Topic: Virtualization systems

[compsos]

Hi
We have been using vmware server for some time but VMware have put out a notice that it will no longer be supported past June 2011. The normal use is for a Windows VM machine to run a proprietary database system for the network. Have started looking at ESXi, VirtualBox, KVM and XEN.  Does anyone have any particular thoughts about any of these alternative packages?

RedHat are moving towards KVM from XEN should we be heading in the same direction? The XEN packages are in the SME updates repo. Most of these packages are not set for use on a headless/non gui server.

Thoughts?

[Stefano]

IMVHO, if you need to create windows VM, you should stay on esxi

[gippsweb]

I've been running esxi4 here with SME and ms server 2008 for the last nine months it's been rock solid for us.

I've got a couple of issues I need to sit down and work through, such as my TDM card doesn't work and my old ups either.

I have looked at xen, mainly for the pci passthrough but I haven't got around to any testing yet.

But my reading of your OP leads me to think you are running Vmware on SME? As opposed to esxi with SME as a VM

[compsos]

Existing setups are running VM server on SME and generally has been very good. But concerned about kernel compatibility as it fades away.

Just a couple of questions
On your ESXi with SME and Win2008 are they all in the same network space? Which is the DC?
Can you address USB external drives for backups?
How is the performance of the servers/network?

I was planning on running the datastore in a raid 5 but the LSI Raid controller is not recognised by ESXi. This is in a Asus TS500-E6 case.

[gippsweb]

Mine is a whitebox setup. Its an old Asus motherboard, but due to it having a intel 975 chipset it will only run a Pentium D cpu. It has a dual gigabit intel network card. Other than only having the Pent D performance has been great.

I have a Q6600 here, but its waiting for a suitable board....

I'd love to get hold of a Dell perc 6i card to fit to it for Raid 6 or 10, but I can't find one at a decent price (for me, being a tight arse).

USB external drives have been fine and network performance is great.

[compsos]

I have been reading of a setup of the vSwitch0 being in the DMZ and vSwitch1 WAN and vSwitch2 the LAN. The Host NIC is bound to the WAN switch via the command line. It has the down side of comms to the host fail if the WAN (controller) is rebooted.

Is the Win2008 just a member server in the SME controlled network?

[gippsweb]

Yep, I've left SME running the show, server '08 doesn't like not being boss. Although it easily picked up all the user acc's from SME.

I only use '08 for wsus (windows updates) and I run both wds and mdt on it for o/s installs, etc.
I couldn't justify a separate box for it at the time, although it's doing a fair bit of work now.

Also the intel nic I'm running is quad g'bit, so vm load is spead across the ports. Network speed is rather spritely considering the rest of the hardware.

[brianr]

I am successfully running SMEServer under VirtualBox on an Ubuntu server host.  It also runs a WinServer2003R2 VM as well.  No real problems AFAICT, except that the Server2003 clock runs a bit slow.

[compsos]

Hi Gippsweb

How have you got the USB external drives attached. From what I am reading all on board USB ports are no go only via a PCIe addin card or ext IP device? So far setting pass through on the Host USB devices has not worked.

[gippsweb]

After reading that I just remembered our external drive is a esata one as the usb one didn't want to play....

[gippsweb]

the downside to dropping a pci card directly through to a vm is losing the ability to take a live snapshot. You have to pause the vm first.

[compsos]

Thanks, I had the feeling I was pushing up hill.