Archive
MVP Comm Camp : Windows Server 2012R2 Hyper-V slide decks
Hi
For those who were able to attend the MVP Community Camp last Saturday, a big thank you attending and for the positive feedbacks.
The session was all about understanding the various technologies in Windows Server 2012R2 that can reduce downtime for a private cloud deployment
As promised, here is the Hyper-V – Windows 2012 R2 – Overview slide deck.
Cheers!
Oracle running on Azure
Yes, your heard right
Oracle virtual machines on Windows Azure are now in preview, Multi-Factor Authentication is generally available and we have an announcement regarding SQL Database.
Microsoft and Oracle provide end-to-end support for customers running business-critical Oracle software on Windows Azure
Oracle, Oracle WebLogic Server, and the Java development environment are now available, in preview, in the Windows Azure Virtual Machines Image Gallery. These images include licenses for the Oracle software that they contain.
During the preview period, there is no charge for the included Oracle licenses. You will pay only for the Windows Azure compute and storage resources that your Virtual Machine consumes. If you would prefer to use an Oracle software license that you already own, you can do that too. Just choose a Windows Server image from the Image Gallery and install the Oracle software yourself.
Whether you bring your own Oracle license or use one of the license-included images, you now have increased flexibility and choice in where to deploy your applications and the peace of mind that comes from knowing you will be fully supported by Oracle.
To get started, sign in to the Windows Azure Management Portal and add a new Virtual Machine from the Image Gallery.
For more information, visit the Oracle information page on the Windows Azure website.
Update to improve cloud service provider resiliency in Windows Server 2012
Microsoft released an update to improve the cloud service provider in Windows 2012
Note : The KB2870270 roll-up hotfix replaces KB2848344. This hotfix contains the fix for Trim as well as ODX. It is no longer necessary to disable Trim or ODX with this fix applied
The following issues are also resolved with this update:
– An Windows 2012 Hyper-V Cluster that uses CSV is moved or is toggled between directed access and redirected access when the performance monitor is running. In this situation, the performance counters no longer function.
– An Windows 2012 Hyper-V Cluster and the Virtual Machines VHD files are stored on a scale-out file share and the server is under a heavy load. In this scenario, the server may crash, and you may receive a Stop error message that resembles: STOP: 0x000000C2 (parameter1, parameter2, parameter3, parameter4) – Notes: The parameters in the Stop error message vary, depending on the configuration of the computer and not all “Stop 0x000000C2” errors are caused by this issue.
– When you use the Windows thin provisioning feature on a Windows Server 2012-based computer, you experience the same I/O delays or I/O stalls that occur during the volume-unmounting process in NTF volumes.
Plus the issues that are described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) articles are resolved:
Resource outage when moving physical disc when using DPM to backup an HyperV Cluster.
Microsoft just released a critical fix for hyper cluster that have been backed up by System Center DPM
“Physical Disk resource move during the backup of a Cluster Shared Volume (CSV) may cause resource outage”.
If you have configured a Windows Server 2012-based Hyper-V failover cluster CSV and your backup software perform the backup by using snapshots and the Physical Disk resource is moved to another node in the cluster, the Physical Disk resource may fail to come online if the backup of the CSV is in progress. As a result, virtual machines that rely on the CSV may crash.
A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.
More info :http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2869923
- Windows Server 2012 Datacenter
- Windows Server 2012 Essentials
- Windows Server 2012 Foundation
- Windows Server 2012 Standard
Windows Server 2012 R2. What’s new in this new version….
Windows Server 2012 R2 offers exciting new features and enhancements across virtualization, storage, networking, virtual desktop infrastructure, access and information protection, and more.
With Windows Azure VM and System Center 2012 R2, it unlocks improved application portability between on-premises environments and public and service provider clouds, increasing flexibility and elasticity of your IT services.
Windows Server 2012 R2 provides a scalable, highly available platform for mission-critical applications.
Windows Server 2012 R2 makes it easier to deploy a virtual desktop infrastructure, and can lower storage costs significantly by supporting a broad range of storage options and with a new feature VHD de-duplication.
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure in Windows Server 2012 R2 makes it possible for users to access IT from virtually anywhere, providing them a rich Windows experience while ensuring enhanced data security and compliance.
