New to VMWARE
Hi,
I am a bit new to VMWare and want to find out some more information before I deploy it in our office Environment.
My experience so far is with the Free VMWare Server.
Is this the version that I should be using in our Corporate Environment or should I look at another version?
What is the difference between VMWare Server & ESXi?
Am I better to run VMWare on physical hardware with the VM's on a SAN or should they go local to the server?
Licensing - Am I right in thinking that if I install Win2K3 Enterprise on as the Host OS that I am entitled to install 4 VM's with the same OS for no additional cost?
Is there a forum, board that has steps for begineers?
Sorry for all the questions, but this is an area I need to implement and need to understand it more.
Thanks
Paul
I am a bit new to VMWare and want to find out some more information before I deploy it in our office Environment.
My experience so far is with the Free VMWare Server.
Is this the version that I should be using in our Corporate Environment or should I look at another version?
What is the difference between VMWare Server & ESXi?
Am I better to run VMWare on physical hardware with the VM's on a SAN or should they go local to the server?
Licensing - Am I right in thinking that if I install Win2K3 Enterprise on as the Host OS that I am entitled to install 4 VM's with the same OS for no additional cost?
Is there a forum, board that has steps for begineers?
Sorry for all the questions, but this is an area I need to implement and need to understand it more.
Thanks
Paul
Here is some additional guidence:
HOW TO: VMware Server for beginners
http://communities.vmware.
VMware ESXi
Virtualization Made Free and Easy:
http://www.vmware.com/prod
HOW TO: VMware Server for beginners
http://communities.vmware.
VMware ESXi
Virtualization Made Free and Easy:
http://www.vmware.com/prod
What is the difference between VMware ESXi and VMware Server?
VMware ESXi is an enterprise-class hypervisor that offers a bare-metal architecture for near-native performance, features like memory de-duplication to increase consolidation ratios and a cluster file system for managing VM files on shared storage. VMware ESXi and VMware ESX are the critical foundations for a dynamic and flexible virtual infrastructure.
VMware Server installs as an application on Windows or Linux, relying on the operating system for resource management. This limits the performance and scalability. VMware Server is popular for test and development activities. Virtual machines created using VMware Server can run on VMware ESXi, but they must first be converted using the free VMware Converter.
VMware ESXi is an enterprise-class hypervisor that offers a bare-metal architecture for near-native performance, features like memory de-duplication to increase consolidation ratios and a cluster file system for managing VM files on shared storage. VMware ESXi and VMware ESX are the critical foundations for a dynamic and flexible virtual infrastructure.
VMware Server installs as an application on Windows or Linux, relying on the operating system for resource management. This limits the performance and scalability. VMware Server is popular for test and development activities. Virtual machines created using VMware Server can run on VMware ESXi, but they must first be converted using the free VMware Converter.
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ASKER
Thanks everyone for the suggestions and comments.
It is all very helpful and that little course looks great.
I am planning initially to use VMWare to consolidate some fairly low end servers and don't really know the best way to do it.
Judging from the comments on here I should look at ESXi and not VMWare Server.
So much to learn.
It is all very helpful and that little course looks great.
I am planning initially to use VMWare to consolidate some fairly low end servers and don't really know the best way to do it.
Judging from the comments on here I should look at ESXi and not VMWare Server.
So much to learn.
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ASKER
Hi,
So just to clarify a few facts, before I order some hardware etc.
If I run ESXi then I won't have an Operating System installed onto the Server itself?
Do I then need individual OS Licenses for each Guest OS? (ie 3 x Windows Server Standard Licenses etc)
Is there a certain model of server I need to be able to run ESXi? - Is there a list around, I was going to buy HP DL360G5's
Can the Guests be stored on storage that is local to the server rather then SAN's?
Thanks
So just to clarify a few facts, before I order some hardware etc.
If I run ESXi then I won't have an Operating System installed onto the Server itself?
Do I then need individual OS Licenses for each Guest OS? (ie 3 x Windows Server Standard Licenses etc)
Is there a certain model of server I need to be able to run ESXi? - Is there a list around, I was going to buy HP DL360G5's
Can the Guests be stored on storage that is local to the server rather then SAN's?
Thanks
> If I run ESXi then I won't have an Operating System installed onto the Server itself?
Nope, but you need a server that will allow ESXi, it's quite picky here.
http://www.vmware.com/reso
> Do I then need individual OS Licenses for each Guest OS? (ie 3 x Windows Server Standard Licenses etc)
Yes, you need a license for each guest OS. Windows Enterprise Server might allow you to install it multiple times.
For testing simply choose one of these 180 days trial version of e.g. windows 2003 servers available from microsoft.
> Is there a certain model of server I need to be able to run ESXi? - Is there a list around, I was going to buy HP DL360G5's
http://www.vmware.com/reso
> Can the Guests be stored on storage that is local to the server rather then SAN's?
Yes, you can use local storage.
Nope, but you need a server that will allow ESXi, it's quite picky here.
http://www.vmware.com/reso
> Do I then need individual OS Licenses for each Guest OS? (ie 3 x Windows Server Standard Licenses etc)
Yes, you need a license for each guest OS. Windows Enterprise Server might allow you to install it multiple times.
For testing simply choose one of these 180 days trial version of e.g. windows 2003 servers available from microsoft.
> Is there a certain model of server I need to be able to run ESXi? - Is there a list around, I was going to buy HP DL360G5's
http://www.vmware.com/reso
> Can the Guests be stored on storage that is local to the server rather then SAN's?
Yes, you can use local storage.
If I run ESXi then I won't have an Operating System installed onto the Server itself?
In that case ESXi is your "operating system" on the server that manages and assigns the access to the hardware of all guests.
Do I then need individual OS Licenses for each Guest OS? (ie 3 x Windows Server Standard Licenses etc)
Usually yes, but the exact licensing depends on the operating system that you install in the VM. An example, you can install four VMs with one Windows Server 2003 Enterprise license.
Is there a certain model of server I need to be able to run ESXi? - Is there a list around, I was going to buy HP DL360G5's.
VMware provides a compatibility guide here:
http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?action=base&deviceCategory=server
As "product release version" select ESXi Embedded (means that the server already ships with ESXi installed) and/or ESXi Installable. U!, U2, U3 and U4 means Update1, 2, 3 and 4. The last Version is ESXi 3.5 U4 (update 4)
If the server doesn't appear on the list that does not mean the ESXi will not run on it, but the server isn't certified then. The prevent future problem with the vendor of the server you should choose a server from the compatility list.
Can the Guests be stored on storage that is local to the server rather then SAN's?http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?action=base&deviceCategory=server
As "product release version" select ESXi Embedded (means that the server already ships with ESXi installed) and/or ESXi Installable. U!, U2, U3 and U4 means Update1, 2, 3 and 4. The last Version is ESXi 3.5 U4 (update 4)
If the server doesn't appear on the list that does not mean the ESXi will not run on it, but the server isn't certified then. The prevent future problem with the vendor of the server you should choose a server from the compatility list.
Yes.
ASKER
thanks for that,
hp dl360g5 isnt on the list but hp dl360g6 is, has anyone used it with the dl360 g5
hp dl360g5 isnt on the list but hp dl360g6 is, has anyone used it with the dl360 g5
The DL360G5 is on the list but noit with the last version. But it's likely that it'll work with the last version, because ESX is listed with update 4, ESXi not.
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ASKER
brill thanks
ASKER
one more thing, can someone confirm if I purchase a license for Windows Server 2008 Enterprise, this will allow me to run 4 VM Machines on 1 ESXi Server?
Does it also allow me to install them as 2003 Enterprise?
Thanks
Does it also allow me to install them as 2003 Enterprise?
Thanks
Microsoft itself confirms it here...
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/licensing-options/virtualization.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/licensing-options/virtualization.aspx
ASKER
brill,
sorry last question and then I am going to push on with this project.
normally if i build a server i would setup a raid 1 for the Operating System and a raid 5 for the data.
should I still do it like this or should i just have 1 big raid 5?
sorry last question and then I am going to push on with this project.
normally if i build a server i would setup a raid 1 for the Operating System and a raid 5 for the data.
should I still do it like this or should i just have 1 big raid 5?
