Dugie’s Pensieve

Technically it’s RTW, but the great news is that you can download Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 from the Microsoft website.

So while I’m installing, here is a snippet from the release notes is below (my favourites in bold):

• Support for hardware-assisted virtualization technology
• Support for greater than 64 virtual machines on x64-based hosts
• VHD Mount command-line tool and APIs
• Interoperability with Volume Shadow Copy Service
• Support for additional guest and host operating systems
• Service publication using Active Directory Service Connection Points
• Host clustering white paper
• Virtual SCSI fix for Linux guests
• Larger default size for dynamically expanding virtual hard disks
• VMRC ActiveX control and Internet Explorer security zones
• New VMRC client option to enable video stretch in full screen mode
• IVMGuestOS::Get_OSName property returns more operating system information

There is also the Linux additions which have RTM’d but you will need to download them separately.  Speaking of additions SP1 ships with v13.813 of the Virtual machien Additions.

For more info, see Patrick’s post on the Windows Server Virtualization blog.  There also seems to be a lot of noise/excitement in the “hosting service provider space”  I’ll post back as I find out more.

There are no words to express just how relieved I feel right about now - relieved is a start, but still an understatement.

I’ve just finished rebuild my desktop here at home, a huge undertaking, taking several days to get everything just right.  I dread rebuilds of my primary machine.  Sure about 88% of everything is scripted, but its the other 12% that gives you 99% of the pain.

So this time, I P2V’d my existing machine, hosted it on another computer, then took the plunge with a full rebuild ( ’format c:’ style ).  Some general notes from the experience:

• P2V my workstation and host it on another machine
• My desktop has dual monitors
• Whilst my physical machine installs OS and apps, RDP into my VM workstation from and old laptop and keep working
• Once my physical machine is semi-usable, RDP into my VM (making sure drag and drop works)
• Import the bulk of settings from my VM to my physical workstation
• Use my physical workstation, and update “stuff” as I notice it missing.
• …use my VM to carry on working productively until my physical host has been configured

My rebuild has finished today, and I started nearly a week ago on Tuesday, granted I haven’t spent the entire time rebuilding - thankfully I haven’t had to because I’ve had an intermediary workaround with my VM.  I must say this rebuild has been considerably less pain — I’d almost go as far as to say pain free.  It’s definitely been stress free, knowing that my VM is there working perfectly when I need it.

Today I’ve not had to power up the VM. so I’m going to call this rebuild done and dusted.  I’ll copy the VM to a USB drive, if I don’t use it over the next month I’ll delete it. 

So I thought I’d take a few moments to blog this and share my experiences.  This rebuild style may not suit everyone, but it worked very well for me.

Microsoft have just released another Virtualization whitepaper, Microsoft Virtual Server and the HP BladeSystem.  [Naturally] the whitepaper is all about the reducing TCO via the integrated HP BladeSystem and Microsoft Virtual Server R2. 

But I found the following snippet about VDI interesting:

Undertaking a simpler virtualization solution is another way to help control risk before executing a more sophisticated initiative. HP Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is an example of a simpler end-to-end virtualization solution provided by HP and Microsoft. A replacement for the traditional desktop configuration model, HP VDI is an integrated solution that includes hardware, software, and management tools. HP VDI builds on Microsoft Virtual Server technology to help provide a complete virtualization solution at a significantly lower cost than alternative hardware/software configurations.

The whitepaper also includes a link to the HP ProLiant server sizer for Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2.  The URL requires registration, but try this link.

Super Blogger (and fellow all round good guy) Long Zheng, has had a bit of fun crossing the Matrix movie with a bit of good-old-fashioned-microsoft-gossip-and-NDA-cloak-and-daggerness.

It made me giggle like a school girl, and even good old Viridian makes a cameo:

Anyway, you should check out his post, “The Microtrix - istartedsomething“.

SUSE Linux Enterprise is now available as a 2.6Gb download from the Novell website.  It’s just a raw VHD.  No compression, VMC, or documentation included.

A snippet from the Novell Blog is below:

More fruit from Novell’s collaboration with Microsoft … Novell has made available SUSE Linux Enterprise Server on Microsoft’s Virtual Hard Drive (VHD). The VHD image file contains SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 Service Pack 1 with most available packages already installed. With this image, folks can run SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP1 on their Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 and experience Linux easily and risk free. Check it out.
…
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) on Microsoft’s Virtual Hard Drive (VHD) is a VHD image file that contains the latest release of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server: SLES 10 SP1 with most available packages already installed. With this image you can run SLES 10 SP1 on your Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2.

