Free Book: Understanding Microsoft Virtualization Solutions

Free Book: Understanding Microsoft Virtualization Solutions

Article: !!! Now is the time to take the Cloud seriously !!!

Very interesting article Now is the time to take the Cloud seriously

Conference: Session slides from KVM Forum 2010 in Boston

KVM Forum 2010 (Aug 9-10, 2010) – Presentation Slides

Interview: KVM now achieves 85% of bare-metal performance ?

KVM now achieves 85% of bare-metal performance

On popular Czech Linux sites ABC Linuxu was recently published interesting comparison KVM vs XEN:

Xen vs. KVM: Souboj v extrémních podmínkách 2010

Xen vs. KVM: Souboj v extrémních podmínkách

Interesting Article: The Future Of Server Virtualization

The Future Of Server Virtualization

Paper: The Impact of Virtualization on Network Performance of Amazon EC2

Interesting research of Virtualization impact to Networking.

The Impact of Virtualization on Network Performance of Amazon EC2 Data Center

Release: Open vSwitch reaches 1.0

Open vSwitch reaches 1.0

The Forthcoming Citrix/Xen/KVM Virtual Networking Stack…What Does This Mean to VMware/Cisco 1000v?

Open vSwitch: Extending Networking into the Virtualization Layer

OpenFlow

[ovs-discuss] Openswitch VM to VM traffic switching

Hmmm!!! IBM wants KVM to become a world class hypervisor ???

IBM wants KVM to become a world class hypervisor

KVM is getting more and more popular, I saw some recent interesting comparisons, like this one in Czech Language:

Xen vs. KVM: Souboj v extrémních podmínkách

Sun Logical Domains are now Oracle VM Server for SPARC

Introducing Oracle VM Server for SPARC

Release: Oracle VM VirtualBox 3.2

Oracle VM VirtualBox 3.2

With several NEW performance and power improvements.

According to IDC: Virtualization Market Accelerates Out of the Recession

Virtualization Market Accelerates Out of the Recession as Users Adopt “Virtualize First” Mentality

Upcoming Oracle Virtualbox 3.2.x will introduce private namespace in OVF

Upcoming Oracle Virtualbox 3.2.x will introduce private namespace in OVF, this will allow to save/restore Virtualbox specific information in OVF files. See more upcoming changes in:

Oracle VirtualBox VirtualBox 3.2.0 Beta 1 released

Oracle introduce Oracle Virtual Assembly Builder for Virtual Appliances

“Oracle Virtual Assembly Builder is a new product designed to help organizations quickly and easily deploy multi-tier enterprise applications in Virtualized Environments. It also enables administrators to quickly configure and provision these applications.”

This is sound very interesting, reconfiguration of Applications is main challenge in Virtual Appliances.

Oracle announce new Virtualization Solutions

RedHat will drop Xen in RHEL 6.0, what will be possible migration paths ?

RedHat will drop Xen in RHEL 6.0, what will be possible migration paths ?

Red Had drops Xen in RHEL 6.0 beta, Citrix recommends moving to Oracle Enterprise Linux ?

Tips&Tricks: Planning and Design Guide for Dynamic Data Centers

Microsoft release interesting White Paper about it’s Dynamic Data Centers initiative:

Whitepaper: Infrastructure Planning and Design Guide for Dynamic Data Centers

Mainstream HW for Cloud: Dell present Cloud oriented solutions

Dell present new server lines optimized for low-cost Cloud solutions:

Dell’s New Cloud Server line

New servers are part of Dell strategy Open Solutions For The Virtual Era

Similar 2U 4 dual socket boards systems are already shipped by SuperMicro one of the main Tear-1 OEM suppliers.

AMD Opteron 2000 – SuperMicro A+ Server 2021TM-BTRF
Intel Xeon 5500/5600 SuperServer 6026TT-BTRF

As Intel will make available new Energy Efficient Xeon 7500(6500) processors Nehalem line, we will see more solutions like these,
as Intel announced new line will have initially 11 members, from which 3x will have TPW 95W and 4x 105W.
100W is known limit for such 2U 4 dual socket boards solutions.

