A couple quick ones are:

1) ask about virtual SMP - when and why should you give a vm multiple vCPUs - pa
rt of their answer whould be that best pracrtice is to start with a single vCPU
because of you can run into perfomance issues do to CPU scheduling

2) Ask what version of Linux kernel does ESX run - if they are truly experienced
they should say ESX is not Linux and does not use a Linux kernel - and give the
m an extra poijnt if they explain that the service console runs a modified versi
on of Red Hat Ent 3

Ask about how HA works.

Is HA dependent on virtualcenter (Only for Install)

What is the Maximum Host Failure allowed in a cluster (4)

How does HA know to restart a VM from a dropped Host (storage lock will be remov
ed from the metadata)

How many iSCSI targets will ESX support 8 for 3.01, (64 for 3.5)

How Many FiberChannel targets(256) (128 on Install)

What is Vmotion(ability to move running vm from one host to another)

Another good one to ask - does HA use vmotion? the answer is no - vm stops and r
estarts on ESX other host
Ask what is the different when you use viclient connect to VC and directly to ES
X server itself. When you connect to VC you manage ESX server via vpxa (Agent on
esx server). Vpxa then pass those request to hostd (management service on esx s
erver). When you connect to ESX server directly, you connect to hostd (bypass vp
xa). You can extend this to a trobleshoot case, where connect to esx see one thi
ng and connect to VC see another. So the problem is most likely out of sync betw
een hostd and vpxa, "service vmware-vpxa restart" should take care of it.
You can also ask them if one could run 20gb RAM worth of 10 windows 2003 VM(s) w
hen infact the esx host only has 13gb RAM...The answer should be yes...This is c
alled over allocation and esx intelligently uses its transperant memory sharing
technique for similar or like VMs (running same OS)...You can also ask to descri
be in short about memory ballooning also...
One more, what is the maximum swap size we can allocate for an esx host..Ans:160
0mb as,a maximum of only 800mb of RAM can be allocated for COS/SC..Hence twice t
he size of COS/SC = Swap Size..

1. Explain the physical topology of Virtual Infrastructure 3 Data Centre ?

2. How do you configure Clusters,Hosts,Resource Pools in VI3 ?
3. What are resource pools & whats the advantage of implementing them ?
4. Explain why Vmware ESX Server is preferred over Virtual Server or Workstation
for enterprise implementation ?
5. In what different scenarios or methods can you manage a VI3 ?
6. Explain the difference between access through Virtual Infrastructure Client (
vi client), Web access, Service Console access(ssh) ?
7. Explain advantages or features of Vmware Virtual Machine File System (VMFS) ?
8. What are the types of datastores supported in ESX3.0 ?
9. How can you configure these different types of datastores on ESX2.5 ?
10.What is Vmware Consolidate Backup (VCB) ? Explain your work exposure in this
area ?
11.How do you configure Vmware Virtual Centre Management Server for HA & DRS ? W
hat are the conditions to be satisfied for this setup ?
12.Explain your work related to below terms :
VM Provisioning:
Alarms & Even Management:
Task Scheduler:
Hardware Compatibility List:
13.What SAN or NAS boxes have you configured VMware with ? How did you do that ?
14.What kind of applications or setups you have on you Virtual Machines ?
15.Have you ever faced ESX server crashing and Virtual Centre Server crash? How
do you know the cause of these crashes in these cases ?
1.
 How many VMs can be created in single ESX host?
2.
How many VMs can power on in a single ESX host?
3.
How to Power off the VM using command mode?
4.
How many VM consoles can access simultaneously?
5.
How to increase the VM memory & CUP while powered on?
6.
What is the Independent Mode? Types?
7.
How many NIC can add while creating VM? Maximum NIC can add to VM?
8.
If the VM is power on state, can we suspend through the Service Console?
9.
What is the shortcut key to power on, off, suspend and reset the VM?
10.
What devices can we add while VM power on?
11.
What all the VM hard disk types?
12.
Is it possible to convert Thin-Desk to Thick-Disk?
13.
How to add & remove the VM to inventory using command mode?
14.
What is mean by hot-add and hot-plug? Where do we use?
15.
What is mean by Memory ballooning?
16.
What all the VM Network Adopter types?
17.
What all the VM hard disk controller types?
18.
What is mean by RDM?
19.
What is mean by SCSI bus sharing?
20.
How to disable copy & past options in VM console?
21.
 Is it possible to increase and decrease the VMDK file?
22.
How to increase the VMDK size using Service Console?
23.
Is it possible to remove the running VM from ESX host? If it s how?
24.
Is it possible to create a VM from command mode?
25.
How many processors can be allocated to VM?
26.
How many NICs can be allocated to VM?
27.
What is the maximum RAM can be allocated to VM?
28.
What files are associated with VM?

