Comments on: ESXi - A perspective from the Microsoft World http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/14/esxi-a-perspective-from-the-microsoft-world/ The experiences of an SMB IT technician Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:09:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: KBuchanan http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/14/esxi-a-perspective-from-the-microsoft-world/#comment-3179 KBuchanan Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:33:19 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-3179 Regarding how to do a "hot backup" of ESXi, it is easy, but there are caveats. First - follow the instructions here: http://communities.vmware.com/thread/164134?tstart=0 The major caveats: You create a snapshot of the running VM, and then clone the image to a NFS mounted datastore. This does NOT quiesce the system, so beware when doing an imaged-based backup of VMs running databases, Exchange, etc... You basically have 2 backup options: Image-based backup (see link above), or Agent-based backup. The Agent-based backup has several disadvantages b/c of the load it will place on the host. Here is a good read with the advantages/disadvantages of these backup options: http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_35/esx_3/r35/vi3_35_25_vm_backup.pdf Of course, VMWare touts their VCB Consolidated Backup as the "premium solution" - but you have to puchase a license for it. We are running ESXi and doing imaged-based backups so we have a "gold-platform", and running agent-based backups to do data backups. It isn't ideal, but its the least cost and IT WORKS. My last suggestion - do plenty of testing and verify you have a valid DR plan. Virtualizing servers is easy work...an idiot can do it (no lack of supply there). However, it takes an intelligent and well-informed person to understand the principles to properly size the host hardware and create a workable backup solution. Regarding how to do a “hot backup” of ESXi, it is easy, but there are caveats.

First - follow the instructions here: http://communities.vmware.com/thread/164134?tstart=0

The major caveats:

You create a snapshot of the running VM, and then clone the image to a NFS mounted datastore. This does NOT quiesce the system, so beware when doing an imaged-based backup of VMs running databases, Exchange, etc…

You basically have 2 backup options: Image-based backup (see link above), or Agent-based backup. The Agent-based backup has several disadvantages b/c of the load it will place on the host. Here is a good read with the advantages/disadvantages of these backup options: http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_35/esx_3/r35/vi3_35_25_vm_backup.pdf

Of course, VMWare touts their VCB Consolidated Backup as the “premium solution” - but you have to puchase a license for it.

We are running ESXi and doing imaged-based backups so we have a “gold-platform”, and running agent-based backups to do data backups. It isn’t ideal, but its the least cost and IT WORKS.

My last suggestion - do plenty of testing and verify you have a valid DR plan. Virtualizing servers is easy work…an idiot can do it (no lack of supply there). However, it takes an intelligent and well-informed person to understand the principles to properly size the host hardware and create a workable backup solution.

]]> By: Steve http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/14/esxi-a-perspective-from-the-microsoft-world/#comment-3066 Steve Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:08:22 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-3066 As a backup solution for esxi, you should try using Affa. its an opensource package thats free to use on SME Linux distributions. It is a bit of a pain to set up but once you have it workin you can perform "hot backups" of the virtual machine and save copies on network stores. If a machine ever goes down you can use the vmware converter to restore the VM back to whatever esxi server remotely, works great. links: http://wiki.contribs.org/Backup_of_ESXi_Virtual_Machines_using_Affa http://wiki.contribs.org/Affa#Affa_features_at_a_glance As a backup solution for esxi, you should try using Affa. its an opensource package thats free to use on SME Linux distributions. It is a bit of a pain to set up but once you have it workin you can perform “hot backups” of the virtual machine and save copies on network stores. If a machine ever goes down you can use the vmware converter to restore the VM back to whatever esxi server remotely, works great.

links:

http://wiki.contribs.org/Backup_of_ESXi_Virtual_Machines_using_Affa
http://wiki.contribs.org/Affa#Affa_features_at_a_glance

]]> By: Peedy http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/14/esxi-a-perspective-from-the-microsoft-world/#comment-3045 Peedy Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:56:12 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-3045 Im not sure I agree with the comments about SATA Drives not being sufficient. I recently used ESXi on a Proliant DL320 G5p (unsupported but works fine) to build a test VM of Exchange 2003, and it handled 150 simutaneous users logged in doing things at once using Microsofts LoadSim utility. Server didn't even flinch. Disk access was low and this was with a VM alloted 1GB of ram. When I put it into production I plan to give it 3GB. Im not sure I agree with the comments about SATA Drives not being sufficient. I recently used ESXi on a Proliant DL320 G5p (unsupported but works fine) to build a test VM of Exchange 2003, and it handled 150 simutaneous users logged in doing things at once using Microsofts LoadSim utility. Server didn’t even flinch. Disk access was low and this was with a VM alloted 1GB of ram. When I put it into production I plan to give it 3GB.

