Entries tagged with virtualization - TechNet Edge

SCE Vs. VMware: How Do They Compare?

Kimberly Bolton — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:43:00 GMT

Edwin Yuen discusses how Microsoft's newest virtualization products--namely System Center Essentials 2010 and Hyper-V--stack up against existing VMware offerings. He highlights how SCE and Hyper-V are great choices for the small-to-mid-sized company that wants a cost-effective, easy to deploy and manage yet full-featured virtual solution. The presentation ends with resource links for more information on obtaining Hyper-V (a free download) and SCE 2010 (currently in beta).

Thrive Live! Virtualization

Evren Toktas — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:04:00 GMT

Join Kevin Remde, Sr. IT Professional Evangelist and Shanen Boettcher, General Manager in the Server & Tools Division on the US team at Microsoft, as they discuss Hyper-V in Windows Server & System Center and how Microsoft Virtualization solutions can cost less and help you maximize the return on your virtualization investment. They will also address the features and benefits of Windows Server Virtualization and System Center including how they work together to allow complete integration.

Visit Microsoft Thrive site - www.microsoft.com/thrive

Creare un failover cluster per Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 R2

PierGiorgio Malusardi — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:35:00 GMT

Durante gli eventi di lancio di Windows Server 2008 R2 e Windows 7 che si sono tenuti a Milano (22 ottobre 2009) e Roma (27 ottobre 2009) è stato usato un cluster di host di virtualizzazione basati su Windows Server 2008 R2 e Hyper-V.
Manule Maina ha usato questo cluster durante la keynote per mostrare il funzionamento della Live Migration e io l'ho usato durante la mia sessione dedicata alle novità nella virtualizzazione per mostrare la configurazione di Cluster Shared Volume (CSV).
Qualcuno mi ha chiesto come è stata fatta tutta la configurazione, quali sono i passi, ecc...
Su questi argomenti ci sono decine di risorse, ma ho pesanto che un video, in italiano, che illustri tutti i passaggi dalla configurazione dei dischi alla Live Migration possa essere utile.

Ecco qui il video... buona visione e a presto.

Giorgio

Windows 7 XP Mode Explained

yung — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:22:00 GMT

Since the last month, while delivering Windows 7 Launch Events, I have realized how strong the interests on Windows XP Mode (XP Mode) is out there, how much IT Pro want to know more about it, and how many questions are being asked again and again. So I thought to put together something concise and you can get most of your questions answered in a short read.

Designed primarily with small businesses in mind, XP Mode for Windows 7 enables a user to install and run Windows XP applications directly from a Windows 7-based PC. With Windows Virtual PC (not the same with Virtual PC 2007,) XP Mode works in Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate, and provides a 32-bit Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (XPSP3) environment pre-loaded on a virtual hard disk. Notice running XP Mode requires turning on hardware virtualization with AMD-V™, Intel® VT, or VIA® VT processor, which may not be available in all PCs. For Enterprise customers, Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V,) part of Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) and available in Software Assurance, is a management solution for deploying Windows XP Mode and local virtualization solutions in an enterprise setting. While MED-V 1.0 SP1 to be available in the first quarter of 2010 with host support for Windows 7, notice that both MED-V 1.0, MED-V 1.0 SP1 will leverage Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 which does not required hardware assisted virtualization.

To enable XP Mode after installing Windows 7, a local administrator can click “Windows XP Mode” from “All Programs/Windows Virtual PC,” as shown, to access the online download page. Follow the instructions to install Windows Virtual PC and XP Mode. A virtual machine will be automatically initialized with Windows XP SP3. The user will be prompted and can choose to cache the built-in service’s account’s credentials to automatically start the Windows XP SP3 virtual machine.

XP Mode is an integrated environment with a number of productivity features including:

Folder integration to allow accessing the hosting Windows 7 disk drives within XP Mode
Seamless applications to access XP Mode application in the All Programs menu from the hosting Windows 7 machine
USB support for XP Mode
Clipboard sharing between a hosting Windows 7 machine and XP Mode
Printer redirection for XP Mode

The XPSP3 virtual machine running in XP Mode is by default networked with the hosting Windows 7 machine using Network Address Translation. This network and additional virtual machine settings of the XP Mode are customizable. After all, XP Mode is desktop virtualization and a virtual machine. Most settings applicable to a virtual machine are applicable to XP Mode as well. Also keep in mind when it comes to desktop management, XP Mode or a virtual machine should be managed like a physical machine. In other words, a virtual machine in production needs to be secured, patched, and monitored just like a physical machine since at a logical level a virtual machine can be targeted and attacked just like a physical machine.

