Archive
Updating Hyper-V Hosts after Virtual Machine Manager UR4
In case you did not read the Microsoft KB, after applying Update Rollup 4 for Virtual Machine Manager (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2992024), make sure you manually update all VMM Hyper-V hosts and the VMM Console.
Note: If this component is not updated, virtual machines may not be assigned an IP address for several minutes when the lease expires or after restarting the VM.
Install the updates in the following order:
1. Update Rollup 4 for the Administrator Console
2. Update Rollup 4 for the VMM Server
Let’s start. First, check if the VMM DHCP agent version is up date, as you will need to manually remove it before installing the new one:
-
From an elevated PowerShell Command Prompt window on the hyper-v host:
PS: >Get-WmiObject -Class win32_product -Filter ‘Name = “Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager DHCP Server (x64)”‘ -
If result version is earlier than 3.2.7768.0, you will firstly uninstall the old version:
PS: >MsiExec.exe /X <IdentifyingNumber>
Note: <IdentifyingNumber> information should be retrieved from the output of the last command: Get-WmiObject -
Locate and copy the file Dhcpextn.msi and run it on each hyper-v host (follow the steps in the wizard)
Note: By default, this is C:\Program Files\Microsoft System Center 2012 R2\Virtual Machine Manager\SwExtn\DHCPExtn.msi. -
Double-click the DHCPExtn.msi to start the installation, and then follow the steps in the wizard.
Note:
Between these two installations, VMM Server might create one critical error log under the VMMLogs directory. This occurs because AdminConsole shares some DLLs with VMMServer, and version conflict could lead to the logging of the critical failure. To resolve this issue, install both of the updates on the VMM server that you use to start the VMM service.
Monitoring Hyper-V and VMware workloads. Integrating SCVMM with SCOM. Veeam MP
The System Center 2012 VMM cookbook has a Chapter 10 (as a plus for the readers), which is not on the paperback/Kindle version. It is mentioned in the “What This Book Covers” section of the book and if you brought the book you will be able to download the chapter for free.
Chapter 10, Integration with System Center Operations Manager 2012 SP1, provides tips and techniques to allow administrators to integrate SCOM 2012 with SCVMM when monitoring the private cloud infrastructure.
In a hybrid hypervisor environment (for example, Hyper-V, VMware), using Operations Manager management packs (MPs) (for example, Veeam MP), you can monitor the Hyper-V hosts and the VMware hosts, which allow you to use only the System Center Console to manage and monitor the hybrid hypervisor environment
What we cover in chapter 10 :
- In this chapter, we will cover:
- Installing System Center Operations Manager 2012 SP1
- Installing management packs
- Managing Discovery and Agents
- Configuring the integration between Operations Manager 2012 and VMM 2012
- Enabling reporting in VMM
- Monitoring VMware vSphere infrastructure from the Operations Manager using management packs
With management packs, you can extend Operations Manager (OpsMgr) and its possibilities. On a hybrid hypervisor environment, where there is a mix of Hyper-V and VMware ESXi servers, the Veeam MP extends the OpsMgr for monitoring, alerting, and for undertaking remedial actions on VMware vSphere. Veeam MP uses vSphere API to gather information to allow monitoring and reporting against all layers of the VMware stack, which include layers from the underlying hardware though network, storage, hosts, clusters, datacenters, up to vCenter. Examples of the key metrics for the VMware admins include latency, CPU ready, disk and memory pressure against a host.
For the Chapter 10, Veeam Management Pack for VMware (SCOM) s required. There is a new version 6.5 which can download from here: http://www.veeam.com/vmware-microsoft-esx-monitoring-resources.html
Enjoy reading !
To buy the book
http://www.packtpub.com/microsoft-system-center-virtual-machine-manager-2012-cookbook/book
Just Published System Center VMM 2012 SP1 Cookbook
Hi folks
I just want to share with all of you that my book is now published : http://www.packtpub.com/microsoft-system-center-virtual-machine-manager-2012-cookbook/book
I will be waiting for your feedback!
Microsoft Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) is a management solution for the virtualized datacenter, enabling Administrators to configure and manage their virtualization host, networking, and storage resources in order to create and deploy virtual machines and services to private clouds.
Covering the VMM 2012 SP1 and Windows 2012 features, architecture design, deloyment planning this book is full of tips, techniques and solutions. It will guide to create, deploy and manage your own Private Cloud with a mix of Hypervisors: Hyper-V, Vmware ESXi and Citrix XenServer.
