Tag: ESX

Aug252016August 25, 2016June 26, 20190Commentby Thomas Maurer
VMware Switch

Microsoft’s new VMware migration offer for Windows Server 2016

Posted in Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, System Center, Virtualization, Windows, Windows Server

Microsoft just announced a new VMware migration offer for Windows Server 2016. In a nutshell: If you switch from VMware to Hyper-V from during September 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017, you can get free Windows Server Datacenter licenses when buying Windows Server Datacenter + Software Assurance. That ultimately means customers only pay for Software Assurance.

Microsoft also released a new TCO calculator to compare VMware and Hyper-V, which you can find here: VMware Shift

There are also a lot of great technical reasons to switch from VMware to Hyper-V. Check out my blog post about What’s new in Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V to get an overview about new features.

To get started just follow these steps:

To be eligible for the VMware migration offer, customers must follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Engage your account executive or sales rep to begin the process.
  • Step 2: Identify virtualized workloads to migrate and specify the Windows Server Datacenter cores required.
  • Step 3: Provide your account executive proof of eligibility. (Offer applicable to customers migrating from VMware to Microsoft).
  • Step 4: Engage your partner to start the migration process.
  • Step 5: Receive free Windows Server Datacenter licenses with Software Assurance and pay only the cost of Software Assurance to kick start your migration.

Feel free to contact us to help you switch!


Apr102015April 10, 2015January 12, 20190Commentby Thomas Maurer
VMware ESXi 6.0 Enable SSH Service

Enable SSH on VMware ESXi 6.0 via vSphere Client

Posted in Virtualization

In another blog post I wrote how you can enable SSH on a VMware ESXi 6.0 host directly on the host it self. In this blog post I show you how you can enable SSH on your VMware ESXi 6.0 host via the VMware vSphere Client.

Open the VMware vSphere client and connected to your ESXi server and open the Configurations tab.

VMware ESXi 6.0 Configuration

On the Configurations tab choose Security Profile.

VMware ESXi 6.0 Security Profile

Open the Properties tab so you cen see the Security Profile properties and the Remote Access services. Here you can enable the SSH Server on the VMware ESXi host.

VMware ESXi 6.0 Enable SSH Service

If you have some issues check the firewall settings on your VMware ESXi host.

VMware ESXi 6.0 Firewall SSH Port

If you want to enable SSH on directly on your VMware ESXi host check out the following post: Enable SSH on VMware ESXi 6.0

If you are running Windows, you should also check out my blog post about how to install SSH on Windows 10 or SSH on Windows Server. I also blogged about how you can use SSH with PowerShell.


Apr092015April 9, 2015January 12, 20190Commentby Thomas Maurer
VMware Esxi 6.0 Enable SSH

Enable SSH on VMware ESXi 6.0

Posted in Virtualization

 

I already wrote some blog posts how you can enable SSH access for older VMware ESXi versions such as VMware ESXi 4.1, VMware ESXi 5.0, VMware ESXi 5.1 and VMware ESXi 5.5. This post now shows you how you can enable SSH on the VMware ESXi 6.0 host. As in the other versions this is pretty simple. By enabling SSH allows you to remote troubleshoot your VMware ESXi host and also coping files on your server.

On the Login screen of your VMware ESXi host press “F2”

VMware ESXi Logon Screen

It will ask you about username and password to login to the VMware ESXi server:

VMware ESXi 6.0 Login

After the login go to the Troubleshooting Options on the System Customization page.

VMware ESXi 6.0 Troubleshooting Options

You can now enable SSH on your VMware ESXi 6.0 host. After you have enabled SSH you can connect to the ESXi host via your favorite SSH client.

VMware Esxi 6.0 Enable SSH

If you want to enable SSH on your VMware ESXi host directly from the VMware vSphere Client you should have a look at the following post: Enable SSH on VMware ESXi 6.0 via VMware vSphere Client

If you are running Windows, you should also check out my blog post about how to install SSH on Windows 10 or SSH on Windows Server. I also blogged about how you can use SSH with PowerShell.


Jul142014July 14, 2014January 7, 20197Commentsby Thomas Maurer
Hyper-V Share

Hyper-V is eating VMware’s lunch

Posted in Hardware, Hosting, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, System Center, Virtualization, Windows Server

During the WPC 2014 Keynote Microsoft COO Kevin Turner showed the following slide and commented it:

Hyper-V is eating VMware’s lunch

 

Hyper-V has now 30,6% market share in x86 Server Virtualization which means Microsoft won 4.6% since the release of Windows Server 2012. VMware is now at 46.4% market share which means they lost 5.1% market share since the release of Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V.

And this because of good reasons, like great features and 4 times lower cost than VMware. So if you are still running VMware you should definitely have a look at Hyper-V now!


