I have been a loyal fellower of Operations Manager since it's first launch as it is a great tool to help me monitor all my critical systems and servers. These new features and functionality really excites me. You should also download and try it out.
Operations Manager 2007 R2 introduces key new and enhanced functionality, including:
Enhanced application performance and availability across heterogeneous platforms
Delivers monitoring across Windows, Linux and Unix servers-all through a single console
Extends end to end monitoring of distributed applications to any workload running on Windows, Unix and Linux platforms
Maximize availability of virtual workloads with integration with System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008
Improved management of applications in the data center
Delivers on the scale requirements of URL monitoring of your business
Meet agreed service levels with enhanced reporting showing application performance and availability
More efficient problem identification and action to resolve issues
Increased speed of access to information and functionality to drive management
Faster load times for views and resultsImproved and simplified management pack authoring experience
For those who are evaluating the Beta release, this Release Candidate offers a number of enhancements over the Operations Manager R2 Beta, including:
-New Power Management MP template (Monitored system must be Windows Server 2008 R2 or Win7)
-Updated branding across all User Interfaces-Improved trace configuration tools on the CD to help support issues escalated to Customer Support (where applicable)
-Improved Run As Account Distribution Configuration
-Ability to run inline tasks for non-Microsoft servers
-Support for upgrade from Beta deployments to the Release Candidate-New and updated documentation, including the Usage Guide, Design Guide, Deployment Guide, Upgrade Guide, Security Guide and Operations Guide
http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/9/4/d94797e2-1fbb-4af6-af8f-de57cee5b4a2/SC_OpsMgr2007_R2-WhatsNewOverview.pdf
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Live Migration in the coming Hyper-V R2
The new Hyper-V R2 will ship with Live migration (LM), the most requested Hyper-V feature.
What it can do is moves a Virtual Machine from one node of the Windows Server Failover Cluster (WSFC) to another node in the same cluster in a fashion that is transparent to the clients that are connected to it. This is done with no dropped network connections, no loss of service, no perceived user downtime.
Live Migration is supposed to only take the VM offline for less than 1 second, compared to the current Quick Migration which will take a few seconds.
Live migration is accomplished by replicating and synchronizing the contents of memory and processor(s) being used by the VM and then quickly switching access to the storage and network from the source node to the destination node. This switch is done quickly enough that the network sessions from client systems connecting to the VM are not lost and therefore has little to no impact on the service that the VM is providing.
I am eager to test it out!!!
What it can do is moves a Virtual Machine from one node of the Windows Server Failover Cluster (WSFC) to another node in the same cluster in a fashion that is transparent to the clients that are connected to it. This is done with no dropped network connections, no loss of service, no perceived user downtime.
Live Migration is supposed to only take the VM offline for less than 1 second, compared to the current Quick Migration which will take a few seconds.
Live migration is accomplished by replicating and synchronizing the contents of memory and processor(s) being used by the VM and then quickly switching access to the storage and network from the source node to the destination node. This switch is done quickly enough that the network sessions from client systems connecting to the VM are not lost and therefore has little to no impact on the service that the VM is providing.
I am eager to test it out!!!
Friday, January 9, 2009
High Alert: Microsoft News - Virus as deadly as Blaster found
We have received quite a number of reports of the Conficker worm making it’s rounds in Malaysia. This is not isolated to Malaysia, but is widespread throughout the world. It seems that almost all AV Vendors are having tough time dealing with it . Below is some information that will help to identify , fix and resolve the same – Note that detection & cleaning of the worm is taken into account with the latest Forefront signature.
Security Bulletin
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS08-067.mspx
Summary, Analysis, Prevention & Recovery
http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Entry.aspx?Name=Worm%3aWin32%2fConficker.B
Good News for ISA Customers- There are scripts available publically from http://www.isatools.org/tools.asp?Context=ISA2006, http://www.isatools.org/tools.asp?Context=ISA2004 à “block conficker.vbs <http://www.isatools.org/tools/block_conficker.vbs> ” which will block the worm at perimeter level itself.
