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Problem solve

Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.

• How P2V migrations can ease data center moves

  Moving a data center? P2V migrations reduce risk, cost, downtime and exposure over physical migrations. Find out more in James Geis's tip. Continue Reading

• Optimizing Microsoft Virtual Server 2005: Learning guide

  This learning guide teaches you how to optimize CPU, memory, disk and network performance using Microsoft Virtual Server 2005. Continue Reading

• Automating Microsoft Virtual Server virtual machines: Fast guide

  This fast guide offers titles and summaries of the "Automating Microsoft Virtual Server" series by Anil Desai. He shows you how to programmatically manage virtual machines. Continue Reading

• Measuring virtual machine performance: Current options

  Learn what the current options in the virtualization space are for measuring virtual machine performance. Continue Reading

• How do I know if a server can be virtualized?

  Find out if your servers are virtualization enabled in this expert response from James Geis. Continue Reading

• Help with Virtual-to-Physical (V2P) migrations

  Accidently move a server to a virtual machine? Expert James Geis offers troubleshooting advice in this expert response.Continue Reading

• The best way to back up a virtual machine

  The best practices for backing up a virtual machine is the subject of this expert response from James Geis.Continue Reading

• Server technologies and virtualization: Blades, racks, Intel and AMD

  An in-depth commentary on virtualization server technologies and trends in processors and servers, blades versus racks and Intel versus AMD.Continue Reading

• Using Xen in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5: Installing guest operating systems

  Install a guest operating system on Xen in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 by following Bernard Golden's step-by-step guide. Watch for warnings about complications wrought by new Intel and AMD chips.Continue Reading

• How-to: VMware ESX, Linux virtual machines and read-only file systems

  One of the benefits of virtual machines is hardware abstraction. But what do you do when disk activity on a back end storage device causes guest operating systems on ESX to lose their cool? In this tip, Andrew Kutz explains how to mitigate errors in...Continue Reading

• Control virtualization chaos with VM management automation

  Virtualization veteran Alessandro Perilli sounds off on why virtual machine sprawl happens and why IT shops should automate management of VMs.Continue Reading

• Best practices for naming VMware virtual machines

  Are you naming your VMware virtual machines in a way that will help you keep track of where they are and what they do? If not, you must read this expert response by Andrew Kutz.Continue Reading

• 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.Continue Reading

• Dual-core/quad-core falloff

  For a given dual-core or quad-core solution with 4-8 GB memory, what is the falloff in application performance with each added Virtual Session?Continue Reading

• Documenting Virtual Server virtual machines

  How is virtual machine documentation handled in Microsoft Virtual Server? Find out.Continue Reading

• How to detect rogue virtual machines on a network

  In the final installment of his series, Harley Stagner offers code that will help you prevent and detect rogue virtual machines using Microsoft Virtual Server 2005.Continue Reading

• Server partitioning and VMware

  Wondering how you should partition your host server for optimal VMware virtualization? Read this expert response by Andrew Kutz to find out.Continue Reading

• How to optimize virtual machine performance with Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2

  Application performance can suffer when you virtualize servers. Avoid that problem with this guide, which offers an overview of Anil Desai's Optimizing Virtual Server series.Continue Reading

• XenSource's XenServer 3.1.0: A tour with ups and downs

  Andrew Kutz walks you through the XenServer product, explaining everything in depth. In the first segment of this series, learn about Xen requirements and interface.Continue Reading

• Licensing an inactive SQL Server virtual machine

  Do you have to license unused virtual machines? Find out in this expert response.Continue Reading

• How to configure the Microsoft Virtual Server service

  In this article, Anil Desai presents ways you can programmatically manage properties and details related to the Virtual Server service itself.Continue Reading

• Virtualization in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5: Installation

  Expert Bernard Golden helps you get the Xen hypervisor up and running in no time, complete with a PowerPoint view of the Xen architecture.Continue Reading

