Categories
Raspberry PI Raspbian Tools VMUG

VMUG Controller and how I finally got it working

So a last year one of the projects I was working on that consumed me was trying to set up a VMUG Controller. The VMUG Controller is a Raspberry Pi appliance that allows you to check in and events and has a printer to print out a name badge. The whole system is a closed environments which means to access the web page you need to be connected to the vmugc Wifi. The whole process for setup has been very well documented by Dan Barr of the Central PA VMUG. You can find the instructions here on his Github.

However no matter how good the instructions are there are a few issues that need to be addressed.

Hardware: You need to use either a Raspberry Pi 2 or Pi 3 B+

Operating System: Rasbian Jessie – In order for the installation script to work you need to find the right version of Raspbian Jessie (I think this is the right version). If not you can find older versions of Rasbian here.

Do not Update the OS or this will break the whole thing. You will also need to install PHP7 as Jessie only has PHP 5 which you can find instructions on how to do that below.

How to install php7 on Raspbian
://help.nextcloud.com/t/upgrade-php5-to-php7-on-raspbian-jessie-8-0/24537

Once this is complete you can proceed with following the installation script.

Once the install has completed you will then see the new WiFi SSID VMUGC which you will need to connect to in order to access the web page.

After that it should just work.

I hope you found this post helpful, If so please share it with your friends. We could really use the support and to get the word out there.

Categories
Home Lab Virtualization VMUG VMUG Advantage Vmware

Home Lab Version 1.0 – HP Envy x360

So I mentioned in a previous post about my history with setting up a lab. Now that I was without a place to test things I figured that I really didn’t need one and that I would be totally fine, and I was for a time. But then I joined VMUG and went to a UserCon for the first time. While I was there I got to meet other professionals in the “local” area and we talked about things that we are doing at our respective places of employment and I had the opportunity to see some the the amazing things going on in the industry at the time. I also learned about the VMUG Advantage, but I was not able to drop that kind of money ($200) on something that I was not ready to mess around with it. I did however go back to my work and tell my boss about it. Then I promptly forgot about it.

Fast forward a year later and VMUG USERCon is right around the corner. I am getting ready to ask off of work, and my boss reminded me about the VMUG Advantage and how I has asked to get a subscription. He remembered, he actually remembered!! So I took him up on the offer but I said I wanted to wait until I was there because they offer a discount.

Before going to UserCon my wife got me a New Laptop! It was an HP Envy x360. It came with an Intel i5 Processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB HDD. Not only that, she got me the 16 GB upgrade kit! So I thought to myself that I could make this work. Being an engineer I came up with this whole plan to make it work.

So I go to USERCon and I purchase my first VMUG Advantage Subscription. It was amazing, I couldn’t wait to get home to play with it. the first thing that I did was install and configure VMware Workstation (I can’t remember what version it was at the time) and then I started building out a Domain Controller which I also installed VMware vCenter Server 5 on and even deployed 1 ESXi host. Then…. I ran out of RAM…. damn. I tried several times to make it work but I was just too constricted by my lack of memory and it was Maxed out.

I was really bummed out, but I did not allow that to deter me. I continued to use my laptop as my virtual lab, testing various version of Linux and appliances. It was actually the first laptop I used when I started my Blog back on Blogger.com. To this day it is still my workhorse and I consider it a cornerstone of my 3D Printing operation as I use it for 3D Modeling, Slicing, and controlling my printer. I still call it my work horse.

I am going to continue this series about my home lab adventure because there are some really exciting things ahead. I really want you to get the feeling for where I am coming from.

I hope you find this whole thing helpful and enlightening. If you do please thing about sharing this with your friends and Social media.

Categories
Virtualization Vmware

Philadelphia VMUG UserCon is on Thursday!!!

Well it is almost here, Philadelphia USERCon at the Valley Forge Casino and Resort! It is not too late to sign up to attend. 

Registration, Parking, and Breakfast and Lunch are all Free!!
Not to mention all the speakers, vendors, and networking that will be open to you!!
Click on this link to register now
https://vmug12.snoball.events/a/kenneth-shinn-1
Categories
VMUG

Philly VMUG Meeting Recap

On May 16th Philly VMUG held it’s first meeting of 2019. The meeting was at the Dave and Busters on Delaware Ave in Philadelphia and it was very well attended.

We has 3 presenters:

PureStorage

Hytrust

Nexenta

Since we had so much interest in out event, we decided to create a YouTube Channel to showcase our speakers and to help get their message out. You can click on the links above to view the videos or click on the link below to view our YouTube channel where you can subscribe and stay notified on what is going on with our local VMUG Community.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7iMzG8B29-BwMCmpAt40vA

Categories
VMUG

17 Days until UserCon !!!

Hey everyone, there is only 17 days until the Philadelphia VMUG UserCon. Registration is free to attend and you can register at the link below:

https://vmug12.snoball.events/a/kenneth-shinn-1
Click on the link to get registered!! 
We have so many awesome speakers coming out to speak with Ducan Epping, Frank Denneman as our Keynote Speakers and Ariel Sanchez coming out to speak about the vCommunity. 
Categories
VMUG

Philadelphia VMUG UserCon just a month away!!!

I am very proud to announce that Philadelphia’s VMUG UserCon is only a month a way. 

Have you registered yet? If not, here is the link to the registration page.
I have always had a great time at the UserCon in years past, and I am sure that this year will be no different. 
As always registration is free and this year we have a list of All Star speakers such as:
Duncan Epping

Frank Denneman
Ariel Sanchez

Just to name a few. We also have some amazing giveaways just to add icing to that cake.
If you are able to attend, I can assure you that you will not be disappointment. 
Categories
VMUG

Philly VMUG has scheduled it’s first meeting of 2019

Hey guys, as you all know I am a VMUG Leader for Philadelphia (AKA Philly VMUG) and I am very excited to announce that we have our first meeting of 2019.

This being the first meeting that I am involved in with scheduling and setting up, I am very excited to see the outcome.

To learn more about VMUG click on the link here.

To learn what a VMUG Leader is Click here.

If you are interested in attending out meeting click on this link to register.

Cloud Credibility…

In my quest to gain more knowledge of the VMware Community I stumbled  upon the Cloud Credibility Program.

https://www.cloudcredibility.com/dashboard

It is setup as a game where you acquire points for completing tasks suck as following a group on twitter, or reading a blog post written by a vExpert. While some of the tasks are simple and easy, others can take a while to complete as they require a group or have a certain time restriction on it.

If you are interesting in learning more and getting involved I recommend checking it out.

A new beginning….

Yesterday I was named the Partner VMUG Leader for the Philadelphia VMware User Group.

I look forward to serving the local VMUG Community and hope to assist in making it stronger and more active.

To find out more about VMUG you can check it out here:

https://www.vmug.com/

While you are there you should also check out the VMUG Advantage program which provides an amazing opportunity for people looking to gain experience with VMware products but with the EVAL-Experience and discounts on VMware Classes and Exams. Find out more here.

https://www.vmug.com/Join/VMUG-Advantage-Membership