Installing Windows 2012 R2 as a virtual server - Best practice for Small Business Server
We are new to installing Virtual servers.
Can someone please explain the best practice on how we should install a new server to run 1 or 2 virtual servers please, when used for Smal businesses - upto 40 - 50 users etc?
Eg do we install the standard local copy of Windows 2012 R2 onto the physical box first?? (as you would in previous years before virtual servers came about) - then once we have done this do we need to then install Hyper V role and create our virtual servers from there? Or is there a better way to do this?
Also if the phyiscal server had Windows 2012 installed running 2 virtual servers. If the physical server OS corrupted then how would we go about restoring the virtual servers
Can someone please explain the best practice on how we should install a new server to run 1 or 2 virtual servers please, when used for Smal businesses - upto 40 - 50 users etc?
Eg do we install the standard local copy of Windows 2012 R2 onto the physical box first?? (as you would in previous years before virtual servers came about) - then once we have done this do we need to then install Hyper V role and create our virtual servers from there? Or is there a better way to do this?
Also if the phyiscal server had Windows 2012 installed running 2 virtual servers. If the physical server OS corrupted then how would we go about restoring the virtual servers
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I do, however seriously doubt that your virtualization server install will get corrupted, but you can store the Virtual Machines vhd files on a SAN or separate physical media (recommend some kind of Raid 1). then if you need to rebuild the physical server, as Lee suggested, you can import the VM's from the storage media.
Either that, or buy 2 physical servers and use replica so you always have a hot standby host and VM's
Either that, or buy 2 physical servers and use replica so you always have a hot standby host and VM's
Be very careful with snapshots. They can complicate things and especially in circumstances where you have more than one DC or are using Exchange, you want to be VERY Careful. If you don't understand the intricacies of restoring systems in Windows, you could corrupt things. For small networks with one DC it's usually fine, but make sure you have enough disk space (I generally DON'T recommend using snapshot on production systems of any kind.)
That's interesting, Lee. That's something I wouldn't mind picking your brain about outside of this thread.
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Thanks for the feedback.
I have a HP Ml350p as a test server here for me to play about with and i am wondering how you would partition a 2TB Logical Drive for a hyper-v system.
My idea is to use a partition of 450gb for the basic 2012r2 install and then have a second partition of 1.5TB where i will store the VM files.
However when i install 2012r2 in the virtual environment, can i have its data also stored on that second partition which is 1.5TB? or cant the files be on the same drive that the vm install files are on? if you see what i mean?
Thanks
I have a HP Ml350p as a test server here for me to play about with and i am wondering how you would partition a 2TB Logical Drive for a hyper-v system.
My idea is to use a partition of 450gb for the basic 2012r2 install and then have a second partition of 1.5TB where i will store the VM files.
However when i install 2012r2 in the virtual environment, can i have its data also stored on that second partition which is 1.5TB? or cant the files be on the same drive that the vm install files are on? if you see what i mean?
Thanks
75GB is all that is needed for the host OS. Use the balance to VHDX and configuration files.
+ 75GB OS
+ 1.25TB Data
We put the relevant VM files on the second partition so we can flatten the OS and re-install it without losing anything (so long as we don't have a disk system problem).
+ 75GB OS
+ 1.25TB Data
We put the relevant VM files on the second partition so we can flatten the OS and re-install it without losing anything (so long as we don't have a disk system problem).
ASKER
Thank you for all of your input so far. We are still in the testing phase with this and we are now looking into a best practice backup plan if anyone can attach a link to a guid on how we setup backups and best practice it will be much appreciated. Thanks again
We use StorageCraft ShadowProtect for our virtualization setups in standalone and clustered settings. We back up the guest not the host as a rule.
There are extremely few backup solutions out there that we can count on to back up via the host reliably: Veeam and Data Protection Manager (both in cluster settings).
We back up across the wire to an external drive connected to the host with folders shared for each VM to be backed up. Recovery is also done across the wire.
High-Rely makes some pretty relevant backup destinations for backing up into the Terabytes if need be.
There are extremely few backup solutions out there that we can count on to back up via the host reliably: Veeam and Data Protection Manager (both in cluster settings).
We back up across the wire to an external drive connected to the host with folders shared for each VM to be backed up. Recovery is also done across the wire.
High-Rely makes some pretty relevant backup destinations for backing up into the Terabytes if need be.
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how much is Storage craft please and is the support located in USA ? We are a UK company?
thank you
thank you
ASKER
guys we have ran into a problem on our Windows 2012 install - regarding the config of the HOST windows 2012 physical machine are you able to check your settings on your currently configured virtual servers and assist us please? We have also added this a new thread below?
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28704219/Correct-LAN-config-for-a-Windows-2012-physical-and-virtual-server.html?anchorAnswerId=40922714#a40922714
Thank you
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28704219/Correct-LAN-config-for-a-Windows-2012-physical-and-virtual-server.html?anchorAnswerId=40922714#a40922714
Thank you
Once you have that up and running, you will create virtual machines for your (up to two) 2012 instances for stuff like active directory, dns, file services, etc.
You can take regular snapshots of the machines once they are up and running. I would snapshot a machine prior to installing updates. That way, if something breaks, you can revert to the last snapshot. Think of it like system restore on steroids, or like a master undo button. If you revert to a snapshot, the changes never happened.