With Windows 7, there's never been a better time to be a PC.

yung — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:01:00 GMT

This is it! We had waited and waited, and it's finally here. Windows 7 is now generally available. There are new technologies, new solutions, and a new dimension of capabilities for IT. With Windows 7, there's never been a better time to be a PC. There's never been a better time to be a Windows user. For all you IT Professionals out there, let me highlight the 3 key deliveries:

Making people productive anywhere
Managing risks through enhanced security and control
Reducing cost by streamlining PC management

and innovations introduced in Windows 7, and making pertinent information readily available for you here.

Making people productive anywhere

Making people productive is not that hard. In your office plugged into the company’s network with a laptop loaded with apps, you can be productive. Making people productive “anywhere”, on the other hand, is a very challenging effort for IT, while facing the massive amount of mobile devices, in an increasingly complex network computing environment. The growing number of people in the mobile workforce and branch offices are simultaneously demanding corporate resources to be seamlessly available, regardless of infrastructure requirements and organizational boundaries. Two Windows 7 solutions which facilitate remote access are BranchCache and DirectAccess.

Managing risks through enhanced security and control

Security is nothing we need to justify the need for in today’s network computing environment. It is critical, imperative, and all too often costly. From Windows Vista, Windows Vista SP1, to Windows 7, BitLocker has been expanded from a single drive, to multiple drives, and now to portable media. Windows 7 offers security enhancements enabling a user to secure data from unauthorized access very easily with BitLocker-to-Go, for example. In Windows 7 Explorer, highlight a portable drive, right-click to turn on BitLocker-to-Go. It is that readily available, easy to do, and readable with Windows XP. There is really no reason not to do it since there is so little to do, yet with so much control and so strong protection on data. As a memory stick is now available with 32 GB and more capacity, BitLocker-to-Go is one, very cost-effective way to protect data from unauthorized access. For a large company, BitLocker technology with group policies offers a software-based enterprise solution of hard disk encryption. You don’t need to look for a solution and end up with a second-class solution. It is in Microsoft Vista and it is greatly enhanced in Microsoft Windows 7.

In an enterprise environment, software restriction is one of the most difficult enforcements. It not only requires a mature infrastructure to provide software inventories, metering, and on-going monitoring, but it requires the skills to develop, test, and manage those software restriction policies. These are hard to find, take years to develop, and come at very high costs. Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 together present AppLocker as a vehicle with which a system administrator can provision a policy to deny/allow execution, installation, or usage of a target application. This is based on the application's digital signature, by deriving a publisher rule defined and enforced with a Group Policy Object, and without programming. A complex requirement, for instance, which allows task workers to access Office 2007 and later, but not PowerPoint when accessed by contractors, can be implemented with AppLocker in a few mouse clicks, without any scripting.

Reducing cost by streamlining PC management

Many thought that without a direct migration path, (i.e. in-place upgrade), from Windows XP to Windows 7, the deployment of Windows 7 must be tedious and tricky. In fact, Windows 7 offers a number of vehicles making the migration an intuitive and straightforward process. For consumers and small businesses, Easy Transfer makes migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 absolutely “easy” and, in my view, fun actually. Scanstate and Loadstate, two key utilities in USMT (User State Migration Tools) make the migration process very logical and easy to understand. Hard-Link Migration leaves and remaps data in place, and significantly reduces the time needed to place a large amount of user data in a typical PC refresh scenario.

