Information about Cloud Computing (IaaS) and VMware Technologies

With continuation previous post, I did some google search to convert a VMware based Virtual Machine into Amazon EC2 AMI format. This conversion can be achieved by using QEMU tool. QEMU helps to conver the VMware VMDK into RAW disk format. The next thing is that bundle this RAW disk to an AMI using "eu2-bundle-image" command. For more information, please follow this link: VMDK into AMI Format

Today, I had chat with one of my friend who is keep doing some research on Amazon EC2 platform, but he is new to VMware products. While in our chat, he had asked that is there any solution that I can convert my Amazon EC2 instances into VMware vSphere. I done quick search on Google found this KB article from VMware converting Amazon EC2 instance to VMware Virtual Machine. This article uses Windows instance. If someone already tried or ready to try for linux, please share the steps that involved in. Here is the KB: Converting Amazon EC2 Windows Instances to VMware Workstation or VMware vSphere Virtual Machines

Finally, VMware offically announced and published the new certification names, one step prior to VCDX certification. New certifications are named VMware Certified Advanced Professional on vSphere 4 - Datacenter Administration (VCAP4-DCA) and VMware Certified Advanced Professional on vSphere 4 – Datacenter Design (VCAP4-DCD) The exams are opened on 12th July,2010 for Datacenter Administration and sometime in August 2010 for Datacenter Design. You can signup on the VMware site to received further updates regarding those certifications and more details about the certification path and requirements.

When I was seeing my linkedin updates, I came across a update about VMware Snapshot troubleshooting guide which is written by VMware employee named as "Ruben Garcia, TSE". Ruben also creator of a utility called SnapVMX utility . This troubleshooting guide describes the basic concepts of VM's snapshot and different troubleshooting methods. This guide is designed for ESX3.5 and extra consideration to be taken care of whilst VMware ESX3i/4i/ESX4.0 Ruben's personal blog: http://vmutils.blogspot.com/

EMC unveiled their product called EMC VPLEX Family which offers a distributed federation. It has two products in this family: 1. VPLEX Local 2. VPLEX Metro VPLEX Local provides the transparent co-operation and mobility within the data center. VPLEX Metro offers the distributed federation across two diffrent data centers at synchronous distances. VPLEX Metro will get additional features soon (planned for 2011) for asynchoronous distances by VPLEX Geo and VPLEX Global (more than 2 sites). VPLEX Metro support two clusters upto 100KMs. You can do VMotion between two diffrent data centers. VPLEX virtualizes the EMC and Non-EMC storage arrays. VPLEX products offers 1. VPLEX Hardware - Engine based on EMC's highly available storage controllers, dual high availability redirectors, hot-swap serviceability and intergrated battery back-up. 2. VPLEX Software - EMC GeoSynchrony is operating system for VPLEX products. For more information and updates, visit EMC website

I came across wonderful installation guide for Eucalyptus to setup your own private cloud. Many Thanks to Authors who made it to available thru internet. It is pretty simple and straightward than compare to Eucalyptus Guide. Eucalyptus Beginners Guide for UEC Edition. The original Administrator guide from Eucalyptus

You can change the existing Virtual Hard disks (VMware based) from Thick to thin and vice-versa. This can be achieved by either using VMotion/SVMotion or command line tool called " vmkfstools". Using VMotion/SVMotion is required a valid license. Select “Migrate” and choose “Change Datastore” and select the Disk format. If you don’t have a VMotion/SVMotion license, use the following command to achieve the same. From Thick to Thin: vmkfstools –i "Thickdisk.vmdk" -d thin "Thindisk.vmdk" It will start to clone to virtual hard disk in Thin Provision method. After completed, you can attach this disk with VM and power it on. If all looks good, you can delete the original thick disk from the data store. Use the following command to see real-time usage of thin disk: du –h "Thindisk.vmdk" You can notice the big difference of disk usage between of Thin and Thick format disks. From Thin to Thick: vmkfstools –i "Thindisk.vmdk" -d zeroedthick "T...

There has been talk for awhile now that VMware planned to launch some new certification. Scott Vessy confirmed the name of certification and VMware will be announcing them in next few weeks. In order to become VCDX3, you have to pass two exams: 1. Enterprise Admin Exam 2. Design Exam We are expecting the new certification going to break them, we need to go all the way to gain VCDX by writing two difficult exams. But, How VMware going to address the VCDX4, Lets wait and watch. New Certification may look like this: 1. Enterprise Administrator Certification (final name may differ) 2. Design Administrator Certification (final name may differ) 3. VMware Design Expert Certification 4 (VCDX4) Lets wait for official confirmation VMware!

