VM /ETC

Archive for April, 2010

Just a quick post to explain how to use Synaptic Package Manager to install the the VMware View Open Client on Ubuntu. I’m using 64 bit Ubuntu Netbook Remix (UNR)for the example in this post. I would expect that as desktop virtual infrastructure gains momentum more and more users will find themselves connecting to corporate desktop images from a personal device – possibly running Linux! Ubuntu Netbook Remix is one example of a number of Linux operating systems that could be used to do this!

VMware View Install Steps Overview:

1. Open Synaptic, update the packages, and then search for “vmware”. Synaptic can be found on UNR in the System group under administration.
2. Mark the vmware-open-view-client package for installation.
3. Note the dependencies. The VMware View client uses an RDP connection to the vDesktop. The rdesktop package is needed.  The project’s page on Google Code points this out as an important dependency too.
4. After completing the download and installs I found the icon in the Internet Menu Group of Ubuntu Netbook.

Here’s some screen shots of the process, but unfortunately I could not figure out how to get them in the correct order in this album. :/

View Full Album

updated 050110 – corrected the previously incomplete thought about the dependency on rdesktop in step 3

Check out VIRTUMANIA Episode 9 as Rick once again joins me and Marc. This week’s very special guest, Brent Ozar, tells us how to make friends and influence SQL DBAs when virtualizing databases. The following is the podcast summary:

VIRTUMANIA Podcast Episode 9 - We Got Your Virtualized SQL Right Here! Hosted by Rich Brambley (@rbrambley) of VMETC. Marc Farley (@3parfarley) of 3Par and StorageRap.com co hosts. Virtumania veteran Rick Vanover (@rickvanover www.rickvanover.com) is back again, and rounding out the roster is special guest and SQL MVP Brent Ozar (@brent0 http://www.brentozar.com). The crew explores the latest SQL 2008 R2 DAC features and the potential for future “VMware DRS -like” migrations of databases between hosts, discusses various techniques for convincing DBAs that virtualizing SQL is a good thing, considers database server architecture and design for VI, ponders SQL in private and public clouds, and even dips into MS and SQL licensing for virtual infrastructure. There’s plenty to learn about virtualizing SQL whether you are a VI Admin or a DBA in this episode. Thanks to Greg Knieriemen (@knieriemen) for this Infosmack Production.

Listen to the podcast with the embedded player or subscribe to get a weekly copy so you can listen when convenient.

I want to say thanks to all the Virtumania listeners, the guests that have been on so far (and will be on in the future), and the crew of VIRTUMANIACS that are on with me every week. We have surpassed over 4000 subscribers in just 8 episodes! I’m amazed the podcast has been accepted so well. It’s a lot of fun to do and I look forward to the conversations in the future!

Check out the VM /ETC VIRTUMANIA Page to listen to past episodes as well as episodes of Infosmack.

The following links offer more information on some of the topics mentioned about virtualizing SQL in VIRTUMANIA Episode 9:

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If you are exploring the latest beta version of VMware Workstation or Player you are not getting access to the full performance of the application due to debug mode being enabled by default. Sure I want to help in the development process, but there are times I just want to experience the bliss of reveling in the latest application improvements at top performance. For these times, this post documents a couple of ways others have successfully turned off debug mode for VMware Workstation on Windows and on suggests how to do the same on Linux. This post also points out that disabling debug mode in the free VMware Player is not an option.

Although I’ve received a similar notice when running beta VMware Workstation on my systems, I most recently have been exploring the Player 3.1 Beta. The following screen shot shows the debug mode pop up notification whenever a VM is powered on.

Disable Debug Mode In VMware Workstation on Windows

Here’s one of the latest VMware Communities threads explaining how to do it: Turn off Beta Debug mode. As described in the forum thread, the answer to disabling debug mode could be this simple:

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Episode 8 of the VIRTUMANIA Podcast was great! Marc and I team up again with Rick Vanover for a conversation with Vaughn Stewart of  NetApp. The following is the podcast summary:

VIRTUMANIA Podcast Episode 8 – Barbecue SMT Architecture Plate. Hosted by Rich Brambley (@rbrambley) of VMETC. Marc Farley (@3parfarley) of 3Par and StorageRap.com co hosts with guests Rick Vanover (@rickvanover www.rickvanover.com) and Vaughn Stewart (@vstewed http://blogs.netapp.com/virtualstorageguy/) of NetApp. After some general fun about Infosmack’s activities at SNW last week and the upcoming NetApp vs EMC debate scheduled for this year’s Charlotte VMUG in June, the conversation segues from the different types of regional barbecue in the Southeastern U.S. to Secure Multi Tennancy Architecture. Various technologies that make up SMT from VMware, Cisco, NetApp, and even other storage company’s solutions that can create similar multi tennancy scenarios are touched upon. An example is developed of an IT department responsible for various barbecue “departments” on a secure, isolated, but consolidated virtual infrastructure. This episode is sure to leave you hungry for more! Thanks to Greg Knieriemen (@knieriemen) for this Infosmack Production.