Security Bulletin
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS08-067.mspx
Summary, Analysis, Prevention & Recovery
http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Entry.aspx?Name=Worm%3aWin32%2fConficker.B
Good News for ISA Customers- There are scripts available publically from http://www.isatools.org/tools.asp?Context=ISA2006, http://www.isatools.org/tools.asp?Context=ISA2004 à “block conficker.vbs <http://www.isatools.org/tools/block_conficker.vbs> ” which will block the worm at perimeter level itself.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Straits TImes - Digital Life, 12 Nov 2008
Hey hey...
I had an interview with Straits Times, Digital Life and the article was published on 12 Nov 2008.
Here is the link.
http://www.straitstimes.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=346a77c4ffb8d110VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=2105758920e39010VgnVCM1000000a35010aRCRD
I had an interview with Straits Times, Digital Life and the article was published on 12 Nov 2008.
Here is the link.
http://www.straitstimes.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=346a77c4ffb8d110VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=2105758920e39010VgnVCM1000000a35010aRCRD
Friday, November 7, 2008
Attend the SBS/EBS Launch Webcast
Learn More Essential Server Solutions
Visit the Windows Essential Server Solutions Virtual Pressroom
Visit the Virtual Launch Site
Microsoft EmployeeAttend the Launch Webcast
You are invited to attend the “Dream Server” launch webcast of Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008 – integrated server solutions designed and priced for small and midsize businesses. SBS 2008 and EBS 2008 are all-in-one cost saving solutions that help put enterprise-size business dreams in reach. For Microsoft, server solutions are an opportunity to increase CPE and attach key workloads including messaging with Exchange Server, management with System Center, security with Forefront, and many more! Steve Ballmer will kick off the event. Keynote speakers include Steve Guggenheimer, Michael Risse, and Steven VanRoekel.
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 20088-9 a.m. Pacific Standard TimeAt: www.thedreamserver.com
Visit the Windows Essential Server Solutions Virtual Pressroom
Visit the Virtual Launch Site
Microsoft EmployeeAttend the Launch Webcast
You are invited to attend the “Dream Server” launch webcast of Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008 – integrated server solutions designed and priced for small and midsize businesses. SBS 2008 and EBS 2008 are all-in-one cost saving solutions that help put enterprise-size business dreams in reach. For Microsoft, server solutions are an opportunity to increase CPE and attach key workloads including messaging with Exchange Server, management with System Center, security with Forefront, and many more! Steve Ballmer will kick off the event. Keynote speakers include Steve Guggenheimer, Michael Risse, and Steven VanRoekel.
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 20088-9 a.m. Pacific Standard TimeAt: www.thedreamserver.com
Friday, October 31, 2008
Online Backup of Hyper-V Virtual Machines - Part 2
These are the steps to do an online backup of your Hyper-V machines.
The process comprises of three parts.
1. Finding your "Microsoft Hyper-V VSS Writer" ID
2. Using DiskShadow to take a snapshot of the volume that your virtual machine resides
3. Copy the backup file to your destinated location
1. Finding your "Microsoft Hyper-V VSS Writer" ID
On your Windows 2008 Virtual Host, run command prompt in administrator mode.
Run the command vssadmin list writers. Take note of your "Writer Id".
Example:
C:\>vssadmin list writers
vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool
(C) Copyright 2001-2005 Microsoft Corp.
Writer name: 'Microsoft Hyper-V VSS Writer'
Writer Id: {66841cd4-6ded-4f4b-8f17-fd23f8ddc3de}
Writer Instance Id: {fcb279d5-6271-44fb-a3ca-eb75c42e0804}
State: [1] Stable
Last error: No error
2. Using DiskShadow to take a snapshot of the volume that your virtual machine resides
What I did is to pass parameters in a text file to DiskShadow command.
These are what the parameters are doing.
The 'Delete Shadows volume G:' parameter delete any existing shadow copies if any.
Then ensure shadow copies will persist and turn verbose on.
Next is to add the volume that you want to backup. The volume should contain the virtual machine that you want to backup.
With the Writer ID you get from Step 1, let's verify that Hyper-V VSS Writer is included.
Next, the command Create will start the snapshot.
When Backup completes, use the Expose command to 'map' the snapshot volume to X drive.