What you will learn
- VMM Architecture and planning for a real word deployment
- Network Virtualization, Gateway integration, Storage integration, Resource Throttling, Availability options
- Operations Manager (SCOM) deployment and integration with VMM
- SC APP Controller (SCAC) deployment and integration with VMM to manage Private and Public Cloud (Azure)
- Cluster deployment with VMM Bare Metal
- Create and deploying Virtual Machines from Templates
- Deploy an High Available VMM Management Server
- Managing Hyper-V, Vmware and Citrix from VMM
- Upgrade from SCVMM 2008R2 to SCVMM 2012 SP1
- Monitoring VMware with Veeam Management Pack
Currently, no other book offers thorough coverage of System Center VMM 2012 SP1 and integration with App Controller and SCOM.
Acknowledgement
It has been an amazing journey and I greatly appreciate all of those who gave me their full support.
I could not have finished this book without the help from the Microsoft System Center and Microsoft Virtualization team in Redmond: Travis Wright, Carmen Summers, Ben Armstrong and Nigel Cain.
In addition, as I wanted this book to be reviewed by the Microsoft System Center team, I would like to acknowledge and thank Carmen Summers and Nigel Cain not only for endorsing my participation in the System Center TAP program, but also for their assistance, working beyond their time to review and to provide great feedbacks that helped out to improve the content, adding substantial value to this book. The readers will truly appreciate that!
I also would like to thank Richard Skinners, Steve Buchanan and Kristian Nese for reviewing the book.
I also would like to thank the Veeam for the great insights about their product.
I would also like to thank the Packt Pub team involved in this great project.
Bring Windows Azure to your datacenter
How about having the Windows Azure experience locally on your datacentre?
Microsoft is now enabling Hosting Service Providers to use Windows Server 2012 and System Center 2012 to deliver the same great experiences already found in Windows Azure.
The first two of these finished services are high density website hosting and virtual machine provisioning and management. Hosting Service Providers enable these modules through the new Service Management API and optional portal.
Create high scale WebSites – Out of the box automation lowers customer onboarding costs while metering and throttling of resources can help tailor customer offerings. Supports many frameworks including ASP.NET, Classic ASP, PHP and Node.js with full Git integration for Source Code Control. Download and install the Web Sites service on machines dedicated for the Web Sites roles.
Create Virtual Machines – Leverage the power of System Center and Windows Server to easily create an Infrastructure as a Service solution for customers to provision and manage VMs. Download the System Center 2012 SP1 and install and configure SPF per the deployment guide.
Administer WebSites – Administer Web Sites and Virtual Machine services on Windows Server while also offering customers the same Windows 8-style self-service user experience as found on Windows Azure to provision and manage their Web Sites and Virtual Machines. Download the Service Management Portal and Service Management API Express bits to install the Admin and Tenant portals, and the Service Management API on one machine.Download the WebPI and click on the Products tab. Select Windows Azure to deploy the portals and the Service Management API on separate machines.
More Info:http://www.microsoft.com/hosting/en/us/services.aspx
Networking Virtualization in VMM 2012 SP1
In VMM 2012 SP1, Microsoft introduced the VM Networking, in support of Windows 2012.
On the scenario that has multiple VM’s from different organizational divisions or customers, network secure isolation is highly required and working with(VLANs), can present significant disadvantages in this scenario, on the other way, Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V Network Virtualization provides policy-based, software-controlled network virtualization that reduces the management overhead that is faced by enterprises providing better flexibility and scalability for managing virtual machines to achieve higher resource utilization.
The key functionalities, benefits, and capabilities of Hyper-V Network Virtualization in Windows Server 2012:
- Enables flexible workload placement – Network isolation and IP address re-use without VLANs
- Enables easier moves for workloads to a shared IaaS cloud
- Enables live migration across subnets
- Enables easier management of decoupled server and network administration
- Simplifies the network and improves server/network resource utilization
- Is compatible with existing infrastructure and emerging technology
- Provides for interoperability and ecosystem readiness
- Uses Windows PowerShell and WMI.
Nigel Cain from Microsoft started an series of blog post to explain in detail the VM Network concepts with detailed steps by steps. Have a look here
http://blogs.technet.com/b/scvmm/archive/2013/01/08/virtual-networking-in-vmm-2012-sp1.aspx
System Center 2012 SP1 : Public beta available. What’s new in SCVMM?
