Amit Pawar - Infrastructure blog

Sydney and Melbourne Microsoft Virtualisation Unplugged Events - Telling it like it is

We are pleased to invite you to hear from one of the founders of x86 virtualisation. Our keynote is Kenon Owens, Technical Product Manager, Microsoft Corp. He has worked in the computer industry for over 15 years as an email and virtualisation specialist. During that time, Kenon was employed by other industry virtualisation vendors for over 9 years as a corporate technical specialist.

Australia is a strong adopter of virtualisation. In this market, there is a lot of information about Microsoft virtualisation technologies and it can be hard to know what’s true and what’s not. In this session we will discuss what each of the virtualisation vendors are delivering.

You will learn about:

• The future vision of virtualisation, not just in the next generation of products, but also in what direction virtualisation is heading.
• The evolution of integration components for this multi-vendor environment.
• The functionality to manager a multi-vendor environment that many customers are adopting.

Sydney
Date: 3 December, 2009
Time: 9:30am registration, session: 10:00-11:30am
Location: Microsoft, 1 Epping Road, North Ryde NSW
Click here to register

Melbourne
Date: 4 December, 2009
Time: 9:30am registration, session: 10:00-11:30am
Location: Microsoft, Level 5, 4 Freshwater Place, Southbank VIC
Click here to register

How scalable is Remote Desktop Service for you ?

Virtual Desktops are all the rage right now and there is a lot of discussion about where and how Virtual Desktops provide the right solution for the diffent types of users in your environment. Microsoft categorises the different types of users in your environment

1. Mobile Knowledge workers
2. Office Knowledge workers
3. Task Workers
4. Contractors or Offshore workers
5. Access from Home

For more details on these types of users go to http://www.microsoft.com/virtualization/en/us/solution-desktop.aspx

During any Virtual Desktop conversation the scalability of Virtual desktop and Remote Desktop Services (artist formerly known as Terminal Services) is frequently dsicussed. There are many figures and test that suggest that Remote Desktop Services in Windows SErver 2008 R2 is significantly more scalable than running multiple Virtual desktops on the same hardware. Now we have a tool to test this for your situation called the Remote Desktop Load Simulation Tools

Remote Desktop Load Simulation Tools provide the ability to easily create and control simulated loads on a remote desktop server. The suite includes the following automation tools:

Test Control Infrastructure

• Test Controller - RDLoadSimulationController.exe
  The RDLoadSimulationController tool is the central control point for the load simulation testing. It is typically installed on the test controller machine. RDLoadSimulationController controls all test parameters and defines the progression of the simulated user load. It also controls all custom actions that are executed at any point during the test process. It communicates with RDLoadSimulationClients and RDLoadSimulationServerAgent to synchronize and drive the client-server remote desktop automation. It commands the RDLoadSimulationClients to run scripts that load the remote desktop server at operator-specified intervals.
• Client Agent - RDLoadSimulationClient.exe
  The RDLoadSimulationClient tool controls the client side of the load simulation testing. RDLoadSimulationClient is typically installed on the test client computers. RDLoadSimulationClient receives commands from RDLoadSimulationController to run scripts that load the remote desktop server at operator specified intervals. It executes custom commands received from the RDLoadSimulationController and also sends the status of the executing scripts to the RDLoadSimulationController. RDLoadSimulationClient also performs desktop management on the test client computers. It creates a new desktop for each script that it launches and provides the means to navigate between all desktops.
• Server Agent - RDLoadSimulationServerAgent.exe
  The RDLoadSimulationServerAgent tool runs on the target Remote Desktop server. It runs custom commands that are sent to it by the RDLoadSimulationController. It is also used by RDLoadSimulationController for test synchronization.
• SwitchDesktop.exe
  The SwitchDesktop tool runs on the test client computers. It runs inside each new desktop that is created on the client. Its only function is to provide a way to switch back to the default desktop where the RDLoadSimulationClient is running.

Scenario execution tools

• Script automation tool - RemoteUIControl.dll
  RemoteUIControl.dll is a COM based tool which provides functionality for driving the client side load simulation. It exposes functionality for creating RDP connections to the server, as well as sending keyboard input to the remote desktop session. It synchronizes executions based on drawing events in the applications that are running inside the remote desktop session.
• RUIDCOM.exe
  RUIDCOM is a DCOM tool which is a wrapper around RemoteUIControl.dll. This tool exposes all the functionality of RemoteUIControl.dll. Test scripts use RUIDCOM instead of directly using RemoteUIControl.dll as it provides some extra functionality. RUIDCOM communicates with the RDLoadSimulationClient to report the status of a simulated user.
• TSAccSessionAgent.exe
  TSAccSessionAgent runs on the target remote desktop server. One instance of TSAccSessionAgent runs inside every remote desktop session that is created for a simulated test user. RemoteUIControl.dll on the client side communicates with TSAccSessionAgent to synchronize user input with drawing events in the applications that are running inside the remote desktop session.

