VM /ETC

Archive for December, 2010

I was inspired to try a full install of the Androidx86 OS in a VMware Workstation VM after Eric Sloof created a video of the Androidx86 LiveCD running in a vSphere VM. I’ve documented building the VM and configuring it to run in this post. I also list some navigation tips for getting around inside Androidx86. Finally check out my video of the working VM.

Since most are probably wondering I’ll mention this now, once the VM is connected to the Internet you can download a very limited selection of Apps, but I had sporadic success with the various Apps I tried. For the few that I did get to install, I wasn’t able to get all of them running. So, use an Androidx86 VM as a way to get a feel for what an Android device is like. Maybe it will help you make a decision about buying a Tablet like the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Browsing the web worked great. I do not test email.

Download, Create New VM, and Install Androidx86 from .ISO

Download the latest revision of the Androidx86 .ISO here:

http://www.androidx86.org/downloads.html

Build a new “typical” VMware Workstation VM (this should work just the same with the free VMware Player), and when you point the install wizard at the Androidx86 .iso the OS type FreeBSD is auto detected. I chose to install the operating system later as I did not want to invoke the auto download of the VMware Tools.

This choice forces you to manually specify FreeBSD from the next screen of the wizard.

I kept the default disk size of 8GB and to chose to store the virtual disk as a single file.

I customized the virtual hardware and did the following

• bumped the RAM to 512 mb. The Workstation wizard suggested 256 mb.
• deleted the floppy
• pointed the vCD/DVD at the Androidx86 .iso and made sure it was connected at power on.
• changed the vNIC to Bridged. NAT should work just fine too. (Note that additional networking changes need to be made later)

Once your ready, boot your new VM and choose to install to harddisk when prompted by the Android Installer.

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John Troyer recently rounded up 3/4 of the Infosmack family for episode 122 of his VMTN Communities Roundtable Podcast.

Join Greg Knieriemen, Rick Vanover and I as we reminisce about podcasts past from 2010, and then make some virtualization and cloud predictions for 2011. As always, John’s show is live, so many others join in the fun.

Listen to the episode in the embedded player here, or go to the Talkshoe page to get this great episode.

http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2010-12-20/

A post title like that got you attention, didn’t it?

Happy Holidays to all!

Veeam products can be installed on the same virtual machine allowing administrators to easily create a cost effective and valuable solution for documenting, managing, and maintaining ESX datacenters. With the recent announcement of free Veeam NFRs for VCPs, VCDXs, vExperts, and VCIs, many will be looking to build VMs to explore Veeam products. This post serves as a high level guide for combining the free versions of Veeam Reporter, Veeam Monitor, and Veeam Business View to create a single “Veeam ONE” Monitor Plus VM.

BTW, you might have missed that Veeam’s products were voted the top 3 free tools for vSphere by the virtualization community?! Check out vmwarevideos.com and vChat – Episode 11 – Results of the Best Free vSphere Tools Survey & Answering Viewer Questions.

Although I am using the free versions in this post, the process is the same for the licensed versions as well. See a comparison of free versus licensed features here for Reporter and here for Monitor.

FYI, all Veeam products can be downloaded in a fully functioning 30 day trial mode.  I highly recommend admins utilize them for a test drive this way, and when the trial expires the products will default to the free versions.

For larger environments, installing Monitor and Reporter in their own separate VMs may result in better performance. All products can share the same remote SQL or SQLExpress instance for their databases, however. Refer to each product’s current Release Notes and User Guide for planning, installation, and configuration information.

Disclaimer: I am a Senior Systems Engineer for Veeam Software.

Recommended Veeam ONE server requirements (for Proof of Concepts, SMBs, and some MID size datacenters)

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Veeam has a history of offering free products as a Christmas gift to the virtualization community, and 2010 is no exception. In fact, this year’s present is probably the biggest one yet. From the official press release:

NEW VEEAM BACKUP & REPLICATION V5 IS FREE TO VMWARE VEXPERTS, VMWARE CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS AND VMWARE CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS

Veeam offers free license keys for non-production use as holiday gift

Columbus, Ohio, December 10, 2010 – Veeam Software, innovative provider of VMware data protection, disaster recovery and VMware management solutions for virtual datacenter environments, today announced a holiday gift for VMware vExperts, VMware Certified Professionals, and VMware Certified Instructors. These individuals can receive Veeam Backup & Replication™ v5 with vPower™ for non-production use in their home labs. Any vExpert, VCP or VCI can receive a free two-CPU socket software license for evaluation, demonstration and training purposes. The offer also includes the Veeam ONE™ Solution for VMware management with Veeam Monitor™, Veeam Reporter™ and Veeam Business View™.

That’s right. A free NFR for all Veeam products listed above! Go get your free Veeam NFRs at http://www.veeam.com/go/free-nfr-license.

They don’t script Christmas Stories any better than this

The idea for this year’s gift actually came from a wish in the form of a tweet.

Check out the official Veeam Blog post for more about Veeam being Santa in a green and white suit.

TIPs FROM A VEEAM ELF

The NFRs are great, but all Veeam products are available as fully functioning 30 day downloads for up to 16 sockets. So,

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