Farley gets Greg Knieriemen to laugh again and wins 1,000 VIRTUMANIA Bucks. Rick needs help securing the Rickatron.com domain, and the whole crew doubts my reference to Alabama BBQ styles.

Listen to the podcast with the embedded player or subscribe to get a weekly copy so you can listen when convenient

Check out the VM /ETC VIRTUMANIA Page to listen to past episodes as well as all the episodes of Infosmack.

The following links offer more information on some of the SMT Architecture topics mentioned in VIRTUMANIA Episode 8:

Read the rest of this entry »

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said “Nothing endures but change.” Isaac Asimov, commonly considered the greatest science fiction mind ever, said “It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today.” As a host of the podcast Virtumania, I nonchalantly signify a change in conversation with “Here Goes Nothin’” at the start of every new episode.

Now I’m about to start a new episode in my technical career and life, and although the opportunity is a result of the “Virtumania” I am (we are all) a part of, it is definitely not an lackadaisical new start.

I am excited to say “Here Goes Somethin’ !” to a great new opportunity with Veeam Software.

Veeam Senior Systems Engineer Southeast

On Monday April 26, 2010 I start as a Senior Systems Engineer for Veeam in the Southeast U.S. Region. I’ll be joining

David Sile’s team of world wide engineers responsible for partner training, customer proof of concepts, product pre sales and support, and spreading overall Veeam evangelism.

I’ve been fortunate to get to know David, Doug, and many of the Veeam team at conferences and events over the past few years, and I couldn’t be more enthusiastic about getting to work for and with such a great company, such great engineers, and a great group of people.

I believe there is big things in the future ahead at Veeam Software, and I’m appreciative to get the chance to become a part of their success.

Thanks for everything

It was not an easy choice to decide to leave my team and friends at Softchoice Optimus Solutions. I have laughed with and learned from a great group there. We all know we spend more time with our co workers than any one else during the day, and this is sincerely a bittersweet change for me. Knowing that I am leaving a Veeam Gold Partner that I will now get to support in my territory made the decision a little easier, believe it or not. I will stay in touch.

Hello Veeam Partners and customers in the Southeast!

I can’t wait to get to know all of the great partners and customers (both current and future) in the territory. Let me know who and where you are!

How does this impact VM /ETC and Virtumania?

It doesn’t from my perspective! Veeam is encouraging me to keep my personal activities independent and I’m thankful for that. Although it has not been officially discussed, maybe I’ll contribute posts to VeeamMeUp.com from time to time when inspired. – frankly I’m not sure if that’s an option or not. Maybe I’ll start my own separate Veeam centric blog. The point is that this blog and my podcast will remain as independent as possible.

Like my co host Marc Farley (3PAR), on the Virtumania Podcast I’ll continue to talk about virtualization from the operational perspective. I expect to still be in data centers helping with different virtual infrastructure solutions on a regular basis. I’ll have plenty of inspiration!

Here Goes Something’

So, like so many others already in 2010, I’m announcing a change. If you ask me it’s hardly nothin’.

With the recent news that VMware will be phasing out VMware Consolidated Backup and make the vStorage API for Data Recovery (VADR) the business continuity and full virtual machine backup enabler of the future, I want to better understand where VMware Data Recovery (vDR) fits in a virtual infrastructure today. This post outlines my notes as I explored both features and limitations of vDR in order to help explain how, where and when the product can be leveraged.

vSphere Editions needed for vDR

A great place to start is by understanding what licensed versions of vSphere 4 vDR can be used with. Using VMware’s vSphere edition comparison table you can clearly see that vDR is only available for use with the Essentials Plus, Advanced, Enterprise, and Enterprise Plus versions.

Although vDR is available in the Enterprise and Enterprise Plus editions, the limitations described in the next section present some design challenges for deploying vDR in larger environments.

Disclaimer: I am a systems engineer for Veeam Software.

Special Considerations For Using vDR

The following list of vDR limitations was taken from the VMware Data Recovery 1.1 Administration Guide:

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VMware announced this week that nominations for 2010 vExpert are being accepted until April 30, 2010. Be sure to vote for your favorite “bloggers, book authors, VMUG leaders, event organizers, speakers, tool builders, forum leaders, and others who share their virtualization expertise” by filling out the official application found at the new vExpert 2010 Landing site.

For those who do not know, the vExpert Award was introduced by VMware in 2009. Best described as an award similar to Microsoft’s MVP, I was lucky enough to be named one of the 300 vExperts awarded last year. Check out my acceptance speech post from last February. All joking aside, the award distinguishes those “who have significantly contributed to the community of VMware users over the past year.”

The application process is not a contest or an election campaign, so if you have a candidate that may not be as well known in the vEcosphere already but has significantly contributed to the VMware and virtualization community be sure to fill out an application for him/her. All it takes is one application to recognize someone for their efforts in 2009!