VM /ETC Go Green with Virtualization. Go UGLY Green with vmetc.com.

Another session I attended at VMware’s Partner Exchange last week was titled ESX Log Analysis - Tech 207. I did not realize it when I signed up, but this was essentially the same session that I previously attended at VMWorld 2007 last September. I did a quick Google search on this topic to find the VMWorld slides and noticed that Scott Lowe live blogged from San Francisco while attending this very session. Then Searching on the VMWorld.com site I found that this was also a session at VMWorld Europe 2008 titled VI3 Advanced Log Analysis. You can get a copy of the .ppt used at the VMWorld Europe 2008 session on my Files Page.

There is nothing really too new about t-shooting ESX logs here, but the following are my notes from last week. On the other hand, there are some general notes directly related to ESXi logs and using Update Manager included.

I cleaned up my notes a little, but the following is still a raw outline. use These notes and the .ppt mentioned above to hopefully help educate yourself on this topic.

• Continue reading or Leave a comment... (0)

As of Monday 12.31.07 Virtualization.info reports that the stand alone version of ESX 3i is now available for download.

Ten days after the much awaited launch of VI3.5 (aka ESX Server 3.5 and VirtualCenter 2.5), VMware is ready to release the special version of ESX Server called 3i.

ESX Server 3i completely drops the so called Console Operating System (COS), based on a customized Red Hat Enterprise Linux distro, and appears as a lightweight 32MB liveCD (no need for hard disk installation).

The new architecture is offered today as a parallel version, but VMware clarified in several occasions that this is the future of ESX Server.

The product was originally planned for OEM distribution only, pre-installed inside Solid State Drives (SSD) by Dell, IBM, HP and others popular vendors, but VMware is now offering it as stand-alone download.

Unfortunately the only two servers which are supported in this first release (build 67921) are Dell 2950 and HP DL380 G5 (experimental support).

The amount of features included in stand-alone ESX Server 3i is limited (just the vSMP and the VMFS support, you’ll need VirtualCenter bundles to get more) but the starting price is very interesting: $459 (without support). Any VirtualCenter 2.5 is able to support and manage it.

Download it here.

I followed the link for download and discovered it is a >200 mb .iso file?! I’m not sure why at this point but will follow up later with what’s on this CD.

• Leave a comment... (3)

Storage VMotion - move VM disks without downtime!

Site Recovery Manager

DR Pain points

• lack of reliable plan
• can’t meet RTO or RPO reqs
• expenses for hardware at DR site

VI3 improves DR

• RTO / Cost / Reliability
• Failover / Planning / testing
  • isolate network for live testing
• Hdw independence / encapsulation / boot from san / drs and resource pools / snap shots & vlans
• instant repurposing

• Continue reading or Leave a comment... (0)

Dan Anderson - Consulting Architect

Tim Myers - Senior Consultant

This is my third 2 hr sesion today. I had to get coffee and refuel. I’ve sat in the same seat in the same room since 10:15 …. except for lunch.

Dan Anderson is the drill sargeant of VCB. If you’ve attended one of his sessions you know what I mean. He should keep me awake.

VMConverter 3.01 can now be used to restore from VCB images - that is huge!! You can restore to ESX, VMServer, workstation. This is the first “ton of bricks” concept that has hit me this week. Makes the restore process for full VM backups much more feasible.

Notes and questions from session: