The TechNet Australia Blog : virtualization

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

Deeps — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:47:42 GMT

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

Windows Server 2008 R2 Announcement

Deeps — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:49:36 GMT

Another important announcement at PDC is Windows Server 2008 R2 which will be the next version of the Windows Server operating system. Windows Server 2008 R2 is the first Windows OS platform to go 64-bit only. I'm particularly excited about Live Migration and DirectAccess features. The below is from the Windows Server Division Blog, there are four core technology pillars:

First, there’s virtualization. R2 represents our most pervasive move into virtualization yet, including R2’s undisputed marquee feature, Live Migration. Think physical host migrations of running VMs happening in milliseconds—no service or user connection interruptions. With Live Migration, data centers can truly go virtual and largely divorce management considerations between software and hardware, and all managed from inside a single OS frame.

R2’s virtualization also extends to a new Hyper-V for Windows Server 2008 R2 (think much better management, beefier resources for VMs and more). And potentially more exciting, Terminal Services is updating its remote applications feature to include a true Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). Think desktops and applications wrapped in virtualized packages, managed centrally and deployed to Windows 7 desktop with such tight integration most users will be unable to tell the difference between centrally hosted apps and those installed locally. (And don’t worry, a Web Access feature will let Windows XP and Windows Vista users in on the fun, too.)

Our second area of core concentration is streamlined management. R2 contains a host of new server role-specific management UIs. Even better, these are all built on PowerShell 2.0, which hosts a bunch of improvements of its own. For one, you’ll find over 240 new cmdlets inside the R2 box with more coming from other Microsoft platform products. There’s also a new Graphical PowerShell UI that adds developer-oriented features so you can more easily create your own cmdlets, including syntax coloring and better debugging tools. Add to that a new Active Directory Domain Services management console, enhanced Group Policy functions and a remote-capable Server Manager, and IT administrators have a lot to look forward to with R2.

Our Web concentration largely represents updates to IIS 7.0. The Web server is better than ever with new PowerShell management support, bennies gained from new failover clustering updates, and a number of popular IIS Extensions that have been rolled up into this release, including WebDAV and an updated Administration Pack to name just two. New reporting capabilities, better deployment options and more flexible deployment options with support for technologies like SilverLight and PHP—it’s a brave new IIS world in R2.

Last and definitely my favorite is the enterprise workloads pillar. Yes, this covers the heavy-iron features I love so much, like failover clustering, new reliability features and updates to enterprise storage (more iSCSI enhancements, management and more). But it also covers the end-to-end network experience for enterprise users—and that means a very cool Better Together story with Windows 7. Live Migration is getting a lot of spotlight attention, but I think DirectAccess is might be the sleeper feature of R2 and Windows 7. With DA, remote computing essentially becomes invisible for end-users. Using technologies like SSTP and IPv6 combined with way-easy management UIs in Windows Server 2008 R2, admins can build remote computing policies that let users plug into any network, anywhere and see their local network resources—completely secure, no clunky VPN required. As long as there’s an outward network connection, DA takes care of everything in the background and automatically. Awesome. And that’s just one R2-Windows 7 synergy out of many.

For more information check out the Windows Server 2008 R2 Reviewers Guide

PacLib Group chooses Hyper-V over VMware

Deeps — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:43:00 GMT

Full story here http://www.itnews.com.au/News/85969,paclib-performs-vmware-analysis-but-chooses-microsoft.aspx

The analysis involved monitoring PacLib’s servers for a month, according to IT manager David Furey.

“They came back with a proposal of about $25,000 in installation costs and another $25,000 in software costs,” Furey told iTnews.

“You’ve got to question whether it’s worth paying $50,000 for that. I know the VMware camp go on about features like VMotion, but for $50,000 I could pay someone to move my virtual machines for me.”

“To us, it looked like we weren’t losing any performance or benefits of virtualisation but we were saving a lot of money,” Furey explained.

“It just didn’t make financial sense to spend all that money [on vmware], when if we want to add more Hyper-Vs, it’s $49 per server.”

Hyper-V has let PacLib group consolidate its 16 physical servers to 4 Dell Poweredge 2950 Servers. There are still 16 servers running but the other 12 are virtual instances.

