Project Manager Engineer
Resume:
Sylester Major Jr. VCP
**** **** **., **. *****, MO. 63136
********@*****.***
Object:
Virtualization/Project Management professional with expert knowledge of enterprise level
virtualization strategies, seeking challenging architectural/Tier III position in a dynamic datacenter
environment that offers continued technical growth.
Professional Summary:
• Specialized and skilled in VMware ESX 2.5, 3.0, ESX/ESXi 3.5, & vSphere 4.0, 4.1; Virtual Center 2, 2.5 &
vCenter server (vSphere) design, installation, configuration & support, physical to virtual conversions,
including Bash shell scripted installations. Also proficient in Linux installation/administration, including Red
Hat, CentOS, Ubuntu, & Suse distros.
• Project Management experience derived from the identification of objectives to be obtained based on the
current business needs of the customer, tasks to be completed, resources to be assigned to the identified
tasks, as well as the delivery of overall status reports detailing the progress made or issues discovered on
a predetermined basis.
• Expert on Vmware Disaster Recovery design and implementation using WAN replication technologies.
• Specialized on designing and implementing SAN equipment: DS4800, DS8300, EXP810 Drive enclosures,
McData fabric switches, McData channel extenders.
• Highly Experienced on Advanced Troubleshooting of the fore mentioned platforms and preventative
maintenance of such.
• Strong knowledge and experience with network topologies, protocols, and media technologies (Ethernet,
Token Ring, TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, Fiber Channel, ATM, SONET, 802.11 (wireless), bound and unbound
media).
• Experience designing and implementing local and wide area networks utilizing mostly Cisco Catalyst
family switches, Cisco routers, and Cisco wireless equipment.
• Experience implementing Voice over IP using Cisco 3600 series routers.
• Experience setting up and using protocol analysis tools (NAI Sniffer, Fluke Networks, HP Openview).
• Experience configuring, installing, and maintaining 802.11 clients and access points (mostly of Cisco or
Orinocco brands).
• Experience in AIX 5.3 installation and configuration, including VIO.
• Demonstrated ability to independently evaluate new technologies for corporate application and transfer
new technologies to the business units.
• Excellent writing skills for instructional and technical documentation, and process documentation (flow
charts and checklists). Strong verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Expert level experience with xSeries and HP server hardware, including blades. This includes
management software such as IBM’s RDM & Director and HP’s Insight Manager & RDP.
Capital One Public
Professional Experience:
June 10 – present Disney/IBM Columbus, OH
Vmware Consultant
Currently, serving as one of 2 primary VMware focal engineers for Disney/IBM, I am
supporting a VMware environment consisting of more than 250 hosts and virtual machines
numbering more than 1500. Responsibilities include planning various activities throughout the
VMware and Intel scope, such as scripted mass storage VMotions for storage management
purposes, multiple vCenter upgrades/linked mode configuration over WAN, cluster configuration
(HA/DRS), scripted ESX host storage configuration, VM capacity analysis with regard to new VM
build requests, P2v migrations, etc. Heavily tasked with the automated reporting of various
metrics from the virtual infrastructure using Quest vFoglight, primarily, but often times Microsoft
Powershell was found to be much faster to produce results. Also, as in my mass RedHat
Enterprise Linux and ESX host configuration changes via scripted SSH connections using Python
and Fabric, I find considerable advantages in the routine leveraging of object oriented automation
techniques to accomplish goals involving large numbers of hosts and/or virtual machines.
Participate in weekly capacity meetings, where customer requests for new resource allocations
(new vm build or existing vm modification), which are granted or denied based on analysis of
historical performance data, of which vFoglight and powershell reports are a part.
Feb 11 – April 11 KPMG Seattle, WA
Vmware/Powershell Consultant
Contracted by independent integrator to create Powershell scripts that reported on various
aspects of any VMware virtual infrastructure by leveraging PowerCLi and the vCenter/vSphere
API. Script prompts user for input and outputs data into excel spreadsheets.