In the past two years, with Microsoft’s introduction of virtualization strategies and solutions, there are many options in resolving compatibility issues at an application or OS level while reducing TCO and increasing flexibility in deploying and managing IT resources in the long run. Specific to Windows XP compatibility issues, Windows 7 Professional and above offer Windows XP Mode (via a free download) with a local virtualization of a Windows XP SP3 machine. So those applications developed specifically for Windows XP can now essentially run in a Windows 7 environment, with a few steps used to set up a virtualized Windows XP SP3 run-time environment to host those Windows XP-specific applications. Further, an application running in Widows XP Mode can be seamlessly integrated into the Start/All Programs menu of a host Windows 7 machine. Notice Windows XP Mode alone is designed for a relatively small deployment since there is basically no built-in system management function. For a large scale deployment, MED-V or Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization, one of the six offerings that come with MDOP, (or Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack available through Software Assurance program), is the solution to manage local desktop virtualization. It has the ability to provision a MED-V workspace policy to deploy XP Mode with standardized settings and a consistent user experience, etc. While MED-V 1.0 SP1 is to be available in the first quarter of 2010 with host support for Windows 7, notice that both MED-V 1.0, and MED-V 1.0 SP1 will leverage Microsoft Virtual PC 2007, which does not require hardware-assisted virtualization.

Concept of Desktop Virtualization

yung — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:21:00 GMT

The traditional desktop computing model, as shown in Fig. 1, has been one where the operating system, applications, and user data and settings are bonded to a single computer. We will buy a computer either with OS and some applications pre-installed, or apply a hard disk image with targeted OS and selected applications to the computer hardware. Once a computer is deployed, a user can then log in the system, customize the environment, run applications, change settings, create data and files. This model is straightforward and easy to understand. With respect to desktop deployment, this means that the OS, application execution/presentation and user data are all self-contained within a single device. This model has the advantage of simplicity because it leverages well understood technologies that ship with Windows. In addition, because a PC with this model is configured to be completely self-sufficient, this solution is well-suited to mobile use. However, the tight binding between the various layers may not be a preference for all scenarios. This model has its limitations.

The tight couplings between each layer provide efficiency; they also introduce dependencies, hence complexities. And these complexities make it difficult for users to move the applications, settings, and files from one PC to another in case of upgrades or a lost or stolen laptop. When exemplified by thousands of desktops and laptops, as many enterprises do, the management of these laptops and desktops becomes a major concern. As mobile work force and the number of branch offices continue to grow with the proliferation of Internet and the advancement of networking technology, the work environment and data access patterns of information workers have become dynamic and been rapidly evolving. The long term maintenance associated with computing resources based on the traditional computing model is becoming cost-prohibitive for many companies, while impairing the IT’s ability to quickly prepare for or respond to a business opportunity.

Desktop Virtualization is the process of separating, or more precisely isolating, out these individual components, and managing each one separately. Fig. 2 shows by isolating these components, we can now abstract and virtualize the computing resources. Each layer can then reference a resource in other layers based in the abstraction or virtualization boundary and without specifying the specifics of how a referenced resource is configured within its host layer. Over all this reduces complexity and improves PC and application management.

When it comes to virtualization, not all solutions are equal. Microsoft has developed a number of virtualization solutions to address specific issues as depicted in Fig. 3. There are times a virtualization solution may not be cost-effective while offering deployment flexibility. It is crucial to recognize that and architect a virtualization solution accordingly to produce maximal business benefits.

Webfarms and Virtualization with System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2

David Tesar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:01:00 GMT

Sven Knockaert and Roel Van Steenberghe are two system administrators and lecturers from Kaho Sint-Lieven, an IT university in Ghent, Belgium. Sven talks about their implementation of virtualization with hyper-V 2008 R2 and SCVMM in courses such as system administration and operating systems. Hundreds of students each have at least 4 virtual machines running on hyper-V. Students can manage their virtual environment with the self-service portal in SCVMM.
Roel discusses implementation and use of IIS7. He explains how the concept of webfarms with IIS7 helps students serve individual webspaces to hundreds of other students. The university now uses both technologies extensively. Students in the study program are interested in staying in contact, and investigating new applications for these technologies.

Windows 7 Deployment Saves Money

HeidiC — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Microsoft’s Blain Barton interviews PowerShell MVP and IT Pro, Max Trinidad, about his work in rolling out Windows 7. Using virtualization with Hyper-V, Max got his Windows 7 virtual machines running in just a few minutes, and his management praised the O/S’ stability.

