Anil DesaiIEEE Computer Society, Austin Chapter

April 18th, 2007

Anil Desai◦ Independent consultant (Austin, TX)◦ Author of virtualization books and articles

Managing / Scripting Microsoft Virtual Server SearchServerVirtualization.com The Definitive Guide to Virtual Platform Management

◦ Info: http://AnilDesai.net or Anil@AnilDesai.net

I. An Overview of Virtualization Technology

II. Virtualization Features & Scenarios

III. Virtualization Benefits for Dev/Test

IV. Comparing Virtualization Approaches

V. Using Virtualization Features for Dev/ Test

VI. Managing and Optimizing Virtualization

Virtualization abstracts the underlying physical structure of various technologies◦ Examples:

Storage virtualization Network virtualization

Server virtualization◦ Creates multiple isolated environments◦ Allows multiple OS’s and workloads to run on the

same physical hardware◦ Solves the problem of tight coupling between

OS’s and hardware

Virtualization Scenarios

Simplified administration

Hardware independence/portability

Increased hardware utilization

Server consolidation Decreased provisioning

times Improved security

Software Development Testing / Quality

Assurance Product evaluations /

demonstrations Training Disaster Recovery

Virtualization Features

Component Specifications

Chipset Intel 440BX

CPU Based on the host CPU (single CPU only)

BIOS AMI BIOS

Video S3 Trio 32/64 with 4MB of video memory

Memory Up to 3.6GB

Input Devices PS/2 Mouse and Keyboard

Floppy Drives Up to two 1.44MB 3.5” floppy drives

Communications Ports

2 Serial Port1 Parallel Port

IDE Controllers Two channels, each of which supports up to two devices each (up to four IDE total devices)

SCSI Controllers Up to four Adaptec 2940 SCSI Controllers (each supports up to 7 devices; 28 devices total)

Network Interfaces

Up to four Intel 21140 10/100Mb network interface cards

Getting Started◦ Migrate existing apps / physical machines◦ Create new virtual machines from scratch

Virtualization may not work well for:◦ Resource-intensive applications

VMs may have RAM/CPU/SMP limitations◦ Performance testing◦ Hardware compatibility testing◦ Specific hardware requirements

USB Custom hardware devices

Conversion of an existing physical machine into a virtual machine◦ Operating system, settings, and all data

Simplified Administration Duplicating / recreating intermittent

problems Quick Deployment Portability (Moving / Copying VMs)

◦ For troubleshooting and recreating defects◦ Load-balancing

Standardized hardware configuration State management for virtual machines

Setting up a complex test lab◦ Testing multi-tier applications ◦ Isolated networks◦ Simulating multiple clients

Rapid setup and tear-down of test environments◦ Consistent configurations◦ Ability to easily roll-back changes◦ Automation of VM setup and software installation

Can revert virtual machines to their initial state

Can create “snapshots” after changes◦ Can roll back to a particular

snapshots

Number of VMs Estimated

memory per VM Estimated disk

space per VM Resource usage

estimates

VM Name CPU Memory Disk Network

WebApp01 Low Low Medium High

WebApp02 Low High Low Low

WinXPTest Low Low Medium Low

FileServer01 Low Medium High High

Workload CPU Util. Memory Util. Disk Util. Network Util.

Public Web Server

Low Low Low High

Web Application Server

Medium Medium Low Medium

Middle-Tier Server (CRM Application)

Medium High Low Low

Database Server (CRM Application)

High High High Medium

Approach: Categorize VMs based on resource utilizationCombine VMs that have “compatible” workloads

Virtual Server 2005 VirtualPC

Improved performance (multi-threaded)

Web-Based Administration

Scripting and automation support (COM API)

Improved security Advanced networking Manageability SCSI Device Support Reliability/availability

features (clustering)

Optimized for one or a few concurrent VMs (single-threaded)

Simplified administration

Sound card emulation Easier file sharing Automatic client

desktop resizing

Workload Virtualization Recommendation

Notes

Datacenter Server Consolidation

Hardware-Level orServer-Level

Performance is a key factor

Server applications are typically complex

Software Development and Testing Environments

Server-Level Manageability is a key requirement.

Users must be able to change hardware settings and OS levels.

Sharing End-User Productivity Applications

Application-Level orRemote Application Execution

Scalability is important. Applications are less

complex.

Create overall test plans and requirements◦ OS and version requirements◦ Service Packs / updates, etc.◦ Hardware configurations for VMs

CPU, Memory, Disk Space, Network configuration Create a naming convention for VMs Create base images Create network address conventions

◦ IP address ranges and subnets◦ Support for multi-tier applications◦ Multiple networks (host-only, routed, NATs, etc.)

Goals:◦ Minimize the number of base images◦ Include as much functionality as possible

Media-based deployments◦ Automatic mounting of ISOs

Network-based installations◦ Automated OS Deployment

Image-based or PXE Booting◦ Application Deployment

OS Startup Scripts and Network shares

Third-party software distribution tools

Common operations can be scripted or automated

Test Lab Management Applications◦ Web-based◦ Client-based

Establish a base library of images◦ Ensures consistency◦ Helps in troubleshooting◦ Prepare VMs for duplication (SysPrep)

Create a Library of ISO files Manage virtual machines as if they were physical

machines◦ Security updates

Automatic Updates (if supported in Guest OS) Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) Windows Server Update Services (SUS)

◦ Patches◦ Corporate security standards

Configure anti-spyware / anti-malware exceptions◦ *.vhd, *.vud, *.vsv, *.iso

Profile your applications◦ Windows System Monitor

Counter Logs◦ Event Viewer◦ Task Manager◦ Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)◦ Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM)◦ Systems Management Server (SMS)

Monitoring Approach:◦ Host Server: Aggregate performance data◦ Guest OS: Detailed resource usage

Backup and Recovery◦ Option 1:

Shut down/save state of the VM Copy all required files. Resume the VM

◦ Option 2: Use Backup Agents within the Guest OS.

Automating backups:◦ Build scripts/applications to automate virtual machine

backup and recovery: 1) Save state of the virtual machine 2) Copy all related files 3) Resume the virtual machine

Backup VM files from the host file system Host-Level Backup Options:

Resources from Anil Desai◦ Web Site (http://AnilDesai.net)◦ E-Mail: Anil@AnilDesai.net ◦ Keystone Learning Course:

“Microsoft SQL Server 2005: Implementation and Maintenance (Exam 70-431)”

◦ The Rational Guide to Managing Microsoft Virtual Server 2005

◦ The Rational Guide to Scripting Microsoft Virtual Server 2005

Q & A, Discussion