Head-to-Head Comparison – Parallels and VMware Virtualization on the Mac

Head-to-Head Comparison Between Parallels and VMware Virtualization on the Mac

After VMware, Oracle too invests in application performance management

After VMware, Oracle too invests in application performance management

WOW: Citrix XenServer is now really open source

Citrix XenServer is now open source

Update: Oracle VM 3.0 and VirtualBox roadmaps

Hi, VirtualBox now provide a VMware Workstation/ESX compatible device, looks compatible XEN mode will come too ?

Oracle VM 3.0 and VirtualBox roadmaps

Criticism: On the many limitations of (network) virtual appliances

Interesting summary of issues with Virtual Appliances:

On the many limitations of (network) virtual appliances

Downloads: Glassfish V3 Pet Catalog sample DEMO in VM Template

My colleagues will handle publishing downloads on public place for you, for now you can get images internaly at:
http://jsc-nfs.czech.sun.com/room/virtual/OSOL0906/vmtemplate-sample/GFv3sample/VMTemplates

For information about “What Virtualizations platforms are supported be images?” or
“How to start image in Virtualization platform ?” look into JeOS prototype download page

Part 12: Glassfish V3 Pet Catalog sample DEMO in VM Template – Clean and Convert

OpenSolaris 200906 JeOS Prototype was designed as PURE CLI enviroment providing main building stone for creation of Virtual Appliances or VM Templates

In this example I will DEMOnstrate creation of Evaluation type Virtual Appliance / VM Template which will leveradge OpenSolaris 200906 JeOS prototype and just in Dec/09 released Glassfish v3, Java EE 6 and Netbeans 6.8 with simple Java EE 6 demo. This entry is part of Virtual Appliances & OVF workshop.

New Glassfish V3 introduce an unique network repository based modular structure, so we can more easily create really simple initial DEMO setup which user can extend by installation more samples right from Glassfish V3 repository or from Netbeans GUI.

Step 6: Clean and Convert VM
   Step 6c: Generate VirtualBOX 3.x VDI IDE format
      Convert VMDK SCSI to VDI IDE format with VirtualBox
      Configure VirtualBox for VDI IDE
      Reconfigure HW with VA Live-CD in VirtualBox?for VDI IDE
   Step 6d: Generate Parallels format
      Open in Parallels JeOS image and recreate OS disk
      Restore from ZFS stream from VA Live-CD
      Add Freeware NI network driver
   Step 6e: Generate xVM/XEN compatible PARA and HVM RAW disk formats

Part 11: Glassfish V3 Pet Catalog sample DEMO in VM Template – Pack and Publish

OpenSolaris 200906 JeOS Prototype was designed as PURE CLI enviroment providing main building stone for creation of Virtual Appliances or VM Templates

In this example I will DEMOnstrate creation of Evaluation type Virtual Appliance / VM Template which will leveradge OpenSolaris 200906 JeOS prototype and just in Dec/09 released Glassfish v3, Java EE 6 and Netbeans 6.8 with simple Java EE 6 demo. This entry is part of Virtual Appliances & OVF workshop.

New Glassfish V3 introduce an unique network repository based modular structure, so we can more easily create really simple initial DEMO setup which user can extend by installation more samples right from Glassfish V3 repository or from Netbeans GUI.

Step 7: Pack and Publish Images
      Step 7a: Pack each Image with compression tool
      Step 7b: Generate a checksum for each archive
      Step 7d: Create a Download page with helper instructions

TechTip: Possible savings from SMP Aware Compression Utilities

Mapping possible Space and Time savings by using SMP aware (threaded) compression Utilities ?

