VMworld 2012 – Top Most Popular Breakout Sessions

Here is the link for accessing the videos and below is the information for the sessions.

• NET2207: VMware vSphere Distributed Switch—Technical Deep Dive | Pdf
• STO2980: vSphere 5 Storage Best Practices | Pdf
• VSP1168: Architecting a Cloud Infrastructure | Pdf
• VSP1800: vSphere Performance Best Practices | Pdf
• VSP2825: DRS: Advanced Concepts, Best Practices and Future Directions | Pdf
• VSP1683: VMware vSphere Cluster Resource Pools Best Practices | Pdf
• STO1430: Tracking Down Storage Performance Issues: A Customer’s Perspective |Pdf
• EUC1305: What's New and What's Next for VMware View | Pdf
• VSP1232: Avoiding the 19 Biggest HA & DRS Configuration Mistakes - 2012 Edition | Pdf

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

Microsoft File Server Capacity Tool - v1.2

“File server capacity planning and performance troubleshooting are critical aspects of high-level network administration. File server capacity planning tools can be valuable in choosing new hardware for purchase, identifying the capacity of existing hardware, locating existing bottlenecks, and planning for resource expansion in advance of resource exhaustion.

The throughput capacity of a file server can be expressed either as the maximum number of operations per second or a maximum number of users supported by the configuration. These values are influenced by several factors, some of which include processor speed, available memory, disk speed, network throughput and latency, and the speed with which SMB requests are processed.

 
This release is an updated release to v1.0. It includes support of File Server in the Windows Clustering configuration. Windows Clustering allows system to be built with redundancy, which provides high availability to tolerate hardware failures. With a two node clustering, you could setup more than one virtual file server instance, and have FSCT clients run load against all the instances. In this release, a new section “Running FSCT against a singleton Windows Cluster” will describe the setup and steps for running against a Windows Cluster.”

You can download the Microsoft File Server Capacity Tool here (64b) and here (32b).

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

VMware vSphere 5 – Downloads, Documentation and Additional Resources for ESX (i), vCenter, VSA and others

• Download free ESXi – VMware vSphere Hypervisor

• Download VMware vSphere 5 and its modules

• Download vSphere Storage Appliance 1.0

• ESXi and vCenter Server 5.0 Documentation

• vSphere 5 Additional Resources

• PDF and E-book Product Documentation

• Upgrading to vCenter Server 5.0 best practices

• Installing ESXi 5.0 best practices

• Upgrading ESXi 5.0 best practices

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

New Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3 Download!

“iSCSI Software Target is an optional Windows Server component that provides centralized, software-based and hardware-independent iSCSI disk subsystems in storage area networks (SANs).”

You can download the new package here and find additional information by reading Jose Barreto’s blog posts: The Basics of the Virtual Disk Services (VDS), Configuring the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target, Step-by-step: Using the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target with Hyper-V (Standalone, Full, VHD) and Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3 for Windows Server 2008 R2 available for public download.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

Great Free Resources for VMware Environments from Vizioncore

Vizioncore recently made available the “Top 10 Virtual Performance Mistakes” WebEx session for download and I must say that it is a great free resource. Also, this page provides more links to other free tools mentioned in the presentation.

Feel free to download the WebEx session here and the Pdf here.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

HP P2000/MSA Comparison Page

I find myself looking for technical information about the HP P2000/MSA series on a weekly basis so I am posting the direct link to the HP site for my own future reference:

“The HP StorageWorks P2000 G3 FC Modular Smart Array is a high-performance 8 Gb Fibre Channel or Combo FC/iSCSI connected array designed for efficient consolidation and functionality at affordable prices. Choosing the FC/iSCSI Combo controller gives the flexibility to share the array resources over both protocols, closely matching the needs of various sized departments and budgets.

The HP StorageWorks 2000 Modular Smart Array Family (MSA2000) is a new generation of Fibre Channel, iSCSI and SAS storage arrays for SAN implementations specifically designed for entry-level customers, featuring the very latest in functionality and technology at highly affordable price points. It supports simultaneous accommodation of enterprise-class, dual-ported SAS drives and archival-class SATA drives.”

The HP MSA comparison page can be accessed here.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

VMware KB Article 1008205 - Using Esxtop to Identify Storage Performance Issues

“Details

• This article provides information about esxtop and latency statistics that may cause performance issues with SAN connected storage (either FC or iSCSI).

Solution

• The esxtop utility can be used to measure how much I/O is moving across various devices. The esxtop utility is interactive. As such, pressing certain keys changes the view.”

You can view the article here.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

New Site: Storage Virtual Appliance

ESX users deserve a more flexible, robust and cost effective shared storage solution for their virtual server environment. Shared storage systems are needed in order to leverage the real benefits of ESX (such as VMotion), but are often seen as out of reach, too complicated or too expensive for many organizations.

Many users are looking for ways to maximize their investment and want to leverage the advanced features available in ESX, but can’t do so without making a significant investment in a shared storage system. Traditionally, users have had to spend thousands of dollars to implement a shared storage system. This is where a Storage Virtual Appliance comes into play.

