Edwin Yuen is the speaker.
Most people here are running VMware ESX. About 50% are either running or have tried Hyper-V. Relevant? Yes: VMM 2008 can manage ESX. It will import your layout from Virtual Center for the VMM host layout/navigation groups. You can aggregate multiple Virtual Centers – VMware still working on that. This was allegedly the #1 request from customers – I’m guessing it was the usual Fortune 1000 that determine MS strategy. Most SME’s won’t mix hypervisor platforms. MS are not adding VMotion without Virtual Center. You can manage it, resource pools, etc as if using Virtual Center.
Aim of virtualisation: it’ll be a skill not a speciality. Integrated management. Not only reduce, but have the best TCO/ROI.
VMM 2008 was available for download as of Monday. Hosts support 24 cores now (6 Core Intel CPU with Hyper-V patch).
The library is just a file share.
About 15 people (50% full auditorium) are using VMM 2007. New features: Hyper-V and ESX support. Failover clustering in W2008. Delegated admin. PRO (integration with OpsMgr via a connector).
Deploying Hosts
Adding a new W2003 host installs Virtual Center automatically. Adding a W208 host enables Hyper-V. Adding a new W2008 host to a cluster also configures clustering automatically.
Conversions
We can do P2V and reconfigure the "H/W" specifications as required. It only copies the necessary files. This is a pure clone. The machine is not automatically turned on => avoid name/IP clash.
The host can be done live via VSS: WXP, W2003, Vista and W2008.
Self Service
Delegate to non-admins via a web page. They are assigned access to VM’s and what can they do to them. Even allow them to build machines. You can assign a resource quota to the user. There is delegation to the normal admin MMC but with restricted control.
Library
Stores VHD’s in a file share, ISO, sysprep answer files, offline VM’s, Powershell scripts and templates.
Intelligent Placement (of VM’s)
We can use load balancing or resource maximisation strategies out of the box. We can tweak these. The latter seems like a "green" solution…make the most of a host before adding VM’s to another host.
During deployment of a VM, you can save the entire job as a Powershell script in notepad. The network copy of the VHD is done using BITS 2.0; very nice.
IP is run every time you move a VM. Expected load for the VM is compared against all potential hosts. If the server has space then it’s further analysed to score the hosts’ potential. CPU, RAM, Network I/O and Disk I/O are compared. Host reserve (configurable) is taken into this – e.g. assign 2GB RAM to a host (see my RAM calculation spreadsheet and postings).
Powershell
- 170+ command line functions.
- Powershell is the foundation of the MMC and website.
- All Powershell operations are logged and audited.
- Citrix Xen Desktop integrates using Powershell.
PRO
Performance and Resource Optimisation. Use OpsMgr to manage health and performance, e.g. SLA. PRO is a OpsMgr connector. VMM 2008 is added as a series of new management packs. VMM now is instructed what to do in the case of an error or warning. Human intervention required by default but we can automate using filters for severity or host. End-end management of all aspects of the server platform.
HP, Dell, Brocade, Quest and Tripwire are writing vendor specific PRO packs, e.g. Brocade monitors their SAN: a fibre channel link to a host gets overloaded so VM’s are migrated to another host. Very, very sweet. I didn’t expect this and I’m impressed. Imagine if HP do this for their blades with Virtual Connect? If a physical network mapped to a Hyper-V virtual switch dies then you can do get the virtual connect to re-map the NIC to another VC virtual network.
ConfigMgr 2007
We can offline patching/servicing of offline VM’s using WSUS. Available now for VM 2007. Will be available soon for VMM 2008. You ca also service sysprepped templates.
Purchasing
You can purchase this 3 ways:
- As part of the Server Management Suite Enterprise CAL. This also includes DPM, OpsMgr and ConfigMgr CAL’s. This is a per host CAL – all VM’s get free CAL’s, hence the price. It’s half the price of all for CAL’s alone.
- Standalone
- Workgroup (manage up to 5 hosts).
The VMM CAL is per host, no VMM.
Summary
"Virtualisation without good management is more dangerous than not using virtualisation in the first place" Tom Bittner, Gartner.
There will be a VMM vNext to coincide with Hyper-V V2.0 in Windows Server 208 R2 (2010).