Just as addon, because there is a difference with 3rd party virtualisation:
http://www.virtualization.info/2007/06/microsoft-details-windows-licensing-for.html
If you have assigned a single license of Windows Server Standard Edition to the server running ESX, then you may run one instance at a time of Windows Server Standard Edition. If you have assigned a single license of Windows Server Enterprise Edition to the server running ESX, then you may run up to four instances at a time of Windows Server. You may not run a fifth instance under the same Enterprise Edition license because that right requires that the fifth instance be running hardware virtualization software and software managing and servicing the OSEs on the server. However, Datacenter Edition permits unlimited running of instances in virtual OSEs.
http://www.virtualization.info/2007/06/microsoft-details-windows-licensing-for.html
If you have assigned a single license of Windows Server Standard Edition to the server running ESX, then you may run one instance at a time of Windows Server Standard Edition. If you have assigned a single license of Windows Server Enterprise Edition to the server running ESX, then you may run up to four instances at a time of Windows Server. You may not run a fifth instance under the same Enterprise Edition license because that right requires that the fifth instance be running hardware virtualization software and software managing and servicing the OSEs on the server. However, Datacenter Edition permits unlimited running of instances in virtual OSEs.
This might help to choose the right windows version:
http://www.virtualization.
http://www.virtualization.
And there is also a calculator:
Windows Server Virtualization Calculators
The Windows Server Virtualization Calculators provide two ways to estimate the number and cost of Windows Server Standard Edition, Enterprise Edition and Datacenter Edition licenses needed for your virtualization scenarios to help you determine the most cost-effective edition of Windows Server.
http://www.microsoft.com/w
Tolomir
Windows Server Virtualization Calculators
The Windows Server Virtualization Calculators provide two ways to estimate the number and cost of Windows Server Standard Edition, Enterprise Edition and Datacenter Edition licenses needed for your virtualization scenarios to help you determine the most cost-effective edition of Windows Server.
http://www.microsoft.com/w
Tolomir
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ASKER
Hi Everyone,
So I now have got my first ESX Server up and running, and am busy creating my first guest.
This leads me to my next question which may or may not be able to get answered within this thread.
So my network setup is fairly simple (i have attached a .pdf of the switch, router & firewall setup).
So my question is this, as you can see from my diagram my dmz is a seperate switch running 5 dmz's on seperate vlan's. Now currently this switch is connected to a port on my asa that has got vlan sub interfaces configured.
My ESX Server is on the LAN and I want to run a combination LAN & Various DMZ Virtual Servers on this.
What is the best way to do this?
Thanks
OUR-NETWORK.pdf
So I now have got my first ESX Server up and running, and am busy creating my first guest.
This leads me to my next question which may or may not be able to get answered within this thread.
So my network setup is fairly simple (i have attached a .pdf of the switch, router & firewall setup).
So my question is this, as you can see from my diagram my dmz is a seperate switch running 5 dmz's on seperate vlan's. Now currently this switch is connected to a port on my asa that has got vlan sub interfaces configured.
My ESX Server is on the LAN and I want to run a combination LAN & Various DMZ Virtual Servers on this.
What is the best way to do this?
Thanks
OUR-NETWORK.pdf
@essexboy80:
Glad to hear that you successfully setup your ESX server.
Your last comment goes very far beyond your original question. You have asked basically for a beginners guide to VMware products and your last comment is very special that someone who finds this question in the future, searching for a "How-to get started with VMware" likely wouldn't need.
You're a Premium Service Member and can ask unlimited questions. Therefore I want to ask you the close this question and award the points to the experts who in your opinion have helped you and post your last comment as a new question.
Glad to hear that you successfully setup your ESX server.
Your last comment goes very far beyond your original question. You have asked basically for a beginners guide to VMware products and your last comment is very special that someone who finds this question in the future, searching for a "How-to get started with VMware" likely wouldn't need.
You're a Premium Service Member and can ask unlimited questions. Therefore I want to ask you the close this question and award the points to the experts who in your opinion have helped you and post your last comment as a new question.
the ESXi Server is a downsized ESX Server basically without graphical management tools and without high availability. Especially the ESXi Server is free but comes without maintenance support. It also has some special demands on the hardware where it should run in contrast to the vmware server running on an OS.
Win2k3 Enterprise allows to install the software on the physical server and 3 times as virtual host on that particular windows server. It is not meant to get 4 virtual hosts on e.g. an ESXi Server. (You might want to license 4 windows 2k3 standard servers though)
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Basically you should have an idea what you want to run on that vmware server. Is it a mailserver or an exchange server, an oracle database etc. Then you should monitor the performance on the old physical servers. This gives you a profile for your vmware hosting consideration.
RAM, CPU Usage, storage amounts and access profiles must all be met by a single virtual server...
Tolomir