]]> By: Steve T http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/14/esxi-a-perspective-from-the-microsoft-world/#comment-2803 Steve T Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:05:36 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-2803 I'm currently testing a NetGear ReadyNAS duo, which supports NFS 3 (the only version of NFS that ESXi can talk to). It mounts and seems to run OK, though I suspect anything resource intensive on a guest would result in significant latency. I haven't tried it, but Buffalo offers an iSCSI drive. I can't really afford the HBA for the server just yet. I’m currently testing a NetGear ReadyNAS duo, which supports NFS 3 (the only version of NFS that ESXi can talk to). It mounts and seems to run OK, though I suspect anything resource intensive on a guest would result in significant latency. I haven’t tried it, but Buffalo offers an iSCSI drive. I can’t really afford the HBA for the server just yet.

]]> By: dennis http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/14/esxi-a-perspective-from-the-microsoft-world/#comment-2801 dennis Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:13:45 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-2801 I don't think the USB ports are available... We had to ditch the Buffalo linkstation: didn't realize it has no iSCSI support (out of the box, however I saw some NAS hacks that could add it in...). Now we are playing with a DLink DNS232 which supports iSCSI. However, no success getting that connected either. Good news in other areas: We have 4 machines running simultaneously and are practicing SQL Server failover and replication techniques. They all balance and feel like they are running bare-wire; no benchmarks to back it up, though. I don’t think the USB ports are available… We had to ditch the Buffalo linkstation: didn’t realize it has no iSCSI support (out of the box, however I saw some NAS hacks that could add it in…). Now we are playing with a DLink DNS232 which supports iSCSI. However, no success getting that connected either.
Good news in other areas: We have 4 machines running simultaneously and are practicing SQL Server failover and replication techniques. They all balance and feel like they are running bare-wire; no benchmarks to back it up, though.

]]> By: Steve T http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/14/esxi-a-perspective-from-the-microsoft-world/#comment-2794 Steve T Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:13:46 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-2794 I'm in the same boat - trying to get into virtualization on the cheap for my SMB clients. I found that the HP servers with e200 RAID controllers work beautifully. Regarding USB, it sure would be nice if the guest machines could access the hosts's USB ports. It would be helpful for file transfers and backups. I don't see it anywhere, I'm assuming it's not there. VMware server has this, ESXi doesn't appear to. I’m in the same boat - trying to get into virtualization on the cheap for my SMB clients. I found that the HP servers with e200 RAID controllers work beautifully. Regarding USB, it sure would be nice if the guest machines could access the hosts’s USB ports. It would be helpful for file transfers and backups. I don’t see it anywhere, I’m assuming it’s not there. VMware server has this, ESXi doesn’t appear to.

]]> By: dennis http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/14/esxi-a-perspective-from-the-microsoft-world/#comment-2773 dennis Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:30:32 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-2773 mpss, to enter a license number, go to the VI client, Configuration tab, under Software..Licensed Features. Also, we are looking into using the 'add storage' and mounting a NAS (like the Buffalo linkstation) that has a USB port on it... that may be the way to get the portability we need. mpss, to enter a license number, go to the VI client, Configuration tab, under Software..Licensed Features.

Also, we are looking into using the ‘add storage’ and mounting a NAS (like the Buffalo linkstation) that has a USB port on it… that may be the way to get the portability we need.

]]> By: mpss http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/14/esxi-a-perspective-from-the-microsoft-world/#comment-2772 mpss Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:20:21 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-2772 Joel, where (how) did you enter license? I'm still looking... Joel, where (how) did you enter license? I’m still looking…

]]> By: dennis http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/14/esxi-a-perspective-from-the-microsoft-world/#comment-2759 dennis Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:22:23 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-2759 2. USB? - for portability: We constantly move around VM's over USB drives. Being able to tote around a 40G set of files from one location to another bets the wait of pushing the files over the wire (though VPN). This would help the backup issue as well. 2. USB? - for portability: We constantly move around VM’s over USB drives. Being able to tote around a 40G set of files from one location to another bets the wait of pushing the files over the wire (though VPN). This would help the backup issue as well.