“Cloud Computing” is a new magical word and every IT people raves this one for quite some time. There is a debate and confusion as whether it is a “technology” or a “service model”. Unfortunately, many of my colleagues believe it is a Technology. Maybe, it is bonded with latest virtualization technology. But, it is a kind of service model, a new way to offering service for a customer. Cloud computing offers 3 kind of major services: 1. PaaS (Platform as a Service) 2. SaaS (Software as a Service) 3. IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) Also, there are other services such as “Storage as a Service” and “Desktop as a Service” But, I am going to talk about IaaS model in this post. IaaS is one very commonly required service model for any organizations for short-term development, Testing and educational purpose. In IaaS, users can manage their respective system. What exactly IaaS offer is, a Virtual Machine (VM). It could be self provisioned and manageable by the end user. A combination of an i...

Today, I came across some articles and found a useful about offering a desktop on cloud with 3GB storage at free of cost! cool..huh... The desktop can be accessible thru your browser over the internet. The service is powered by Xcerion's XIOS technology including its XML virtual machine. Xcerion's( http://xcerion.com/internet-os/ ) XIOS/3 (Xcerion Internet Operating System)is a zero-footprint XML based OS. Since the OS and application runs in the browser, it also works in offline. There is no more update hazzle, they will update themself. You can upload your pictures/documents/movies/music thru a simple click "Upload Button" from your system. I felt that it took long time to see those files in the VM. Might be a bandwidth of my internet connection. Please visit and sign up for your cloud desktop http://www.icloud.com/en Cloud is keep passing!!!

Many of us still evaluating the vSphere and vCenter in our test environments. Sometimes, it takes more than 60 days to evaluate where trial edition expires. We can't extend the trial edition in ESX host, either we have to reinstall it or license it. vCenter also have to follow the same way as ESX does. But, here we can keep old database contents as it is when you reinstall the vCenter software. This document using vCenter 4.0 and SQLEXPRESS 2005 (built in) database. At the time of installation of vCenter 4.0, it installs SQLEXPRESS 2005 by default unless any other Database specified. Mostly, we are using built-in database is SQLEXPRESS 2005 for testing environment. When you install vCenter 4.0, it installs SQLEXPRESS 2005 and creates a database called "SQLEXP_VIM". You can view this thru SQL Server Configuration Manager console. Start à All Programs à Microsoft SQL Server 2005 à Configuration Tools à SQL Server Configuration Manager Creating DSN Create a System DSN f...

Login to console and type [root@localhost root]# cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep lm flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss tm nx lm If you see “lm” under flags, it is 64Bit supported process Another way to find out: [root@localhost root]# cat /proc/cpuinfo processor : 0 vendor_id : GenuineIntel cpu family : 6 model : 23 model name : Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5405 @ 2.00GHz stepping : 6 cpu MHz : 1995.067 cache size : 6144 KB fdiv_bug : no hlt_bug : no f00f_bug : no coma_bug : no fpu : yes fpu_exception : yes cpuid level : 10 wp : yes flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss tm nx lm bogomips : 3984.58 Enter “Model Name” and “Stepping” in Google search to make sure your processor 64-Bit supported ...

We can add a SCSI controller based Tape Drive with ESX 3.5/3i hosts to connect it with any particular VM to run as Backup Server. According to the HCL, It must be a separate SCSI Adaptor for the Tape drive. After, added the tape drive/SCSI controller, you will see the drive as SCSI device under STORAGE configuration in the VI Client Console. Few LSI will work as well, they must be pure SCSI, not RAID Controllers. Preferable SCSI controller card is Adaptec, However, you can check it on the VMware HCL website before you procure them. Now, you have to configure this tape drive as a SCSI Device on the particular VM. We add this ESX 3.5 is still using SCSI-2 commands: Therefore, we need to change the controller Type from LSI Logic to BUS Logic. 1) Shut down the VM and editing its settings. 2) Select to add a new HD - the size of it won't matter as you'll remove it before you save your change 3) On the Advanced Options screen for the Add Hardware wizard, select Virtual Device Node =...