Microsoft Site Recovery Solution

Recently in my discussions with customers regarding virtualisation the topic of Site Recovery is becoming very popular. I thought it would be worthwhile listing some the resources available to help you understand how Microsoft virtualisation solutions can help you with Site Recovery

The Microsoft Site Recovery Solution helps customers implement and manage cost effective, end-to-end site recovery programs.  Built on proven capabilities in Windows Server 2008 R2 and the System Center management suite, Microsoft is helping IT Professionals leverage Windows Server Hyper-V and Failover Clustering along with tools like Virtual Machine Manager to deliver cost effective site recovery.  

Microsoft is working with a broad range of storage replication to deliver solutions that take advantage of the Microsoft Cluster Resource DLL.  With cluster integration IT Professionals can deploy streamlined and automated site recovery.  Not only do the solutions provide streamlined fail-over, they also deliver fail-back while System Center delivers the physical and virtual management capabilities necessary to operate this solution.

White paper and Documents

• Disaster Tolerant Virtualization Architecture with HP StorageWorks Cluster Extension and Microsoft Hyper-V
• Customer Blueprint: Improving Efficiency and Availability Using Microsoft Hyper-V and NetApp Storage
• EMC: Disaster Recovery in a Geographically Dispersed Cross-Site Virtual Environment
• Hitachi Storage Cluster for Microsoft Hyper-V: Optimizing Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery in Microsoft Hyper-V Environments

Webcast

• On-Demand Webcast: Build Effective and Highly Available Disaster Recovery Solutions Using Microsoft Virtualization
• Double-Take for Hyper-V Workload Availability and Protection Webinar
• Webcast: EMC Deduplication and Backup for Microsoft Hyper-V Virtualization – Understanding Best Practices

Booting Hyper-V R2 from USB

Lot of customers have been asking me about booting Hyper-V R2 from a USB drive

There is documentation for that

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee731893(WS.10).aspx

To make this process easier there is a app for that

http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/BootHVSR2FromUSB

Beyond the compete - Microsoft vs VMware

This session will focus on the key technologies within the Microsoft Product Family that address very real needs that any organisations adopting VWWare Technology has.  We will focus on discussing how to manage VMWare and Hyper-V side by side.
Technologies covered include System Center Virtual Machine  Manager, Windows Server 2008 R2

Speaker details

Amit Pawar has been with Microsoft Australia for nearly nine years in various roles from Support Engineer, Consultant to currently being the Technology Specialist for Windows Server and Virtualisation. Amit has been involved with many successful proof of concepts, pilots and production deployment of Microsoft virtualisation technologies in both enterprise and small medium business customers in Australia.

View this webcast at http://msevents.microsoft.com/cui/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?culture=en-AU&EventID=1032416803&CountryCode=AU

Hyper-V Unleashed - Online Event on July 21

How much will you pay for a Hypervisor on those cores ?

Now that 6 core processors are available from both Intel and AMD, the virtualisation team at Microsoft have done some analysis on how much it will cost to run Hypervisors from Microsoft and VMware on these new machines.

Refer to http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization/archive/2009/06/28/Beware-the-VMware-Core-Tax-and-More.aspx

You can now cluster SQL server in a Virtual Machine

Microsoft has updated the support policy for running SQL server in a virtual machine that has been clustered.

Refer to Support policy for Microsoft SQL Server products that are running in a hardware virtualization environment

Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-v and Clustering Resources

With the release of Windows Server 2008 R2 Microsoft has released a lot of documentation that supports Hyper-V and Failover clustering.

For a consolidated list of these resources head on over to http://blogs.msdn.com/clustering/archive/2009/04/20/9557017.aspx

Hyper-V growing up to be stronger

I wanted to cover the latest announcement around Hyper-V that occurred at TechEd 2009.

http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization/archive/2009/05/12/tech-ed-windows-server-2008-r2-hyper-v-news.aspx

Game on – VMware spreads more FUD

The past few days there has been an very robust discussion through blogs and videos about how VMware is spreading FUD about Hyper-V.

