Category: Data Center

Linked-Clone Virtual Machine Without VMware Horizon View 0

Desktop Virtualization / How To / Server Virtualization

Linked-Clone Virtual Machine Without VMware Horizon View

You may know, we have two types of VM, Full-Clone and Linked-Clone. Now, you have two questions, what are Full-Clone and Linked-Clone? Full-Clone: The Full Clone — A full clone is an independent copy of a virtual machine that shares nothing with the parent virtual machine after the cloning operation. Ongoing operation of a full clone is entirely separate from the parent virtual machine. Linked-Clone: The Linked Clone — A linked clone is a copy of a virtual machine that shares virtual disks with the parent virtual machine in an ongoing manner. This conserves disk space, and allows multiple virtual machines to use the same software installation. You can find more information on “VMware Documentation Center”. VMware offers VMware Horizon View Composer for creating and delivering linked-clone machines to your user but is it possible without View Composer? Answer is yes. You can create linked-clone VM without using VMware Horizon View on VMware ESXi or VMware Workstation. You can create a linked-clone VM on VMware Workstation easily by its GUI, you should follow the below steps: Step 1: Create new virtual machine, install OS, install VMware Tools and other applications. Step 2: Power off VM and create a snapshot from...

vSphere HA virtual machine monitoring action 0

How To / Server Virtualization

vSphere HA virtual machine monitoring action

When you enabled HA on a clster, some definition alarm will be activated. “vSphere HA virtual machine monitoring action” is one of them, this alarm has two triggers: vSphere HA enabled VM reset with screenshot. vSphere HA is resetting VM. These are useful alarms for troubleshooting and know, what was happened for a virtual machines during fail-over. Also you can find the screenshot on the VM’s folder as a PNG file. [quotes_and_tips]  

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How To / Server Hardware

Updating HP Server Firmware – vSphere

  If you want to update an specific firmware on your server, you can download firmware package from the product support page and do your installation via ESXi Tech Support Mode or ESXi shell via SSH. You need to download the package at the first step, so go to your product Technical Support / Manual page and choose your vSphere version as Operating System: Then download the firmware and upload it on your server’s disk for fast access. After uploading the firmware, you should follow the below instruction: Login as root. (You must be root in order to apply the ROM update.) Place the Smart Component in a temporary directory. Unzip the file CPXXXXXX.zip Ensure that CPXXXXXX.vmexe is executable by using the command: chmod +x CPXXXXXX.vmexe From the same directory, execute the Smart Component. For example: ./CPXXXXXX.vmexe Follow the directions given by the Smart Component. Logout You can also upload unzipped folder before doing the above instruction. There is some other ways to update server’s firmware: Offline: Place the HP Service Pack for ProLiant on a USB key using the HP USB Key Creator Utility. Place the desired firmware to be updated in the directory, /hp/swpackages on the USB key. Boot from...

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Desktop Virtualization

Windows XP/7 Optimization – Presentation

I want to introduce an old presentation that published by Teradici at 2010 but you don’t think that it has old information, you can see it and learn about Windows 7 optimization in VDI environment. Of curse, there is many optimization tools and documents such as VMware OS Optimization Tool but it’s useful yet. You can download it via this link: https://techsupport.teradici.com/ics/support/DLRedirect.asp?fileNum=143&deptID=15164 You need to create a Teradici account for download it.

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Server Virtualization

Virtual Machine CPU RDY Alarm – PowerCLI Script

As I know and I have read it in many blogs that DRS is not sensitive to CPU ready time and when your cluster has enough CPU frequency and memory, cluster is balanced. There is a simple solution to resolve the issue or reduce the issue in your environment. Of course, this is not true solution and you need to analyze your platform, calculate your requirements especially CPU cores for your VMs and add more physical cores to by adding more physical servers. Create Alarm At first step, you need to define an alarm in your vCenter for virtual machine CPU ready: Create a user-defined alarm and enter a name as you wish. In Triggers tab, select “VM CPU Ready Time (ms) and define waning and error values and condition length. Default values are fine for most platforms. Just that, click on OK and our job is done. If you have virtual machines with high CPU ready, it will be detected by vCenter and alarm will be generated. Note: Please copy your alarm name and paste it in the below script. Also you can change exception time, if you need to run it after working hours. The Script Further Reading...

