IT INFRASTRUCTURE & HOME LAB NOTES

I run a lab at home
so work doesn't have to.

20+ years managing enterprise virtualization, now writing down what I break and fix on my own home-lab cluster: VMware, ESXi, Kubernetes, Ansible, and the smart-home stack that ties it together.

Start here

VMwareESXiKubernetesAnsibleHome automationNetworking

Mar 3, 2021

Upgrade pfSense hanging

A workaround for pfSense 2.4.5 to 2.5.0 upgrades that hang, by disabling IPv6 under System > Advanced > Networking.

IT Infrastructure
Jan 7, 2021

vCenter Simulator for Developing purpose

Using vcsim, a containerized vCenter API simulator, to test PyVmomi, Ansible and other automation tools without a real vCenter.

AutomationIT InfrastructureVirtualization
Dec 23, 2020

Easy access iCloud Drive in Terminal

A one-line shell alias to jump straight into your iCloud Drive root folder from the terminal.

IT Infrastructure
Dec 14, 2020

Create vCenter Support Bundle failed in UI

When creating a vCenter support bundle fails with a network error in the admin UI, generate it manually over SSH instead.

IT InfrastructureVirtualizationVMware
Dec 14, 2020

Authentication failed, Update Manager server could not be contacted

Fixing a vSphere Update Manager authentication error by restarting the HTML5 UI service alongside the Update Manager service.

IT InfrastructureVirtualizationVMware
Dec 14, 2020

TPM 2.0 device detected but a connection cannot be established

Fixing a persistent TPM error on the Intel NUC 10i5FNH in ESXi by updating the BIOS, not just disabling TPM.

IT InfrastructureVirtualizationVMware