June 09 – May 10 CenturyLink (formerly Embarq) Overland Park,
KS
Vmware Consultant
Served as one of two Vmware SME's for the Kansas City Region, which is Embarq's former
HQ. Day to day activities include: researching new technologies that can improve
productivity of regular employees with regard to their use of the virtual environment,
heavy project planning and execution of various technical activities related to the day
to day management of the virtual infrastructure i.e SAN management, virtual
networking design/implementation, High Availability management, virtual machine
management, performance analysis & troubleshooting, virtual machine back up
design/implementation, etc. Served as the point of contact for outside vendors of
virtualization support products which were subject to my evaluation as the customer's
needs developed, Vmware ESX host and VDI infrastructure roll outs, Virtual Center
and ESX host upgrades (2.5.x to 3.5) and updates, third level support for all issues in
the virtual space (i.e. ESX hosts, virtual machines, SAN, networks, etc.), and day to
day support of the entire virtual environment.
Highlights include:
• Creation of Powershell scripts that use Vmware Consolidated Backup to backup all virtual
machines. When I arrived, there was the expensive vRanger Pro backup solution in
place, however is was mostly problematic and backups failed 50% of the time. Also, the
product failed to restore VM data, which was of obvious concern to Embarq. I simply
created new clean Powershell scripts that call VCB to backup the VM data with 100%
completion rates, while leveraging Legato Networker to get VM data to virtual tape, then
retired the vRanger product. The Powershell solution was completely FREE.
• Successfully tested VCB integration with Legato Networker to allow for the removal of
Powershell scripting.
• Spearheaded the evaluation of vKernel's Capacity Analyzer, which greatly simplifies the
identification of resource capacity within a virtual environment, among other things.
Customer had a difficult time identifying capacity for additional workload within their
environment and I was tasked by management to look into any better ways of doing this. I
contacted several vendors, regarding their related products, and vKernel was identified as
the best choice after careful evaluation. Subsequently, I assisted my direct manager in
the creation of high level documentation which was used to justify the purchase to upper
management.
• Implementation of Kickstart installations for ESX hosts.
• Build out of VDI View 3 environment consisting of 19 ESX hosts, 4 VDM connection
brokers & 2 VDI security servers in DMZ, which facilitate external access.
• Implementation and management of VMware Lab Manager in support of application
testing and development groups.
• Planned ESX upgrade project (from ESX 2.5 to 3.5).
• Planned, built out and managed multiple lab environments for various internal groups and
departments.
• Wrote Powershell scripts to automatically calculate VM capacity on a per cluster basis
using baseline VM build configurations and historical performance data.
• Evaluated Eucalyptus cloud computing technology.
• Wrote and automated Powershell script that finds all VM snapshots in environment and
then emails the results once per week to VMware team.
• Wrote Powershell script that produces detailed reports regarding VM disk allocations and
actual usages, allowing SAN team to accurately analyze resource consumption.
• Wrote Powershell script that found VM’s which hadn’t used more than 5% of allocated
resources for more than a month in an effort to identify decommission candidates.
• Directed team on the build out and addition of new ESX hosts with dissimilar CPU types
into existing clusters using EVC.
• Introduced concept of re configuring all ESX hosts to utilize centralized syslog collection
methods.
• Architected & implemented virtual cluster design using RDM virtual disk technology.
May 09 – Oct 09 IBM/CapitalOne Bank St. Louis, MO
Vmware P2V/Platespin P2P Specialist (part time)
Capital One Public
Participated in CapitalOne's datacenter relocation project, which originally consisted of the
migration of 200+ Windows physical servers, using Vmware Converter for P2V's and
Platespin Portability Suite for both P2V's and P2P's. All hardware was HP and most
work was performed remotely with minimal travel.
May 09 – June 09 Elsevier St. Louis, MO
Vmware Consultant
Consulted customer on a short term basis regarding the implementation of Vmware Server 2.0
hosted on Ubuntu Linux platform. Provided customer customized Bash shell script as
a solution to the NAT service corruption caused by default TCP checksum offloading
configuration of VM guests, a problem that brought the customer’s virtualization
implementation to a grinding halt for months.
Sept 08 – April 09 Humana Inc. Louisville, KY
System Engineer/Project Manager
Provided serious infrastructure expertise while servicing the client in the following ways: build and
configuration of more than 80 Vmware ESX 3.5 hosts, the configuration of VMFS 3 filesystem provided by
EMC Symmetrix SAN, provided day to day management of the virtual infrastructure which eventually totaled in
size more than 100 ESX hosts and well over 1000 guest virtual servers, the P2V and P2P of approximately 800
physical Windows 2000 and 2003 servers to those hosts and HP P class blades utilizing VMware Converter
and Platespin Portability Suite during actual disaster recovery.
Duties include, but not limited to:
• Configuration and build of ESX servers on HP hardware (DL580 G5).
• Configuration of virtual networking within ESX environment, which was based on virtual switch tagging
inside the hosts (VLANs).
• Creation/configuration of ESX clusters, including DRS/HA, resource pools, etc.
• Day to day virtual infrastructure management via SSH, VI client, and Powershell scripting.
• Project coordination with application owners and project managers via conference calls.
• Performing P2V’s, P2P’s, and P2I’s during client’s disaster recovery, while ensuring computing, memory,
and disk capacity were maintained at acceptable levels. Once the breach of capacity thresholds were
anticipated, performed the timely addition of ESX hosts and/or clusters to keep migrations rolling.
• Modification and/or creation of DNS and/or WINS records for migrated hosts.
• Providing post conversion application support to application owners when required.
• Recommending best procedure for virtualization of physical servers (P2V, new virtual builds and fresh
installation of applications instances, or P2P) depending on individual circumstance.
• Level 3 support, providing troubleshooting and resolution of ESX virtual infrastructure technical problems
and issues, such as unplanned outages or performance issues. Analyzed performance issues using
ESXTOP (monitoring cpu usages and cpu ready %’s and/or memory/network/disk usage rates, etc) and
Virtual Center.
2006 2008 IBM/Ameriprise Financial St. Louis, MO
System Engineer/Project Manager
• SME and build focal regarding multi site build out and implementation of all Intel platforms for major
IBM SSO account. Heavy project based role, requiring complete self direction and architectural
responibilities. Platforms include VMware ESX 2.5 and VI3, as well as standalone Windows 2003,
Linux servers, and some AIX 5.3. Test/Dev and Production environments consist +500 Intel based
servers, with approx. 60% VMware based. Typical work day consisted of 90% VMware design and
administration via Virtual Center and/or ESX host service console.
• Used MS Project and Visio to create virtual infrastructure designs, project plans, and high level
depictions of project goals, as well as project justification.
• Routinely investigated hardware/software pricing in an architectural role, including cost effectiveness
comparisons of various infrastructure products to ensure that customer is best served when deciding
on additional procurement.
• Managed the assignment of resources in two physical locations for server builds, both physical and
virtual, as well as provided daily status on those activities on daily conference call held between
upper management and customer focals.
• Regularly communicated w/ customer in order to coordinate complex virtualization projects. This
included identification of customer application groups who own and use the servers in question, the
presentation of the project to the customer CAB meeting from which final approval for all projects is
granted or denied, as well as the coordination of the various application groups to perform testing of
the servers involved in the project to ensure application stability and availability.
• Responsible for proper licensing of environment as that relates to Virtual Center host, ESX VC agent,
VMotion, DRS, HA, and VC Consolidated Backup and therefore managed licenses for both locations
via VMware website account. This responsibility included direct communication with VMware and
resellers to determine what licenses were actually required and managing their procurement.
• Responsible for ensuring that all ESX hosts meet agreed upon security standards, configuring such
options as MOD, sudo access, user and group account creation, routine account validation, proper
SSH config, etc.
• Responsible for maintaining proper change control procedures while presenting major projects’
objectives and strategies to change control review board.
• Level 3 support responsible for resolving customer issues regarding guest OS problems and/or
performance. Most recent being the little known VMware bug that causes time de synchronization
between host and guest Windows OS, which plagued customer’s time sensitive application for more
than 6 months.
• Responsible for installation, configuration, and on going management of (3) IBM DS4800 storage
controllers, which provide storage services for customers production, test/dev, and disaster recovery
VMware environments. Task included monitoring of storage allocation, recommending additions as
needed and advising architecture on cost efficient system expansion.
• Responsible for research, test, and implementation of DRS and HA, as well as resource pool
definition and creation.
• Responsible for implementation of ESX hosts’ daily backups, utilizing IBM Tivoli Storage Manager
enterprise solution.
• Personally built production VMware environment, consisting of 16 hosts, configured @ (8) dual core
Xeon cpu’s w/ 64 GB RAM connected to DS 4800 SAN controller w/ (8) EXP 810 disk enclosures, and
over 200 guest servers, ranging in functionality from web servers to databases.