Jan112014January 11, 2014January 12, 20192Commentsby Thomas Maurer
VMware ESXi enable SSH

Enable SSH on VMware ESXi 5.5

Posted in Virtualization

I already wrote how you can enable SSH on a VMware ESXi 5.1, VMware ESXi 5.0 and VMware ESXi 4.1. This little guide shows you how you can enable on a VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5 box. As before for the other version it is pretty easy. This allows you to remote troubleshoot your VMware ESXi host and also coping files on your server.

On the start screen press F2 to “Customize System” and login with your administrator or root account.

Enable SSH on VMware ESXi 5.5

VMware ESXi 5-2014-01-11-17-29-50

After the login select Troubleshooting Options on the System Customization page.

VMware ESXi Troubleshooting options

Now you can enable SSH on your ESXi 5.5 server, and you can connect via your favorite SSH client.

VMware ESXi enable SSH

If you want to enable SSH on your VMware ESXi host directly from the vSphere client you should have a look at the following post: Enable SSH on VMware ESXi 5.5 via vSphere Client.

If you are running Windows, you should also check out my blog post about how to install SSH on Windows 10 or SSH on Windows Server. I also blogged about how you can use SSH with PowerShell.


Nov272013November 27, 2013November 27, 20132Commentsby Thomas Maurer
Hyper-V 2012 R2 Poster

TechNet Switzerland Event: From VMware to Hyper-V

Posted in Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, PowerShell, System Center, Virtualization, Windows Server

On Tuesday, December 03 I will present together with Markus Erlacher, former Microsoft Switzerland TSP and now Managing Director at itnetx gmbh, on a free Microsoft Switzerland TechNet event. The topic this time will be why and how you migrate from VMware to a Microsoft Hyper-V and System Center environment. The event will cover an overview about Windows Server 2012 R2 Hyper-V and System Center 2012 R2 and all the Virtualization features you need in your environment. At the afternoon session we will also cover how you can migrate from VMware to Hyper-V so you can quickly enjoy the new Private Cloud solutions from Microsoft.

The event is free and in will be in the Microsoft Conference Center in Wallisellen Zürich. To join that event register on the Microsoft Event Website. The event will be in German and will no be streamed to the web.

Agenda

Tuesday, December 03

08:30 – Coffee
09:00 – Session 1 – Hyper-V Overview (Virtual Machines, Hyper-V Manager, Virtual Switch, VHDX format)
10:30 – Coffee Break
10:45 – Session 2 – Hyper-V Advanced Features (Hyper-V Networking and Storage, Hyper-V over SMB, Network Virtualization)
12:00 – Lunch
13:00 – Session 3 – Management (VM and Fabric Management with System Center Virtual Machine Manager, PowerShell and more…)
14:30 – Coffee Break
14:45 – Session 4 – VMware Migration (Migration from VMware to Hyper-V, Tools, Best practices, automation, real world example)
16:15 – End

More Information and registration

More information and registration on the Microsoft Event Website.


Oct042013October 4, 2013January 7, 20192Commentsby Thomas Maurer
E2EVC Copenhagen

Speaking at E2EVC 2013 Rome

Posted in Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft MVP, PowerShell, Speaking, System Center, Virtualization, Windows, Windows Server

E2EVC Virtualization Conference is a non-commercial, virtualization community Event. The main goal is to bring the best virtualization experts together to exchange knowledge and to establish new connections. E2EVC is a weekend crammed with presentations, Master Classes and discussions delivered by both virtualisation vendors product teams and independent experts. This is not just a Microsoft only event, this event covers products from all the big vendors in the virtualization area such as Citrix, VMware and Microsoft.

This year I already had the chance to speak at the E2EVC (Experts 2 Experts Virtualization Conference) in Copenhagen, and this November (1.-3. November) I get the chance to speak at the E2EVC in Rome. If you are working in the virtualization space this is absolutely the right event for you. Here are some numbers:

  • Attendees and experts from around 18 countries
  • 18 Microsoft MVPs, 15 Citrix CTPs and 6 VMware vExperts.
  • 20th event in 10 years

Together with Michael Rueffli I will do a session around System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine Manager and Windows Azure Pack.

SCVMM 2012 R2 and Windows Azure Pack: The Cockpit for your private cloud

SCVMM 2012 R2 and Windows Azure Pack: The Cockpit for your private cloud – New Features and Capabilities to build Windows Azure like private / hybrid clouds 

So make sure you to checkout the E2EVC homepage and register for the event in Rome, Italy.

This will be my third E2EVC, as already mentioned I was speaking at the E2EVC Copenhagen this year and at the E2EVC in Hamburg last year.