Refer to

Day 1 - http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization/archive/2009/05/09/hyper-v-winning-daily-vmware-fud-reaching-new-heights.aspx

Day 2 - http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization/archive/2009/05/09/day-two-of-the-scott-drummond-vmware-fud-fiasco.aspx

All I want to add to this is that customers looking to consolidate their workloads on a hypervisor need to do their own testing to validate that Hyper-V will support their requirements.

HP publishes 2 whitepapers on NIC teaming support in Hyper-V

HP has published 2 whitepapers that talk about NIC teaming support in Hyper-V running on HP hardware.

1. Using HP ProLiant Network Teaming Software with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V – How to

2. HP ProLiant Network Adapter Teaming

Microsoft and Red Hat support statement for Virtualisation

This is great new for customers who have been waiting for Microsoft to support Red Hat operating systems on Hyper-V. For details head on over to http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization/archive/2009/02/15/Microsoft-and-Red-Hat-Joint-Technical-Support.aspx

A great free resource - Understanding Microsoft Virtualisation Solutions

Author Mitch Tulloch has teamed with the Microsoft Virtualization Teams to write a free e-book that is aimed at IT professionals who want to learn about Microsoft’s virtualisation solutions from the Desktop to the Datacenter. This book covers technologies like:

1. Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V

2. System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008

3. Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5

4. Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualisation

5. Microsoft Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

6. Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services

7. Roaming User Profiles

8. Folder Redirection

9. Offline Folders

To get this book for free head on over to Free e-book offer on Microsoft virtualization

Virtualisation webcast from Microsoft – Desktop to Data centre

Microsoft is creating a raft of webcasts to cover the Virtualisation 360 story that talks about virtualisation from Desktop to Data centre.

Today, Microsoft's virtualization toolset for the data centre includes:

1. Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, which consolidates server roles as separate virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical machine.

2. On the desktop side, we offer Microsoft Terminal Services, which virtualizes the presentation of entire desktops or specific applications;

3. Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V), which transforms applications into centrally-managed virtual services that are never installed and don't conflict with other applications;

4. Microsoft VDI, which allows customers to centralize the storage, execution, and management of a Windows desktop in the data centre; and Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V, formerly Kidaro) which, with Virtual PC, enables client-hosted desktop virtualization, where you can deploy and centrally manage VMs on Windows desktops while providing a seamless user experience.

5. To simplify management of your entire infrastructure, we offer Microsoft System Center, which lets you manage both physical and virtual assets for clients and servers, including multiple hypervisors, all with the same platform.

The webcasts are designed to cover the Microsoft Virtualisation story from Desktop to Data centre

Session List

1. 01/14/2009, TechNet Webcast: Virtualization in a Nutshell
2. 01/16/2009, TechNet Webcast: Selecting the Right Candidates for Virtualization
3. 01/21/2009, TechNet Webcast: Virtualizing Test and Development Environments for a Quick Return on Investment
4. 01/23/2009, TechNet Webcast: Managing the Virtualized Test and Development Environment
5. 01/28/2009, TechNet Webcast: If I Virtualize It, How Do I Manage It?
6. 01/29/2009, TechNet Webcast: Consolidation and Rapid Provisioning
7. 02/04/2009, TechNet Webcast: Building on Your Existing Virtual Environment
8. 02/06/2009, TechNet Webcast: Virtualization Solutions for High Availability
9. 02/11/2009, TechNet Webcast: Client-Side Virtualization
10. 02/13/2009, TechNet Webcast: Using Presentation Virtualization
11. 02/18/2009, TechNet Webcast: Scaling Terminal Services Out (1/2)
12. 02/20/2009, TechNet Webcast: Scaling Terminal Services Out (2/2)
13. 02/25/2009, TechNet Webcast: Running Legacy Applications with Virtualization (1/2)
14. 02/27/2009, TechNet Webcast: Running Legacy Applications with Virtualization (2/2)
15. 03/04/2009, TechNet Webcast: Creating a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
16. 03/06/2009, TechNet Webcast: Securing the Virtual Environments
17. 03/11/2009, TechNet Webcast: Virtualization with Centralized, Policy-Based Management
18. 03/13/2009, TechNet Webcast: Virtualization Solutions in Branch Offices
19. 03/20/2009, TechNet Webcast: Road Map for the Future of Virtualization
20. 03/24/2009, TechNet Webcast: Managing Virtual Solutions