• Virtual machine FAQ

  We put the best of your virtual machine-related questions in this FAQ . Find out about extra memory, back up, performance issues, what to do with multiple VHDs and RAID and more.Continue Reading

• Paravirtualization with Xen

  Ronald McCarty walks you through Xen paravirtualization, from management tips to cloning to maintenaince.Continue Reading

• How to secure remote access to a host virtual server with Microsoft Virtual Server

  A walk-through of securing remote connections to Virtual Server 2005, including the administration website and the Virtual Machine Remote Connection (VMRC) client.Continue Reading

• Xen and disaster recovery

  Learn how to effectively use Xen in the face of disaster. This tip includes code and some important how-to advice.Continue Reading

• Managing virtual machines - Automating Microsoft Virtual Server

  In this installment of the automating Microsoft Virtual Server series, Anil Desai teaches you how to create new virtual machines and manage some basic VM properties.Continue Reading

• Practical implementation of the dynamic VDI desktop

  Now that you've learned all about the virtual desktop infrastructure technology, it's time to implement it yourself. Brian Madden gives you his professional advice.Continue Reading

• How current virtualization licensing blocks adoption

  In this tip, Alessandro Perilli sheds light on virtualization licensing rules, explains how they affect your back-end servers and more.Continue Reading

• When does VDI make sense?

  Read part four of this series to find out when a virtual desktop makes sense in place of SBC environments or traditional desktops, and when it doesn't.Continue Reading

• What technology makes VDI possible?

  In part five of his VDI series, Brian Madden explains which technologies helped create virtual desktop infrastructures.Continue Reading

• Windows 2003 Standard or Enterprise?

  Which is the better operating system for Microsoft Virtual Server to run, Windows 2003 or Windows Enterprise? Serdar Yegulalp has the answer in this expert response.Continue Reading

• Virtual switch security: VMware, Virtual Server and XenExpress

  Find out how VMware Server, Virtual Server and XenExpress stack up in terms of virtual switch security in this tip.Continue Reading

• Blade servers for virtualization: Enterprise resource guide

  Get quick access to the best blade server resources here. Find out if blades are the right choice for you, get clarification on old blade myths and more.Continue Reading

• How to examine the compromised Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 host server after a security breach

  Have you had a Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 security breach? The following article will walk you through some steps to take before powering down a Virtual Server 2005 host for investigation.Continue Reading

• How to install, secure, monitor and backup VMware on Linux

  This section will provide instructions on how to secure VMware Server, how to fix a nagging bug that crops up with installing it on Ubuntu and how to monitor and back up the server.Continue Reading

• How to improve Microsoft Virtual Server security by monitoring virtual machine log files

  In this tip, Harley Stagner teaches you about proactive event log collection so that if your virtual machines are breached, you'll know how to find out what happened.Continue Reading

• Paravirtualization explained

  In this tip, Ronald McCarty explains exactly how paravirtualization stacks up against full virtualization complete with advice on when to use it and product considerations.Continue Reading

• How to configure and secure Linux for VMware

  In the last installment of this series, we installed all necessary components of Ubuntu Linux. Now we can proceed with configuring and securing this Ubuntu installation. We'll discuss the steps in this tip.Continue Reading

• How to secure local access to a host virtual server

  Want to secure a Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 installation? This article will walk you through securing local access to the Virtual Server host machine and its VMs.Continue Reading

• Using Visual Studio .NET to automate Microsoft Virtual Server

  In this series, "Automating Microsoft Virtual Server," Anil Desai describes ways to programmatically manage virtual machines.Continue Reading

• Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) explained

  VDI, or Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, is quickly entering the buzzword danger zone. In this six-part series, Harley Stagner explores what VDI is, why people use it and what the various vendors are doing in this space.Continue Reading

• VDI versus server-based computing desktops - Desktop delivery options

  Read this tip for a comparison between VDI versus server-based computing (SBC) technologies such as Citrix Presentation Server and Microsoft terminal server.Continue Reading

• Using VBScript to automate Microsoft Virtual Server

  Learn how to create scripts for performing routine tasks in Microsoft Virtual Server with this new series by Anil Desai. In part one, he tells you how with VBScript.Continue Reading

• VDI versus traditional local desktops - Desktop delivery options

  How do virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solutions stack up against the traditional way of doing desktops, which has locally installed copies of Windows running on regular PCs or laptops scattered throughout an organization?Continue Reading

• VMware for Mac virtualization?