You can access the new Storage Virtual Appliance site here.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

File Server Migration Toolkit 1.1

This is not new (it was released a few months ago) but I just happened to need it so I am posting here the links to the product for future reference:

Microsoft File Server Migration Toolkit offers a step-by-step process, simplifying the task of migrating file services. It provides the necessary tools to help minimize the impact to users, resulting in a more manageable environment.

• Simplify the task of moving data: FSMT helps the system administrator easily migrate and consolidate shared folders from servers running Windows NT Server 4.0, Windows 2000 family of servers, Windows 2003 family of servers, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Storage Server 2008 to a server running Windows Server 2003, Windows Storage Server 2008, or Windows Server 2008.
• Minimize the impact on users: FSMT helps the system administrator configure new functionality in Distributed File System (DFS) to maintain the original Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path of files after they are moved to a new server through DFS consolidation roots. This reduces the impact of file server consolidation and migration, saves end users time spent searching for files, and ensures that line-of-business applications keep running.
• More manageable and productive: FSMT is the tool that allows administrators to overcome data migration hurdles. While the benefits of consolidation or migration to a platform with better file services is the payoff, getting there can sometimes be overwhelming. By simplifying the task of moving data and keeping the impact on users to a minimum, the company is able to increase its overall ability to manage their file services. This creates a more productive environment both for users and those in charge of planning.

Download the Microsoft File Server Migration Toolkit here.

Download the white paper here.

Microsoft FSMT Web Site.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

Free Tool for Managing VMware ESX / ESXi Servers: Trilead VM Explorer

Trilead VM Explorer is a management tool that eases management, backup and disaster recovery tasks in your VMware ESX Server environment. You get maximum flexibility: backups can be stored to ESX, Windows, Linux and FreeBSD based storage platforms or directly to a SAN.

Features

• Multi-Server Management: The graphical user interface of VM Explorer allows to connect to multiple ESX, Linux and FreeBSD servers at the same time in the same interface.
• Server to Server fast copy: Allows you to copy files directly (drag&drop) between ESX, Linux and FreeBSD servers at full speed: throughput is only limited by the available network/storage system bandwidth.
• ESX to ESX/Windows/Linux/FreeBSD/SAN Backup & Restore: Our unique ESX to any backup feature allows to backup virtual machines to other ESX Servers, Linux or FreeBSD servers. Of course, virtual machines can also be stored to a SAN (ISCSI or NFS) directly attached to an ESX. Furthermore, backups can also be saved on the Windows machine where the VM Explorer is running.
• Support for ESX 3i: VMX version 1.5 includes beta support for the next generation of ESX servers.
• File Browser: Browse instantly your ESX/Linux/FreeBSD servers' file system and copy files from one to the other just by drag & drop. Supports also up- and download to the management station.
• Integrated SSH Client: The integrated SSH Terminal Client allows you to configure all your Unix/Linux based Servers trough SSH, all within one software.
• Job Scheduler: The integrated job scheduler allows you to perform unattended, periodic backups of your virtual infrastructure.
• Integrated ESX Snapshot Manager: Create and remove snapshots directly from within VMX.
• Dynamic Compression: To make use of slow network links (e.g., for wide-area replication) or to save space on the target system, backups can be dynamically compressed.

More resources here:

• Screenshots
• Editions
• Download

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

Free VM Backup Alternative for ESX 3.5 and ESXi

This script performs backups of virtual machines residing on ESX 3.5+ and ESXi servers using methodology similar to VMware's VCB tool. The script takes snapshots of live virtual machines, backs up the master VMDKs and then upon completion, deletes the snapshot until the next backup. The only caveat is that it utilizes resources available to the Service Console of the ESX server running the backups as opposed to following the traditional method of offloading virtual machine backups through a VCB proxy.

You can find more information about the script here.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

Celerra Virtual Appliance HOWTO 301 from Virtual Geek

Great post from Chad at Virtual Geek:

"Glad to see that people are having downloading and success with the Celerra VM on VMware Workstation based on this original post.  I wanted to provide a quick "HOWTO" to help customers Replicate between two VSAs, for many reasons - one of the most fun being VMware Site Recovery Manager.

Celerra Replicator (I hope the Celerra Product team doesn't read this) is a RIDICULOUSLY inexpensive (particularly when compared with the competition) but very sophisticated remote replication capability."

You can read the full article here.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

Microsoft Hyper-V Posts

Here you have 3 great posts about Microsoft Hyper-V from Jose Barreto's Blog:

Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V Failover Clustering Options:

There are many ways to implement Windows Server Failover Clustering with Hyper-V. I could actually find five unique methods to do it. Some of them will actually not give you a fully fault-tolerant solution, but most of them actually make sense in specific scenarios (even if only for demonstrations). In any case, just trying to understand and differentiate them will probably be a good exercise.

Storage Options for Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V:

Windows Server 2008’s Hyper-V has been in public beta for a while now and lots of people have been experimenting with it. One aspect that I am focusing on is storage for those virtualized environments and more specifically the options related to SAN storage.