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Content

1. Mapping possible Space and Time savings by using SMP aware (threaded) …
   1. Content
   2. Role of Archivers and Compression in our Testing
   3. Can we use power of SMP for Space and Time savings ?
      1. I use this summary archivers pages to find not SMP aware compressors for …
   4. Parallelized compressor implementations
   5. Well Known Compressor and Archiver implementations for comparison
   6. Speed and Size test results
      1. Test result from ltore (FLAR cpio based) backup / restore used for Solaris
      2. Test result from R2 (disk partitions based) backup / restore used for …
      3. Test result analysis
         1. Parallel compressions implementations
         2. PIPE and kernel clock optimizations in R2
      4. Contacts:

Part 10: Glassfish V3 Pet Catalog sample DEMO in VM Template – Clean and Convert

OpenSolaris 200906 JeOS Prototype was designed as PURE CLI enviroment providing main building stone for creation of Virtual Appliances or VM Templates

In this example I will DEMOnstrate creation of Evaluation type Virtual Appliance / VM Template which will leveradge OpenSolaris 200906 JeOS prototype and just in Dec/09 released Glassfish v3, Java EE 6 and Netbeans 6.8 with simple Java EE 6 demo. This entry is part of Virtual Appliances & OVF workshop.

New Glassfish V3 introduce an unique network repository based modular structure, so we can more easily create really simple initial DEMO setup which user can extend by installation more samples right from Glassfish V3 repository or from Netbeans GUI.

Step 6: Clean and Convert VM
      Step 6a: Clean & Pack VMware – our primary development platform
      Step 6b: Generate VirtualBOX 3.x OVF format

Part 9: Glassfish V3 Pet Catalog sample DEMO in VM Template – Finalize

OpenSolaris 200906 JeOS Prototype was designed as PURE CLI enviroment providing main building stone for creation of Virtual Appliances or VM Templates

In this example I will DEMOnstrate creation of Evaluation type Virtual Appliance / VM Template which will leveradge OpenSolaris 200906 JeOS prototype and just in Dec/09 released Glassfish v3, Java EE 6 and Netbeans 6.8 with simple Java EE 6 demo. This entry is part of Virtual Appliances & OVF workshop.

New Glassfish V3 introduce an unique network repository based modular structure, so we can more easily create really simple initial DEMO setup which user can extend by installation more samples right from Glassfish V3 repository or from Netbeans GUI.

Step 5: Finalize the template
      Step 5a: Finalize template outline

Part 8: Glassfish V3 Pet Catalog sample DEMO in VM Template – Cleaning

OpenSolaris 200906 JeOS Prototype was designed as PURE CLI enviroment providing main building stone for creation of Virtual Appliances or VM Templates

In this example I will DEMOnstrate creation of Evaluation type Virtual Appliance / VM Template which will leveradge OpenSolaris 200906 JeOS prototype and just in Dec/09 released Glassfish v3, Java EE 6 and Netbeans 6.8 with simple Java EE 6 demo. This entry is part of Virtual Appliances & OVF workshop.

New Glassfish V3 introduce an unique network repository based modular structure, so we can more easily create really simple initial DEMO setup which user can extend by installation more samples right from Glassfish V3 repository or from Netbeans GUI.

Step 4: Clean-up the template
      Step 4a: Motivations for Clean-up
      Step 4b: Clear layered app SW
      Step 4c: Clean OS and default user OSOL data
      Step 4d: Important: Time to make a backup now
      Step 4e: Shrink installed system disk with ZFS Streaming
            First I will optimize disk with local ZFS SEND/RECEIVE streaming
            Second I will optimize disk with NFS based ZFS SEND/RECEIVE streaming

Part 7: Glassfish V3 Pet Catalog sample DEMO in VM Template – Adding internals

OpenSolaris 200906 JeOS Prototype was designed as PURE CLI enviroment providing main building stone for creation of Virtual Appliances or VM Templates

In this example I will DEMOnstrate creation of Evaluation type Virtual Appliance / VM Template which will leveradge OpenSolaris 200906 JeOS prototype and just in Dec/09 released Glassfish v3, Java EE 6 and Netbeans 6.8 with simple Java EE 6 demo. This entry is part of Virtual Appliances & OVF workshop.

New Glassfish V3 introduce an unique network repository based modular structure, so we can more easily create really simple initial DEMO setup which user can extend by installation more samples right from Glassfish V3 repository or from Netbeans GUI.