Max cites savings in the fact that Windows 7 installs cleanly and runs on three year old hardware running XP. He reports strong productivity using PowerShell and the IT Pro Momentum program. The program provides documentation and support resources for pre-release products.

Hyper-V: delegare l’amministrazione delle macchine virtuali

PierGiorgio Malusardi — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:49:00 GMT

Una delle domande più frequenti che mi vengono fatte, ultimamente, è come fare a delegare l'amministrazione di una o più macchine virtuali, in esecuzione su un host Hyper-V (o solo di alcune operazioni), senza dare però accesso in amministrazione all'host stesso.

Usando System Center Virtual Machine Manager, l'operazione è banale ed eseguibile dalla console di amministrazione.

Usando i tool nativi di amministrazione di Hyper-V (Hyper-V Manager per esempio) la cosa è un po' più complessa.

Nel video qui a fianco trovate come fare.

Buona visione.

Giorgio

Microsoft VDI Part II - Virtual Desktop Configuration

Matt McSpirit — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:11:00 GMT

Microsoft VDI Part II: Virtual Desktop Configuration

Welcome to part 2 in a 3-part series focused on the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) capabilities in Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services!

In these videos, Partner Technology Specialist, Matt McSpirit, from Microsoft UK, walks through configuring Microsoft VDI, and in part 2, we walk through the Virtual Desktop Configuration!

You can view the rest of the series, and more, here!

Reducing Desktop Costs Part 3 Application Virtualization – Tech Focus September 2009

Alan Le Marquand — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:11:00 GMT

The question posed in the first part of this series was “Is the cost of ownership of your Microsoft client systems rising?" Are you looking for ways to reduce the costs associated with deploying Windows and managing it thereafter? “

There are two solutions available to help combat these costs. The first post covered deploying an actual client and the issues that need to be addressed there, the second post cover Desktop virtualization options:-

Remote Desktop Services.
MED-V

This final post looks at the application virtualization and the how this technology will change your view on how to install software onto your clients.

Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V), which is a core component of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance, transforms applications into centrally managed virtual services that are never installed and don’t conflict with other applications

In the webcast Optimize Windows 7 with Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, you will see how the technologies to assist in the virtualization of legacy applications work.

App-V basically works by “pulling” applications instead of the tradition paradigm of "software push" to install the entire applications. The first time end users request an application, the App-V client rapidly responds and "pulls" only the code necessary to start the program from a central Virtual Application Server—typically 20 to 40 percent of the total application. When the session terminates, the application and its user preferences are saved in a file-based cache location. Subsequent application launches are loaded from this local cache, resulting in faster launches with little impact on network bandwidth while ensuring that the user’s applications are also preserved, even in the case of unexpected computer shutdown.

The following two additional webcasts combined go into more details about the above description on how App-V works and how System Center can also assist with built in management of App-V.

How does App-V changes the game when it comes to software distribution? First there is the deployment model. Packages are created using a wizard, the packages are loaded onto a central server and the application is ready for use. Using this you also have much more granular control on who can install an application. Using the security model you simply add the application to the user profile or security group in Active Directory and that user is now authorized to install and run the application. Using this packaging process to get an application ready could reduce IT Department labor by 81%, plus the reduction in support calls for application deployment could be 89%.

The case for using App-V as the method of choice for deploying applications in an organization is compelling, the latest Cost Reduction Study covers the potential savings of this solution in greater depth, with some very interesting case studies.

So what have we covered in this series?

The first thing is that the range of options and tools available to provide users with the latest tools to do their job, whether that is Windows 7 on their PC or Office 2007 as their productivity suite, is wide and varied.
Centralized Management options offer the best form of cost saving, whether that be by providing a desktop through Remote Desktop Services or Applications via App-V.
Application Virtualization (App-V) is going to change the way you think about and deploy applications to users.

Deploying the latest desktops to users and cost savings are not mutually exclusive. However, cost savings are not achieved with the click of button. The best solutions are a combination of technologies well planned. For example, Windows 7 on the desktop with applications delivered by App-V, these are the two most effective technologies, but you do have to plan your implementation. When you do the research and planning up front you can easily prove the cost effectiveness of IT Solutions.