Apr112013April 11, 2013April 11, 20133Commentsby Thomas Maurer

System Center 2012 SP1 – Virtual Machine Manager support for VMware vSphere ESX Hosts

Posted in Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, System Center, Virtualization, Windows Server

System Center Logo

As System Center 2012 SP1 was released, it officially supported VMware vSphere 4.1 and 5.1, there was no support for vSphere 5.0 in SCVMM 2012 SP1. Now since a lot of customer have requested this feature, Microsoft added VMware vSphere 5.0 to the supported list of vSphere versions. For those who didn’t know that, to manage VMware ESX Hosts you need a version of vCenter. Some months ago I made a blog post about how you can add your VMware infrastructure to Virtual Machine Manager.

Virtual Machine Manager now supports the following versions of VMware vSphere:

vCenter Server:

For System Center 2012 – Virtual Machine Manager:

  • VMware vCenter Server 4.1

For VMM in System Center 2012 SP1:

  • VMware vCenter Server 4.1
  • VMware vCenter Server 5.0
  • VMware vCenter Server 5.1

Virtual machine hosts and host clusters that run any of the following versions of VMware:

For System Center 2012 – Virtual Machine Manager:

  • ESXi 4.1
  • ESX 4.1
  • ESXi 3.5
  • ESX 3.5

For VMM in System Center 2012 SP1:

  • ESXi 5.0
  • ESXi 5.1
  • ESXi 4.1
  • ESX 4.1

Get more information here: System Requirements: VMware ESX Hosts and here: System Requirements for System Center 2012 SP1.

 


Oct152012October 15, 2012October 15, 20120Commentby Thomas Maurer

Convert VMware vSphere Virtual Machines to Microsoft Hyper-V

Posted in Microsoft, PowerShell, Virtualization, Windows Server

Convert to Hyper-V Virtual Machine

On October 1st Microsoft released their Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter Solution Accelerator which includes Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter Solution Accelerator and the Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter Plug-in for VMware vSphere Client. This solution accelerator kit enables to covert Virtual Machines from VMware vSphere to Microsoft Hyper-V. I also tested the release candidate of Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter Solution Accelerator in July.

Some more information about the Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter features:

  • Converts and deploys virtual machines from VMware hosts to Hyper-V hosts including Hyper-V on Windows Server 2012. As part of the machine conversion MVMC converts the virtual disks attached to the source virtual machine. It also migrates configuration such as memory, virtual processor and so on from the source virtual machine to the converted virtual machine deployed on Hyper-V. It adds virtual network interface cards (NICs) to the converted virtual machine on Hyper-V.
  • Converts VMware virtual disks to Hyper-V based virtual hard disks (VHDs).
  • Supports conversion of virtual machines from VMware vSphere 4.1 and 5.0 hosts to Hyper-V.
    • Note   MVMC also supports conversion of virtual machines from VMware vSphere 4.0 if the host is managed by vCenter 4.1 or vCenter 5.0. You have to connect to vCenter 4.1 or 5.0 through MVMC to convert virtual machines on vSphere 4.0.
  • Offers fully scriptable command-line interfaces for performing virtual machine and disk conversions that integrates well with data center automation workflows and Windows PowerShell scripts.
  • Has a wizard-driven GUI, making it simple to perform virtual machine conversion.
  • Uninstalls VMware tools prior to conversion to provide a clean way to migrate VMware-based virtual machines to Hyper-V.
  • Supports Windows Server guest operating system conversion, including Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003 SP2.
  • Enables conversion of Windows client versions including Windows 7.
  • Installs integration services on the converted virtual machine if the guest operating system is Windows Server 2003 SP2.

First you have to install the vSphere Client, the Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter Solution Accelerator and optional the Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter Plug-in for VMware vSphere Client. The Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter Plug-in for VMware vSphere Client allows you to convert a Virtual Machine directly from the VMware vSphere Client.

Here you can download the Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter Solution Accelerator.

To convert a Virtual Machine you have two options. First you can open the Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter. You can connect to your stand-alone ESX host or your vSphere vCenter server.

Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter Source

After you have connected to your vSphere environment, the Virtual Machine Converter will scan for Virtual Machines which can be converted, and you can select the VM you want to convert to Hyper-V.

Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter Source VMs

The second way is by using the Virtual Machine Converter Plug-in from VMware vSphere Client. You can right click on the Virtual Machine you want to convert and select Convert to Hyper-V virtual machine and this will launch the Virtual Machine Converter.

VMware vSphere Client Convert to Hyper-V virtual machine

In both cases you have to connect now to the guest in the virtual machine.

Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter Source Connect

Select a Workspace where the virtual machine disk will be converted.

Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter Workspace

Configure the destination Hyper-V host.

Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter Desination Hyper-V host

After that you will get a summary and you can start the conversion.

Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter summary

The Virtual Machine Converter does also offers fully scriptable command-line interfaces for performing virtual machine and disk conversions that integrates well with data center automation workflows and Windows PowerShell scripts.

for example:

MVMC.exe /SourceHost:esx01 /SourceHostUser:MVMCAdmin /SourceHostPwd:Passw0rd /GuestVM:test03.cloud.win /TargetHost:hyperv02.cloud.win /TargetVHDPath:\\hyperv02\D$\Test03

 


Oct092012October 9, 2012October 9, 20123Commentsby Thomas Maurer

Quick: Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V vs VMware vSphere 5.1

Posted in Microsoft, System Center, Virtualization, Windows Server

Windows Server 2012 Logo

Some months ago I wrote a lot of post about Hyper-V vs VMware vSphere. At this time I compared Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V Release Candidate with VMware vSphere 5.0. Since then a lot has changed Microsoft released the final version of Windows Server 2012 and VMware showed vSphere 5.1. I don’t have time to update every post I made but this should cover an overview about the numbers in both versions. This is mostly only about scale and a lot of customers will not hit any limit in both products, but still I think it is interesting to see how they compare.

There are a lot of other important arguments to use one or the other product, but I won’t cover this in this blog post. The data is from the Microsoft paper: Competitive_Advantages_of_Windows_Server_2012_Hyper-V_over_VMware_vSphere_5.1.pdf. In this PDF you can find more information about the advantages of Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V.

Scale

System Resource Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 VMware vSphere 5.1 Enterprise Plus
Host Logical Processors 320 160 160
Physical Memory 4 TB 32 GB 2 TB
Virtual CPUs per Host 2048 2048 2048
VM Virtual CPUs per VM 64 8 64
Memory per VM 1 TB 32 GB 1 TB
Maximum Virtual Disk 64 TB 2 TB 2 TB
Active VMs per Host 1024 512 512
Cluster Maximum Nodes 64 N/A 32
Maximum VMs 8000 N/A 3000

 

Storage

Capability Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 VMware vSphere 5.1 Enterprise Plus
Virtual Fiber Channel Yes Yes Yes
3rd Party Multipathing (MPIO) Yes No Yes (VAMP)
Native 4-KB Disk Support Yes No No
Maximum Virtual Disk Size 64TB VHDX 2TB VMDK 2TB VMDK
Maximum Pass Through Disk Size 265TB+ 64TB 64TB
Offloaded Data Transfer Yes No Yes (VAAI)
Storage Encryption Yes No No

 

Networking

Capability Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 VMware vSphere 5.1 Enterprise Plus
Extensible Switch Yes No Replaceable
Available Partner Extensions 4 No 2
PVLAN Support Yes No Yes
ARP/ND Spoofing Protection Yes No vCNS/Partner
DHCP Snooping Protection Yes No vCNS/Partner
Virtual Port ACLs Yes No vCNS/Partner
Trunk Mode to Virtual Machines Yes No No
Port Monitoring Yes Per Port Group Yes
Port Mirroring Yes Per Port Group Yes
Dynamic Virtual Machine Queue Yes NetQueue NetQueue
IPsec Task Offload Yes No No
SR-IOV Yes Yes (No Live Migration support) Yes (No Live Migration support)
Network Virtualization Yes No VXLAN
Quality of Service Yes No Yes
Data Center Bridging (DCB) Yes Yes Yes
Virtual Machine Live Migration Yes No Yes
1GigE Simultaneous Live Migrations Unlimited N/A 4
10GigE Simultaneous Live Migrations Unlimited N/A 8
Live Storage Migration Yes No Yes
Shared-Nothing Live Migration Yes No Yes

 

High Availability & Resiliency

Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 VMware vSphere 5.1 Enterprise Plus
Nodes per Cluster 64 N/A 32
VMs per Cluster 8000 N/A 3000
Max Size Guest Cluster (iSCSI) 64 Nodes 0 16
Max Size Guest Cluster (Fiber) 64 Nodes 5 5
Max Size Guest Cluster (File Based) 64 Nodes 0 0
Guest Clustering with Live Migration Support Yes N/A No
Guest Clustering with Dynamic Memory Support Yes No No
Incremental Backups Yes No Yes
VM Replication Yes No Yes
NIC Teaming Yes Yes Yes
Integrated High Availability Yes No Yes
Guest OS Application Monitoring Yes N/A No
Cluster-Aware Updating Yes N/A Yes
Failover Prioritization Yes N/A Yes
Affinity & Anti-Affinity Rules Yes N/A Yes
Free? Yes Yes No


  • About Thomas Maurer

    Thomas Maurer

    My name is Thomas Maurer. I am a Senior Program Manager & Chief Evangelist for Azure Hybrid at Microsoft. I am part of the Azure engineering team (Cloud + AI) and engage with the community and customers around the world. Opinions are my own.

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