Step 3: Add Template internals
   Step 3a: Add auto starting of layered components
   Step 3b: Adding welcome WEB page
   Step 3c: Licenses audit
  Final Used Space After all SW installation

OpenSolaris 200906 Virtualization Assistant Live-CD Proof of Concept

Create a OpenSolaris 200906 Helper Live-CD Proof of Concept with can help End Users and Developers to deliver faster VM Images/Templates/Appliances based on current mainline OpenSolaris 200906 release.
VA Live-CD will as PoC (Proof of Concept) demonstrate all known and needed steps of VM creation as modules or/and their recipes taking as a sample building process of OpenSolaris 200906 JeOS VM install and creation itself.

Content

1. OpenSolaris 200906 Virtualization Assistant Live-CD PoC
2. Project Motivations
3. Target Audience of OpenSolaris 200906 Virtualization Assistant Live-CD Prototype
4. Planned Functionality of OpenSolaris 200906 Virtualization Assistant Live-CD PoC
   1. Virtualization Assistant Live-CD PoC Deliverables: Media and Repository
      1. Virtualization Assistant Live-CD PoC Media Download
      2. Virtualization Assistant Live-CD PoC Mercurial repository
   2. VA Live-CD Functionality – Separation onto 2 sub-projects
   3. Content
   4. OpenSolaris 200806 Migration Assistant Live-CD
   5. OpenSolaris 200906 VA Live-CD Main Design Concepts
      1. AI Client in Live Media Based Rich Recovery Console
      2. Wrapping Functionality in “Modules”
      3. Modules are using Critical Check Points and Acummulated Return Values
      4. Overlays for delivering VA Live-CD, AI and Install framework Fast Fixes
      5. Include DC and all Build Recipe on Live-CD Media Itself
      6. Only Virtualization Platforms and x86 32bit support (and SPARC LDoms)
      7. Maximally Leverage OpenSolaris 200906 Distro Constructor
      8. Include Headless Mode with SERIAL port access (OS Kernel and Grub Menu)
      9. Include SSH key based authentication for better scripting
      10. Support for Alternate Install Scenarios: Fully Local Installation
      11. Support for Alternate Install Scenarios: ZFS Flash like install
      12. Setting up JeOS logins (not default OpenSolaris ones)
   6. Part 1: Building VA Live-CD Media with Distro Constructor
      1. VA Live-CD Media Distro Constructor Recipe
      2. VA Live-CD Media Distro Constructor Helper Files
      3. Customize VA Live-CD by Generating Clone from Live-CD
         1. Sample 1: Regeneration of VA Live-CD with Customizations (lofs)
         2. Sample 2: Generation of VA Live-CD from itself with added WiFi Intel …
      4. VA Live-CD media Costs and Sizes (Architectures Comparisons)
   7. Part 2: Virtual Assistant Live-CD Modules for VM Builders
      1. What are VA Live-CD modules and where they come from ?
      2. Module for testing main VA Live-CD functionality
         1. Selecting Best Strategy for Repeatable AI based JeOS Installations
      3. Module with common functionality
      4. Module for Local IPS Repository Recipe
      5. Module for Installing OpenSolaris 200906 JeOS
      6. Module for cleaning OS Runtime Data
      7. Module for HW arch change and HW Reconfiguration
      8. Module for securing installed OS instance
      9. Module shrinking disk with ZFS send/receive with 2 disks
      10. Module shrinking disk with ZFS send/receive with archive NFS
      11. Module for Virtual Hardware support
   8. VA Live-CD and JeOS Support for 10+ Most Popular Virtualization Platforms
      1. List of Know to Work Virtualization Platforms (x86 , x86-64)
      2. List of Know to Work Virtualization Platforms (SPARC SUN4V)
      3. HW Arch Check: xVM Hypervisor Para mode
      4. HW FAST FIX: VGIRUni network driver for Parallels
         1. Create local IPS repository on port 80
         2. Publish LOCALni into IPS repository
      5. HW FAST FIX: Update Dnet driver from B113
   9. Creating “instance” zpool for Live-CD custom data