PCoIP Configurations – Client Side 1

Desktop Virtualization

PCoIP Configurations – Client Side

I have made a registry file based on PCoIP recommendation for apply on all virtual desktops in our company 2 years ago. The settings covers image quality, bandwidth, analog sound channel and USB permission. You can apply the below configuration on your template ad there is no need to apply configuration on Zero Clients: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Teradici\PCoIP\pcoip_admin_defaults] “pcoip.transport_session_priority”=dword:00000001 “pcoip.server_clipboard_state”=dword:00000001 “pcoip.enable_build_to_lossless”=dword:00000000 “pcoip.max_link_rate”=dword:00015f90 “pcoip.mtu_size”=dword:00000514 “pcoip.device_bandwidth_floor”=dword:00002710 “pcoip.enable_audio”=dword:00000001 “pcoip.enable_micin_noise_filter”=dword:00000001 “pcoip.audio_bandwidth_limit”=dword:000001f4 “pcoip.usb_auth_table”=”23XXXXXX” “pcoip.usb_unauth_table”=”2208XXXX” “pcoip.minimum_image_quality”=dword:00000032 “pcoip.maximum_initial_image_quality”=dword:0000005a “pcoip.maximum_frame_rate”=dword:0000000f “pcoip.use_client_img_settings”=dword:00000001 “pcoip.image_cache_size_mb”=dword:0000012c You can change MTU size, sound bandwidth and bandwidth floor regarding to your network bandwidth. Our users are happy with the above configurations and I think, these settings are fine for any LAN environment. You can read VMware KB and VMware Network Optimization for more information and optimize your platform.   [quotes_and_tips]

VMXNET3 – Microsoft Hotfix 0

Desktop Virtualization

VMXNET3 – Microsoft Hotfix

Deploying Windows 2008 R2 and Windows 7 templates with vmxnet3 renames the NIC as #2 The above subject is VMware KB 1020078 and I think, you should apply this hotfixes on your templates when you have Windows 7 and Windows 2008. You can download the hotfixes from these links: For Windows 2008 R2 or Windows 7 versions prior to Service Pack 1, install the hotfix described in the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 2344941 before deploying the template. For Windows 2008 R2 or Windows 7 versions post Service Pack 1, install the hotfix described in the Microsoft Knowledge Base article2550978 before deploying the template Read the VMware KB for more information. [quotes_and_tips]

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How To / Server Hardware

False Caution or Critical Temperature On HP C-Class Enclosure

If you have C-Class enclosure in your environment and you have plan for upgrading OA firmware to 4.30 (or later) or you have installed OA module with 4.30 (or later) firmware, you need to configure delay time in “Device Power Sequence”. Seems, there is a problem during OA initializing process which OA shows incorrect “Caution” and/or “Critical” temperature. This is confirmed by HP officially and you can check this document for more information: c04655261 Anyway, you can configure the delay time via OA GUI same as the below:  

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Desktop Virtualization / How To

Java.net.SocketException: No buffer space available – VMware View Connection Server

I had a problem on some of our View Connection servers, the servers consumed high CPU and memory and View Connection Server service had crashed after some hours. As I checked on View debug logs (VMware View log files location), the issue was related to Java and a bug on Windows 2008 R2/R2 SP1: I found a published Hotfix about the issue on Microsoft support site: Kernel sockets leak on a multiprocessor computer that is running Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7 I suggest that install the hotfix on your current servers and new servers to preventing that on your server because if the server is a security server, your users’ connection will be disconnected.

Optimizing HP BIOS Settings For VMware vSphere 0

How To / Server Hardware / Server Virtualization

Optimizing HP BIOS Settings For VMware vSphere

Achieving best performance on ESXi by HP ProLiant servers needs to change some default configuration on HP RBSU (ROM-Based Setup Utility) or UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). Some of the configurations have been mentioned on “Performance Best Practices for. VMware vSphere” but some them not mentioned. You can change the below configuration to achieve best performance on ESXi: Setting Default Recommended Reason No-Execute Page Protection (AMD)System Options -> Processor Options -> No-Execute Page Protection   No-Execute Memory Protection (Intel) System Options -> Processor Options -> No-Execute Memory Protection   Enabled Enabled It’s recommended by HP and the features protects systems against malicious code and viruses. Intel Virtualization TechnologySystem Options -> Processor Options -> Intel Virtualization Technology   AMD V (AMD Virtualization) System Options -> Processor Options -> AMD V (AMD Virtualization) Enabled Enabled When enabled, a hypervisor supporting this feature can use extra hardware capabilities provided by AMD/Intel. Intel Hyperthreading OptionsSystem Options -> Processor Options -> Intel Hyperthreading Options Enabled Enabled Intel Hyperthreading Options is a toggle setting that allows Intel Hyperthreading Technology to be enabled or disabled. Intel Hyperthreading delivers two logical processors that can execute multiple tasks simultaneously using the shared hardware resources of a single processor core. Enhanced...