For more about this topic please visit my blog

Microsoft VDI Part III: Client Side Experiences

Matt McSpirit — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:12:00 GMT

Microsoft VDI Part III: Client Side Experiences

Welcome to part 3 in a 3-part series focused on the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) capabilities in Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services!

In these videos, Partner Technology Specialist, Matt McSpirit, from Microsoft UK, walks through configuring Microsoft VDI, and in part 3, we wrap up by taking a look at the Client Side Experiences!

You can view the rest of the series, and more, here!

Microsoft VDI Part I - Server Side Configuration

Matt McSpirit — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:01:00 GMT

Microsoft VDI Part I: Server Side Configuration

Welcome to part 1 in a 3-part series focused on the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) capabilities in Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services!

In these videos, Partner Technology Specialist, Matt McSpirit, from Microsoft UK, walks through configuring Microsoft VDI, starting, in part 1, with the Server Side Configuration!

You can view the rest of the series, and more, here!

Toward User-Centric Client Computing: Citrix Integration with Configuration Manager

Dave Morehouse — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:46:00 GMT

In this episode of their ongoing discourse on System Center, virtualization, and other topics in IT systems management, Jeff and Brad talk about a recent announcement from Citrix regarding their efforts with Microsoft to simplify desktop computing through a closer partnership in developing and integrating desktop virtualization technologies. Citrix's XenApp, as Brad and Jeff discuss, with its integration into System Center Configuration Manager, represents a significant step toward the vision of user-centric client computing.

Additional resources:

Virtualization at TechEd Australia

Adam Bomb — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:01:00 GMT

Events like TechEd Australia are often an opportunity to showcase technology from Microsoft and our partners. One of the ways we did this at TechEd Australia was to set up a large demo platform that all the speakers could host their demos in using virtual machines.
I spent some time with Andrew Lee of HP and Jorke Odolphi of Microsoft to show me the hardware and the configuration that made up the infrastructure.
Some of the cleanest rack wiring I've ever seen. Seriously. Nice work guys!

Wrap-up on VMworld 2009 with Vijay Tewari

David Tesar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:38:00 GMT

Vijay talks about all of the great questions he had throughout the week on twitter. Be sure to continue to follow Microsoft Experts on Twitter and ask them any questions you have about our Virtualization solutions.

Wrap-up on VMworld 2009 with Allen Stewart

David Tesar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:32:00 GMT

Allen Stewart, PM in the Windows Server Division, wraps-up VMworld 2009. Continue to Follow Allen Stewart through Twitter and on blog postings. This is the start of a great community which won’t end with VMworld closing! We will continue to answer all of your virtualization questions.

Wrap-up on VMworld 2009 with Kenon Owens

David Tesar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:32:00 GMT

Watch this wrap-up on VMworld 2009 with Microsoft Virtualization Technical Product Manager, Kenon Owens. Continue to follow Kenon on Twitter and read blog postings to stay up-to-date on all the latest happenings with Microsoft Virtualization.

Microsoft Vista Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Licensing and Windows Virtual Enterprise Centralized Desktops (VECD)

yung — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:31:00 GMT

In TechNet Game-On Tour currently being delivered in the US east coast, I talked about Remote Desktop Services (RDS) and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and got very overwhelming response. It’s indeed an exciting feeling when witnessing desktop virtualization works in a predictable way and behaves as designed. In my conversations with the attendees, one of the frequently asked questions has been the licensing of VDI and I thought to point out some pertinent information here.

The basic Windows Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) license with traditional desktops is not designed for use in VDI, since it is bound to the OEM hardware device, with no reassignment rights.

Software Assurance (SA) provides organizations with additional values including the ability to reassign a license after 90 days, upgrading or downgrading to latest versions of the OS, and accessing to desktop virtualization technology in the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP). Still it does not provide the ability to create desktops dynamically or move desktops across different hardware and storage platforms, etc., i.e. a level of flexibility that a VDI solution needs.

Windows Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktops (VECD) is a new type of license designed to help customers license virtual copies of Windows. It is a device-based subscription, which means the total number of licenses is equal to the total number of devices that access the virtual environment. VECD is an annual subscription, following the SA model. Additional information on Licensing Microsoft Windows for virtual environments is available. Or simply download the VDI Licensing brochure.