For more info and evaluation:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/evalcenter/dn205292.aspx?CR_CC=200142594 (yet to be available)
Hyper-V , XenServer, vSphere Comparison : Scalability,Performance;Density
Some folks are asking me about Citrix and Hyper and VMware comparison :
Scalability,Performance;Density
1.XenServer 6.0 active VMs per host varies based on Server/VDI workload, with PVS/IntelliCache & HA on/off
- XenServer 6.0 Information: http://www.citrix.com/site/resources/dynamic/salesdocs/Citrix_XenServer_6_Configuration_Limits.pdf
- vSphere Hypervisor / vSphere 5.0 Ent+ Information: http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere5/r50/vsphere-50-configuration-maximums.pdf and http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere-hypervisor/faq.html
High Availability & Resiliency
- XenServer 6.0 Information: http://www.citrix.com/English/ps2/products/subfeature.asp?contentID=2300456
- vSphere Hypervisor / vSphere 5.0 Ent+ Information: http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/buy/editions_comparison.html, http://www.vmware.com/products/site-recovery-manager/overview.html and http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2011/08/11/vsphere-5-0-ha-application-monitoring-intro/
- XenServer 6.0 Information: http://www.citrix.com/site/resources/dynamic/salesdocs/Citrix_XenServer_6_Configuration_Limits.pdf
- vSphere Hypervisor / vSphere 5.0 Ent+ Information: http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere5/r50/vsphere-50-configuration-maximums.pdf, http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-mscs-guide.pdf
Also, comparing Hyper-V Windows 2008R2 with Hyper-V Windows 2012
Windows Server 2012 Roadshow : Virtualisation in Perth. December 18th
Join us for the ‘Windows Server 2012 Roadshow : Virtualisation’. Unique opportunity to get knowledge from the best and understand how to build your own Private Cloud, as the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional show you his tips with the latest release.
Registration REQUIRED : https://ws2012rocks.msregistration.com/abstract.aspx?id=7d701162-706c-474e-a801-3ad70ab0658f&Eventid=230
Get a chance to talk about the challenges to build your Private Cloud and the new features included in Windows 2012 and SCVMM 2012 SP1 that will help your business get into the Private Cloud.
Topics will include:
- Scenarios for Server Virtualization
- Hyper-V Enhancements, Mobility and Flexibility, System Center VMM 2012 SP1,
- Veeam Backup and Replication for Hyper-V and integration with SC 2012*
plus:
- Windows Server 2012 – Networking
Connect from anywhere, more working and less waiting, better network management via cost-aware networking. Sound interesting? This session provides a general overview, including many of the improvements to DirectAccess, BranchCache, and general networking improvements in Server 2012.
- Windows Server 2012 – High Availability & Virtualisation
Do you need your applications and systems to be online all the time. Well listen closely. We will be covering the enhancements to Windows Server 2012 that will help keep your applications and systems online all the time. We will be covering a range of High Availability enhancements in Windows Server 2012. We will discuss, Hyper-V Replicas, Live Storage Migration, Disk De-Duplication and Network Teaming just to name a few.
You will not leave disappointed from this session. With so much to cover, you will not want this presentation to end.
Target audience
Decision makers, IT Professionals, IT Managers.
Cost Details
FREE
Registration REQUIRED : https://ws2012rocks.msregistration.com/abstract.aspx?id=7d701162-706c-474e-a801-3ad70ab0658f&Eventid=230
* Veeam Software is a Microsoft Gold ISV partner and has recently won the 2012 Microsoft Management and Virtualization Partner of the Year award. Veeam Backup & Replication provides fast, flexible and reliable recovery of virtualized applications and data. It unifies backup and replication in a single solution, increases the value of backup and reinvents data protection for Microsoft Hyper-V. Veeam also offers customers Veeam ONE, which provides 24×7 real-time monitoring, performance analysis, resource optimization and management reporting for virtualized environments. Veeam also extends deep into virtualization monitoring in Microsoft System Centre 2012 with Veeam Management Pack™ (MP). Veeam MP helps businesses manage physical and virtual infrastructures, applications and dependencies from a single console.
Windows 2012 Hyper-V VHDX Disk format : Why should you convert your VHD to VHDX and how (Step by Step)
Although this topic is not new I had some readers asking me about it. So here we go…
Windows 2012 Hyper-V has a new disk format : VHDX.
VHDX principal features
- Storage capacity up to 64 terabytes (TBs). With the VHDX format we can to create larger virtual hard disks ( up to 64TB). The VHD format has a 2 TB limit to VHD’s.
- Corruption protection during power failures
- Optimal structure alignment for large-sector disks (4K sector aligned virtual hard disk), which increases the performance. Why Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V VHDX 4K Alignment Is So Important
- Trim/Unmap – Space efficiency on VHDX files as well as the host disk
- Thin provisioning
- Ability to store custom metadata about the file that the user might want to record, such as operating system version or patches applied
You can convert a VHD into VHDX and vice versa. As long the size limit for the VHD is respected:
- Shutdown the Virtual Machine
- Double check if there is NO Snapshots
- Double check if there is NO replication enabled
- On the Hyper-V Manager, on the left pane select Edit Disk…
- Click on Next
- On the Edit Virtual Disk Wizard, type the name and location of your existing VHD file or click on Browse to locate
- Click on Next
- On the Choose Action page select Convert and then click Next
- On the Choose Disk Format page select VHDX and click Next
- On the Choose Disk Type page select Disk type : Fixed or Dynamic and then click Next
- On the Configure Disk page type the destination path and then click Next
- On the Summary page, click Finish to start the process. The process time depends on the VHD size.
Windows 2012 USB’s to give away at Windows 2012 Road Show . Register now!
That’s right if you attend the Windows 2012 Road Show in Australia, you can end up with an Windows 2012 USB .
Note: The USB contains an trial version of Windows 2012.
What are you waiting for? Register today. Limited seats
| Country | City | When | Register Here |
| Australia | Canberra | Monday, November 12, 2012 1:00pm-5:00pm | https://ws2012rocks.msregistration.com/abstract.aspx?id=7d701162-706c-474e-a801-3ad70ab0658f&Eventid=197 |
| Australia | Sydney | Monday, November 19, 2012 1PM-5PM | https://ws2012rocks.msregistration.com/abstract.aspx?id=7d701162-706c-474e-a801-3ad70ab0658f&Eventid=196 |
| Australia | Melbourne | Tuesday, December 11, 2012 13:00-17:00 | https://ws2012rocks.msregistration.com/abstract.aspx?id=7d701162-706c-474e-a801-3ad70ab0658f&Eventid=208 |
Windows Server 2012 Roadshow : Virtualisation in Canberra. November 12th
Join us for the ‘Windows Server 2012 Roadshow : Virtualisation’. Unique opportunity to get knowledge from the best and understand how to build your own Private Cloud, as the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional show you his tips with the latest release.
Registration REQUIRED : https://ws2012rocks.msregistration.com/abstract.aspx?id=7d701162-706c-474e-a801-3ad70ab0658f&Eventid=197
Get a chance to talk about the challenges to build your Private Cloud and the new features included in Windows 2012 and SCVMM 2012 SP1 that will help your business get into the Private Cloud.
Topics will include:
- Scenarios for Server Virtualization
- Hyper-V Enhancements, Mobility and Flexibility, System Center VMM 2012 SP1,
- Veeam Backup and Replication for Hyper-V and integration with SC 2012*
plus:
- Windows Server 2012 – Networking
Connect from anywhere, more working and less waiting, better network management via cost-aware networking. Sound interesting? This session provides a general overview, including many of the improvements to DirectAccess, BranchCache, and general networking improvements in Server 2012.
- Windows Server 2012 – High Availability & Virtualisation
Do you need your applications and systems to be online all the time. Well listen closely. We will be covering the enhancements to Windows Server 2012 that will help keep your applications and systems online all the time. We will be covering a range of High Availability enhancements in Windows Server 2012. We will discuss, Hyper-V Replicas, Live Storage Migration, Disk De-Duplication and Network Teaming just to name a few.
You will not leave disappointed from this session. With so much to cover, you will not want this presentation to end.
Target audience
Decision makers, IT Professionals, IT Managers.
Cost Details
FREE
Registration REQUIRED : https://ws2012rocks.msregistration.com/abstract.aspx?id=7d701162-706c-474e-a801-3ad70ab0658f&Eventid=197
* Veeam Software is a Microsoft Gold ISV partner and has recently won the 2012 Microsoft Management and Virtualization Partner of the Year award. Veeam Backup & Replication provides fast, flexible and reliable recovery of virtualized applications and data. It unifies backup and replication in a single solution, increases the value of backup and reinvents data protection for Microsoft Hyper-V. Veeam also offers customers Veeam ONE, which provides 24×7 real-time monitoring, performance analysis, resource optimization and management reporting for virtualized environments. Veeam also extends deep into virtualization monitoring in Microsoft System Centre 2012 with Veeam Management Pack™ (MP). Veeam MP helps businesses manage physical and virtual infrastructures, applications and dependencies from a single console.
Altaro
Recommended Books
System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine
System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 Cookbook
Cloudtidings.com 