1st Edition

Advanced Server Virtualization VMware and Microsoft Platforms in the Virtual Data Center

    758 Pages 275 B/W Illustrations
    by Auerbach Publications

    Executives of IT organizations are compelled to quickly implement server virtualization solutions because of significant cost savings. However, most IT professionals tasked with deploying virtualization solutions have little or no experience with the technology. This creates a high demand for information on virtualization and how to properly implement it in a datacenter. Advanced Server Virtualization: VMware® and Microsoft® Platforms in the Virtual Data Center focuses on the core knowledge needed to evaluate, implement, and maintain an environment that is using server virtualization.

    This book emphasizes the design, implementation and management of server virtualization from both a technical and a consultative point of view. It provides practical guides and examples, demonstrating how to properly size and evaluate virtualization technologies. This volume is not based upon theory, but instead on real world experience in the implementation and management of large scale projects and environments. Currently, there are few experts in this relatively new field, making this book a valuable resource

    The book is divided into major sections making it both a step-by-step guide for learning and implementing server virtualization as well as a quick reference. The chapter organization focuses first on introducing concepts and background, and then provides real-world scenarios.

    BASIC CONCEPTS
    Introduction to Server Virtualization
    Overview of Virtualization Technology
    History of Virtualization
    Emulation, Simulation, and Virtualization

    Types of Server Virtualization Technologies
    Physical Partitioning
    Logical Partitioning
    Operating Systems and Runtime Environments

    Server Virtualization Concepts
    Host Servers, Virtual Machines, and Guest Operating Systems
    Virtual Hardware Overview
    Network Adapters

    PLANNING
    Business Cases for Server Virtualization
    Solving Business Problems
    Limitations of Server Virtualization

    Other Uses of Server Virtualization
    Software Development and QA/Testing
    Reduce Budget
    Accelerating Development and Testing Cycle
    Improve Product Quality and Productivity
    Technical Support and Help Desk
    Software Training and E-Learning Systems
    Benefits of Virtualization

    Planning for Deployment
    Selecting a Server Virtualization Platform
    Supported Versus Unsupported Guest Operating Systems
    Support from Software Vendors
    Unexpected Server Growth
    Virtual Machine Density
    Availability Considerations
    Data and System Backup Considerations
    Use Case
    Requirements
    Deployment Plan

    Server Virtualization Platform Differences
    Software Maturity
    Training and Certification
    Management and User Interface
    Technical Support
    Performance
    Price
    Usage Scenarios
    Virtual Machine Specifications

    IMPLEMENTING MICROSOFT VIRTUAL SERVER
    The Microsoft Virtual Server Platform
    Product Background
    Product Editions
    Hardware Requirements
    Software Requirements

    Installing Microsoft Virtual Server
    Virtual Server 2005 R2 Requirements
    Preparing the Host Server
    Preparing the Host Operating System
    Installing Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2

    Configuring Microsoft Virtual Server
    Tools
    Virtual Server Administration Website
    Server Properties
    Virtual Server Security Properties
    Securing Virtual Server and IIS
    Virtual Machine Remote Control Server
    Virtual Server Scripts
    Virtual Server Search Paths
    Physical Computer Properties
    Administration Website Properties
    Recent Events Properties
    Event Viewer Properties
    Virtual Server Manager Search Paths
    Resource Allocation
    Event Viewer

    Creating a Microsoft Virtual Server Virtual Machine
    Preparation
    Creating a Virtual Machine

    Microsoft Virtual Server Advanced Topics
    Virtual Machine Additions
    Virtual Machines
    Virtual Hard Disks
    Creating a Virtual Hard Disk
    Virtual Hard Disk Modes
    Inspecting Disks
    Merging Virtual Hard Disks
    Converting Disk Types
    Compacting Dynamic Disks
    Virtual Networking
    Virtual Switches
    Virtual Machines Communicating with the Host
    Virtual Machines Communicating with Each Other Privately
    DHCP Server
    Creating a Virtual Network or Virtual Switch
    Performance Optimization
    Host Clustering
    iSCSI Support
    Unattended Installation

    IMPLEMENTING VMware ESX SERVER
    The VMware ESX Server Platform
    Product Background
    Platform Specifics

    Installing VMware ESX Server
    VMware ESX Server 2.5.2 Requirements
    Preparing the Host Server
    Preparing the Host Operating System

    Configuring VMware ESX Server
    Management Interface
    Virtual Machine Remote Console (VMRC)
    Service Console
    Boot Profiles and LILO
    How to Access and Log in to the Service Console Remotely
    Basic Linux Commands
    ESX Server Commands

    Creating a VMware ESX Server Virtual Machine
    Preparation
    Installing a Guest Operating System
    Installing a Linux Guest Operating System
    VMware Tools for a Linux Installation

    VMware ESX Server Advanced Topics
    VMware Tools
    VMware Tools: Time Synchronization
    VMware Tools: Heartbeat Service
    VMware Tools: Clipboard Integration
    VMware Tools: Obtaining Data from the ESX Host Server
    VMware Tools: Automated Scripts
    VMware Tools: Optimized Mouse
    VMware Tools: Optimized Display
    VMware Tools: Optimized Network Adapter
    VMware Tools: Windows Service
    VMware Tools: Windows Control Panel and Tray Icon
    VMware Tools: Windows Properties Interface: Options Tab
    VMware Tools: Windows Properties Interface: Devices Tab
    VMware Tools: Windows Properties Interface: Scripts Tab
    VMware Tools: Windows Properties Interface: Shrink Tab
    VMware Tools: Windows Properties Interface: About Tab
    VMware Tools: Linux Toolbox Interface
    VMware Tools: Linux Toolbox Interface: Devices Tab
    VMware Tools: Linux Toolbox Interface: Scripts Tab
    VMware Tools: Linux Toolbox Interface: Options Tab
    VMware Tools: Linux Toolbox Interface: Shrink Tab
    Virtual Machines
    Repeatable Resume

    IMPLEMENTING VMware GSX SERVER
    The VMware GSX Server Platform
    Product Background
    Product Versions
    Hardware Requirements
    Software Requirements

    Installing VMware GSX Server
    GSX Server for Windows Requirements
    Preparing the Host Server
    Preparing the Host Operating System
    Installing VMware GSX Server for Windows
    Complete Installation
    Custom Installation
    GSX Server for Linux Requirements
    Preparing the Host Server
    Preparing the Host Operating System
    Installing VMware GSX Server for Linux
    Installing the VMware Management Interface for Linux
    Installing the VMware Virtual Machine Console for Linux Hosts
    Installing the VmPerl Scripting API on a Linux Host

    Configuring VMware GSX Server
    VMware Management and Configuration Tools
    Add Virtual Machine
    Virtual Machine Overview
    Security
    Virtual Machines and File Permissions

    Creating a VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine
    Preparation
    Installing a Guest Operating System
    Installing a Windows Guest Operating System
    Installing a Linux Guest Operating System

    VMware GSX Server Advanced Topics
    VMware Tools
    VMware Tools Control Panel-Properties (Toolbox)
    VMware Tools Properties (Windows Guest Operating System)
    VMware Toolbox (Linux Guest Operating System)
    Virtual Machines
    Virtual Networking
    GSX Server Network Configurations
    Dynamic versus Static MAC Addresses
    Resource Management
    Performance Optimization
    Installing Patches and Updates

    ADVANCED CONCEPTS
    Upgrading VMware GSX Server and ESX Server
    VMware GSX Server 3.2
    Manage Virtual Disks Using VMware Virtual Disk Manager
    Planning the Upgrade
    How to Handle Virtual Machine Disk Modes
    Upgrading the Linux Host Server
    Upgrading the Guest Operating System
    Upgrading a Windows Guest Operating System
    Upgrading a Linux Guest Operating System
    VMware ESX Server 2.5
    Upgrading a Previous ESX Server Release to ESX Server 2.5
    Migrating Older ESX Server Virtual Machines
    Upgrading a Virtual Machine

    Guest Operating System Techniques
    Images
    Template Guest Operating System Image Concepts
    Effectively Creating and Optimizing Template Guest OS Images
    Cloning Template Images
    Creating and Managing a Template Image Library

    Scripting with Microsoft Virtual Server, VMware GSX
    and ESX Server
    Getting Started with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
    Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 COM Interfaces
    Controlling a Virtual Server through Scripting
    Security and Microsoft Virtual Server
    Backing Up Microsoft Virtual Server
    Backing Up VMware GSX Server
    Backing Up VMware ESX Server

    Other Advanced Topics
    Back Up and Restore
    Backing Up Individual Files from within the Virtual Machines
    Clustering
    Clustering in Virtualization
    What is a Virtual Floppy Disk Image?
    Creating Floppy Disk Images on Linux and Windows
    What is an ISO Image?
    Physical to Virtual Conversions (P2V)

    RESOURCES
    Tools and Utilities
    Communications Tools
    Disk Tools
    Disk Imaging Tools
    Floppy Disk Image Tools
    ISO Image Tools
    Image Cloning Tools
    Image Migration / P2V Tools
    Management and Monitoring Tools
    Single User Virtualization Platforms
    VMware Player
    Other Tools

    Related Products and Open Source Projects
    Commercial
    Open Source Efforts

    Other Virtualization Resources
    Product Vendor Resources
    Resources and Web Links

    APPENDICES
    Appendix I Deployment Planning Checklist
    Appendix II File Extensions by Virtualization Platform
    Appendix III Useful Log Files
    Appendix IV Useful TCP/IP Ports
    Appendix V Useful Linux Commands for Windows
    Users

    Biography

    David Marshall, Wade A. Reynolds, Dave McCrory