Sometimes the Virtual Center won’t do the job. You virtual machine has hung and you need to kill it. Here are 2 examples of how you can kill the vm from within the service console: The ‘VMWARE-CMD’ command Log on to the service console and issue the following command vmware-cmd /vmfs/volumes/ / / .vmx stop’ you must not use the friendly datastore name. If you need to know the location of all vm’s type ‘VMWARE-CMD -l’ that will list on vm’s and the location for the corresponding vmx file. If that fails, then try it with the hard option, ‘vmware-cmd /vmfs/volumes/ / / .vmx stop hard’ this command will just try and kill it without shutting it down. 2. Kill it using the PID command Run the following command: ps auxfww | grep to locate the correct PID of the virtual machine, the first number to appear in the output is your vm’s PID. Use the PID number to terminate the process by issuing kill -9 PID NO

This is one of another feature that vCenter4.0 (although it existing in VirtualCenter 2.5) provides that we can give remote console access thru RemoteConsole Plug-in and also can be accessed by web browsers. Browse the vCenter web console thru Internet Explorer® or FireFox. Select the desired VM and navigate to “Console” button. Then, Install the Remote Console Plug in in your desktop After the installation of the plug-in, navigate back to “Summary” tab. Click “ Generate Virtual Machine” Then pops up a window with URL of the VM Copy and paste URL in the browser or double click the “Remote Console Plug-in” shortcut in your desktop.

Finally, time has come!!!, Time to download and evaluate the vSphere. Download it from here Also, download the documents bundle here

VCB (VMWare Consolidate Backup) Framework is backup proxy. VCB is NOT Backup software. It acts as a relay agent between the Virtual Machine and backup software. Generally, VCB would be installed as part of vCenter OR it can be installed on any standalone system as well. VCB comprehensive software of Backup, Snapshot and mounting the virtual disk. Download the VCB Framework from www.vmware.com download portal. Install it on a Windows XP system. It install under the following path: C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Consolidated Backup Framework Before take backup of the VMs, its virtual disk has to be mounted with our local system. Enter following command in Command prompt to mount the Virtual Disk: vcbmounter -h 172.17.42.55 -u -p -a name: -t file -r C:\VCC001 -m nbd where as -h can either ESX Host OR vCenter Server -u Username -p Password -a VM parameters (name: enter VM name as per the inventory) -t Fileflavor -r Mount point -m mode After run this command, you will folder called VC...

The following points to pondered before migrate a Physical Server into Virtual Environment: 1. Avoid hot cloning of AD DC (Active Directory Domain Controller) to virtual environment. Best to build a new VM and make it DC (“dcpromo” on the fresh VM) 2. If any SQL Server, better to build a VM and restore the databases. 3. If any MS-Exchange server, better to do perform cold migration 4. If any SAN LUN presented in the physical server, unpresent them. Present the LUN back to VM and configure as RDM (Raw Device Mapping) 5. Keep the same no of CPUs. 6. You can increase the Disk size. 7. Keep in mind that USB is not supported VI3, if any USB tongle needed for any license purpose, better to stay back as physical OR try USBNetwork solution before migrate them NOTE: Install the VMWare Tools on those migrated servers without fail.

I have been invited for vSphere event in Mumbai, India on 14/May. It was 4 hrs program and VMWare presented the highlights of vSphere. Along with VMWare, CISCO and EMC also presented their products which can be intergrated with vSphere. I would prefer to highlight the networking advancement on the vSphere rather than its own features. CISCO NEXUS 1000v software switch attracted many audience. This product address previous network issues with VI3 products. NEXUS 1000v provides policy based VM connectivity. It is able to define the network policy, called as Port Profile. Also, Port Profile can consists QoS, Access-Control List. The highlighted feature of the NEXUS 1000v is portability. Those configured Port Profile can be migrated along with VM to another Host by VMotion.CISCO NEXUS 1000v can be managed by vCenter 4.0 To know more about NEXUS 1000v, please refer the CISCO website . Also, software is free to try. The Estimated price would be around less than USD.1000.

Finally, most waiting Cloud Computing Operating System has been launched by VMWare today!!!. vSphere will have lot of new features and licensing system. I will post all the details shortly. Until, you can read for more information http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/ Also you can read new features of vSphere here http://www.rtfm-ed.co.uk