Dugie’s Pensieve

I’ve created two new blog resources, FAQ.WindowsVirtualization.com  and Legacy.WindowsVirtualization.com

FAQ:  Any resources I come across for working with the beta of Viridian I’ll post on FAQ.  This is more for my own reference, but if it helps you guys out then that’s just sweet.

Legacy:  The old host, VirtualServer.tv  has to go away, but I didn’t want some really good and helpful content go to waste.  So I moved it to here.

That’s it for now.

If you want to download Windows 2008 RC0 with the Windows Server virtualization preview, the URLs are below:

• Windows Server 2008 RC0 Enterprise - 2.6 Gb
• Windows Server 2008 RC0 Datacenter - 2.6 Gb

Remember to grab the 64 bit version (6001.16659.070916-1443_amd64fre_Server_en-us-KR1SXFRE_EN_DVD.iso) as it is the only version that will run WSv

John Howard has some great install primers in his post , “How to install the Windows Server virtualization role in Windows Server 2008 RC0“, a snippet is below:

• disable the HT (HyperThread) capability in your processor,
• enable Hardware-assisted Virtualization (Intel VT or AMD Pacifica)
• then powerdown the computer completely

cheers!

Ward Ralston over at the Windows Server blog has announce the availability of Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate 0 (with WSv).

You can read more in his post “Windows Server 2008 Rc0 Released!“.  Although Ward mentions the RC0 is ready for download, the links still point to Beta3 - so I guess we’ll have to wait 24 hours for the pages to be refreshed.

So whilst we wait for the links to refresh, check out Alex Hinrichs and Jeff Woolsey Announcing Windows Server 2008 RC0 over at Channel9 — jump straight to 4:30 to hear Jeff talk about the hypervisor. 

Alex Hinrichs runs the Windows Server ship room and Jeff Woolsey is a senior program manager on the Virtualization team.

Once you’ve checked that out head over to Paul Thurrott’s Windows Windows Server Virtualization Preview and if you still need some more WSv goodness check out Keith’s blogcast, the Virtualization 10 Minute Tour.

UPDATE:  Download instructions are her,  http://blog.windowsvirtualization.com/wss/urls-for-windows-2008-rc0-and-wsv

 Uhhuh.  I went camping over the weekend, and it rained.  Then it poured.  Just when I thought it couldn’t get any heavier — it hailed.  The rain demolished the annex between the tents, and made a mess of anything nearby.

The rest of the family was fine.  Thankfully, they were over in the main tent, safe, and dry.   …and now I know the main tent is hail proof.

So I spent a couple of hours late in the night, (and well into the morning) huddled under a tent awning, with two dogs who are both petrified of lighting and thunder.  Luckily I had a small gas burner that I could use to keep warm — obviously given the circumstances, I wasn’t at all worried about the tarp catching fire  =)

Anyway the morning after, I got up early and lit a campfire (this shouldn’t be any surprise to those who know me) and Thomas helped cooked some breakfast:  bacon, eggs sausages, tomato and coffee.  Then we cleaned up and came home earlier than planned.

So I didn’t really get a chance to do any serious cooking, photography or worse still any serious scotch drinking!!

I did, stop and take one photo of an interesting ‘mailbox’ I saw.  One of the locals has been very resourceful and used and old microwave for his mailbox.  Made me smile.

So shaken, but not stirred, I’m planning the next trip.

You can edit the registry of a VM without having to power it up.  A rough guide is below:

• Use VHDMOUNT.EXE to mount the VHD: vhdmount.exe /m /f Harddisk.vhd
• Mount the registry:  reg load HKLM\VHD c:\mount\windows\system32\config\software
• Use Regedit and make your changes - browse to HKLM\VHD
• Close Regedit.exe
• Unmount the registry:  reg unload HKLM\VHD
• Unmount the VHD:  VHDMOUNT.EXE /U ALL

Tada, that’s it

I meant to blog it a while ago, but got side tracked, Kyle’s post reminded me - sorry for keeping this sugary goodness from you all.

Blogging has been and will be a bit quiet for a few days.  I’m going camping tomorrow and have been busy getting ready.  The camping ground is on the other end of some really long and twisty road.  A couple of hours outside Brisbane, so I guess I’ll just have to take the bike – it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.

As for the camping itself, I’ll be using the opportunity to enjoy several good scotches, red wine, and do some cooking in my camp oven …and I’ll probably do all three at the same time.  For the US readers, a Camp Oven is sometimes called a Dutch Oven, it’s made of cast iron, has a tight fitting lid, and you cook in it by covering/burying the oven in hot coals.  It can take a bit of practice, but I’m pretty good at it - a bit too good, because I always end up as camp cook  :) 

I think this camping trip I’ll probably cook my famous Shepherds Pie, as well as some Nachos,  a Sunday Roast with Yorkshire pudding and Apple Crumble.  I’m also going to try something new, and cook a Chicken Korma Curry.  I’ll also try to cooke some Naan bread in the coals. 

Of course, I’ll be taking photos and blogging them.  Until then here are some piccies of previous camping trips to keep you happy till I get back: 

Cheers for now, Dugie.

Cook books are back, and more of ‘em. A snippt from Microsoft Downloads is below:   Happy reading!

Virtual Server and System Center Virtual Machine Manager - 135 pages

The goal of this cookbook is to provide the steps and guidance necessary for you to successfully install and configure Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 and System Center Virtual Machine Manager. You may then create and manage virtual machines, and perform P2V migration.

