Why virtualise

[SimpleSi]

I've virtulised my old Win98 fileservers when I've introduced w2k3 replacement servers. I then slowly introduce DNS and DHCP run off the w2k3 serveras as an when I want to.

 

I've found it useful to keep the Win98 virtual machines running as interface print servers for eeePCs.

 

The eeePCs don't seem to like printing thru w2k3 servers to network printers (keep on asking for passwords when pupils try to print) but are more than happy to print via shared printers on Win98 virtual machine/

 

regards

 

Simon

[Butuz]

I am looking seriously into virualisation too Gareth, in particular to start off with virtualising several web / app servers that are old and low spec servers but with a view to eventually virtualising the whole system.

 

Also I have three terminal servers unfortunatly running off Win2k3 Stanard edition (thus limited to 4GB of ram). I am looking to virtualise all three of these servers into one physical quad core 16GB ram server in order to free up two aditional quad core servers. It may not work - but if it does I have just got myself two free servers effectively!

 

I suppose the main benefits for me are:

 

1) Make the most out of existing hardware while reducing support/warranty costs - e.g take 3 old crappy web servers and virtualise them onto an existing hish spec server.

2) Platform independent (take a virtual machine and run it on any server, or even a workstation!)

3) Easy disaster recovery - take snapshots before installing server patches/software, backup whole VM's onto tape/disk/offsite. If your physical server goes down simply install vmware esx on another server or god forbid even a powerful workstation - and hey presto all your virtual servers are back up and running.

4) All the above help to ease managment and critically, reduce downtime.

 

It's all very exiting!

Edited October 28, 2008 by Butuz

[Butuz]

Oh well here goes!

 

I've downloaded VMWare ESXI from the website.

Installed it onto a bog standard Workstation - P4 3.4/3GB Ram/ 80Gb HDD

Set it on the network with a manual IP etc.

Virtualised a test Windows 2003 Web server I had set up to use with Sharepoint.

Hey presto - my web server is now a virtual server, connected to the network and accessible from all workstations!!!

I created a snapshot of it and now i can fiddle to my hearts content and if it all goes screwy - revert bnack to the snapshot!

 

It was easy to set up! Vmware Convertor is a magic program - how awesome are the programmers behind all this VMWare software?!!

Edited October 28, 2008 by Butuz

[Theblacksheep]

It was easy to set up! Vmware Convertor is a magic program - how awesome are the programmers behind all this VMWare software?!!

 

Its very good, very fast now too.

 

VM-HA looks usefull, if you have ther server overheads.

[sammy]

Hi Gareth ,

 

you should consider Virtual Iron as part of any virtualisation investigation.

 

Great product, fantastic pricing. VMWARE is no doubt a great product, and Virtual Iron is just as good but alot cheaper.

 

Sam

[joe90bass]

I took my first step into the virtual world today! Our setup is a s follows:

 

1 x Exchange2007/web box (2008)

3 x TS (2008)

1 x App server/DC (2008)

1 x Storage server (2003)

2 x to be retired boxes 1 running Successmaker (2003) and 1 DHCP (was exch 2003 box)

 

I wanted another DC in the setup, the 2 retired boxes are getting old, promoting the exchange box is out, promoting one of the TSs is doable but not advisable, so using Hyper-V I've dropped a virtual DC onto the exchange Box. It's 2 x quad core, with 4GB RAM so plenty of guts! And as it's 64bit if more RAM is needed the option is there. When I checked the processor usage was around 12-20% and the RAM 3GB

[apearce]

Remember that some 64x is not yet supported by Microsoft on VM Ware. 86x is with products like SharePoint but if you have a problem with Exchange 2007 of course on a 64x microsoft will not support you. This is something that both VM Ware and Microsoft are working on.

[PiqueABoo]

Remember that some 64x is not yet supported by Microsoft on VM Ware.

 

It is on ESX 3.5 Update 2 (which AIUI is currently the only VMWare product that MS have validated so far).

 

http://windowsservercatalog.com/item.aspx?idItem=fb304f90-92ed-4bed-ae4f-96805c16b61c&bCatID=1521

Edited October 28, 2008 by PiqueABoo
Link