8 Best-Selling VMware Books Professionals Trust

What started as Edward Haletky's deep involvement with VMware environments led to this detailed guide on securing virtual infrastructures. You’ll learn to identify vulnerabilities specific to VMware vSphere and the broader virtual infrastructure, including how to defend against exploits targeting vmkernel and virtual storage networks. The book lays out practical methods for securing advanced features like vMotion, High Availability, and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, giving you concrete steps to tighten your virtual environment’s defenses. If you manage VMware deployments or are responsible for enterprise security, this book equips you with the technical insight to protect your virtual assets effectively.

The breakthrough moment came when Edward L. Haletky distilled years of hands-on consulting into this detailed guide for deploying and managing VMware ESX and ESXi servers. You gain a clear understanding of planning, installation, monitoring, tuning, security, and disaster recovery specifically tailored to VMware's evolving platforms like vSphere and ESXi. Haletky’s real-world examples and practical insights into features such as Storage IO Control and Distributed Virtual Switches help you navigate complex enterprise environments confidently. This book suits VMware architects, administrators, and managers seeking to deepen their operational expertise rather than casual users.

This tailored book explores focused strategies to safeguard VMware environments against evolving security threats. It covers the essential principles of virtual infrastructure protection, examining common vulnerabilities and effective defenses specific to VMware platforms. By addressing your unique background and goals, the book reveals tailored insights that prioritize the security challenges most relevant to your setup. It blends widely validated knowledge with your personal interests to create a resource that directly matches your needs. This personalized guide guides you through securing virtual networks, hardening hypervisors, and managing access controls, all designed to deepen your understanding and enhance your protective measures within VMware environments.

When Brian Ward wrote this guide, he drew on his deep technical expertise to demystify VMware Workstation for users eager to harness virtualization technology. You’ll learn how to install and configure VMware, manage device emulation, and optimize guest operating systems, all while navigating networking setups and troubleshooting common issues. The book offers detailed chapters on file transfers and network configurations that clarify complex topics without unnecessary jargon. If you’re a systems administrator, IT professional, or an enthusiast aiming to run multiple operating systems on one machine efficiently, this book provides clear guidance tailored to your needs.

Drawing from his extensive background in virtualization and cloud computing, Daniel Mitchell offers a straightforward introduction to VMware vSphere that avoids drowning you in jargon. You’ll learn how to design, install, deploy, and maintain virtualized environments with clear explanations that cover everything from creating virtual machines to troubleshooting common issues. The book breaks down complex concepts like virtual networks and cloud infrastructure in a way that’s accessible for IT managers and system administrators new to VMware technology. Chapters on deployment and maintenance provide practical knowledge to keep your virtual environment running smoothly, making this a solid choice if you’re looking to build hands-on skills without getting overwhelmed.

Unlike most VMware books that focus solely on deployment steps, "VMware vSphere Design" delves into the critical design decisions shaping virtualization success. Forbes Guthrie, a seasoned technical architect with numerous VMware certifications, draws from extensive global experience to guide you through hardware choices, network layouts, and storage strategies crucial to vSphere performance. You’ll gain clarity on topics such as ESXi hypervisor deployment and the trade-offs between vSwitches and dvSwitches, equipping you to plan and optimize virtual infrastructures effectively. This book suits IT professionals aiming to deepen their design expertise rather than beginners seeking basic tutorials.

This tailored VMware Workstation guide is crafted to match your unique background, skill level, and goals, focusing on the exact topics you want to master. It explores step-by-step installation, configuration nuances, and optimization techniques that align with your interests, ensuring the learning process is efficient and relevant. The book covers essential setup procedures, resource management, network integration, and performance tuning, providing a clear path to proficient VMware Workstation use. By combining popular validated knowledge with your specific needs, this personalized approach reveals practical insights and hands-on guidance, helping you confidently navigate VMware Workstation's capabilities and maximize your virtualization environment.

Drawing from Sander Van Vugt's extensive experience in virtualization, this book demystifies VMware Workstation for users with minimal background. You learn how to create and manage virtual machines efficiently, with detailed walkthroughs that cover installation, configuration, and testing environments. The book assumes basic networking knowledge but welcomes developers and system administrators seeking practical skills to build and troubleshoot virtual setups. For instance, it explains how to set up bridged and NAT networking, which is crucial for real-world testing scenarios. This is ideal if you want a focused introduction without unnecessary complexity, but those looking for advanced VMware features might find it less comprehensive.

What happens when seasoned VMware experts tackle workspace aggregation? Peter Von Oven, Peter Bjork, and Joel Lindberg distill their hands-on experience into this focused guide for IT administrators eager to deploy VMware Horizon Workspace. You’ll learn how to design, install, and configure a centralized infrastructure that delivers secure access to corporate apps, data, and virtual desktops across multiple devices. The book dives into practical setup of mobile access, data collaboration policies, and management from a unified console, making complex concepts approachable with step-by-step instructions and clear illustrations. If you’re managing BYOD initiatives or cloud app delivery, this book offers targeted insights, though it assumes some existing IT familiarity and isn’t tailored for novices.

What if everything you thought about managing virtual environments needed a rethink? Iwan Rahabok challenges conventional wisdom by dissecting the unique demands of performance and capacity management within Software-Defined Data Centers (SDDC). You’ll learn to navigate key metrics in vSphere and vRealize Operations with clarity, unlocking insights into their interdependencies and practical applications. The book walks you through creating advanced dashboards, including super metrics, backed by real-world examples that bring the theory to life. If you’re an IT professional aiming to deepen your operational expertise beyond basics, this guide offers a focused, intermediate-level dive into mastering virtual infrastructure management.