1.
How many VMs can be created in single ESX host?
2.
How many VMs can power on in a single ESX host?
3.
How to Power off the VM using command mode?
4.
How many VM consoles can access simultaneously?
5.
How to increase the VM memory & CUP while powered on?
6.
What is the Independent Mode? Types?
7.
How many NIC can add while creating VM? Maximum NIC can add to VM?
8.
If the VM is power on state, can we suspend through the Service Console?
9.
What is the shortcut key to power on, off, suspend and reset the VM?
10.
What devices can we add while VM power on?
11.
What all the VM hard disk types?
12.
 Is it possible to convert Thin-Desk to Thick-Disk?
13.
How to add & remove the VM to inventory using command mode?
14.
What is mean by hot-add and hot-plug? Where do we use?
15.
What is mean by Memory ballooning?
16.
What all the VM Network Adopter types?
17.
What all the VM hard disk controller types?
18.
What is mean by RDM?
19.
What is mean by SCSI bus sharing?
20.
How to disable copy & past options in VM console?
21.
Is it possible to increase and decrease the VMDK file?
22.
How to increase the VMDK size using Service Console?
23.
Is it possible to remove the running VM from ESX host? If it s how?
24.
Is it possible to create a VM from command mode?
25.
How many processors can be allocated to VM?
26.
How many NICs can be allocated to VM?
27.
What is the maximum RAM can be allocated to VM?
28.
What files are associated with VM?

What is Virtulization?
Virtualization is an architecture that allows you to run multiple OS simultaneou
sly on a single computer
What is the architecture for VMware
Benefits of VMFS?
Automated Cluster File System Capability
Optimizes VM Access
Encapsulates the Entire VM State in a Single Directory
 Simplifies Provisioning and Administration of VMs
Provides Distributed Infrastructure Services for Multi-ESX Servers
Facilitates Dynamic Growth
Intelligent Cluster Volume Management
Enables HA with Lower Management Overhead
Simplifies Disaster Recovery
How do you configure ESX Serve?
Minimum system requirements to install ESX server?
Different Versions in VMware?
What is the new features in VSphere?
Can I do an in place upgrade from 4.0 to 4.1?
-Virtualcenter unisntalls your previously installed VC and then installs the new
versión.
will I be able to just point 4.1 to the existing SQL database server after the
upgrade?
-SQL database will be updated with the new data or if you want you can reinizia
lize
Can you manage esx4.0 hosts with vcenter 4.1? YES
which tool do you use for P2V?
what is VMKernal?
what is vmdk?
files are the actual virtual hard drive for the virtual guest operation system (
virtual machine / VM).
What is Vmotion?
The virtual machine can be moved from one ESX server to another without any down
time.

1.
What is mean by LUN?
2.
What is mean by RDM?
3.
What is mean by WWNP?
4.
What is mean by Active-active storage system?
5.
What is mean by Active-passive storage system?
6.
What is mean by Asymmetrical storage system?
7.
What is mean by ALUA?
8.
Maximum LUN s per ESX host?
9.
Maximum iSCSI LUN s per ESX host?
10.
iSCSI HBA initiator ports per ESX host?
11.
 Maximum software iSCSI stack supported ports per ESX host?
12.
Maximum iSCSI Dynamic targets supported by per port?
13.
Maximum iSCSI Static targets supported by per port?
14.
Maximum iSCSI targets per port?
15.
Maximum storage paths supported by ESX host?
16.
Maximum number of path supported by iSCSI LAN s?
17.
Maximum supported NFS mount points per ESX?
18.
Maximum FC LUN s per ESX host?
19.
What is the maximum LUN size supported by ESX host?
20.
Maximum supported RDM LUN s per ESX host?
21.
Maximum paths supported by FC LUN?
22.
Maximum number of targets per HBA?
23.
Maximum number of data stores supported by ESX host?
24.
What is the Maximum supported data storage size?
25.
How many Maximum supported data stores per ESX host?
26.
The single data store can be shared up to how many hosts?
27.
The maximum file size supported by VMFS volume?
28.
The maximum number of files supported by VMFS volume?
29.
What is the maximum RDM LUN size?
30.
What is the minimum RDM LUN size?
31.
 How to enable software iSCSI using ESX command mode?
32.
How to rescan software iSCSI target using ESX command mode?