  Will VMware dominate the Mac virtualization scene as well? Parallels was first, but according to our expert, that may not mean Parallels will reign supreme. Read this expert advice for his take on which vendor will come out on top.Continue Reading

• Is there common ground between service-oriented architecture and virtualization?

  Do SOA and virtualization have anything in common? Find out in this response from expert Andrew Kutz.Continue Reading

• Windows Vista virtualization licensing terms

  Confused about licensing terms in Windows Vista? Read this tip by expert Serdar Yegulalp and find out what you can and can't do with virtualization on the new operating system.Continue Reading

• Microsoft vs. VMware and virtual appliances

  Find out how Microsoft competes with VMware in the virtual appliance space in this expert response.Continue Reading

• How many virtual machines can Microsoft Virtual Server support per physical server?

  A reader was curious about how many virtual machines Microsoft Virtual Server can run. See what expert Serdar Yegulalp had to say.Continue Reading

• Virtualizing Windows Vista: The basics

  Get Windows Vista advice and a review of Vista in VMware and Virtual PC as well as the big drawback, lack of support for Aero Glass, in this tip.Continue Reading

• Easy VMDK conversions

  VMDK to VHD Converter opens the door to easy VM conversion.Continue Reading

• The new XenServer product family

  The XenServer family of products has hit the market and Bernard Golden tells us whether or not it will make an impact in this expert response.Continue Reading

• Re: VMware Server on Windows vs. VMware Server on Linux

  Andrew Kutz caused more than a few waves with his article on VMware Server on Windows vs. VMware Server on Linux. Check out this feedback and answer query for some more info.Continue Reading

• The VDI landscape: An introduction, overview and exploration

  Virtual desktop infrastructure: What exactly is it, anyway? You may think you know, but the phrase has entered the buzzword danger zone. The truth is revealed in this tip.Continue Reading

• How will KVM and the Linux kernel affect Linux users?

  KVM and the Linux kernel will affect Linux users. Learn how from Bernard Golden in this expert response.Continue Reading

• Paravirtualization pros and cons

  Expert Bernard Golden takes a look at the strengths and weaknesses of paravirtualization in this expert response.Continue Reading

• How to create failover structures and configure clusters

  Virtual environments need backup plans, too. In part two of this series, Alessandro Perilli explains how to configure clusters and create failover structures.Continue Reading

• Virtual machine backup

  Ensure fast disaster recovery and reliable failover of faulty guests, hosts and other pieces in the environment. Read this tip series written by security pro Alessandro Perilli.Continue Reading

• OpenVZ -- Getting started with Virtuozzo's parent, part two

  So how do you run a host operating system on OpenVZ on the hardware node? Find out from contributor Scott Dowdle in part two of this tip.Continue Reading

• Analyzing performance in virtualized environments

  Want a better way to monitor the performance of your virtual machines? In this tip, Justin Korelc and Ed Tittel take you step-by-step through the most common monitoring tools, complete with screen shots.Continue Reading

• Virtualization abuse, part two: Behind the app and storage virtualization hype

  Defend yourself against marketers who are repackaging old technologies as virtualization. Learn the truth about appliation and storage virtualization in part two of this tip.Continue Reading

• Error: Network is unreachable

  A reader kept receiving the same error when attempting to run Microsoft Virtual Server and Windows Server 2003. Read this expert advice to see what Serdar Yegulalp said.Continue Reading

