This summarizes five key takeaways from the KubeCon North America 2019 conference, focusing on the burgeoning field of Kubernetes (K8s) technology.
The most significant insights center on advancements in storage solutions for containers, the emergence of improved management and governance tools for Kubernetes (K8s), and the increasing commitment of major IT vendors to integrating K8s into their offerings.
Additionally, it highlights the increasing relevance of edge computing, with Kubernetes (K8s) distributions designed for it, and the importance of training in this rapidly evolving technology. The author emphasizes that while big vendors validate Kubernetes (K8s), it's the innovations from smaller companies that truly stand out.
https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2019/12/02/take-5-kubecon.aspx
With Windows 10's end of support less than a month away, I reviewed my articles on the topic and created podcasts about it.
This podcast is based on an article I wrote for Virtualization Review last year, detailing the repurposing of an inexpensive mini-PC as a thin client. I found that a sub-$100 device was marginally capable of running Windows 10 for basic tasks, but was unsuitable for office applications and lacked support for Windows 11, resulting in a short lifespan.
The core of the article focuses on installing and testing 10ZiG's free RepurpOS, a thin-client operating system designed to extend the life of older hardware by connecting to an Omnissa Horizon virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).
The results show that a low-powered PC or one that does not support Windows 10 performs significantly better when running RepurpOS to connect to a virtual desktop, easily handling streaming videos and Microsoft Office applications with low CPU utilization, proving its viability as an affordable VDI client.
https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2024/01/29/cheap-pc-on-free-os.aspx
This provides an overview of the most notable technologies presented at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2018, highlighting key innovations and significant announcements from the event.
It covers various aspects, including advancements from smaller container technology companies, Canonical's Kubernetes-related offerings, new computer reference architectures from major vendors, the growth and vision of Diamanti, and Twistlock's microencapsulation security for containers.
It shares my personal observations and experiences from the conference, emphasizing the increasing interest in Kubernetes and cloud-native computing.
You can read more at https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2018/12/30/5-eye-catching-technologies-at-kubecon-north-america-2018.aspx
This episode discusses the last day of VMware Explore 2025 conference, specifically addressing concerns about its future given declining attendance and changes within VMware under Broadcom's ownership.
It also highlights several key takeaways from the event, emphasizing VMware's strategic pivot towards the private cloud with VCF 9.0 as its core platform, boasting superior cost-efficiency, security, and control compared to public cloud alternatives. Furthermore, VCF 9.0 is positioned as an AI-native platform that enables private AI services and integrates with leading hardware ecosystems, such as NVIDIA and AMD.
While celebrating successful sessions and community interaction, it also details the significant downsizing of Explore in terms of attendees and exhibitors, attributing it to divestitures, pandemic-induced behavioral shifts, and the increasing maturity of VMware's products. Despite the uncertainty, the article concludes with indications from VMware that the event will indeed return in 2026.
You can read more at
This provides a hands-on exploration of Tailscale, a zero-trust mesh VPN designed for home and enterprise use. It details the straightforward installation process of the Tailscale agent across various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and cloud-based virtual machines, highlighting its ease of setup for remote access. The piece also delves into how Tailscale functions, explaining its departure from traditional hub-and-spoke VPNs in favor of a decentralized mesh network built on WireGuard technology, managed by a "coordination server." Finally, it outlines key enterprise features like audit logs, access controls, and MagicDNS, along with various use cases, emphasizing Tailscale's ability to simplify complex networking and enhance security.
You can read more at
https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2024/03/26/android-vpn.aspx
https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2024/03/18/hands-on-tailscale.aspx
https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2024/03/14/vpn-jumpbox.aspx
https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2024/03/28/quick-remote-vpn-access.aspx
This podcast introduces Flatcar OS, a lightweight, open-source Linux distribution specifically optimized for running containers and Kubernetes. Emphasizing its secure and minimal footprint, the author highlights Flatcar's recent acceptance as a CNCF incubating project, a significant endorsement from the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. Industry leaders like Adobe and Stackit already utilize Flatcar at scale, attesting to its reliability. The piece also details Flatcar's origins as a fork of CoreOS, its acquisition by Microsoft, and its key features, including an immutable file system, atomic updates, and a security-focused approach, concluding with a look at its bright future driven by continued development and community support.
