Microsoft System Center VMM Self-Service Portal 2.0 (VMMSSP) Team Blog

Now Available - System Center Virtual Machine Manager Self-Service Portal 2.0 SP1

2011-07-11T17:42:11Z

Now Available - System Center Virtual Machine Manager Self-Service Portal 2.0 SP1

Using System Center Virtual Machine Manager Self-Service Portal 2.0 SP1, you can respond more effectively—and at a lower cost—to the rapidly changing needs of your organization. Built on Windows Server® 2008 R2, Hyper-V™ technology, and System Center Virtual Machine Manager, VMMSSP enables you to offer infrastructure as a service in your organization.

• Download VMMSSP

• Learn more

In addition to providing users the ability to import virtual machines created outside the portal, this new version is now localized in Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese. Fully supported by Microsoft, VMMSSP is a partner-extensible solution that enables customers to dynamically pool, allocate, and manage their computer, network, and storage resources to deliver a private cloud platform inside their datacenter. There is an easy upgrade path from the original version of VMMSSP.

The VMMSSP includes a pre-built, role-based self-service portal for both the datacenter managers and business unit IT consumers to provision infrastructure for their applications and services. This dynamic portal provides automated workflows to onboard business unit IT departments, and enables partners to expose their unique hardware capabilities through familiar Microsoft scripting technologies. In addition to providing detailed guidance on implementing the self-service portal inside your environment, the VMMSSP also offers the following features:

Import virtual machines. Allows DCIT administrators to re-import virtual machines that were removed from the self-service portal and also import virtual machines created outside the portal but managed by VMM.
Set virtual machine expiration dates. This feature lets the user set an expiration date for the virtual machines that are being created or imported so that the virtual machines auto-delete after the set date. This feature also provides users the flexibility (through role-based access) to set or change the expiration date for the virtual machine.
Define and use custom virtual machine actions. A datacenter administrator can now create up to five custom virtual machine actions and make them available to users on the Virtual Machines tab of the self-service portal. For example, a database administrator can create a Create Checkpoint action and add it to the list of actions on the Virtual Machines tab.
Use Opalis policies in virtual machine actions. In a datacenter that includes a deployment of Opalis Integration Server, a datacenter administrator can customize tasks in virtual machine actions to trigger Opalis policies instead of running scripts.
Define and use custom virtual machine properties. A datacenter administrator can define custom properties to collect information from users in the Create Virtual Machine wizard, and use these properties in the tasks of the CreateVM virtual machine action. For example, if a datacenter administrator creates the properties RAM and CPU Count, the Create Virtual Machine wizard includes fields for RAM and CPU Count. When a user finishes the wizard, the wizard passes the RAM and CPU Count values that the user entered to the tasks in the CreateVM virtual machine action.
Notify administrators. This feature provides functionality to notify BUIT or DCIT administrators via email about various events in the system (for example, Submit request, Approve request, and so on).
Move infrastructures between business units. This feature allows DCIT administrators to move an infrastructure from one business unit to another when the system is in Maintenance Mode.
VMMSSP Management Pack. This feature allows DCIT administrators to monitor the health of the self-service portal components.
Localization. The VMMSSP is now localized in three languages: Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese.
Manage virtual machine DVD drives and media. When working with virtual machines that have DVD drives, users can attach media such as ISO images to the virtual machines.
Connect to VMware virtual machines. Users can now use the VMMSSP to manage and connect to virtual machines hosted by VMware host servers.

Download the VMMSSP:

Tell us what you think! Please send questions and comments to sspfeedback@microsoft.com. You can also follow System Center and Solution Accelerators on Twitter to keep up-to-date on new releases and features.

Already using this version of the VMMSSP? We’d like to hear about your experiences. Please send comments and suggestions to sspfeedback@microsoft.com.

Now you can import existing virtual machines using the System Center Virtual Machine Manager Self Service Portal 2.0 SP1 Beta!

2011-03-04T00:53:00Z

This new version provides users the ability to import virtual machines created outside the self-service portal but managed by VMM and additionally to re-import virtual machines previously removed. Fully supported by Microsoft, the System Center Virtual Machine Manager Self-Service Portal 2.0 SP1 Beta is a partner-extensible solution that enables customers to dynamically pool, allocate, and manage their computer, network, and storage resources to deliver a private cloud platform inside their datacenter.

What is the Self-Service Portal?

