vmss2core -- An important tool little-known to two "core" markets

First off, I'm glad to see that vmss2core has finally made its way not only into public distribution, but into Caps-S Supported status no less.

Slava -- vmss2core: zero-configuration debugging tool for Virtual Machines

VMware -- Debugging Virtual Machines with the Checkpoint to Core Tool

This was one of those tools I had been hoping (okay, lobbying!) for a number of years now to see released for use by two particular market segments -- neither of which appear to have received the message.


Virtual Appliances: As a rule, VAs are all about minimization of footprint; verbose logging, tracing, and other instrumentation run in direct opposition to this. As a consequence, the internal machinations of a VA -- particularly to developers coming from a purely applications-level background -- become somewhat of a black box.


Forensics: I think Ed Haletky put it to me best at a long-ago VMworld: "...I want a snapshot of guest memory..." (paraphrased) to which I could provide only a partial solution at the time -- there was no tool available to customers.


In both cases there are clear benefits to being able to perform out-of-band inspection on whole-guest and/or single-process memory from a snapshot, typically where VM Record/Replay isn't available (incident response), isn't possible (guest running on someone else's dime), or isn't practical (production environment policies).


obDisclaimer: I was only peripherally involved in the coding side of this tool. My interests were in completeness, usability, documentation, and pushing to get it out the door into the hands of those customers I felt could most appreciate it.

The question always asked of someone who has been laid-off...

I might as well get the question answered, since it is so commonly posed:

"After being laid-off from VMware, would you consider returning if invited to do so?"

With a few minor reservations, YES. It was a fantastic six-year ride, and in future posts I'll endeavor to explain why.

Administrativa

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• (2010-09-05) If you cannot be reasonably civil when commenting, don't bother. A lively debate is great, a USENET reenactment exercise not so much.
• (2010-09-05) Comments, while yours to add, are considered available for fair use within the context of the post to which they are added.
• (2010-09-05) When quoting for follow-up commentary, try to balance context, relevance, and brevity.

This post will be ammended as the need arises.