Here are my articles on it
This explains virtualization technologies, specifically virtual machines (VMs) and containers, using the analogy of a pickup truck and its cargo. It begins by contrasting a standalone computer (the truck with a single wooden crate) with the increased capabilities offered by virtualization. The document then clarifies that VMs are complete emulated systems, each with its own OS, akin to a truck towing multiple other trucks with their own payloads. It describes hypervisors (Type 1 and Type 2) that enable their operation. Finally, it introduces containers as a more lightweight solution, sharing the host OS kernel and represented as a truck simply hauling multiple separate boxes, highlighting technologies like Docker and Kubernetes for their management. The source concludes by providing guidelines on when to use each technology, based on factors such as resource intensity, portability, and management scale. It discusses their typical use cases in enterprise and other applications.
This podcast outlines the wedding ceremony and love story of Madelin Grace Jacobson and Collin Grove Eveson. It begins by welcoming guests and thanking parents, before providing biographical details about the bride and groom, including their hometowns and high school activities. The narrative then chronicles their relationship, from their initial meeting as teenagers at a youth activity to their reconnection in college as mechanical engineering students, where they bonded over a shared love for skiing. The text describes their first kiss atop a mountain, their developing relationship through long-distance and family introductions, and Collin's proposal in the Colorado Rockies. The document concludes with the exchange of rings and the pronouncement of marriage, incorporating playful ski-themed blessings.
This is based in part on articles from "Virtualization Review" that chronicle the KubeCon + CloudNativeCon 2024 conference, held in Salt Lake City, it offers a comprehensive look at the event. The first piece serves as an introduction and guide to the conference, detailing its schedule, attendance options, including academic pricing, and the diverse range of topics covered, such as cloud, AI, and containers. The subsequent articles provide a day-by-day recap of the conference, highlighting keynotes from industry leaders such as Priyanka Sharma and Dirk-Peter van Leeuwen, discussions on Kubernetes (K8s) growth and new projects like OpenCost and WasmEdge, as well as major announcements from companies and the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). I also describe the vibrant atmosphere of the show floor, featuring numerous vendors and community-focused initiatives, such as a laptop drive, culminating in awards recognizing significant contributions and the announcement of a partnership with Andela to train African developers in Kubernetes (K8s), alongside new certification offerings.
The articles can be read at https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2024/11/14/kubecon-2024-day-1-field-notes-and-cloud-native-storage.aspx
VMware ESXi, a bare-metal hypervisor, is once again available for free after a period of discontinuation following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware. This reintroduction, although quietly released in update notes, is significant for students, home users, and small businesses seeking to utilize virtualization without incurring costs. The free version of ESXi 8 comes with certain limitations, including restricted CPU and memory usage per VM and the absence of advanced features such as vCenter centralized management and vMotion.
Users can download the free hypervisor from the Broadcom Support portal after creating a free account, following a specific download process for the ISO file. Once installed, the ESXi vSphere Client allows for GUI-based management of the server and virtual machines.
I commend Broadcom for making this valuable tool accessible again, despite previous user frustrations with the acquisition.
You can read more at https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2025/04/18/esxi-is-free-again.aspx
Broadcom VMware Cloud Foundation 9 (VCF 9) is a significant platform designed to unify the management of private and public clouds. This new version builds on the history of VCF, initially launched in 2016, by offering a single management interface to simplify operations across diverse environments. VCF 9 aims to enhance efficiency by providing a single installer for all components and integrating support for both traditional virtual machines and modern containerized workloads, including Kubernetes. Furthermore, it addresses crucial enterprise needs, such as data and operational sovereignty, and offers improved cost visibility and control in complex, multi-cloud settings.
