VIMA stands for VMware Infrastructure Management Assistant, and is basically a 64-bit virtual machine where VMware administrators can execute scripts and install agents that they would normally try to run on the console operating system (COS).
Administrators and developers can use VIMA to run scripts and agents to manage ESX and ESXi systems. VIMA includes the [...]

Tomorrow is a special day for me.  I start a six month long rotation out of tech support into our knowledge management team as a Knowledge Champion here at VMware. The role is rotated through different members of the tech support teams globally, giving front line folks a chance to spread valuable knowledge both internally [...]

There is a known issue with VirtualCenter 2.5 Update 2 affecting customers who perform customizations using sysprep. 
Apparently guest customization fails wherein the virtual machine boots (and every time it reboots), the customization screen flashes briefly and the Windows login screen appears.
VMware has been quick (today) to publish a knowledgebase article on it here >> [...]