If you’re like me, you try to avoid leaving the house as much as possible when it’s freezing outside. Usually, around mid-January I run out of indoor projects to work on (I just got done with my latest one.. a DIY Laptop Stand). So I thought I’d put together a list of 10 VMware related books that you should add to your reading list if you get board this winter.

Step 1 – Get the Kindle App

Most of these are cheaper as ebooks, but there is also paperback and hardback versions available. If you don’t already have an Amazon Kindle, you can install their free app on pretty much any device out there. (If you need the app click the banner below to get it.) The advantage of the Kindle version (even if you don’t have a Kindle) is that it is searchable. This makes it a lot easier to find something while troubleshooting or researching for a project.

Step 2 – The books!

OK so now on to the list! These are in no particular order, some have to do with certifications (if you are on a cert track go for those), while others are more practical knowledge that you would use day to day.

VMware vSphere Performance	VMware vSphere Performance Paperback version – Kindle version You might recognize the authors of this book. Matt, Chris, and Rynardt go through how to design VMware environments when you need horsepower! Aimed at VMware administrators and engineers and written by a team of VMware experts, this resource provides guidance on common CPU, memory, storage, and network-related problems. Plus, step-by-step instructions walk you through techniques for solving problems and shed light on possible causes behind the problems.
VMware vSphere Design Book	VMware vSphere Design Paperback version – Kindle version Here is another book from a list of authors you will certainly recognize if you are involved in the VMware social media space. Forbes Guthrie and Scott Lowe team up to bring this design related book to market. It is a little dated.., but there is still a TON of great info in this book. Forbes and Lowe both work at VMware these days but are also bloggers too. Scott’s blog is one of the first I remember running across in my VMware search, and I’ve had to pleasure of meeting him several times… Great guy and a great source of knowledge! You might have already seen Forbes’ blog as well. He has designed a bunch of vReference Cards which are a must see too! Packed with real-world proven strategies, it’s the perfect guide for deploying a new design or transforming an existing one. Inside, you’ll explore: The fundamentals of designing VMware environments The overall design process Key things to consider, such as server hardware selection and sizing, security, virtual machine templates, and more How networking and storage landscapes impact vSphere design Design decisions that a typical company encounters, taking into consideration availability, manageability, performance, recoverability, and security Designing VMware vCloud Director environments
VMware Software Defined Storage	VMware Software-Defined Storage Paperback version – Kindle version I switched from the VAR side to the vendor side of my career just as VSAN was taking off and because of that, I haven’t gotten an opportunity to implement it first had. So this book is on my shortlist of things to read. An in-depth look at VMware’s next-generation storage technology to help solutions architects and operational teams maximize quality storage design. Written by a double VMware Certified Design Expert, this book delves into the design factors and capabilities of Virtual SAN and Virtual Volumes to provide a uniquely detailed examination of the software-defined storage model. Here is Martin’s twitter profile if your not already following him.
Networking for VMware Administrators	Networking for VMware Administrators Paperback version – Kindle Version How much do you really know about VMware’s networking components? Probably not as much as you should. (unless of course your a network guru already 😉 ) This book from Chris Wahl and Steven Pantol goes through all of the different network types and designs in VMware vSphere. If you are looking to design out a new VMware cluster, or if you’re a network guru when it goes to physical devices, then this book will get you up to speed on what you need to know about virtual networking inside of VMware vSphere.
Mastering VMware vSphere 6	Mastering VMware vSphere 6 Paperback version – Kindle Version This is a more general guide to understanding what there is to know in vSphere 6. If you are getting started as a vSphere admin, or just want a refresher on what’s new in 6, then this is probably the book for you. This book is the ultimate guide to vSphere, helping administrators master their virtual environment. Learn to: Install, configure, and manage the vCenter Server components Leverage the Support Tools to provide maintenance and updates Create and configure virtual networks, storage devices, and virtual machines Implement the latest features to ensure compatibility and flexibility Manage resource allocation and utilization to meet application needs Monitor infrastructure performance and availability Automate and orchestrate routine administrative tasks