System Center 2012 SP1 beta has just been public released
Here is what is new in System Center Virtual Machine 2012 SP1
Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012 Support
With this Beta release, all System Center 2012 SP1 components are now enabled to manage and run in a Windows Server 2012 environment. System Center 2012 SP1 also now supports the use of SQL Server 2012.
Network Virtualization
With System Center 2012 SP1 you can take advantage of the Virtual Machine Manager’s ability to manage Hyper-V network virtualization across multiple hosts, simplifying the creation of entire virtual networks.
Plus,
- Extend the VMM console with Add-ins
- Support for Windows Standards-Based Storage Management Service, thin provisioning of logical units and discovery of SAS storage
- Ability to convert VHD to VHDX, use VHDX as base Operating System image
- Support for vSphere 5.0 and Citrix XenServer 6.0
- Performance enhancement
And much more!…But to know it you will need to download and install it to find out 🙂 and keep me updated on what you find out!
Begin your evaluation of System Center 2012 SP1 with Windows Server 2012 today:
- Download the Beta
- Visit the TechNet System Center 2012 SP1 Beta library for technical documentation to support your evaluation
Clustering Hyper-V and Installing a Highly Available Virtual Machine Manager Cluster
Interesting TechNet webcast : how to create a Hyper-V host cluster and install a highly available cluster by using Virtual Machine Manager, a component of Microsoft System Center 2012
Get hands-on : The Cloud OS Signature Events Sep/5 to Oct/11
Get hands-on with the new technology, and learn how to manage and build your modern data center with the Microsoft Cloud OS platform:
- Windows Server 2012
- Windows Azure
- Visual Studio 2012
- System Center 2012
Pick your track and register for the event today. http://www.microsoft.com/enterprise/events/signature/#fbid=8R-XXnFl8p2
IT Pro Agenda:
| Time | Duration | IT Professional Agenda |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30am-9:00am | 30 min | Registration. Visit the Microsoft Partner Pavilion |
| 9:00am-10:00am | 60 min | Keynote: Moving from Private and Public to Hybrid Cloud; Windows Server 2012, System Center 2012, Windows Azure and Visual Studio 2012 |
| 10:00am-10:15am | 15 min | Break. Visit the Microsoft Partner Pavilion |
| 10:15am-11:15am | 60 min | Windows Server 2012 Virtualization Enhancements
|
| 11:15am-11:30am | 15 min | Break. Visit the Microsoft Partner Pavilion |
| 11:30am-12:30pm | 60 min | Windows Server 2012 Storage Enhancements
|
| 12:30pm-12:45pm | 15 min | Recap of the Morning. Account Team Introductions. What’s Next. |
| 12:45pm-1:30pm | 45 min | Lunch. Visit the Microsoft Partner Pavilion |
| 1:30pm-2:30pm | 60 min | Overview of Windows Azure Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Hands On Lab
|
| 2:30pm | Closing Remarks and Raffle Giveaway. | |
| 2:30pm-4:00pm | 90 min | Hands On Lab |
Infrastructure Planning and Design Guide for VMM 2012
The new IPD Guide for System Center 2012 – Virtual Machine Manager is now available to download
Infrastructure Planning and Design streamlines the planning process by:
- Defining the technical decision flow through the planning process.
- Listing the decisions to be made and the commonly available options and considerations.
- Relating the decisions and options to the business in terms of cost, complexity, and other characteristics.
- Framing decisions in terms of additional questions to the business to ensure a comprehensive alignment with the appropriate business landscape
Download the guide now: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=245473
VMM 2012 SP1 storage providers supports : new SMP storage provider
With the release of VMM 2012 SP1 CTP2, Microsoft added support to the SMP storage provider.
Now VMM 2012 with SP1, supports the following types of storage providers:
- SMI-S CIM–XML
- SMP
Besides the new SMP provider type, the VMM 2012 SP1 release adds the following new functionality:
- Supports auto (dynamic) iSCSI target systems, such as the Dell EqualLogic PS Series. System Center 2012 – Virtual Machine Manager supported only static iSCSI target systems.
- Supports the thin provisioning of logical units through VMM. Your storage array must support thin provisioning, and thin provisioning must be enabled for a storage pool by your storage administrator
To evaluate the storage enhancements in this CTP, you must use the following storage arrays.
| Provider Type | Supported Arrays |
| SMI-S CIM-XML | See the “Supported Storage Arrays” section of Configuring Storage Overview for the supported storage arrays. |
| SMP | Dell EqualLogic PS Series using iSCSI |
Recommended Books
System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine
System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 Cookbook
Cloudtidings.com 