Example below:
# Use DiskShadow cmdlet with parameters specified in the text file.
diskshadow -s c:\vmbackup.txt
Contents of vmbackup.txt
# DiskShadow script file to backup VM from a Hyper-V host
# First, delete any shadow copies of the drives. System Drives needs to be included.
Delete Shadows volume C:
Delete Shadows volume G:
#Ensure that shadow copies will persist after DiskShadow has run
set context persistent
# make sure the path already exists
set verbose on
begin backup
add volume G: alias VirtualDisk
add volume C: alias SystemDrive
# verify the "Microsoft Hyper-V VSS Writer" writer will be included in the snapshotwriter verify {66841cd4-6ded-4f4b-8f17-fd23f8ddc3de}
create
end backup
# Backup is exposed as drive X: make sure your drive letter X is not in use
Expose %VirtualDisk% X:
Exit
3. Copy the backup file to your destinated location
The exposed X drive is just a snapshot drive of the volume. You need to copy the snapshot files to your backup destination to really have a backup copy of your virtual machines. Use robocopy command to copy the Virtual Machines files (.vmc, .vhd, and snapshot files) to your backup location.
Example:
robocopy x:\virtualmachines \\backupsvr\virtual-machines\hostserver /mir
Once you are sure that you have made copies of your virtual machine, remove the expose X drive.
unexpose X:
Done! Now you have completed a online backup of your Hyper-V virtual machines.
Next, I will show you how to log your backup process and send an email alert when the backup completes. Watch this space for Part 3.
The process comprises of three parts.
1. Finding your "Microsoft Hyper-V VSS Writer" ID
2. Using DiskShadow to take a snapshot of the volume that your virtual machine resides
3. Copy the backup file to your destinated location
1. Finding your "Microsoft Hyper-V VSS Writer" ID
On your Windows 2008 Virtual Host, run command prompt in administrator mode.
Run the command vssadmin list writers. Take note of your "Writer Id".
Example:
C:\>vssadmin list writers
vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool
(C) Copyright 2001-2005 Microsoft Corp.
Writer name: 'Microsoft Hyper-V VSS Writer'
Writer Id: {66841cd4-6ded-4f4b-8f17-fd23f8ddc3de}
Writer Instance Id: {fcb279d5-6271-44fb-a3ca-eb75c42e0804}
State: [1] Stable
Last error: No error
2. Using DiskShadow to take a snapshot of the volume that your virtual machine resides
What I did is to pass parameters in a text file to DiskShadow command.
These are what the parameters are doing.
The 'Delete Shadows volume G:' parameter delete any existing shadow copies if any.
Then ensure shadow copies will persist and turn verbose on.
Next is to add the volume that you want to backup. The volume should contain the virtual machine that you want to backup.
With the Writer ID you get from Step 1, let's verify that Hyper-V VSS Writer is included.
Next, the command Create will start the snapshot.
When Backup completes, use the Expose command to 'map' the snapshot volume to X drive.
Example below:
# Use DiskShadow cmdlet with parameters specified in the text file.
diskshadow -s c:\vmbackup.txt
Contents of vmbackup.txt
# DiskShadow script file to backup VM from a Hyper-V host
# First, delete any shadow copies of the drives. System Drives needs to be included.
Delete Shadows volume C:
Delete Shadows volume G:
#Ensure that shadow copies will persist after DiskShadow has run
set context persistent
# make sure the path already exists
set verbose on
begin backup
add volume G: alias VirtualDisk
add volume C: alias SystemDrive
# verify the "Microsoft Hyper-V VSS Writer" writer will be included in the snapshotwriter verify {66841cd4-6ded-4f4b-8f17-fd23f8ddc3de}
create
end backup
# Backup is exposed as drive X: make sure your drive letter X is not in use
Expose %VirtualDisk% X:
Exit
3. Copy the backup file to your destinated location
The exposed X drive is just a snapshot drive of the volume. You need to copy the snapshot files to your backup destination to really have a backup copy of your virtual machines. Use robocopy command to copy the Virtual Machines files (.vmc, .vhd, and snapshot files) to your backup location.
Example:
robocopy x:\virtualmachines \\backupsvr\virtual-machines\hostserver /mir
Once you are sure that you have made copies of your virtual machine, remove the expose X drive.
unexpose X:
Done! Now you have completed a online backup of your Hyper-V virtual machines.
Next, I will show you how to log your backup process and send an email alert when the backup completes. Watch this space for Part 3.
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