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Virtualization problems: When good deployments go bad
So you've rolled out virtualization and things are going smoothly. Think you're in the clear? Not so fast. Virtualization problems can strike at any time, and for many reasons. Guide
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Command line basics for open source virtualization management
To effectively manage an open source virtualization environment, you must learn the command line basics. Commands and scripts can streamline your efforts. Learning Guide
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A command line tutorial for server virtualization management
Do yourself a favor, and learn how to execute commands from a prompt. This command line tutorial will help you simplify and speed up certain aspect of your job. Learning Guide
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Managing Hyper-V from the command line prompt
Administering a Hyper-V environment through the command line prompt saves time and reduces mistakes. These resources demonstrate how to run commands and cmdlets in Hyper-V. Learning Guide
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Virtual machine migration FAQ: Live migration, P2V and more
Virtual machine migration offers many benefits, but it can be complicated. Luckily, several tools can help you migrate a virtual machine and address security concerns. FAQ
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Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.4
In this section, we cover how to set up KVM VMs in a Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.4 environment -- including setting up KVM hosts, creating KVM VMs and managing VMs in RHEL 5.4. Learning Guide
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Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise virtualization
In this section, you'll discover the origins of Xen, how it integrates with a Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise environment and caveats to the VM creation process Learning Guide
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Server consolidation and virtualization project planning guide
Combining server consolidation with virtualization can boost server utilization and reduce power consumption. Here are strategies to maximize server consolidation project benefits. Guide
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VMware shops grapple with VM stall
Users report that ongoing VM stall in vSphere environments mainly arises from interoperability glitches with underlying infrastructure and finger-pointing among vendors. News | 02 Mar 2011
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Closing the VM sprawl floodgates
VM sprawl is the result of irresponsible server provisioning, so you need to implement stringent resource-allocation policies. Column | 18 Nov 2010
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Prepping for IT services? Virtualize and centralize resources
Before even considering IT as a Service, you have to lay some groundwork. Virtualizing everything and centralizing resources are key, but is your infrastructure ready? Article | 28 Oct 2010
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Enterprises face integration hurdles to private clouds
Enterprises that want to offer IT as a Service face challenges that include virtualization stall, bleeding-edge infrastructure automation tools and thorny policy orchestration problems. Article | 28 Oct 2010
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Users prefer third-party management tools over VMware management
While VMware tries to boil the ocean with its vCenter suite, IT managers often still turn to third parties for virtualization management. Article | 27 Aug 2010
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Public cloud computing levels the playing field
Public cloud computing helps small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) realize the benefits of virtualization technology that they couldn't previously afford and helps equalize the market. Column | 05 Aug 2010
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Veeam bolsters VMware reporting: News in brief
In today's news in brief, Veeam Software has tweaked Reporter 4.0 to better report on VMware environments; and other news in brief. Article | 17 May 2010
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Citrix closes the gap with XenServer 5.6
Citrix has added a raft of new features to XenServer 5.6 but made no mention of improvements to its XenCenter management console. Article | 13 May 2010
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VMware password management on the brain
A spate of new VMware password management products suggests that enterprises are grappling with security in virtualized environments. Article | 31 Mar 2010
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VMware shops mixed on Host Profiles configuration management
Underwhelmed by VMware Host Profiles, some large VMware shops have turned to vProfile, a new configuration management from Reflex Systems. Article | 24 Mar 2010
- See More: News on Virtual machine provisioning and configuration
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Shedding light on Hyper-V 3.0 resource monitoring
Hyper-V 3.0 will feature new resource-monitoring capabilities, which will be a boon for multi-tenant environments that need to calculate chargeback. Tip
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Comparing configuration and change management tools: What to look for
Configuration and change management affects capacity planning, DR and compliance. Find out which tools and features are available in the market. Tip
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Hyper-V Replica: New VM replication tool for cost-conscious IT shops
Hyper-V Replica, the new VM replication feature in Microsoft’s next hypervisor, is a free and viable disaster recovery tool for SMBs and enterprises. Tip
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Spotlight on Hyper-V 3.0 high availability and redundancy
IT admins will have more help improving high availability with new redundancy and predictive failure analysis features in Microsoft Hyper-V 3.0. Tip
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The multi-hypervisor management tool landscape
Multi-hypervisor management tools solve a growing need, as more organization run multiple platforms. But the options are few and far between. Tip
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Windows PowerShell cmdlets for XenServer management
You can make Citrix XenServer management easier by using Windows PowerShell cmdlets. The XenServer PowerShell snap-in is handy for automating tasks. Tip
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Virtualizing Exchange Server 2010: Hardware requirements and more
Resources, storage and hardware, oh my! Following these requirements for virtualizing Exchange Server 2010 will keep performance in tip-top shape. Tip
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Server consolidation planning: Easy on the memory overcommit
When you commit to a server consolidation strategy, don’t overdo the overcommit. Memory overcommit can impair VM performance if you exhaust resources. Tip
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Automating Windows OS deployment in virtual infrastructures
Free is good. Free and automated is even better. There are lots of dynamic Windows OS deployment methods, but some may not fit your infrastructure. Tip
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How many VMs should you put on a LUN?