Backup and Recovery with Virtual Server 2005 and Acronis Tue Image - 144 pages

The goal of this cookbook is to guide you through installing Acronis server imaging solutions for workgroups and installing Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1. The cookbook covers creating a virtual machine (to serve as a standby for recovery) and restoring the contents of a server representing your production workload to the waiting virtual machine.

Data Protection Manager 2007, Virtual Server, and System Center Virtual Machine Manager - 155 pages

The scenario presented in this cookbook will take you through the steps necessary to install Virtual Server and SCVMM, and then convert a workload to a virtual machine. This cookbook also includes the steps necessary to install DPM and to back up a running virtual machine, as well as information about monitoring and reporting using DPM.

Quick Migration with Virtual Server - 98 pages

This cookbook describes a simple configuration in which you use Virtual Server 2005 R2 to configure one guest operating system, and configure a server cluster that has two servers (nodes). With this configuration, you can migrate workloads easily from one node to the other

Mobile User Access of Applications. Terminal Server running on virtual machines with Virtual Server - 60 pages

In this cookbook we will install Terminal Server on a virtual machine and access the terminal server remotely. We will also show how to install Remote Desktop Web Connection and how to configure Windows® Firewall to allow remote clients to access the terminal server.

Hosted Backup and Recovery Solutions for Service Providers using DPM and Virtual Server - 116 pages

This cookbook will provide procedural, step-by-step guidance to an IT Generalist audience providing data backup and recovery to customers as a hosted solution using Virtual Server and System Center Data Protection Manager 2007

Simple Offsite Backup and Recovery of virtual machines using DPM and VS -  10 pages

This cookbook will provide procedural, step-by-step guidance to an IT Generalist audience for backing up and restoring virtual machines running in an offsite location using Virtual Server and System Center Data Protection Manager 2007

Simple Onsite Backup and Recovery of virtual machines using DPM and VS - 109 pages

This cookbook will provide procedural, step-by-step guidance to an IT Generalist audience for backing up and restoring running virtual machines using Virtual Server and System Center Data Protection Manager 2007

High Availability with VS and WS03R2 Enterprise Server Clustering - 99 pages

This cookbook will provide procedural, step-by-step guidance to an IT Generalist audience for implementing high availability of server workloads using Windows Server 2003 Server Clustering and Virtual Server using Intel-based hardware.

Application Isolation and Operation in BO Using VS - 98 pages

This cookbook will provide procedural, step-by-step guidance to an IT Generalist audience for isolating and operating applications on separate virtual machines in branch offices using Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1, in an Intel-based hardware environment for regulatory compliance and improved legacy workload performance.

Yesterday I got hammered with heaps of emails on where people could download Viridian.  Looks like I wasn’t the only one =)

Canadian IT Pro blogger, Rick Claus has come through in fine form and knows where to hook you up with ‘the guys’ who can.  This way you can be first in line when it’s available.

So for more information, check out Rick’s post “Wanna get your hands on Windows Server Virtualization (Viridian)“, and a snippet is below:

YOU will be able to get a chance to try it out. Just make sure you have the necessary pre-requisites (which I will detail here on the blog in a future post when it’s live).

How do you get hooked up with the RC0 of Windows Server 2008? That’s easy - head over to BetaCentral and register to get all the resources for current Beta 3 and register to be notified of RC0’s availability. Virtualization

NOTE: WSV is not in the current build of Beta3 - it will be in the next release called RC0. Stay tuned on the blog for more info on RC0 when it drops!

So what are you doing still reading this, get over to BetaCentral and register!

Vincent over at Virtrix has just posted that the HP DL580 G5 has released. (Thanks for the heads up, Vincent.)  He calls it the ‘Virtualization Monster’, and he’s not wrong!!! Check out the specs of this thing:

•  Up to 4 Quad-Core Intel Xeon Processors with up to 8MB (4×2) shared L2 cache (16 cores in total)
• Up to 128GB (with 4GB DIMMs, 32 slots!) of 667MHz DDR2 Fully-buffered DIMMs
• Up to 2.336 TB of internal storage
• Up to Eleven PCI-Express Slots

All in only 4U!

Run the on-line customize wizard for all the details.  Pricing starts at $7,000 USD, but fully optioned up with cpu, ram and storage you are looking at closer to $69,000 (~$450 USD a week leased)  …a bit more if you want the add and fill second drive cage, warranty and OS. 

…Hmmm 4 copies of Data Centre 2008.

[VBG] I’ve had a couple of emails now asking, so I thought this deserves a blog post. 

So can I download the CTP of Viridian publicly now?  No, I don’t think so.   I haven’t seen anything so far on any of the usual blogs, Microsoft Downloads or Connect.  If we read the Presspass announcement this morning: 

…The (CTP) of Windows Server virtualization is coming soon with the initial release candidate of Windows Server 2008

So I can only assume we are close.  All the “big blogs” have already posted that RC0 of 2008 has been release to TAP customers (typically this is the first big step in the release cycle).  With a bit of digging we find MVP Andy Malone’s post: 

Anticipation is running high for the first release candidate of Windows Server 2008. It won’t be long before Beta Testers will be able to download it. A release candidate normally represents a feature complete version

For a release of Viridian this makes sense if we think about it.  Running a beta of Viridian on a feature complete build of Windows has got to be more stable than running a beta on a beta.

So as for a public download date, I don’t know — I don’t work for Microsoft :)

…but I’m going to guess we are still a few weeks off, but I really have no idea.  Now that VMworld is here, lets see what other announcement Microsoft have up their sleeve.