The VMMSSP 2.0 SP1 Beta is a fully supported, partner-extensible solution built on Windows Server 2008 R2, Hyper-V technology, and System Center Virtual Machine Manager. You can use it to pool, allocate, and manage resources to offer IT as a service and to deliver the foundation for a private cloud platform inside your datacenter. The VMMSSP 2.0 SP1 Beta includes a pre-built web-based user interface that has sections for both the datacenter managers and the business unit IT consumers, with role-based access control. It also includes a dynamic provisioning engine. The VMMSSP 2.0 SP1 Beta reduces the time needed to provision infrastructures and their components by offering business unit “on-boarding,” infrastructure request, and change management. In addition, the free download package also includes detailed guidance on how to implement the self-service portal inside your environment.

The VMMSSP 2.0 SP1 Beta includes a pre-built, role-based self-service portal for both the datacenter managers and business unit IT consumers to provision infrastructure for their applications and services. This dynamic self-service portal provides automated workflows to on-board business unit IT departments, and enables partners to expose their unique hardware capabilities through familiar Microsoft scripting technologies. The VMMSSP 2.0 SP1 Beta now includes the ability to:

Importing virtual machines: Supports management of virtual machines that already exist in Virtual Machine Manager (VMM), without using the self-service portal to re-create them.
Expiration date for virtual machines: This feature provides the user the ability to set an expiration date for the virtual machines that are being created or imported so that the virtual machines auto-delete after the set date. This feature also provides users the flexibility (through role-based access) to set or change the expiration date for the virtual machine.
Notify administrators: This feature provides functionality to notify BUIT(Business Unit) or DCIT(Datacenter) administrators about various events in the system (for example, Submit request, Approve request, Expire virtual machine, and so on) via email through SQL server mail integration.
Move infrastructure between business units: This feature allows DCIT administrators to move an infrastructure from one business unit to another when the system is in Maintenance Mode.
Management Pack: This feature allows DCIT administrators to monitor health of the Self-Service portal components.

Join the VMMSSP 2.0 SP1 Beta review program!

Download the beta materials today, and tell us what you think, especially in the areas of its usefulness, usability, and impact. Send an email with your input to sspfeedback@microsoft.com. If you are not a member of the VMMSSP 2.0 SP1 Beta review program, click here to join. Existing members, click here. Your input helps to make the VMMSSP 2.0 SP1 Beta as helpful and useful as possible. We look forward to hearing from you!

Kinds of Feedback:
We would especially appreciate feedback in the following areas:

o Usefulness: What portions of the solution are the most useful to your organization?

o Usability: Is the solution easy to setup and navigate through?

o Impact: Do you anticipate that this tool will save you time in your organization? Has this tool had a positive influence on your opinion of the Microsoft technologies it addresses?

Partner integration with the Self-Service Portal

The self-service portal includes powerful extensibility features for Microsoft technology partners. Independent software and hardware vendors can customize different virtual machine actions (such as create, delete, stop, start, shut down, connect, pause, and so on) to take advantage of the unique characteristics of their infrastructure. We are working with a number of technology partners on self-service portal integration packs. Visit the Microsoft Partner Network for partner resources for the VMMSSP 2.0 SP1 Beta.

These partners already offer an integrated solution:

Citrix Integration Pack for Self-Service Portal

Compellent Solution Pack for Self-Service Portal

F5 Solution for Self-Service Portal

HP services using Self-Service Portal

Intel Cloud Builder Guide: Cloud Design and Deployment on Intel Platforms

NetApp ApplianceWatch PRO 2.1.1

VKernel Chargeback with Hyper-V

Next steps

Join the VMMSSP 2.0 SP1 Beta review program!
Visit the Self-Service Portal 2.0 webpage to find more information and resources
Get more technical guidance for the VMMSSP 2.0 SP1 Beta on TechNet http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=210696
Any questions? Send email to sspfeedback@microsoft.com

Now Available – System Center Virtual Machine Manager Self-Service Portal 2.0 RTM

2010-11-09T10:11:00Z

Looking for a solution that helps you reduce IT costs, while increasing agility for your organization? Build a foundation for your Private Cloud with the Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manger Self-Service Portal 2.0 (SSP).

Over the last year, we have been talking about the need to provide a set of capabilities, including self-service, to build a private cloud to deliver Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). As Brad Anderson, corporate vice president at Microsoft, announced in his keynote at TechEd Europe in Berlin this week, SSP is released now. It’s free and fully supported! You can download it here. Below are some more details about what the Self-Service Portal is, which technology partners are extending SSP with integration packages today and where you can find more information like technical guidance.

We also announced Hyper-V Cloud at TechEd yesterday, a set of programs and initiatives to help our customers and partners deploy private & public clouds to deliver IaaS based on Windows Server Hyper-V, System Center, and related products. SSP is a component of many of the Hyper-V Cloud offerings. You can read more about Hyper-V Cloud in this blog.

What is the Self-Service Portal?

SCVMM SSP 2.0 is a fully supported, partner-extensible solution built on top of Windows Server 2008 R2, Hyper-V technology, and System Center Virtual Machine Manager. You can use it to pool, allocate, and manage resources to offer IT as a service and to deliver the foundation for a private cloud platform inside your datacenter. SCVMM SSP 2.0 includes a pre-built web-based user interface that has sections for both the datacenter managers and the business unit IT consumers, with role-based access control. It also includes a dynamic provisioning engine. SCVMM SSP 2.0 reduces the time needed to provision infrastructures and their components by offering business unit “on-boarding,” infrastructure request, and change management. In addition, the free download package also includes detailed guidance on how to implement the Self-Service Portal inside your environment.

Why should I use the Self-Service Portal?

· Allocate datacenter resources. Use SCVMM SSP 2.0 to pool datacenter infrastructure resources, such as network, storage, load balancers, virtual machine templates, and domains, and make them available to business units to meet their infrastructure needs. You can also use SCVMM SSP 2.0 to establish the costs associated with reserving and using infrastructure resources.

· Simplify business unit on-boarding. Use SCVMM SSP 2.0 to simplify the process of enrolling a business unit and provisioning its infrastructure. With SCVMM SSP 2.0, datacenter administrators can register business unit requirements in one central location. After they have registered, business unit administrators can request resources in the organization’s infrastructure pool to host their IT services.

· Validate and provision infrastructure requests. Use SCVMM SSP 2.0 to simplify the process that datacenter administrators use to validate and provision a business unit IT administrator’s infrastructure requests. Using SCVMM SSP 2.0, datacenter administrators can provision the requested resources, and assign them to the requesting business unit IT administrator.

· Provide forms for self-service virtual machine provisioning. Use SCVMM SSP 2.0 to streamline the business unit IT user’s experience in managing virtual machines.

· Extend and customize virtual machine actions. Use the powerful extensibility features of SCVMM SSP 2.0 to work with IHV, ISV, and SI partners to customize different virtual machine actions (create, delete, stop, start, resume, shutdown, pause, store, and deploy).In this way, you can leverage the unique characteristics of your infrastructure.

Partner integration with Self-Service Portal

The Self-Service Portal includes powerful extensibility features for Microsoft technology partners. Independent software and hardware vendors can customize different virtual machine actions (create, delete, stop, start, shut down, connect, pause, and so on) to take advantage of the unique characteristics of their infrastructure. We are working with a number of technology partners on Self-Service Portal integration packs.

These partners already offer an integrated solution:

Citrix Integration Pack for Self-Service Portal

Compellent Solution Pack for Self-Service Portal

F5 Solution for Self-Service Portal

HP services using Self-Service Portal

Intel Cloud Builder Guide: Cloud Design and Deployment on Intel Platforms

NetApp ApplianceWatch PRO 2.1.1

VKernel Chargeback with Hyper-V

Next steps

· Download the SCVMM Self-Service Portal 2.0

· Visit the Self-Service Portal 2.0 webpage to find more information and resources

· Get more technical guidance for the Self-Service Portal 2.0 on TechNet

· Any questions? Send email to sspfeedback@microsoft.com

More about System Center Virtual Machine Manager Self-Service Portal 2.0

2010-08-17T00:16:00Z

Q. Who is the customer for VMMSSP 2.0?

A. VMMSSP 2.0 is intended for the enterprise customer in an IT role, such as the following:

· IT Decision Maker (ITDM)

· IT Professional or IT Implementer

· Line of Business/Infrastructure Specialist

These customers would be operating that include the following components:

· Windows Server® 2008 R2 Datacenter Edition or Enterprise Edition.

· Windows PowerShell.

· Virtual machines supported by Hyper-V™ and Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 (VMM),

· System Center Operations Manager (optional).