HP ASR – Automatic Server Recovery 0

Reviews / Server Hardware

HP ASR – Automatic Server Recovery

How much do you know about HP ASR? How it works? The ASR feature is a hardware-based timer. If a true hardware failure occurs, the Health Monitor might not be called, but the server will be reset as if the power switch were pressed. The ProLiant ROM code may log an event to the IML when the server reboots. ASR Timeout The ASR Timeout option sets a timeout limit for resetting a server that is not responding. When the server has not responded in the selected amount of time, the server automatically resets. The available time increments are: 10 minutes 15 minutes 20 minutes 30 minutes 5 minutes This ASR feature is implemented using a “heartbeat ” timer that continually counts down. The Health Monitor frequently reloads the counter to prevent it from counting down to zero. If the ASR counts down to zero, it is assumed that the operating system has locked up and the system will automatically attempt to reboot. Events which may contribute to the operating system locking up include: A peripheral device − such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect Specification (PCI) adapter − that generates numerous spurious interrupts when it fails. A high priority software application...

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Backup & Replication / Reviews

Veeam Backup & Replication – Bottleneck Analysis

Veeam BR informing you about backup job and backup infrastructure performance when job is finished and you will see a window same as the below: Load: Source 54% > Proxy 27% > Network 47% > Target 33% Primary bottleneck: Source What does it mean? No matter what job you are running, and how you have the product deployed, there are 4 main data processing stages that data passes in the specific order (think data processing conveyor). These are Source > Proxy > Network > Target, and each processing stage has a load monitoring counter associated with it. “Source” is the source (production) storage disk reader component. The percent busy number for this component indicates percent of time that the source disk reader spent reading the data from the storage. For example, 99% busy means that the disk reader spent all of the time reading the data, because the following stages are always ready to accept more data for processing. This means that the source data retrieval speed is the bottleneck for the whole data processing conveyor. As opposed to that, 1% busy means that the source disk reader only spent 1% of time actually reading the data (and required data blocks...

HP Integrated Lights-Out 3 (iLO 3) – ESXi VM’s Showing 100% CPU Usage While Host CPU is Low 0

How To / Server Hardware / Server Virtualization

HP Integrated Lights-Out 3 (iLO 3) – ESXi VM’s Showing 100% CPU Usage While Host CPU is Low

If you have read HP or VMware documents about power management on ProLiant servers, both have suggested that configure power management to Static High Performance. I did it on all my ESXi servers and everything was good. But I have performance problem on some of G7 servers, I have checked all factors but I couldn’t find any reason about it. Then I found an article from HP about power management in ESXi and iLO3 (G7 servers). Seems, Static High Performance is root cause of performance issue on the servers with iLO3. This is related to power capping problem on iLO3. Based on the article suggestion, you should configure power management to OS control on the servers to preventing high CPU ready on virtual machines. You can see the instruction on the below link: https://h20566.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?sp4ts.oid=5178763&docId=mmr_kc-0105395&docLocale=en_US

Veeam BR – Backup Mode I/O Consideration 2

Backup & Replication

Veeam BR – Backup Mode I/O Consideration

If you want to use Veeam BR as you backup and recovery software in your virtual environment, you have to consider the below I/O table about your backup mode and choose best backup mode according to your backup infrastructure and your company backup policies: Backup Mode I/O Cost Incremental Backup 1x I/O on target (write for each changed block) Reversed Incremental Backup 3x I/O on target (write + read + write for each changed block) Active Full Backup 1x I/O on target (write for each block) Synthetic Full Backup For Incremental Backup Mode 2x I/O on target (read + write for each block) Synthetic Full Backup For Incremental Backup Mode With Transform 4x I/O on target (read + write + read + write for each block) Reversed Incremental will reduce your storage cost but increase I/O cost.  

Veeam Backup & Replication – Tape Backup Compatibility 0

Backup & Replication

Veeam Backup & Replication – Tape Backup Compatibility

There is some consideration about Veeam Backup & Replication and native tape support and most important thing is: Veeam Backup & Repliction doesn’t support tape via ESXi Passthrough.  So if you want to deploy a backup solution with tape and backup your repositories on tape drives, you have to use a physical server as tape server. Plug your tape device via FC or SCSI or any other supported connection types to tape server. You can assign tape server role to any server or also assign to Veeam Backup & Replication server too. Hope this post help you to prevent facing with some strange issues and confusion. Read this KB: 1016407 for more information.