I’m downloading a copy now, but I’ve had to register (no biggy).  I wonder why Novell didn’t zip the VHD?  Hmmm.

I got my baby back today, she went in for that big service, ouch.  Although I shouldn’t complain.  My bike is only a baby (650 cc) so a full service with spares costs about the same as a rear tyre for Chuck’s YZF 1000 or Kleefy’s Ducati 748 — and I get a new rear bundled in the price as well :)

Speaking of which, for those interested I really like the Bridgestone Trail Wing.  On the bitumen, it handles well, quite smooth with little noise.  Good in wet weather too, which is good, because it’s pouring down rain here in Brissie today.

…and on those days I do decide to take the bike on a dirt track to the middle of nowhere I can get out and enjoy the trip.  I don’t tend to do too much serious off-road work as it just hurts me, and the bike.

Anway, the guys in the workshop did some valve work, suggested I try some different spark plugs, and made some general timing adjustments - and phwaaaar! 

My baby’s got boot again!  I only had just under an hour of daylight yesterday to go for ride, and it feels gooood.  There’s something you’ve just gotta love about a v-twin.  I didn’t get too excited with a new rear tyre, but I did take the chance to rough it up a bit - that and stairs.  I like stairs

That’s about it really. I’m a very happy man.

Microsoft have released today 4 new whitepapers for Microsoft Virtual Server.  They all are about ~20 pages in length:

• Virtual Environment with Virtual Server on Windows Server
• High Availability Solutions Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2
• Hosting Core Infrastructure Production Production Workloads Using Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2
• Rehosting Line-of-Business Applications

‘Hosting Core Infrastructure Workloads‘ has [from my point of view] perhaps the most value; there is updated information on identifying virtualization candidates and best practise for virtual server hosts. 

If you get inspired to build a host cluster, check out John Howards blogcast demo of it in action, and also his 5 part blogcast series on how to build the environment.

I just saw this from Damian over at ozvms.com.  It’s a new whitepaper for installing ESX server under VMware Workstation 6.0 

Although this is a little off topic for my blog, this is fabulous news.  If you’ve ever had to write  install/upgade/whatever doco with screenshots for ESX, this is going to be a real life saver.  ..and the ability to test tools and products for ESX on your laptop with Vmotion is another huge benefit!!

Anyway you can check out a snippet below, and all the details are on the Xtravirt website:

This paper illustates how to install and configure VMware ESX3 Server to run within VMware Workstation 6. From this, VirtualCenter, VMotion, HA and DRS features can be configured.

Although performance is significantly reduced from that of a physical server, this type of environment opens considerable possibilities for portable client demonstrations and is excellent for self training and small lab environments.

This paper assumes the reader has good technical knowledge of VMWare Virtual Infrastructure 3. The paper assumes that you know how to install the VirtualCenter2, License Server and Virtual Infrastructure Client.

The hardware used in this whitepaper was an IBM Thinkpad T60P laptop, Core Duo, 3GB memory, 120GB SATA Hard Disk.

Lots has been happening lately, but all that is for another post.  Here are some recent Virtualization snippets of interest:

• Hardware Virtualization Check Utility - Volker posts about two tools to check if your machine supports Hardware Virtualization.
• Windows Server 2008 hits the bookshelf - Mitch Tulloch [MVP] has written a Windows Server 2008 book that is getting some good reviews.  Hoping to get a portion soon so I can post a review
• SoftGrid 4.2 Tech Preview on Connect - nuff said.
• Viridian at TechEd 2007 USA - If your lucky enough to be there [I wont] you might get the opportunity to see Viridian in action and use it in the labs.
• Scott Hanselman gets jiggy with it on VM Performance Checklist - Before you Complain that your Virtual Machine is Slow;  Virtual Machine CPU Performance and The Duh Files - The file is too large for the destination file system..
• The domain transfer for www.windowsvirtualization.com has finally gone through.  Still some hard work to do before the blog and wiki go live.
• My good mate Luke, shares his experiences with P2V of IBM servers using SCVMM - good read