New VMWARE Installation; How Difficult is this?

[stevenriz]

We plan to set up a 2 or 3 node ESX system with VSphere and Virtual Center Foundation and some consulting seems to be fairly high. We are pretty technical and have expertise in all server OS's and most server hardware... Should there be anything we might not know, I assume we can call EMC for assistance or should I invest the money for an onsite setup?

 

[SimonDavies]

Insert the disk, boot from it, rinse and repeat for the other nodes.

Install (either virtually or physically) the VC box, manage the nodes.

Configure your shared storage, networking and away you go.

Simon

The real world is not about exam scores, it's about ability.

 

[itsp1965]

Since you guys have the background, I would suggest testing, breaking, re-building and doing a little bit of research along the way. Although not entirely difficult to implement you should take the time to test it if you are planning on putting it in production
Even if you have someone come in to implement it for you, at the end of the end day you are the guys who are supporting it.

 

[ArizonaGeek]

I've said it before, (mostly because I am a leader of our local group) check to see if you have a local VMWare User Group and hit those guys up. There is a wealth of information to you for free and they're local in case you do need some help.

Like Simon said it is pretty darn easy. Find a spare server laying around, install a 60 day trial and give it a whirl.

I am 100% virtualized in both dev and prod and I am hoping this year I will be 99% virtualized in my desktops. I have 5 physical in production, about 75 virtual servers, 2 physical in dev and about 35 virtual servers.

I have domain controllers, SQL, Exchange, Sybase, Linux, Win 2k, 2003 and 2008 servers, web servers, and I have no issues with any of them.

At our last VMUG meeting, we had some sponsors that did a presentation called "Doing it right the first time" I'll see if I can get a copy of it and post it to our VMUG page.

Cheers
Rob

The answer is always "PEBKAC!

 

[baddos]

Sorry to derail this thread ArizonaGeek but I'm interested in your desktop virtualization.

What are you using for your virtual desktops? VMWARE citrix microsoft? What about the clients thinclients or windows mini client?

 

[ArizonaGeek]

Baddos, I am doing VMWare View and at the moment I am testing a couple of thin clients, Wyse and 10Zig are the two I am looking at right now. I've only just begun my testing this week so I'm not at a point where I can give any good advice on it, other than it has been fairly easy to set up so far. Create another thread and see if anyone else has some advice on desktop virtualization.

Cheers
Rob

The answer is always "PEBKAC!

 

[theravager]

Sounds like you guys won't have any issues, i'd suggest sending a staff member on a esx course, they are very good and will give you everything you need to design and build your system.

The only bit that takes a bit of thought is storage if you are building for a DR type scenario.