VMware vSphere 6 Datacenter Design Cookbook	VMware vSphere 6.X Datacenter Design Cookbook Paperback version – Kindle version Can you tell that I like design books? I guess the way I think about it is that if you know how to properly design a solution, then you have all the knowledge you need to troubleshoot it. What You Will Learn Identify key factors related to a vSphere design and apply them to every step of the design process Mitigate security risks and meet compliance requirements in a vSphere design. Create a vSphere conceptual design by identifying technical and business requirements Determine the type of database to use based on the deployment size. Design for performance, availability, recoverability, manageability, and security Map the logical resource design into the physical vSphere design Create professional vSphere design documentation to ensure a successful implementation of the vSphere design Leverage the latest vSphere 6.x features to ensure manageability, performance, availability, and security in a virtual datacenter design
VCP6-DCV Official Cert Guide	VCP6-DCV Official Cert Guide Paperback version – Kindle version Here you go! If you are taking the VCP6-DCV soon, then this is a must have. The official study guide helps you master all the topics on the VCP6-DCV (#2VO-621) exam, including: Securing vSphere environments Implementing advanced network virtualization policies, features, and Network I/O control (NIOC) Configuring and using VMware storage protocols, VSAN and VVOL software-defined storage, ESXi host interactions, and Storage I/O Control (SIOC) Upgrading vSphere deployments to 6.x, including vCenter Server and ESXi Hosts Planning and using Resource Pools Implementing backup/recovery with VMware Data Protection and vSphere Replication Troubleshooting performance, storage, networks, upgrades, clusters, and more Successfully configuring Auto Deploy environments with host profiles and virtualized workloads Configuring and administering vSphere high availability Using advanced VM settings, content libraries, and vCloud Air connectors
VMware vSphere Troubleshooting	VMware vSphere Troubleshooting Paperback version – Kindle Version What You Will Learn Configure vSphere management assistant and troubleshooting tools Use troubleshooting tools to monitor performance and troubleshoot different issues Learn how to troubleshoot High Availability and other commonly known problems with clusters such as insufficient resources, failing heartbeats Use Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) to verify configuration Diagnose storage issues including iSCSI, NFS and VMFS problems Manage vSphere Network Virtual and Distributed Switches, Trunks, VLANS Monitor and shape network traffic, configure routes and DNS Quickly resolve common day-to-day problems by analyzing logs of VMware vSphere hosts and VMware vCenter Server Debug and resolve commonly known vSphere Cluster problems
Implementing VMware Horizon 7	Implementing VMware Horizon 7 Paperback version – Kindle version What you will learn Walk through the configuration of VMware Horizon, including the new Horizon Access Point appliance Implement a multi-site VMware Horizon pod using the Cloud Pod Architecture feature Understand the integration between VMware Horizon and VSAN, and see how they are deployed together Explore how to implement and maintain Microsoft RDS and Linux and Windows Desktop Pools Create and optimize desktop master images. Understand how to manage the SSL certificates for each of the VMware Horizon components.
VMware vSphere PowerCLI Reference	VMware vSphere PowerCLI Reference Paperback version – Kindle Version Luc Dekens is the scripting master for VMware! If I were an admin or actually liked to do scripting, I would probably already own this book! LOL This book is your complete reference for managing vSphere in a Windows environment, with expert instruction and real-world application. Automate vCenter Server deployment and configuration Create and configure virtual machines, and utilize vApps Monitor, audit, and report the status of your vSphere environment Secure, back up, and restore your virtual machines Work with other vSphere components from your PowerCLI scripts Take control of your PowerCLI scripts through versioning and structured testing
vSphere 6.0 HA deepdive	VMware vSphere 6 Clustering Deepdive FREE E-Book – https://ha.yellow-bricks.com/ If you’re counting this is book number 11, but it was worth adding to the list! Have you ever wanted to know how VMware HA and DRS works? I mean like really in-depth… brain melting info? Then this is the book for you. Duncan and Frank had been publishing this as a paperback and kindle book for a while, but have decided to start releasing it as a GitBook. Definitely worth a look.