Some more news on the VMware ESXi Server project. I have 5 Win2k SP4 1Gb RAM virtual machines running simultaneously on the Dell t3400 8Gb RAM, dual (non-raid) 250Gb SATA HDD ESXi Server. All 5 machines are running smoothly. The 4th one took a bit longer to boot than the first 3, and the 5th one did the same. But once they are all up and running I do not detect any significant performance issues. The performance monitoring tool indicates the load balancing is working nicely, at least for now <g>.
I will be setting up each machine's respective file backup some time late Tuesday morning, using the Dell Vostro PC that is running the viClient app that manages the ESXi Server(s) to handle the backups for all the virtual PCs via SyncBack pulling source data over the gigabit LAN. I have yet to do any SnapShots of the virtual machines, but that is something I need to tend to, and then I need to get said SnapShots backed up. There is apparently a way to script the startup, and shutdown, of each machine, as well as performing the SnapShots. That is an entirely new realm for me in the World Of VMware. And I am looking forward to getting into it! BTW, I am running Symantec Corporate AntiVirus v-10.0.0.1 on all the virtual PCs. I know M$ had once (maybe still does) suggested not using AntiVirus on VPC units due to performance degradation issues. Perhaps, but even running under VMware Workstation and VMware Server 2 I never felt SAV was causing any performance issues serious enough to warrant removing or disabling it. After I get the SnapShot and file backup processes in place and running I will clone a few of the virtual PCs and see if I can 7 virtual machines running simultaneously without any serious performance hit. I am pleased with 5 machines, and I am certain I live with 6. 7 may be a stretch, but even with "only" 5 machines running so nicely it is a damn sight nicer than seeing performance drop on VMware Server 2 after the 3rd machine, and I mean it was a huge performance drop. I dared not try to run a 5th machine on VMware Server 2, and in fact had to keep it to 3 machines to get decent performance. For VMware Workstation performance dropped noticeably after 2 machines, although I was able to get away with 3 machines on the Linux Workstation machine - 4 would have hurt things <g>. So, I am going to put a few dimes to one side so when my 60 day trial period ends with the viClient and tools needed to use ESXi well I will be able to kick out the bucks for the license. Unless something real bad happens in the next 7 weeks I am sold on this particular solution for my commercial project. Gil _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/[email protected] ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