Hyper-V Server available as a Free Download

Deeps — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:29:24 GMT

Hyper-V Server is now available as a free download.

When to Use Hyper-V Server 2008
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 is a great choice for customers who want a basic and simplified virtualization solution for consolidating servers as well as for development and test environments. Hyper-V Server 2008 only offers the most basic of virtualization features, making it ideal for:

Test and Development
Basic Server Consolidation
Branch Office Consolidation
Hosted Desktop Virtualization (VDI)

Customers who require richer and more robust virtualization features, such as Quick Migration, multi-site clustering, large memory support (greater than 32 GB of RAM), and more than four processers on the host server, should use Windows Server 2008. Windows Server 2008 provides business continuity, disaster recovery, greater scalability for consolidating large workloads, and flexible and cost-effective virtualization rights (one free virtual instance for Standard Edition, four free virtual instances for Enterprise Editions, and unlimited virtual instances for Datacenter Edition with the purchase of a license of Windows Server 2008).

APIs, Specifications, and How-To

Webcasts

Are you using Hyper-V? We want to know plus there are some Veek shirts up for grabs

Deeps — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:05:58 GMT

Are you using Hyper-V? (preferably in production or business critical environments). We want to know because we have some great media opportunities for you at TechEd this year. We have some limited edition Veek shirts to giveaway for those of you using Hyper-V in a production environment.

Send Rosemary (She’s the Product Manager for Windows Server) an email at rostark@microsoft.com with your Hyper-V information.

Virtualisation Pre-Day TechEd 2008

Deeps — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:58:13 GMT

Virtualisation is one of the Pre-Days we are offering at TechEd 2008 this year.

Designing Next Gen Infrastructure with Microsoft Virtualisation
This one-day event is a rare, one-off opportunity to map out and see built several different Core Infrastructure architecture scenarios that leverage virtualisation tools for greater efficiency and flexibility.
By the end of the day, you'll have gained a strong understanding of:

The capabilities Microsoft Virtualisation delivers
The most efficient way to utilise virtualisation tools to meet business goals
How you could implement Microsoft Virtualisation technologies in your own environment - including how to gain buy-in from the business

Cost: $550 - Pre-Day only price
$220 - Special price for Tech.Ed attendees

Who should attend?
Systems Architects responsible for designing and creating IT environments. It's your job to design, or recommend the design, of IT architecture. You intend to leverage virtualisation technologies.

What will you get out of it?
THE CHANCE TO SEE AN ENVIRONMENT BEING BUILT - gain immediately useful knowledge of how to employ virtualisation technologies for the greatest business impact.

BUILD THE BUSINESS CASE – by the end of the day you should be able to effectively sell the business case for virtualisation, and know how to master tools that help you build it.

WORK DIRECTLY WITH TECHNICAL EXPERTS - take the opportunity to talk through your own issues with them.

CUSTOMER PANEL - share with colleagues who've employed virtualisation, and learn from peers who are facing the same or similar challenges.

Windows Server Hyper-V is available for Download

Deeps — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:31:00 GMT

Hyper-V has been released to manufacturing and ready for download here. It will also be available through Windows Update soon.

I was also reading a good story about BMW Dealerships going Virtual across the world with upgrade plans to Windows Server 2008 64-bit and Hyper-V.

Dont forget to check out our Virtualization coverage at TechEd Australia this year.

TechNet Webcast - Virtualization and Windows Server 2008

Deeps — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:10:55 GMT

We are coming across a lot of people asking us about Virtualization and Windows Server 2008. There is a comprehensive technet webcast which you may want to watch.

The new Windows Server virtualization infrastructure is a core feature in the Windows Server 2008 operating system. In this webcast, we provide an overview of the virtualization role, the scenarios, and the features that make server virtualization an important pillar of Windows Server 2008. We also cover the longer-term strategy and road map for Microsoft virtualization technologies. Virtualization is becoming a key tool for improving overall manageability for the IT environment—join this webcast to learn how Windows Server virtualization can help you build a strong, flexible platform and improve overall manageability.