• Personally performed remote build of 50% of Dev/Test VMware environment, consisting of 24 ESX
hosts, configured @ (8) dual core Xeon cpu’s w/ 64 GB RAM connected to DS 4800 SAN controller
Capital One Public
w/ (10) EXP 810 disk enclosures, and over 300 guest servers, ranging in functionality from web to
databases.
• Served in architectural capacity regarding the design of the Disaster Recovery strategy, which is
based on Global Mirror and Flash Copy technology. Also, personally implemented the design and
participated in recovery tests. Strategy built on DS4800 SAN controllers in both production and
backup sites and fiber channel protocol.
• Served as third level support for both VMware environments, production and Test/Dev. Duties
included day to day management, i.e user access, patches, updates, hardware troubleshooting, vm
performance, etc.
• Hot pager rotation approx. 8 10 times per year.
• Personally built at least 100 Windows 2003 servers, both stand alone and virtual.
• Responsible for documentation of much of the environments’ configuration and routine procedures.
Currently developing training path for Steady State support regarding VMware, who will eventually
take over all management duties for this account.
• Personally installed and configured AIX 5.3, including VIO servers, on p570’s. This action included
the attachment of the frame to the NMC as well as pre configuration to the load of OS from NIM
server to the creation and configuration of lpars.
2005 2006 Did not work 8 months. Was primary caregiver for a terminally ill relative
2005 US Bank Central Illinois Region
Systems Administrator III
• Performed nightly upgrades of both infrastructure network devices (from non Cisco brands to Cisco)
and teller desktop systems.
• As a part of an Worldwide Technology led project, was solely responsible for the inventory of newly
delivered equipment at each central Illinois branch (approx 10). Subsequently installed and
configured equipment in accordance to project plans developed and distributed by company
architecture.
• Coordinated with branch managers to ensure projects ran smoothly and that banking operations
resumed the next business day as expected. (never had a problem)
2003 2004 Fly Company Document Services Houston, TX
Network Engineer
• Consulted company on the design and implementation of its regional LAN/WAN print network using
Cisco and Microsoft solutions exclusively. Assisted in the development of the company’s remote
accessibility using Cisco equipment and
• necessary L2TP Tunneling protocols.
• Implemented companies TCP/IP print network, which spanned multiple sites.
2000–2002 Boeing Co. St. Louis, Mo.
Network Engineer
• Was a part of Network Services team that designed and installed LAN/WAN connectivity while
troubleshooting network problems, upgrading campus to high speed, reliable, Cisco VoIP enabled
infrastructure., all in a 5,000 plus user environment.
• Installed and maintained Cisco Networks, using primarily Cisco Catalyst switches. Platforms included
mostly Cisco Catalyst 6500 series switches, but include Cisco Catalyst 4000 series switches, Cisco
2500 series routers, Cisco Airnet 802.11 wireless access points. Tools used to troubleshoot include
Network Associates network sniffer, Fluke meters, volt meters, etc.
• Served as Server Administrator, managing dept’s 3 Compaq Prolient file servers. Activities included
monitoring depts local disk array capacity, placing orders to vendor for additional storage array
resources, ensuring that IIS, which ran dept’s intranet web site, was configured and operational, etc.
• Level 3 network support, troubleshooting and addressing customer network issues in the Boeing
campus. Wore pager.Using Vmware Workstation, Setup and tested virtual network designs in the lab
prior to implementation. Documented all design changes and provided change steps to the
implementation team. Provided support to team members on all issue during implementation in the
field.
• Deployed workstation OS and standard application via Altiris deployment console
• Recommended systems, application and network modifications and upgrades to reduce user
problems. Participated in hardware and equipment replacement project.
• Provided technical support to off site users on various applications, hardware and remote network
connectivity including VPN setup and troubleshooting.
• Installed, configured and supported several various model of HP network printers. Created,
configured and tested shared print queues in network print servers. Participated on changing IP
address network printers in St Louis headquarter without effecting end users production time.
1999–1999 IBM St. louis,
MO.
Desktop Support Analyst
• Configured end user clients for VMS connectivity
• Troubleshot network connectivety problems and configured end user IBM Thinkpads for optimal
performance in a 500+ user, Token Ring environment.
• Provided printer configuration and support.
• Configured end user Lotus Notes clients.
Education:
Ranken Technical College, St. Louis, MO.
May 2000 – Associates degree in Computer Networking Technology
Certification:
VCP
CCNA
(2) MCP
A+
Capital One Public
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