• Staging a disaster recovery VM

  Preparing generic recovery VMs can significantly reduce recovery time following a disaster or server failure.Continue Reading

• VSS and Virtual Server writer

  Serdar Yegulalp shares whether Microsoft Virtual Server supports VSS in this expert response.Continue Reading

• Virtual infrastructure management - Step-by-step virtualization

  Tackle the complex challenges of virtual infrastructure management with Alessandro Perilli, including mandatory control of physical and virtual resources availability, usage and access; deployment of disaster recovery solutions; provisioning of new ...Continue Reading

• Re: Processors for virtualization

  Some readers had strong opinions about expert Andrew Kutz's response to a question about the best processors for virtualization. Check out this tip to see what users had to say.Continue Reading

• Does VMware have memory sharing capability?

  VMware is the standard in virtualization, but does it support memory sharing? Site expert Andrew Kutz has the answer in this expert response.Continue Reading

• Does Virtual Server have memory share capability?

  Can Microsoft Virtual Server share memory like VMware? Serder Yegulap has the answer.Continue Reading

• Help with Xen terms

  Reading or talking about Xen, and not sure what a few words mean? Find out in this expert response from Xen expert Bernard Golden.Continue Reading

• Optimizing virtual hard disks with RAID arrays

  After reading one of expert Anil Desai's articles, a reader had some more questions. Find out what our expert had to say about designing a RAID array for placement on multiple VHDs.Continue Reading

• Where can I find a stripped-down version of Linux for VMware?

  A reader wanted a skinny Linux build to run his VMs on using VMware. Read this answer to see what VMware expert Andrew Kutz suggested.Continue Reading

• Loading a Windows VM on Linux with VMware Workstation 5.5

  Having trouble launching a Windows virtual machine on Linux with VMware Workstation 5.5? The answer is pretty simple although it may not be obvious to new users. Read expert Andrew Kutz's advice to find out what to do.Continue Reading

• Why you should use blade servers for server virtualization and server consolidation

  Barb Goldworm discusses the numerous advantages of blade servers, including space savings, improved scalability, reduced complexity and better manageability.Continue Reading

• Free VMware versus pricey VMware ESX Server, part two

  In part two of this series, Alessandro Perilli further explains the differences between VMware Server and ESX Server by comparing the security and support of each.Continue Reading

• Free VMware versus pricey VMware ESX Server

  Just like in school, not doing your virtualization homework affects your performance. It's vital to make a wise platform choice, otherwise your ROI could fall short of expectations. In this series, virtualization pro Alessandro Perilli breaks down...Continue Reading

• 3-node clusters on Microsoft Virtual Server

  A Virtual Server user was having trouble setting up a three-node cluster, which should be possible according to Virtual Server documentation. He came to expert Serdar Yegulalp for help who did some research of his own to put together this response.Continue Reading

• How to optimize network performance with Microsoft Virtual Server 2005

  In this tip, expert Anil Desai presents some ways to design networks with virtualization performance in mind.Continue Reading

• What to consider when designing virtual hard disk (VHD) storage

  A key performance concept is VHD file placement. In this tip, Anil Desai looks at some scenarios and recommendations that can have a significant impact on performance.Continue Reading

• How to maintain virtual hard disks (VHDs) with Microsoft Virtual Server

  Just like physical disks, VHD files need to be maintained over time. In this article, Anil Desai explains how to maintain VHD performance on Virtual Server host computers.Continue Reading

• How to manage and monitor CPU and memory settings in Microsoft Virtual Server 2005

  In the second installment of Anil Desai's Optimizing Virtual Server series, learn how to manage memory settings and monitor CPU and memory settings.Continue Reading

• How to manage CPU resouce allocation with Microsoft Virtual Server 2005

  In production environments, some virtual machines are more important than others. Learn how to give preference to VMs in this installment.Continue Reading

• Legacy hardware plus free server virtualization from VMware: New life for old machines?