Storing Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V files on a CIFS/SMB File Share:

I previously covered the storage options for Hyper-V and described the many choices between directly attached or SAN storage, fibre channel or iSCSI, passthrough or VHD, Virtual SCSI or Virtual IDE, etc.
However, I failed to mention in that post the option to store your VHD files in a CIFS/SMB file server share. Here's an updated diagram with all the different Storage options for Hyper-V, including the DAS, SAN and file server options.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

More VMware Tools and Utilities

Back in February I wrote a post about the VMware Tools and Utilities I use to administer our VMware environment. Now, via vmware-land.com we get the following list:

1-Putty - Telnet and SSH client for remotely connecting to the ESX service console

2-WinSCP and Veeam FastSCP - SCP clients for browsing ESX server file systems and transferring files to/from ESX hosts

3-VI3 SnapHunter and SnapAlert - Utilities that can report all running snapshots on ESX hosts including name, size and date. Can also automatically email reports and optionally commit snapshots

4-VI Scripted Backup Utility - A backup utility that is run from the Service Console that provides VMDK level backups of any VM on storage accessible by the host

5-MCS StorageView - A utility that displays all the logical partitions, operating system, capacity, free space and percent free of all virtual machines on ESX 3.x or Virtual Center 2.x

6-SSH Plug-in - A VI client plug-in that integrates an SSH console directly into the client

7-Storage VMotion Plug-in - A VI client plug-in that extends the client’s functionality by providing an integrated, graphical tool that can be used to invoke storage VMotion (SVMotion) operations

8-VMotion Info - A program that will collect Vendor, Model, CPU Types and the CPU feature bits from all hosts to check for VMotion compatibility

9-VMCdConnected - Scans all Virtual Machines and shows if they have a CD connected to it. After scanning the VM’s you can disconnect all the CD’s with a click of a button

10-VMware Converter – (Performs hot and cold conversions of physical and virtual servers to virtual machines. Also converts image formats

Enjoy!

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

The Best of the Week (13)

And here you have the the best articles for the past week:

• Significant Networking Problem with Hyper-V via Scottlowe.org
• The Case For And Against Stretched ESX Clusters via Virtual Geek
• VMFS Storage Sizing for Maximum Performance via VM /ETC
• Disaster Recovery in the Datacenter via VMware Podcasts
• ROI Analysis: Virtualization via InformationWeek

Enjoy!

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

The Best of the Week (12)

This is the list of the links for this week:

• Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Connection Broker Comparison via Quest
• Microsoft Hyper-V to flaunt advanced virtualization features via Infoweek
• Virtualization's Impact on IT Operations - Part 1 via Virtual Strategy Magazine
• Deploying Virtual Servers in a SAN Environment via Virtual Strategy Magazine
• Alternatives to VCB for VMware backup via SearchVMware

Enjoy!

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

The Best of the Week (11)

These are the articles I enjoyed the most in the past week:

• Measuring Cluster Scaling with VMmark via VMware's performance team
• VirtualBox 1.6 vs. VMware Server 2.0 Beta 2 via zdnet.com
• Uncovering the Dark Secrets of Dark Storage via Enterprise Systems
• Is IT Infrastructure Undergoing a Quiet Revolution? via vmblog.com
• With virtualization growth comes increased demand for jobs via InfoWorld

Have a nice weekend!

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

The Best of the Week (10)

And the winners for this week are:

• Storage options for Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V via Jose Barreto's Blog
• More on Storage Options for Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V via Jose Barreto's Blog
• Microsoft Licensing: Part 5 (virtualization) via markwilson.it
• Remote Access for Vendors via Life as a Healthcare CIO
• Dice reports a 40% increase in the demand for virtualization jobs via virtualization.info

Enjoy!

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

Xtravirt Virtual SAN released

The Xtravirt Virtual SAN (XVS) appliance for VMware ESX3 Server, is a free solution to provide the benefits of shared VMFS storage without the cost of a SAN – this allows the utilization of otherwise unused local storage in the ESX server to facilitate enterprise level features such as VMotion, DRS and HA normally only available through the use of a shared storage device. All volume data is synchronously replicated between hosts, providing full fail-over capability with data integrity in the event of host, disk or appliance failure. The appliance is menu driven and has been designed to be as easy to configure as possible, and full documentation is provided. 

Its features include:

• XVS is a SAN and local Disaster Recovery all-in-one
• It provides enterprise level functionality such as VMotion, DRS, and HA, all using direct attached storage
• All volume data is synchronously replicated between hosts providing full failover capability with data integrity in the event of a host, disk or appliance failure

Download the Xtravirt Virtual SAN here.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

100,000 I/O Operations Per Second, 1 ESX Host

We know that ESX can handle a large number of IOPS, but we set out to see just how far we could push it. We went to EMC and got as many storage arrays as we could lay our hands on. We picked a realistic workload of 100% random with a 50/50 read/write mix and 8KB block size and then fired it up. We kept pushing more and more IOPS and managed to get up to 100,000 IOPS before running out of storage array bandwidth. And we still had plenty of headroom to spare with ESX!

Read the full article here!

Posted by Gabriel Maciel