Let’s Get Virtual: A Look at Today’s Server Virtualization Architectures
This document provides in-depth information regarding the different server virtualization architectures and offers added detail to many of the topics discussed during my seminars.

Backup Scripts and Resources

Citrix XenServer

• Backing up a XenServer’s configuration from a XenCenter system
  • Script: xsbackup.bat (save as a .bat file)
• XenServer Cold Backup Script
  This script is run on the system where the XenCenter Management Console is installed (either a Linux or Windows system)

Microsoft Virtual Server/Hyper-V

• Backing up live virtual server 2005 VMs
  • Script: vsbackup.vbs
  • Article and explanation: Backing up Live Virtual Server VMs
• Using VSS to back up individual files inside running Virtual Server 2005 VMs
  • Script: vsfilebackup.vbs
  • Article and explanation: Backing up Live Virtual Server VM Files
    

VMware ESX Server

• VMware SAN System Design and Deployment Guide
  200+ page document that details advanced VMware storage configuration.

• VMware Virtual Machine Backup Guide
• Backup Scripts:
  • ESX 3 Perl Backup Script
    Uses snapshots to perform hot backups of one or more VMs on an ESX host.
    For information on running the script, please read the VMBK manual.
  • ESX 3 Backup Shell Script
    This shell script was modified by Steve Higgins and posted to the VMTN forums.
  • Virtual Server Backup Script
    This vbscript will suspend a VM, run a backup, and then resume the suspended VM.

Management

• domainvhdaudit, vhdaudit
  These scripts are used to audit virtual hard disk files on Windows computers. Both scripts will find vhd, vmdk, and all files larger than a pre-determined size. vhdaudit.vbs will find virtual hard disk files on a single computer, while domainvhdaudit.vbs find virtual hard disks on all computers in a domain. The use of both scripts is explained in my article “Inventorying Virtual Hard Disk Files on a Server or Domain.”
• Auditing Virtual MAC Addresses
  • VMware -Virtual MAC Tool
  • Windows – vsmacaudit.vbs
    Run this script on a Virtual Server system to enumerate the MAC addresses for all of its VMs.
• Resizing Virtual Hard Disks
  • VMware – vmware-vdiskmanager.exe sample
  • Windows – VHD Resizer
• XenServer Management Resources
  • XenServer 4.1 Admin Guide and xe command line reference
  • XenServer 4.1 SDK
  • XenServer PowerShell CmdLets
  • XenSource 3.2 Command Line PowerPoint Presentation/reference
• Using Active Directory to tracking and identify virtual resources
  • How to use Active Directory to identify and track virtual machines – Part I
  • How to use Active Directory to identify and track virtual machines – Part II
  • How to use Active Directory to identify and track virtual machines – Part III
• Netperf for Windows
  Netperf is a great tool for obtaining instantaneous network bandwidth between a client and server. Instructions on using Netperf can be found in my article Bottleneck Battle.

Migration and Cloning

• Collecting system information and performance auditing
  • collectinfo.bat
    This batch script will create a system information (.nfo) file on the C drive of any Windows host.
  • Windows Performance Monitoring Scripts
    These vbscripts are a good starting point for scripted Windows performance monitoring.
  • Linux Performance Monitoring Script
    Published in Linux Journal – a good starting point for Linux performance monitoring.
• prepvm.vbs
  This script removes hardware-specific device drivers in order to prepare a system to be cloned to a VM. Use of this script is documented the following articles:
  • How to convert VMware virtual disk images to Virtual Server
  • How to convert VMware virtual disk images to Virtual Server Part II
• Performance and Migration Analysis Tools
  • CiRBA
  • PlateSpin PowerRecon

Security

• ConfigureSoft Compliance Checker
  Free compliance checkers for ESX environments and for PCI DSS 1.2 compliance.
• Third Brigade VM Protection
  Free software that provides host-based security for up to 100 VMs.

Storage

• iSCSI Target Virtual Appliance
  Use this appliance to add a test iSCSI target server to your test LAN
• Comparing Storage Protocols in ESX
  Interesting performance comparison of FC, iSCSI, and NFS