Information about Cloud Computing (IaaS) and VMware Technologies

During this weekend, got sometime to play with Google Chrome OS. I downloaded the OS image (around 650 MB) and installed with VMware Workstation as a VM. I chosen the "Other Linux Kernel 2.6.x" as the type of the VM. However, the Google Chrome OS using Linux as their base kernel. It looks like that noone going to leave this  Linux kernel, a evergreen OS kernel. I am facing some issues with Chrome OS as a VM, unable to change the screen resolution/size, though I managed to get this sound device, but, poor audibility. I am not seeing any console (Terminal Windows) like other Linux based systems. Therefore, unable to install the VMware tools for better enhancement of the VM. Anyway, using the Google Chrome browser/OS for this post :) Its still long way to go for full exploration of capability of this OS. I applied for Pilot user program for Chrome OS and keep my finger cross to get the notebook and experience the feel  of lightweight OS.

Today, I got into big trouble with vShield Zones where I need to remove them from ESX host. Generally, it would be done by using vCenter. In my case, I don’t have enough resources in another ESX host where I need to bring the ESX1 for maintenance mode in order to remove the vShield Service. Finally, I end up with using service console command to remove vShield service from ESX host. # esxupdate query -------------Bulletin ID------------- -----Installed----- -----------------Summary------------------ ESX400-Update01 2010-01-29T11:28:45 VMware ESX 4.0 Complete Update 1 VSZ200_vshield-dvfilter-module_285928 2010-10-04T09:49:17 Dvfilter fastpath module for vShield Zones   # esxupdate remove -b VSZ200_vshield-dvfilter-module_285928 Removing vshield-dvfilter-module #################################################################### [100%] Running [/usr/sbin/vmkmod-install.sh]... ok. # esxupdate query To verify the vShieldZone is presented or not. Then, reboot the ESX

The long waiting for the VCAP-DA exam is now over and ready for registration. VMware offers 50% discount in VCAP-DA exam if you are attending the following recommended courses between now and November 30, 2010: VMware vSphere: Troubleshooting [V4] VMware vSphere: Manage for Performance [V4] VMware vSphere: Manage and Design for Security VMware vSphere: Automation with vSphere PowerCLI To register the VCAP-DA Blueprint for VCAP-DA All the Best Guys!!!

This is really interesting and important question for the VMware professional. Who and when will host reclaim the memory, the answers follows: VMKernel is responsible for the reclaiming the memory. VMKernel decides to reclaim the host memory based on their four states. ESX maintains the four memory states: High @ 6% - No Action Soft @ 4% - Ballooning Hard @2% - Swapping + Ballooning Low @1% - Swapping ESX effectively supports 3 memory reclaim techniques such as: 1. Transparent Share Paging (TPS) 2. Ballooning 3. Host Swapping Now, the ESX will decide which memory reclaims technique to be used at when. However, TPS is enabled by default and continuously running in the ESX host, it is not considered. Let’s see the how memory state is calculated: Memory State % = Physical Memory – Service Console Memory When the memory state equals to high state (6%) or virtual machines use less than 94% of host memory, there won’t be any reclaim process invoked. When the memory state

Finally, the long wait is over. VMware officially launched their cloud enabler/management product called vCloud Director. This product help the organization to build their own secured private cloud. vCloud Director coupled with VMware vSphere for hypervisors and vCenter, VMware vShield for Security and vCenter Chargeback for accountability and granular level user’s usage. Using vShield technologies offers network solution like as DMZ, Port-level firewall, NAT and DHCP services. vShield Edge offers site-site VPN solution, web load balancing and other significant network features. vCloud Director cells can scale up to 25 vCenter and 10,000 managed VMs. vCloud Director will be licensed for 25 managed VMs at cost of US$ 3750. Also, they have promotion pack for vCloud Director with vCenter Chargeback at cost of US$ 2500 for 25 managed VMs. Apart from this, there would be additional cost for vSphere ESX4.1/Hypervisor and vCenter4.1 if you don’t have them already. VSphere4.1 Enterprise P

TCO Calculation: Sum of money invested for the entire project Payback Period: Divide the initial investment (cost) by amount of yearly savings Let’s assume, you have initial investment is $3 million and yearly saving is $2 million. $3 million / $ 2 million = 1.5 Now, your payback period is 1.5 years ROI (Return on Investment) Divide the net cost saving per year by project cost. Let’s assume the your project cost was $4 million and yearly saving were $1 million $1 million / $ 4 million = $ 0.25 million Overall Savings: Annual Savings x No. of years = Total Saving $1 million x 5 = $5 Millions Without Initial Investment: (Overall Savings – initial Investment)/initial investment = ROI ($5 million – $2 million)/$2 million = 1.5 OR 150%

With continuation previous post, I did some google search to convert a VMware based Virtual Machine into Amazon EC2 AMI format. This conversion can be achieved by using QEMU tool. QEMU helps to conver the VMware VMDK into RAW disk format. The next thing is that bundle this RAW disk to an AMI using "eu2-bundle-image" command. For more information, please follow this link: VMDK into AMI Format