Presenter: Allen Stewart, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation

Allen Stewart is a principal program manager in the Windows Server Division Customer Advisory team, which focuses on supporting key Windows Server technologies. Allen focuses on Microsoft virtualization technologies, such as hardware virtualization, virtualization management, and application virtualization. He works directly with customers who are architecting complex, cutting-edge, cross-product solutions based on Microsoft virtualization technologies. He also works directly with the various Microsoft virtualization product groups on customer scenarios, technology adoption programs, white papers, and feature planning. Allen leads the Microsoft Virtualization Customer Advisory Council, which has a core set of customers who help drive the next-generation virtualization scenarios. Allen is a Microsoft Certified Architect, and he is on the board of directors of the Microsoft Certified Architect Program.

Click here to view the webcast (105 Minutes)

A First Look at Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V

Deeps — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:09:00 GMT

Windows IT Pro have put up their first look at Hyper-V technology.

"Microsoft’s Hyper-V is an evolutionary technology that can complement or go beyond the virtualization approach of Virtual Server 2005 R2. Hyper-V’s new microkernel, hypervisor-based solution delivers better performance, more features and functionality, and improved scalability over Virtual Server 2005 R2. These advances level the playing field with VMware’s market leader, ESX Server. The fact that Server 2008 introduces Windowsnative virtualization in the form of Hyper-V is sure to drive the adoption of virtualization in organizations of all sizes. And Hyper-V will help drive the adoption of Server 2008. The price and easy accessibility make moving to Hyper-V virtualization especially attractive for small and medium businesses (SMBs). Plus ESX Server’s more difficult Linux-style administration and higher price deters many SMBs."

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Windows/Articles/ArticleID/97857/pg/1/1.html

Definitely worth a read if you are considering Virtualization in your IT environment. Don't forget there will be a Virtualization session at the upcoming Heroes Happen 2008 events.

Early Xmas Pressie - Hyper-V Beta

Deeps — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 02:19:40 GMT

This Beta version has more features and capabilities not available in the previous Community Technology Preview of Hyper-V:

Quick Migration
High Availability
Server Core role
Server Manager Integration

Download it today or Learn more about it

Yes, that is a Pac-man xmas tree...

Microsoft Hyper-V Server

Deeps — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 06:04:00 GMT

Sounds fancy doesn't it? Its the official name for our Microsoft server virtualization technology, previously known as "Viridian". This was just announced at the recent TechEd IT forum in Barcelona. Hyper-V technology will be included in Windows Server 2008 when it launches and there will be a stand-alone virtualization server called Hyper-V Server.

What is Hyper-V Server?
Microsoft Hyper-V Server, a hypervisor-based server virtualisation product, complements the Hyper-V technology within Windows Server 2008, allowing customers to consolidate workloads onto a single physical server. In addition, Microsoft Hyper-V Server will increase original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners’ ability to offer customers simplified, reliable and cost-effective virtualisation solutions that can easily plug in to their existing infrastructure. Partners including Dell Inc, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Fujitsu Ltd, Hitachi Ltd, HP, IBM Corp, Lenovo, NEC Corp and Unisys are already committed to working with Microsoft to offer solutions based on Microsoft Hyper-V Server once it is available. The estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for Microsoft Hyper-V Server is $28 (US).

Notice the price point. Nice.

A customer technology preview of Windows Server Hyper-V is now available as part of Windows Server RC0.

Here is a short video demo of Hyper-V (I don't know about the background music in this one!)

Read more about it here or subscribe to the Virtualization Blog

TechNet VODcast - Virtualization

Deeps — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 06:49:05 GMT

Amit Pawar is a National Technology Specialist for Microsoft Australia and he chats to us about Virtualization on our comfy Silverlight beanbag.

Virtualization Resources
Webcasts
Virtualization and Windows Server 2008 (Level 300)
Examining Virtualization with Windows Server 2008 (Level 300)
Windows Server 2008: Server Virtualization Solution Scenario (Level 300)
Managing Virtualization with System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 (Level 200)

Documents
Windows Server Virtualization - An Overview
Virtualization for Windows - A Technology Overview
Virtualization: The Architectural Foundation for Dynamic IT
Application Virtualization: The Next Frontier
Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager – General Overview White Paper
Virtualization From the Datacenter to the Desktop

Newsletter
Register for Microsoft Virtualization newsletter