VM /ETC

Archive for the ‘server 2008’ Category

When Microsoft released Server 2008 the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) was introduced and Sysprep could no longer be used for deploying new servers. This meant that VMware needed to modify vCenter to allow for deploying new VMs from a Server 2008 template. The virtualization community quickly found a work around for the process on vCenter 2.5 and ESX 3.x.

When vSphere was released, it was announced that VMware included the necessary .xml file to customize Server 2008 with vCenter 4, thus meaning that VM customization and 2008 Customization Specifications could be used out of the box without any manual modifications (i.e. adding Sysprep files to the designated vCenter directories). For a walk through of the vSphere Server 2008 deploy from template process with screen shots check out: How to Deploy a Windows 2008 Server From a Template with vSphere

However, in my experience so far creating Server 2008 templates and deploying new VMs the process doesn’t work quite right every time. When I’ve deployed a new Server 2008 VM from the template I’ve experienced an incomplete boot on the new VM. Windows prompts from the install DVD and suggests a recovery is needed. I’ve experienced this recently with 64 bit Server 2008, but I can’t recall if my previous issue was ever on a 32 bit server or not.

Fortunately the same work around for VI 3.5 still works for vSphere as well. Check out the link above for more details, but the basic process is as follows:

1. Build your Server 2008 VM until it’s ready to become a template
2. Before changing it to a template change the operating system type in the “Edit Settings” window to Vista 64 bit
3. Turn the VM into a template
4. Create a customization specification, and / or deploy and customize the new VM.
5. Before booting the new VM change the OS type back to Windows Server 2008

updated 081509 – I had the steps above slightly mixed. Fixed the steps so the OS type change occurs before the VM is converted to template

Edwin Yuen, Microsoft Virtualization Team Senior Technical Product Manager, has introduced Hyper-V’s latest feature closely emulating VMware’s virtual infrastructure enterprise product offerings. Quick Storage Migration (QSM) is being added to System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) 2008 R2. SCVMM 2008 R2 Release Canidate was recently released to the public. Hyper-V’s final release was integrated in Windows Server 2008 SP2.

Quoting Yuen’s post on the Microsoft Virtualization Team Blog titled System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 – Quick Storage Migration, here are some high level notes about QSM:

• QSM enables the migration of a VM not only between storage locations but also from one SAN to another
• QSM relies on Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V and Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
• QSM can move the virtual disks of a running virtual machine independent of storage protocols (iSCSI, FC) or storage type (local, DAS, SAN), with minimal downtime
• QSM will not be available on the free Hyper-V Server 2008 version and requires Microsoft’s Virtual Machine Manager (VMM)
• Quick Storage Migration is included with System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 both in the Enterprise Edition and the Workgroup Edition
• A VM can remain running for the almost the entire duration of the transfer of its virtual disks from one storage location to another. The post estimates the VM downtime to be under 1 minute in most cases assuming W2K8 R2.
• The VM is put into save-state (Hyper-V snapshot) for a brief interval to migrate its memory state and associated differencing disks.

Yuen’s post provides a feature comparison table of QSM versus VMware’s Storage Vmotion. The following is a screen shot of the table. Read the rest of this entry »

The fact that Microsoft has embraced virtualization is an understatement. The fact that Microsoft has been slow to embrace other virtualization vendor’s capabilities to run Windows operating systems as guests is equally an understatement, but what if this wasn’t the case? That is, what if Microsoft abandoned the licensing strategy of anchoring Windows to physical hardware? What if the folks at Redmond recognized virtual hardware and virtual machines (VMs) as equals to physical devices when assigning licenses? Taking it a step forward, what if specialized versions of the various Windows operating systems and applications were specifically developed for VMs along with special licensing? Maybe it will never happen, but there have been a few signs recently that give one hope for the possibility.

Like crop circles, the following are some posts that caused me to wonder “what if?”. Read the rest of this entry »

First announced at the Microsoft getVirtualNow launch event on Sept 8, Microsoft’s stand alone, bare metal installable Hyper-V Server 2008 is now available for free download. Go to the
Microsoft Hyper-V Server page to get your copy.

Patrick O’Rourke’s Windows Virtualization team Blog post Bare metal hypervisor is here, along with new training, services announced the availability yesterday (Oct 1). Patrick summarized the new product as follows:

“This is the no-cost, bare metal hypervisor. Think ESXi, but with Windows and not Linux.”

Patrick appears to be confusing ESXi with another version of VMware’s servers as ESXi does not require or use Linux as an OS. Regardless, the feature comparison is justified.

More on the new training from Microsoft in another post.

When you are ready to build your Hyper-V Server 2008 host, here’s a quick screen shot summary of the hardware requirements for your reference: Read the rest of this entry »

Although it’s VMware’s conference, every year I’ve attended Microsoft (and various other virtualization competitors) has always had a booth in the Solutions Exchange and/or presented their own session. VMworld 2008 was no exception. In fact, this year Microsoft’s presence was a little more noticeable than in the past. Starting with a marketing stunt of handing out $1 casino chips with anti VMware propaganda on Day 1, continuing throughout the conference with activities in the Solutions Exchange at their booth, and finally ending the week with their own session, Microsoft did their best to grab the attention of the attendees.

On Thursday 9.18 at 2:00 pm I sat in on Microsoft’s Virtualization session hosted by David Greshler and Edwin Yuen. The presentation was informative and entertaining with David explaining Microsoft’s server and desktop virtualization products and Edwin providing some great demos of Hyper-V and System Center Virtual Machine Manager. This post is a summary of my notes along with numerous links to related videos, blogs, and sites.

What’s New in Microsoft Virtualization? Read the rest of this entry »

If you missed the Microsoft Get Virtual Now Virtualization Event in Bellevue, WA today then check out the recorded Keynote session presented by Bob Muglia, Senior Vice President Server and Tools Business, and Kevin Turner, Chief Operating Officer. This 45 minute video, recorded and provided by Microsoft, provides live demonstrations of App-V, VDI with Windows Vista on Citrix XenDesktop, Hyper-V, System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008, and the newly announced, bare metal installable, and free Hyper-V Server 2008. This Keynote also features the first public demonstration of the new Live Migration feature announced to be included in the future release of Server 2008 R2.

Much like when VMware used to frequently demonstrate Vmotion, at around 35 minutes into the Keynote Bob Muglia streams a video from a virtual machine that is live migrated between hosts in a Server 2008 cluster. When the migration is completed without any disruption Bob declares “There is no magic in Vmotion. It’s just a feature.”

Click this link to watch the video in your desktop media player. If the link does not work from your browser then right click the link and save the .asx file to your desktop. Then double click the saved file.

300_ms_virtualization_PM_OD_080908.asx

The following summary of announcements from today’s event was also provided for the Press by Microsoft: Read the rest of this entry »

Last week Microsoft made licensing changes that are beneficial for companies running applications in a virtual environment. Many articles and blog posts were published hailing the policy explained in the Microsoft Application Licensing Mobility Brief. However, as I explained in my post New Microsoft Application Mobility Brief does not cover the Windows Operating System, the new policy almost seems incomplete if you do not use Microsoft’s server operating system (OS) to host your virtual machines (VMs). The brief is easy to understand for scenarios where Hyper-V, Microsoft Virtual Server, or VMware Server are running on Server 2008, but to me it’s still confusing when a non Microsoft, bare metal hypervisor is installed instead. So, since it’s safe to say that Windows is by far the most widely used operating system in VMs today how should IT departments license Windows guests if a host is running VMware ESXi/ESX 3.5 or Citrix XenServer for example? The best choice may surprise you. Read the rest of this entry »