Virtualization

5Nine P2V Planner, Migrator, and Optimizer

The P2V Planner automatically collects all your hardware information and its utilization so you can make more sysync decisions regarding your business.

5Nine is unique because they are the only product out there to provide the financial calculations necessary to decide between Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware vSphere, including TCO and ROI numbers. Once you decide on your virtualization platform and have a plan, 5Nine’s migrator can actually migrate your physical servers to virtual servers for you. Then, once the P2V migration is done, 5Nine’s Optimizer can monitor your virtual infrastructure and advise you about statistics you need to be aware of. There are so many features and benefits to this product and oh yes, it’s simplicity of use is an extra bonus. View my Train Signal Video and white paper on these facinating new products.

How to verify if your processor is virtualization compatible

Before you install VMware Workstation, vSphere, or even Microsoft Hyper-V, you first need to verify if your processor can utilize virtualization. Over at Train Signal’s Windows Server Blog, they have a great article by “Coach” covering how to tell if your CPU is virtualization compatible. To read the full article, checkout-

How to verify if your processor is virtualization compatible

Installing ESXi / vSphere version 4 and more

Tom Finnis, Technical Operations Manager for Help4IT, has recently written some excellent articles on VMware vSphere and ESX over at the Petri IT Knowledgebase. 

Here are some of the VMware-related articles that he wrote:

• How to Set Up Your Own VMware ESXi4 Server
• An Intro to Virtualization with VMware vSphere 4
• Using the vSphere 4.0 Client to Manage ESXi 4.0
• ESXi 4.0 – Installing In “Embedded” Mode

Also, check out the VMware vSphere Training from Train Signal! This new course covers VMware ESX Server and the replacement for the VMware Virtual Infrastructure Suite – vSphere.

Also, did you know that VMware ESXi is FREE? You can register at VMware.com to obtain a FREE ESXi 4.0 download and license key for as many hosts as you would like.

Top 5 Pitfalls of Virtualization

According to Sue Ellen Schaming of Xangati, I’ve listed the top 5 pitfalls that you might encounter regarding virtualization:

Pitfall 1. Assuming application resources will optimize themselves.
Self-Optimization: Yes, virtualization can increase up to 70% by putting many applications on a single VMS server but realize that it also requires a continuous review of what resources are really being used and what impact is realized by it. In this way, you will not have to be concerned about unused applications taking up resources or applications looping endlessly.

Pitfall 2. Turning a blind eye to the interaction between virtual and physical realms.
Managing Physical and Virtual Interaction:  It’s there and now it’s gone! Trying to keep the physical and virtual environments managed can be a daunting if not impossible task at times. Xangati suggests that Virtualization can create a visibility of both domains to quickly isolate preditable or on-going problems.

Pitfall 3. Creating a visibility blind spot with vSwitches.
 Xangati expounds on the need for vSwitches that include NetFlow which can help you see those blind spots  transversing your applications. Additionally, beware that some vSwitches do not support NetFlow. Cisco has a version that supports NetFlow called Nexus 1000V.

Pitfall 4. Losing track of virtual IP storage.
Moving your storage for maintenance or disaster reasons can result in massive data integrity issues among other problems. Clearly, there is a extreme need for visibility tools to assist in this area.

Pitfall 5. Ignoring the end-user experience.
No matter how cost-efficient the VM deployment is, there is incredible significance when your end-users can efficiently user the applications.  Partnering with them to isolate production problems can be a very useful tool to quickly resolve issues while measuring the performance of your resources.

Check out the full article on Xangati’s web site. 

Interviewed by J. Peter Bruzzese about vSphere

I was recently interviewed by InfoWorld author and Microsoft guru J. Peter Bruzzese (aka @JPBruzzese on Twitter) about vSphere. The hypervisor battle is a hot topic and I tried to cut through some of the marketing fluff to provide the “real deal” on the difference between Hyper-V and vSphere.

I hope you will checkout the interview at:

The hypervisor wars: Is vSphere compelling for Microsoft admins?

Cisco Nexus 1000V - 3 free videos

Have you seen my 3 free videos on how to download, install, and use the Cisco Nexus 1000V distributed virtual switch? I was one of the judges that selected this as the the best new technology of VMworld in 2008. If you aren’t familiar with the Nexus 1000V (or N1KV), it is a software switch that integrates into your VMware vSphere virtual infrastructure.

To watch the 3 free videos, checkout: VMwareVideos.com - Cisco Nexus 1000V Videos

Meet me at the VMworld 2009 Sundy Night Extravaganza!

This year I will be attending the VMworld 2009 Sundy Night Extravaganza. What is it? Well if you are at VMworld 2009, you need to come and find out for yourself. I will be there and so will my company, Train Signal, who is ponsoring the event as we are promoting our new vSpere vi

All different types fo VMworhld attendees will be at the Thirsty Bear for the VMworld 2009 Sundy Night Extravaganza - you shoould too! Read more and RSVP at-

VMworld 2009 Sundy Night Extravaganza

Free E-Books from Greg Shields

If you’ve been around Microsoft technologies long enough, likely you have heard the name Greg Shields. I was talking with Greg this week because he will be speaking at VMworld 2009 and he pointed out that he has, on the Internet a long list of free e-books. These e-books cover things like:

• Network Security
• Active Directory
• Virtualization
• Application Performance
• Windows 2008 Infrastructure

Who doesn’t love to get something free, right?

Click here to checkout Greg’s free E-Book collection

What is VMware vCenter Heartbeat and How will it help you?

VMware has licensed NererFail’s vCenter High Availability product and they now call it VMware vCenter Heartbeat. This month, I have created a new article that covers what this product offers, how it can help you, and how much it costs.

Read the full article at: What is VMware vCenter Heartbeat and How will it help you?

Configuring Microsoft Hyper-V Virtual Networking

I just created and posted a new video on how to configure Microsoft Hyper-V virtual networking. This can be a bit confusing for those new to virtualization because you have this whole new concept of the virtual network. Also, configuring virtual networking is very different between Hyper-V and, say, VMware ESXi.

To watch the full video, click on the video screen below: