VMM Configuration Analyzer 2008 is now available for download!

Cheng Wei — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:06:00 GMT

Greetings folks,

Today, I've got a guest poster, Carmen Asher, one of my colleagues in VMM team. Carmen is the program manager responsible for SCVMM Configuration Analyzer 2008. Her post below provides you with all the information you need to know on: what VMMCA is all about, where to download it, how to use it, and she is nice enough to even prepare a section of frequently asked questions. J

Take advantage and enjoy this free and powerful tool for VMM 2008!

Cheng

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Hi, I am Carmen Asher, Program Manager on System Center Virtual Machine Manager. I am using a spot on Cheng’s blog to announce the Public Release to Web of the Virtual Machine Manager Configuration Analyzer 2008.

Overview

Customers have come to rely upon, and appreciate, the added value that VMMCA tool provides, so getting it out within weeks of RTM is critical for customers to assist in helping plan implementation and then also provide value-add during the ongoing operational phase of SCVMM 2008.

Description

The VMMCA is a diagnostic tool you can use to evaluate important configuration settings for computers that either are serving or might serve VMM roles or other VMM functions. The VMMCA scans the hardware and software configurations of the computers you specify, evaluates them against a set of predefined rules, and then provides you with error messages and warnings for any configurations that are not optimal for the VMM role or other VMM function that you have specified for the computer.

You can use VMMCA before installing VMM, to help you evaluate the configuration of computers that you might use for the following VMM roles:

· VMM server

· VMM Administrator Console

· VMM Self-Service Portal

You can also use VMMCA after installing VMM, to evaluate the configurations of computers that you are now using or might use for the VMM roles listed above, as well as computers that you are using or might use for any of the following VMM functions:

· Windows Server–based host

· VMware Virtual Center Server

· P2V source computer

· Operations Manager agent

System Requirements:

Before you install the VMMCA, you must download and install the 64-bit version of Microsoft Baseline Configuration Analyzer (MBCA). To download the MBCASetup64.msi file, go to http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=97952.

Note

The system requirements for the MBCA indicate that only Windows Server 2003 is supported. However, the VMMCA and the MBCA have been tested and are supported on Windows Server 2008 64-bit.

You must install and run the VMMCA on the computer that either currently is or will become your VMM 2008 server. To review the system requirements for the VMM 2008 server, go to http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=133516.

Download VMMCA Now

Common Usage Scenarios

The list of scenarios are not comprehensive, but will provide you with some common usage scenarios to provide you with an understanding of when to use VMMCA 2008.

Scenario 1 – I have a Windows Host that is in a not responding state. Use VMMCA 2008 to check the host for commonly known issues.

Scenario 2 – A Windows host shows a status of “Needs Attention”. Use VMMCA 2008 to check the this host for commonly known issues.

Scenario 3 – I am using SCVMM 2008 to manage a VMware environment, but I am unable to create new virtual machines on the VMware environment. Use VMMCA 2008 to evaluate the Virtual Center environment for commonly known issues.

Scenario 4 – I am using the integration between SCVMM 2008 and Operations Manager, but I am unable to see a particular VM or Host in the integrated mapping view. Use VMMCA 2008 to check the host or virtual machine for an operations manager agent.

Scenario 5 – I am using SCVMM 2008 to do P2V conversions and the job is failing. Use VMMCA 2008 to check the P2V source for commonly known issues.

Scenario 6 - I tried to create a Virtual Machine and it failed during customization and installation of virtual guest services. Use VMMCA 2008 on the Windows Host to find commonly known issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Do I have to install MBCA 1.0 and VMMCA 2008?

Answer: Yes, VMMCA 2008 uses the MBCA 1.0 64 bit engine that enables the rule checks for VMMCA 2008.

Question: Where can I install VMMCA 2008?

Answer: VMMCA 2008 is installed on a Windows 2008 64 bit server that is or will become the VMM Server.

Question: MBCA 1.0 64 bit system requirements state that it is only installable on Windows 2003 platform. Can I install it on Windows 2008 64 bit.

Answer: The SCVMM 2008 has tested the MBCA 1.0 on the Windows 2008 64 bit platform for all of the rule sets defined in VMMCA 2008.

Question: Does VMMCA 2008 perform all pre-requisite checks for SCVMM 2008?

Answer: No, the VMMCA does not duplicate or replace the prerequisite checks performed during the setup of VMM 2008 components.

Question: Can I run a check against a individual ESX hosts?

Answer: No, VMware checks are run by selecting the “other computers” check box and then from the drop menu selecting VMware VirtualCenter. Add the VirtualCenter name and run the scan. VMMCA 2008 will access the managed ESX hosts by using information in VMM 2008.

Cheng's Random Thoughts on System Management : VMMCA

VMM Configuration Analyzer 2008 is now available for download!