Capturing VM Switch‑Port Traffic with a simple script

When I’m troubleshooting a virtual machine’s network behavior, the first thing I reach for is a packet capture. In theory it’s simple: locate the switch‑port the VM is attached to, start a capture on that port, and save the results for later analysis. In practice I kept forgetting the exact commands—especially the quirky combination of pktcap-uw and tcpdump-uw that ESXi require. To solve that, I wrote a tiny shell script that does everything in one go. Below I walk through the script, explain each step, so you can use it in your own environment.   The script can be found […]

Automating VMware/Broadcom URL Whitelisting Checks with a Simple Bash Script

I wrote another piece of bash script that I think others might fine useful, hence the blog post 🙂 It is some what inspired by DSvClient which I also recently did a new release of check it out here on MichaelRyom.dk or here on GitHub! Why I wrote this script I ran into issues working with vCenter and network security. It was a very practical problem: firewall and proxy rules were silently breaking essential VMware/Broadcom services. Broadcom publishes a public URL list that must be whitelisted for things like vSphere Update Manager, vSAN Cloud Health, and the VVS API. The […]

DSvClient 0.6 – Broadcom ready and bug fixes

Hi, Since the initial release, I’ve been addressing quite a few bugs that came with the new Broadcom token, as well as other minor issues and slowdowns. I’ve also open-sourced the software. It’s still not perfect, but hey, whose code that, right? 😉 Going forward, I’ll be supporting Windows and Linux only. If you need it for other operating systems, you’ll have to build it yourself. The latest version, 0.6, can be found here: https://github.com/MichaelRyom/DSvClient/tree/Main/releases/latest I’ve implemented a new system for GitHub automation to help with releases when needed. Here are some of the key improvements and fixes: Instead of […]

DSvClient – New patch downloading tool for vCenter

  Streamlining VMware Update Management with DSvClient: A vExpert’s tool In the ever-evolving landscape of VMware infrastructure management, keeping components updated while ensuring consistency across environments has become increasingly complex. As a VMware administrator, you’re likely familiar with the challenges of managing patches, updates, and ensuring file integrity across multiple environments. Today, I’d like to introduce you to a powerful utility that I have created. I started this project for fun while experimenting with Rust during last year’s Christmas holiday. It has since evolved into an application that I believe has multiple applications in enterprise environments. What Is DSvClient? DSvClient […]

VMUGDK Presentation – PowerShell: From Zero To Hero

Hi all Did a presentation on Powershell yesterday and only got around halfway through, before I ran out of time. I have publish the entire thing on github if anyone want a peak at what I talk or didn’t. No powerpoint just powershell code. The presentation is an attempt to start slow and end up where modules and functions gets built. https://github.com/MichaelRyom/VMUGDK-12-2022   Enjoy

Part 3: SuperMicro SuperServer E300-8D 2 years later

TOC Part 1: The NUC killer: SuperMicro SuperServer E300-8DPart 2: SuperMicro SuperServer E300-8D deep divePart 3: SuperMicro SuperServer E300-8D 2 years later So it is more than two years since I posted my first blog about the E300-8D and why I bought SuperMicro over an Intel NUC. It’s about time for an update and an upgrade of the home lab. How has it been Before I jump into all the new stuff. Let me look at how it has been the last two years with the SuperMicro server in the lab. It has been excellent, no issues at all I […]

vRops 7.5 Active Directory authentication fails

vRops 7.5 has been out little over two weeks now and from the looks of it, its an epic release with so many improvements and a great deal of new and exciting features. I have upgraded a few environments with no problems at all and then last week yet another one got upgraded. As it does most times the upgraded went fine and the pre-upgrade bundle had no changes which would affect the customers environment. I then went to the login page, to try to login to vRops. Selected the Active Directory source, typed my credentials and hit the login […]

PernixData Log Insight Content pack

Better late than never right! So for all you still running the now extinct PernixData FVP. Here is a Log Insight content pack, which can help you troubleshooting any issues you might experience. There is not a lot to say about it. Since I created it I might as well share it, just in case someone else might be using PernixData FVP still. The zip file can be downloaded over at github. Extract the vlcp file and import it into Log Insight.   https://github.com/MichaelRyom/PernixData-LogInsight-Content-Pack

Log Insight content pack for HPE OA

This content pack as been living a quiet life over at loginisght.vmware.com for quite some time now and it is now ready to enter the main stage. Or at least I found the time to write about it. I love Log Insight, it is the one product from VMware, that YOU can truly enhance day by day. It just keeps growing and getting better and better with the more time you invest in it. It not even a lot of time that is needed, just enough so that you get to understand the structure of the log and can setup […]

A general runtime error occurred – Adding vSAN Witness node

I have just reinstalled my homelab. vCenter deployed on a new vSAN datastore and a second host added to my small 2-node vSAN cluster. Only thing missing was adding the vSAN witness node, and I would be ready for business. Right click “add host”, type in IP. Click next. Type username and password, next. error! A general runtime error occurred. What the, what! What does that even mean! Next deploy Log Insight, there must be a clue in the logs some where… nothing! Arrrggg! So I remembered having issues last time as well. What was it… can’t remember… Well I […]