]]> By: Lukas Beeler http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/14/esxi-a-perspective-from-the-microsoft-world/#comment-2750 Lukas Beeler Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:00:25 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-2750 Thomas, 1. I agree that the ESXi HCL could be better, but i don't see a reason to use cheap onboard SATA RAID Controllers in a production deployment, even in a small business. SAS Drives and their controllers are rather cheap nowadays, and when you're using virtualization your IO requirements go up, not down. I've seen to many people that wanted to run 10 VMs on 2 500GB SATA drives - it just doesn't work. 2. USB? For what? Why? 3. Agreed. Thomas,

1. I agree that the ESXi HCL could be better, but i don’t see a reason to use cheap onboard SATA RAID Controllers in a production deployment, even in a small business. SAS Drives and their controllers are rather cheap nowadays, and when you’re using virtualization your IO requirements go up, not down. I’ve seen to many people that wanted to run 10 VMs on 2 500GB SATA drives - it just doesn’t work.

2. USB? For what? Why?

3. Agreed.

]]> By: Thomas http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/14/esxi-a-perspective-from-the-microsoft-world/#comment-2749 Thomas Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:51:08 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-2749 In reviewing ESXi I have found 3 issues that will hinder SME adoption: 1. Install is very restrictive and HCL is limiting. There are many 'small' servers that have the horsepower, but unable to install ESXi on them. E.g. Where is support for SATA RAID, this is a typical out-of-the-box feature on many motherboards, but unable to use it with ESXi. 2. Support for USB ... many small shops need USB support. Not supported by ESXi. 3. Backup. We have been ripped-off by backup vendors (software and hardware) for years. Virtualisation is an opportunity to fix this. Please fix it by delivering a solution built into the Virtualisation layer. Virtualisation is potentially a great way forward, but a little more maturity (better low-end HW support, USB support & Backup) is needed before adoption can be at a mass scale. In reviewing ESXi I have found 3 issues that will hinder SME adoption:

1. Install is very restrictive and HCL is limiting. There are many ’small’ servers that have the horsepower, but unable to install ESXi on them. E.g. Where is support for SATA RAID, this is a typical out-of-the-box feature on many motherboards, but unable to use it with ESXi.
2. Support for USB … many small shops need USB support. Not supported by ESXi.
3. Backup. We have been ripped-off by backup vendors (software and hardware) for years. Virtualisation is an opportunity to fix this. Please fix it by delivering a solution built into the Virtualisation layer.

Virtualisation is potentially a great way forward, but a little more maturity (better low-end HW support, USB support & Backup) is needed before adoption can be at a mass scale.

]]> By: Joel http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/14/esxi-a-perspective-from-the-microsoft-world/#comment-2726 Joel Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:55:05 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-2726 I also thought you had to purchase the VI Client but I finally found where you enter the license code they gave you when you downloaded it. The 60 day thing went away. I also thought you had to purchase the VI Client but I finally found where you enter the license code they gave you when you downloaded it. The 60 day thing went away.

]]> By: Lukas Beeler http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/14/esxi-a-perspective-from-the-microsoft-world/#comment-2722 Lukas Beeler Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:23:16 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-2722 eric, Did you enter the license you get when you click the activation link in the mail you get from VMware? eric,

Did you enter the license you get when you click the activation link in the mail you get from VMware?

]]> By: eric http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/14/esxi-a-perspective-from-the-microsoft-world/#comment-2721 eric Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:21:04 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-2721 But, this 'cute' and very functionnal GUI software, wich can be downloaded from web interface of your new ESXi server, seem to be in trial period for 60 days !! So, the ESXi server is free, but you have to purchase at high-cost the GUI management tool ! eric, But, this ‘cute’ and very functionnal GUI software, wich can be downloaded from web interface of your new ESXi server, seem to be in trial period for 60 days !!

So, the ESXi server is free, but you have to purchase at high-cost the GUI management tool !

eric,

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