This is a demonstration of RecoverPoint performing automated failover with VMware Site Recovery Manager. (Recorded by https://www.youtube.com/user/RecoverPoint)
Tuesday, January 26. 2010
Hosting 20 linked clones on SSD storage
In a previous article I’ve described how to add SSD storage to your ESX server. I’ve also written an article about creating linked clones with the Virtulization Ecoshell. Now I’m going to combine those two techniques and use VMware’s Desktop Reference Architecture Workload Simulator (RAWC is available for VMware Partners only) to generate some real load in the Windows XP virtual machines.
Desktop RAWC runs on a Windows XP guest operating system (memory 1 GB) and is executed on each desktop virtual machine (VM). Each target desktop VM is equipped to run a RAWC workload that simulates typical user behaviour, running an application set commonly used across a broad array of desktop environments. The workload has a set of randomly executed functions that perform operations on a variety of applications.
I’ve created 20 linked clones which are all stored on the Intel X25-M Postville SSD 80GB drive. During the execution of the workload, multiple applications are opened at the same time and windows are minimized and maximized as the workload progresses, randomly switching between each application. Individual application operations in my test environment that are randomly performed include:
• Microsoft Word – Open, minimize, maximize, close, insert text, save modifications
• Microsoft Word (Random) – Open, minimize, maximize, close, write random words/numbers, save modifications
• Microsoft Excel – Open, minimize, maximize, close, write random numbers, insert/delete columns/rows, copy/paste formulas, save modifications
• Microsoft PowerPoint – Open, minimize, maximize, close, conduct a slide show presentation
• Internet Explorer – Open, minimize, maximize, close, browse page
• Windows Media Player – Open, close, view a video
• Java – Compile a java project comprised of several hundred files using the JDK to create a software engineering type of workload
• Adobe Acrobat Reader – Open, minimize, maximize, close, browse pages in PDF document
• 7-Zip – Open, close, compress a large file
What I wanted to know is how the VMFS on SSD storage would perform under the stress of hosting 20 active XP desktops, writing in their own snapshot and reading from one shared VMDK. I’ve installed HD Tune Pro into one of the virtual desktops and waited for the “Windows Downloading Updates” to kick in, let’s take a look at the maximum read. Seems to perform pretty well.
Wednesday, January 20. 2010
New VMware vSphere training course - Skills for Operators
Objectives
• Create, deploy, and manage virtual machines
• Use vCenter Server to monitor virtual machine resource usage
• Use VMware vCenter Update Manager to apply patches to virtual machines
• Use VMware vMotion™ and Storage vMotion to migrate virtual machines
• Troubleshoot problems with virtual machine configuration
http://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrreg/courses.cfm?ui=www&a=one&id_subject=18670
Thursday, January 14. 2010
Scott Drummonds and Geoff White have released esxplot
esxplot is a GUI application that lets you explore the data collected by esxtop in batch mode. The program takes a single command line argument which is the esxtop batch mode output file. You can also simply start esxplot without any arguments, and enter a dataset file via the File attribute of the menu bar. Esxplot loads the data in this file and presents the metrics as a hierarchical tree where the values are selectable in the left panel. In the right panel, a graph is plotted (value over time) of the selected metric, in this way, you can "browse" the contents of these somewhat unwieldy files.
Tuesday, January 12. 2010
Enable SSH on ESX4i without going into the Busybox
This video shows you how slashujh is able how to enable SSH on a ESXi 4 Host without going into the Console.
Wednesday, January 6. 2010
Upcoming vSphere Courses: Design Workshop and Manage for Performance
VMware's Education Services has launched two new vSphere beta courses:
VMware vSphere: Design Workshop
This course explores a design methodology, criteria, and approach for designing a VMware vSphere™ 4 virtual datacenter architecture consisting of VMware ESX™/ESXi 4 and VMware vCenter™ Server 4. This course, by discussing the benefits and risks of available design alternatives, provides information which supports making sound design decisions. This course also provides an opportunity to practice your design skills by working with peers on a design project.
VMware vSphere: Manage for Performance
This hands-on training course explores the management of performance in a VMware® vSphere™ environment. It provides the knowledge and skills necessary to make fundamental design decisions that enhance performance and to meet performance goals in an already-deployed vSphere installation. The course is based on ESX 4.0, ESXi 4.0, and vCenter Server 4.0.