Author Archives: brian.wuchner

Using GuestStore to Deliver Content to Network-Isolated VMs in vSphere

When working with VMs that lack network connectivity, transferring files can be tricky. I recently explored the GuestStore feature a built-in vSphere feature that solves this challenge by allowing file delivery via VMware Tools—even without a network. This post walks … Continue reading

Posted in Scripting, Virtualization | Leave a comment

Comparing Installed Packages on Photon OS Using PowerShell and SSH

When debugging inconsistencies between Photon OS systems, say one is failing and another is stable, it’s useful to compare their installed package versions. In one recent case, I needed a quick way to do just that from my admin workstation. … Continue reading

Posted in Scripting | Leave a comment

How to Use PowerCLI with Entra ID Federated vCenter Logins

vCenter Server 8.0 allows administrators to federate identity with Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), enabling seamless SSO and MFA. However, integrating this setup with automation tools like PowerCLI introduces a few challenges. This guide walks through enabling and using PowerCLI … Continue reading

Posted in Scripting, Virtualization | Leave a comment

How to Increase VMXNET3 Link Speed for Nested ESXi Hosts

I recently came across a KB article (https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/368812/how-to-change-the-vmxnet3-link-speed-of.html) that describes how to set the link speed of a vmxnet3 network adapter higher than the default 10 Gbps speed. In my lab I have several nested ESXi hosts and wanted to … Continue reading

Posted in Lab Infrastructure, Virtualization | Leave a comment

Reviving an Old ESXi Host: USB to Local Disk Migration

I have an older Intel NUC in my lab, and although its aging, it still serves a purpose, and I plan to hang on to it for a little while longer. This post will outline some issues I encountered while … Continue reading

Posted in Lab Infrastructure, Virtualization | Leave a comment