  With all the free virtualization technologies, you may be able to turn that old server collecting dust in the corner of your data center into a host for a few virtual machines. This article will address the pros and cons of combining older server ...Continue Reading

• How to convert VMware virtual disk images to Virtual Server, part two

  In this tip, Chris Wolf explains how to convert VMware virtual disk images to Microsoft Virtual Server when you don't have the resources to buy Platespin's PowerConvert.Continue Reading

• How to install and configure Windows Server 2003 for VMware

  VMware Server: Some assembly required. Never fear, expert Andrew Kutz is here -- read this eight-part tip and be the IT pro in the know on getting VMware up and running.Continue Reading

• The Blue Pill virtualization attack: Virtual machine malware

  Much ado was made of the demonstration of the Blue Pill attack on Windows Vista at Black Hat this year. Security expert Kevin Beaver analyzes the exploit. Find out how the attack worked and whether you should care about it.Continue Reading

• Importing virtual machines from other platforms

  Looking to import virtual machines created with VMware and Xen to Microsoft Virtual Server? Serdar Yegulalp will tell you if it is possible in this expert response.Continue Reading

• Virtualization for the beginner by Anil Desai: A crash course

  Take a fast trip through tips on choosing virtualization products, managing virtual machine sprawl and virtual hard disks, migrating from VMware to Microsoft Virtual Server and more. Your guide is Anil Desai, IT book author and consultant and ...Continue Reading

• Towers, racks and blades -- Server packaging options

  When should you use a tower server, a rack server or a blade server? This excerpt from our e-book, "Windows Servers and Storage," analyzes these three types of server packaging.Continue Reading

• How to convert VMware virtual disk images to Virtual Server

  In this tip, Chris Wolf explains how to convert VMware virtual disk imagesto Microsoft Virtual Server when you don't have the resources to buy Platespin's PowerConvert.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Virtual Server vs. Virtual PC

  Microsoft has two virtualization offerings -- Virtual Server 2005 and Virtual PC -- that are both great products at a great price (free). So which one is better? It depends what you want to do.Continue Reading

• Management issues and power and heat costs: The hidden costs of server virtualization, part one

  To virtualize or not to virtualize? Before deciding, take a close look at this technology's hidden costs.Continue Reading

• How to configure virtual networks with Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2

  No virtual machine is an island -- unless you want it to be. Virtual machines working in isolation can be useful for some purposes, but often rely on network connectivity to accomplish their tasks. The challenge is in finding the right balance ...Continue Reading

• How to create a virtual machine with Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2

  Once you have Virtual Server installed, the obvious next step is to create a virtual machine. But where do you start?Continue Reading

• How to install a guest OS with Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2

  If you've been following this series, you've successfully set up Microsoft Virtual Server, configured basic server settings and created a virtual machine (VM). But your new VM has a blank hard drive. The next step is to install a guest operating ...Continue Reading

• Installing Windows Server 2003 on VMware Server

  Site expert Andrew Kutz offers suggestions on installing Windows Server 2003 onto VMware Server in this expert response.Continue Reading

• How 'critical' is your data center?

  Not all downtime has the same impact on business performance. Facilities experts Jerry Burkhardt and Richard W. Dennis provide a model on how to assess the Criticality Levels of your data center.Continue Reading

• P2V (Physical-to-virtual) migration tools: A guide

  Migrating physical servers to virtual machines? In this step-by-step guide, Alessandro Perilli recommends migration tools, warns of possible driver recognition problems and more.Continue Reading

• Virtualization management software

  A reader is searching for the best virtualization management software solution. He's even found a software company that our expert hasn't tried yet. Even so, expert Andrew Kutz advises him to save his money. Read this answer and find out why.Continue Reading

• How to install Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 on Windows

  Got a ticket for the virtualization train? Jump in with Anil Desai, and he'll teach you how to install Microsoft Virtual Server from beginning to end, starting with this article.Continue Reading