LUN configuration can improve virtual machine performance. When deciding how many VMs to put on a LUN, the size of your infrastructure is an important consideration. Tip
- See More: Tips on Virtual machine provisioning and configuration
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What will the future hold for multi-hypervisor management?
Multi-hypervisor management sounds great, but the tools lack critical features. Our advisory board members discuss this market’s future and potential. Answer
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What’s your most terrifying virtualization management story?
We asked our advisory board to share their most terrifying virtualization management tales. Their stories may scare you … into another career. Answer
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Automating VHD recognition in Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
A reader asks why his guest OS does not recognize a new VHD on his network, and whether or not there's a script that can force the guest OS to recognize the VHD automatically. Ask the Expert
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Virtual machine hosts as domain controllers?
Should a host server be used as a domain controller? Ron Oglesby offers his thoughts in this expert response. Ask the Expert
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Help with the VI3 SDK
Learn how to shut down and power on guest virtual machines outside of VirtualCenter with the VMware Infrastructure 3 (VI3) SDK. Ask the Expert
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Managing multiple virtualization solutions
Trying to manage multiple virtualization solutions concurrently? Expert Anil Desai suggests some tools that will help in this expert response. Ask the Expert
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Virtual Server configurations
Not sure how to set up you Microsoft Virtual Server virtual machines for the best use? Get Serdar Yegulalp's advice in this expert response. Ask the Expert
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VMware memory overcommit
Memory overcommit is the memory allocation feature for Vmware. Definition
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virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is the practice of hosting a desktop operating system within a virtual machine (VM) running on a centralized server... (Continued) Word
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VSMP (virtual symmetric multiprocessing)
VSMP (virtual symmetric multiprocessing) is a method of SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) in which two or more virtual processors are mapped inside a single virtual machine or partition... (Continued) Word
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Shedding light on Hyper-V 3.0 resource monitoring
Hyper-V 3.0 will feature new resource-monitoring capabilities, which will be a boon for multi-tenant environments that need to calculate chargeback. Tip
-
Comparing configuration and change management tools: What to look for
Configuration and change management affects capacity planning, DR and compliance. Find out which tools and features are available in the market. Tip
-
What will the future hold for multi-hypervisor management?
Multi-hypervisor management sounds great, but the tools lack critical features. Our advisory board members discuss this market’s future and potential. Answer
-
Hyper-V Replica: New VM replication tool for cost-conscious IT shops
Hyper-V Replica, the new VM replication feature in Microsoft’s next hypervisor, is a free and viable disaster recovery tool for SMBs and enterprises. Tip
-
Spotlight on Hyper-V 3.0 high availability and redundancy
IT admins will have more help improving high availability with new redundancy and predictive failure analysis features in Microsoft Hyper-V 3.0. Tip
-
The multi-hypervisor management tool landscape
Multi-hypervisor management tools solve a growing need, as more organization run multiple platforms. But the options are few and far between. Tip
-
What’s your most terrifying virtualization management story?
We asked our advisory board to share their most terrifying virtualization management tales. Their stories may scare you … into another career. Answer
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Windows PowerShell cmdlets for XenServer management
You can make Citrix XenServer management easier by using Windows PowerShell cmdlets. The XenServer PowerShell snap-in is handy for automating tasks. Tip
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Virtualizing Exchange Server 2010: Hardware requirements and more
Resources, storage and hardware, oh my! Following these requirements for virtualizing Exchange Server 2010 will keep performance in tip-top shape. Tip
-
Server consolidation planning: Easy on the memory overcommit
When you commit to a server consolidation strategy, don’t overdo the overcommit. Memory overcommit can impair VM performance if you exhaust resources. Tip
- See More: All on Virtual machine provisioning and configuration
About Virtual machine provisioning and configuration
As a server virtualization administrator, one of your chief goals is finding ways to ease the administrative and management burdens of your virtualized server environment. How you provision virtual servers and configure virtual machines (VMs) is a critical piece of streamlining those management challenges, especially as your virtualized environment grows. In this section, we offer advice, case studies and step-by-step tutorials on efficient, rapid provisioning and configuration software for VMs; automated tools to provision, configure, and load-balance virtual machines; using PowerShell scripts to power on VMs, how to use templates to provision and manage VMs; and we coach you on how to compare provisioning and configuration tools from various virtualization providers.