Q. What’s the difference between the System Center Virtual Machine Manager Self-Service Portal 2.0 and the existing VMM Self-Service Portal?

A. Like the self-service portal that is currently available as part of Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2, the new self-service portal offers a web-based user interface for managing virtual machines. But it also differs from the existing self-service portal in many ways. One of the most important differences is that this self-service portal provides standardized workflows that gather data using web-based forms and support both manual and automated steps. This approach reduces the time needed to provision infrastructures and their components, and helps ensure consistency in the resulting infrastructures. Another difference is that the virtual machine actions are extensible, so datacenter administrators work with hardware vendors and partners to customize the actions to match their own capabilities or requirements.

Q. Is VMMSSP 2.0 the next version of the existing VMM Self-Service Portal?

A. VMMSSP is not an upgrade to the existing VMM 2008 R2 self-service portal.

Q. Does VMMSSP 2.0 provide the same actions that are provided by the existing VMM Self-Service Portal?

A. No. Currently VMMSSP 2.0 does not support the virtual machine actions Remote Desktop and Checkpoint..

Q. Do I need to install the existing VMM Self-Service Portal in order to use VMMSSP 2.0?

A. No. VMMSSP 2.0 does not depend on the existing VMM Self-Service Portal. You can choose to deploy and use one or both self-service portals depending on your requirements.

Please read the detailed FAQ for more details.

Announcing the RC of Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 Self-Service Portal 2.0

2010-08-16T23:41:23Z

VMMSSP (also referred to as the self-service portal) is a fully supported, partner-extensible solution built on top of Windows Server 2008 R2, Hyper-V, and System Center VMM. You can use it to pool, allocate, and manage resources to offer infrastructure as a service and to deliver the foundation for a private cloud platform inside your datacenter. VMMSSP includes a pre-built web-based user interface that has sectionsfor both the datacenter managers and the business unit IT consumers, with role-based access control. VMMSSP also includes a dynamic provisioning engine. VMMSSP reduces the time needed to provision infrastructures and their components by offering business unit “on-boarding,” infrastructure request and change management. The VMMSSP package also includes detailed guidance on how to implement VMMSSP inside your environment.

Prerequisites:

· Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition or Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter Edition.

· Windows Server Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0

· Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2.

· SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition or Standard Edition.

· .Net Framework 3.5 SP1

· Message Queueing (also known as MSMQ)

· Windows PowerShell 2.0

Where to get it: Download VMMSSP 2.0

Benefits of VMMSSP:

With VMMSSP, you can:

· Allocate datacenter resources. Use VMMSSP to pool datacenter infrastructure resources, such as network, storage, load balancers, virtual machine templates, and domains, and make them available to business units to meet their infrastructure needs. You can also use VMMSSP to establish the costs associated with reserving and using infrastructure resources.

· Simplify business unit on-boarding. Use VMMSSP to simplify the process of enrolling a business unit and provisioning its infrastructure. With VMMSSP, datacenter administrators can register business unit requirements in one central location. After they have registered, business unit administrators can request resources in the organization’s infrastructure pool to host their IT services.

· Validate and provision infrastructures requests. Use VMMSSP to simplify the process that datacenter administrators use to validate and provision a business unit IT administrator’s infrastructure requests. Using VMMSSP, datacenter administrators can provision the requested resources, and assign them to the requesting business unit IT administrator.

· Provide forms for self-service virtual machine provisioning. Use VMMSSP to streamline the business unit IT user’s experience in managing virtual machines.

· Extend and customize virtual machine actions. Use the powerful extensibility features of VMMSSP to work with IHV, ISV, and SI partners to customize different virtual machine actions (create, delete, stop, start, resume, shutdown, pause, store, and deploy).In this way, you can leverage the unique characteristics of your infrastructure.

Note Like the self-service portal that is currently available as part of Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2, the new self-service portal offers a web-based user interface for managing virtual machines. But it also differs from the existing self-service portal in many ways. One of the most important differences is that the virtual machine actions are extensible, so datacenter administrators work with hardware vendors and partners to customize the actions to match their own capabilities or requirements. Another difference is that this self-service portal provides standardized workflows that gather data using web-based forms and support both manual and automated steps. This approach reduces the time needed to provision infrastructures and their components, and helps ensure consistency in the resulting infrastructures.

Important VMMSSP is not an upgrade to the existing VMM 2008 R2 self-service portal. You can choose to deploy and use one or both self-service portals depending on your requirements.