You can read more about VCF 9 at
https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2025/06/18/vmware-cloud-foundation-9-ships.aspx
Amazon WorkSpaces is a desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) offering for companies facing the end of support for Windows 10 in October 2025. Many devices are incompatible with Windows 11, leading organizations to explore DaaS to avoid hardware upgrades or replacements. I propose repurposing older laptops with ChromeOS Flex to serve as secure client devices for accessing virtual Windows 11 desktops on WorkSpaces, thereby saving costs and reducing e-waste. I demonstrate the ease of converting an obsolete laptop and successfully connecting it to a WorkSpaces environment, even for demanding tasks such as GPU-enabled workloads and Microsoft 365 applications.
While effective for most users, I acknowledge that power users with advanced display needs will require more specialized thin clients.
You can read more at https://www.storagereview.com/review/breathing-new-life-into-old-devices-with-windows-11-on-amazon-workspaces
See the video at
This chronicles a multi-state ski trip I took in February and March of 2025, detailing my experiences at various ski resorts across Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. I am an experienced skier and snowboarder, and I provide personal anecdotes and reflections on each location, often highlighting the atmosphere, terrain, and the joy of skiing with family and friends. Beyond the slopes, I also discuss equipment choices, ranging from essential boots and specialized skis to sunglasses and even a trusted vehicle, along with practical details such as lift ticket costs and travel logistics between destinations. This narrative offers a comprehensive look at a dedicated skier's journey, blending technical information with heartfelt memories.
This provides an overview of Winget, Microsoft's command-line package manager for Windows, highlighting its utility for installing, updating, and managing software. It draws a comparison to Linux's apt-get, emphasizing the long-awaited arrival of such a tool for Windows. The text details Winget's intuitive commands for searching, listing, showing information about, and installing applications, including options for advanced installations. Furthermore, it compares Winget with Chocolatey, a well-established third-party Windows package manager, discussing their respective strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, the article praises Winget for simplifying software management and enhancing control over applications on Windows systems.
More information can be found at
https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2025/05/08/you-need-a-windows-package-manager.aspx
Explores various methods for repurposing Windows 10 computers as they approach the end of their life cycle, offering alternatives to simply discarding them. It highlights options such as installing different operating systems like Linux or ChromeOS Flex, which are suitable for older hardware and can handle everyday tasks. The source also suggests converting these devices into thin clients for virtual desktop environments or setting them up as home media servers using software like Plex or Jellyfin. Finally, for devices that cannot be repurposed, the text emphasizes the importance of responsible recycling through e-waste programs to minimize environmental impact and protect personal data.
You can read more at
https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2025/07/23/repurpose-your-windows-10-system.aspx
This provides an overview of five pivotal VMware conferences—VMworld and its successor, Explore, that have profoundly influenced the IT landscape from 2004 to 2024.
The 2004 VMworld saw the introduction of vCenter, which revolutionized server management and enabled features like vMotion.
By 2007, VMware released ESXi, a more secure and efficient hypervisor, and unveiled solutions for virtual desktops, disaster recovery (SRM), and high availability (FT).
The 2013 VMworld marked VMware's entry into software-defined storage (vSAN) and networking (NSX) through the acquisition of Nicira, forming the foundation of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF).
VMworld 2019 introduced Tanzu and Project Pacific, integrating Kubernetes for cloud-native application support.
Finally, Explore 2024 highlighted VCF 9's simplified architecture and enhanced integration for AI/ML and Kubernetes workloads, aligning with the strategic shift of moving workloads from public clouds back to the data center.
You can read more at https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2025/07/23/repurpose-your-windows-10-system.aspx
This is a comprehensive recap of the EUC World Amplify 2025 conference, highlighting its significance as a vendor-agnostic, community-driven event. It covers various key themes, including the impact of industry shifts, such as Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, on vendor relationships and the growing importance of platform-neutral strategies. It also emphasizes the practical applications of Artificial Intelligence in virtual desktop infrastructure, explores structured frameworks like the EUC Hexagrid for navigating the complex ecosystem, and discusses innovative solutions from various sponsors, including Liquidware, IGEL, Citrix, and Nutanix. Finally, the recaps detail the unconference format of the final day, fostering open discussions on topics such as application packaging and hypervisor evolution, while also highlighting the enjoyable venue and potential global expansion of Amplify.
A write-up on Amplify can be seen at
https://www.storagereview.com/news/day-three-at-euc-world-amplify-2025
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