VECD:

Allows customers to make as many copies of the OS image as they like, which is helpful when creating dynamic desktops.
Allows customers to move the image onto any combination of servers and storage devices.
Comes bundled with work at home rights.
Comes bundled with Software Assurance benefits.

Day 3 at VMworld 2009 with Isaac Roybal

David Tesar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:43:00 GMT

Microsoft virtualization and cloud expert, Isaac, talks about his at VMworld 2009 in San Francisco. He talks with partners and finds some customers for the Microsoft Dynamic Datacenter Alliance initiative, becomes disappointed with VMware’s lack of thought leadership in the cloud space, and winds down the day talking with customers in the booth on how much $$$$ they can save with Microsoft.

Microsoft Expert, Ben Armstrong, on Day 3 at VMworld

David Tesar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:43:00 GMT

Ben attends the session: Integrating VMware view in your environment – and learns that they are looking to integrate System Center Operations Manager to manage and oversee the environment, something Microsoft already does. Through Twitter, Ben was able to exchange real-time comments with VMworld 2009 attendees about sessions.

Day 2 at VMworld: Recap of the keynote

David Tesar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:41:00 GMT

Listen to Microsoft experts, Allen Stewart and Edwin Yuen, discuss Tuesday’s keynote where VMware described their management vision. It’s no longer about the VM – it is about the applications! Read more on how Microsoft Virtualization is the best choice for Microsoft Server Applications.

Interview with Microsoft Virtualization Customer, Crutchfield

David Tesar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:59:00 GMT

Microsoft Customer, Crutchfield, are at VMworld this week and happy to discuss their positive experience with VMworld attendees. Learn how Crutchfield has implemented Microsoft Virtualization by reading the case study. They are just as disappointed that we cannot demonstrate Microsoft Virtualization solutions at the show, but that is not going to stop them from talking about how they saved $245k in hardware.

Saving Money with Virtualization – Tech Focus August 2009

Alan Le Marquand — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 07:01:00 GMT

Do you find yourself looking at your machine room and wondering “Why are there so many machines in there?” Often it’s just a question of having to run legacy applications or applications that are just too time consuming and expensive to consolidate onto other machines. One possible solution to this is the use of Virtualization.

Virtualization is the hot topic at the moment, everyone is talking about it, but what virtualization technology should you use and when? Microsoft has some helpful information to enable you to make informed decisions about this technology.

In the Virtualization in a Nutshell webcast and the IPD guide for Selecting the Right Virtualization Technology, we will explain each virtualization solution that Microsoft offers, from our server virtualization, presentation virtualization, storage virtualization through to our application virtualization solution, we will explain what they are and when to use them. In the Data centre by using Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper V, the IT Department can reduce the total number of physical servers running both Windows and Linux operating systems. Once the decision is made to virtualize servers what next? The one thing you can’t just do is virtualize it all at will, Selecting the Right Candidates for Virtualization will help you decide on what servers and workloads can be virtualized by using the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) tool. Having used MAP you are now at the point where you can start to make decisions on what to virtualize. The first step is to pilot the process on not critical servers, Virtualizing Test and Development Environments for a Quick Return on Investment takes you through virtualizing servers that are easy candidates and can provide a quick result in terms of server reduction and improved service. With the knowledge and experience of how to virtualize servers we are at a stage where we can start to expand out and virtualization more servers and make virtualization a service provided by IT. Consolidation and Rapid Provisioning looks at how to use System Center Virtual Machine Manager to achieve this final objective.

Hyper-V Server 2008 R2: Bare Metal to Live Migration (In about an hour!)

Matt McSpirit — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 07:54:00 GMT

In this one-off video, Matt McSpirit, Partner Technology Specialist at Microsoft UK, walks through a bare-metal installation of Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 (RC) on 2 physical nodes, hooks them up to an iSCSI SAN, configures the SAN storage, and then, from a Windows 7 (RC) laptop, validates, and builds a Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 (RC) Cluster. The end result? A Highly Available, Live Migratable, Virtual Machine!

All in about an hour!! View the rest of Matt's videos, here.