization certification when you request a free voucher for exam 74-409.

Whether you want to stay with VMware as the primary virtualization platform or move to Hyper-V, it pays to know both. It's a win-win opportunity to further boost your knowledge and skills for your converged virtualized infrastructures.

James Brown, vExpert, VCP, MCSE, is a senior virtualization engineer and CEO of Virtuxperts and VMware Users Group Leader in Las Vegas, NV. James' area of expertise includes virtualization, infrastructure and Windows systems.