Today, I had chat with one of my friend who is keep doing some research on Amazon EC2 platform, but he is new to VMware products. While in our chat, he had asked that is there any solution that I can convert my Amazon EC2 instances into VMware vSphere. I done quick search on Google found this KB article from VMware converting Amazon EC2 instance to VMware Virtual Machine. This article uses Windows instance. If someone already tried or ready to try for linux, please share the steps that involved in. Here is the KB: Converting Amazon EC2 Windows Instances to VMware Workstation or VMware vSphere Virtual Machines

Finally, VMware offically announced and published the new certification names, one step prior to VCDX certification. New certifications are named VMware Certified Advanced Professional on vSphere 4 - Datacenter Administration (VCAP4-DCA) and VMware Certified Advanced Professional on vSphere 4 – Datacenter Design (VCAP4-DCD) The exams are opened on 12th July,2010 for Datacenter Administration and sometime in August 2010 for Datacenter Design. You can signup on the VMware site to received further updates regarding those certifications and more details about the certification path and requirements.

When I was seeing my linkedin updates, I came across a update about VMware Snapshot troubleshooting guide which is written by VMware employee named as "Ruben Garcia, TSE". Ruben also creator of a utility called SnapVMX utility . This troubleshooting guide describes the basic concepts of VM's snapshot and different troubleshooting methods. This guide is designed for ESX3.5 and extra consideration to be taken care of whilst VMware ESX3i/4i/ESX4.0 Ruben's personal blog: http://vmutils.blogspot.com/

EMC unveiled their product called EMC VPLEX Family which offers a distributed federation. It has two products in this family: 1. VPLEX Local 2. VPLEX Metro VPLEX Local provides the transparent co-operation and mobility within the data center. VPLEX Metro offers the distributed federation across two diffrent data centers at synchronous distances. VPLEX Metro will get additional features soon (planned for 2011) for asynchoronous distances by VPLEX Geo and VPLEX Global (more than 2 sites). VPLEX Metro support two clusters upto 100KMs. You can do VMotion between two diffrent data centers. VPLEX virtualizes the EMC and Non-EMC storage arrays. VPLEX products offers 1. VPLEX Hardware - Engine based on EMC's highly available storage controllers, dual high availability redirectors, hot-swap serviceability and intergrated battery back-up. 2. VPLEX Software - EMC GeoSynchrony is operating system for VPLEX products. For more information and updates, visit EMC website

I came across wonderful installation guide for Eucalyptus to setup your own private cloud. Many Thanks to Authors who made it to available thru internet. It is pretty simple and straightward than compare to Eucalyptus Guide. Eucalyptus Beginners Guide for UEC Edition. The original Administrator guide from Eucalyptus

You can change the existing Virtual Hard disks (VMware based) from Thick to thin and vice-versa. This can be achieved by either using VMotion/SVMotion or command line tool called " vmkfstools". Using VMotion/SVMotion is required a valid license. Select “Migrate” and choose “Change Datastore” and select the Disk format. If you don’t have a VMotion/SVMotion license, use the following command to achieve the same. From Thick to Thin: vmkfstools –i "Thickdisk.vmdk" -d thin "Thindisk.vmdk" It will start to clone to virtual hard disk in Thin Provision method. After completed, you can attach this disk with VM and power it on. If all looks good, you can delete the original thick disk from the data store. Use the following command to see real-time usage of thin disk: du –h "Thindisk.vmdk" You can notice the big difference of disk usage between of Thin and Thick format disks. From Thin to Thick: vmkfstools –i "Thindisk.vmdk" -d zeroedthick "T

There has been talk for awhile now that VMware planned to launch some new certification. Scott Vessy confirmed the name of certification and VMware will be announcing them in next few weeks. In order to become VCDX3, you have to pass two exams: 1. Enterprise Admin Exam 2. Design Exam We are expecting the new certification going to break them, we need to go all the way to gain VCDX by writing two difficult exams. But, How VMware going to address the VCDX4, Lets wait and watch. New Certification may look like this: 1. Enterprise Administrator Certification (final name may differ) 2. Design Administrator Certification (final name may differ) 3. VMware Design Expert Certification 4 (VCDX4) Lets wait for official confirmation VMware!

“Cloud Computing” is a new magical word and every IT people raves this one for quite some time. There is a debate and confusion as whether it is a “technology” or a “service model”. Unfortunately, many of my colleagues believe it is a Technology. Maybe, it is bonded with latest virtualization technology. But, it is a kind of service model, a new way to offering service for a customer. Cloud computing offers 3 kind of major services: 1. PaaS (Platform as a Service) 2. SaaS (Software as a Service) 3. IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) Also, there are other services such as “Storage as a Service” and “Desktop as a Service” But, I am going to talk about IaaS model in this post. IaaS is one very commonly required service model for any organizations for short-term development, Testing and educational purpose. In IaaS, users can manage their respective system. What exactly IaaS offer is, a Virtual Machine (VM). It could be self provisioned and manageable by the end user. A combination of an i