How To Convert VHD to VHDX with Hyper-V 3

Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 introduce a new virtual hard disk file format, VHDX, which is an upgrade from the current VHD format and provides for superior performance, reliability and several enhancements including:

• Support for virtual hard disks larger than 2TB and up to 64TB.
• Better performance of dynamic and difference files through new larger block sizes.
• Improved alignment of the virtual hard disk on large sector disks.

Posted by Elias Khnaser on 10/10/20121 comments

How To Enable VMware View 5.1 Accelerator

We have discussed the View Accelerator several times on this blog, but it has always been a discussion of how cool the feature was and never how to configure it. The reason for that discussion is that up until View 5.1 the View Accelerator was simply a function of the vSphere hypervisor known as VMware vSphere CBRC, or Content Based Read Caching. In View 5.1, we finally have integration into the hypervisor feature.

Let's quickly define View Accelerator. In short, View Accelerator is a host-side read I/O caching mechanism that can cache frequently accessed blocks and store them in RAM on the server side. This process significantly enhances the performance of VDI for read operations, things like operating system boot or reboot, anti-virus and more. If you're familiar with Citrix IntelliCache, View Acceleratot is very similar. To answer the question you are already thinking about, no, VMware CBRC does not work with XenDesktop or XenApp or Citrix Provisioning Services. It's a closed API, but hopefully, in the future VMware will recognize the benefits of opening this up.

Posted by Elias Khnaser on 10/01/20124 comments

How To Add VMware vCenter to Virtual Machine Manager 2012

It appears that you enjoy the articles I write on Microsoft Hyper-V and Virtual Machine Manager, as evidenced by the fact that these articles rank highly among the "Most Viewed Articles" listed on this site. While I am doing my best to balance between Hyper-V, vSphere and XenServer from a hypervisor perspective, I will continue to give you some Hyper-V articles before swinging back to vSphere and XenServer.

This time, let's look at how to add VMware vCenter to Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012. As you should know, SCVMM 2012 can manage more than just a Microsoft virtual infrastructure; yes, it can also manage VMware and Citrix. Here is how you add vCenter in order to manage it.

Posted by Elias Khnaser on 09/26/20120 comments

Highlighting Virtual Machine Manager 2012 SP1

Microsoft System Center 2012 is on the verge of getting its first service pack, traditionally a sign of maturity and stability in the software. In addition, SP1 introduces some new features. I want to examine some of the new ones being added to SP1 Virtual Machine Manager side of things. If we closely examine the Availability options, we will notice a few new additions:

Virtual Machine priority: This is a cool and welcome feature. For current VMware vSphere administrators, you'll notice it resembles the VM Restart Priority. In a nutshell, you are capable of assigning priorities on each VM -- Low, Medium or High. VMs with higher priority are guaranteed first access to resources and are also given restart priority. This is very helpful especially if a host in a cluster fails. The VMs are then powered on based on their importance and in the order you would want them to come up in. So, for instance, a domain controller should come up before a file server or a Web server, etc.

Posted by Elias Khnaser on 09/19/20123 comments

What is the Software Defined Datacenter?

VMworld 2012 was, for some, where they may have first heard the concept of the Software Defined Datacenter and just like that, my customers have started asking me about this great new concept.

Here's what is interesting: When I break down the concept for them, I explain to them that we have been discussing and building towards a SDD all along. You see, all VMware did was rename private cloud, a used and abused term, and replaced it with a fresher, sexier term that builds on the hype and momentum of the software defined network. I swear a light bulb turned on above someone's head at VMware marketing when someone said software defined datacenter.

Posted by Elias Khnaser on 09/17/20120 comments

SocialCast: Rise of the Virtual Machine!

Are you ready to friend your VM? It's possible that some time in the future when you try to remove vCPUs or memory or even disk space from a virtual machine, it might just unfriend you and have its VM friends unfriend you too. What a painful painful reconciliation that will be, when you'll have to spend a ton on a new host CPU, faster memory and a bouquet of red hot flash or SSD just to make amends with your VM.

It could happen, VMware gave a glimpse of what could be a future where virtual machines leverage social media to communicate among each other and with us humans. In other words, VMware's R&D intends on bringing Skynet to life.

Posted by Elias Khnaser on 09/10/20123 comments

VMworld 2012: Bowing in the Presence of Greatness!

There is nothing like VMworld. I, like so many others, walk the conference floors and halls like we own the place. There truly is no other IT community like the VMware community. VMworld 2012 was yet another successful conference. My only take was that I prefer Las Vegas over San Francisco, but, that will have to do. So, here are my thoughts coming back from the conference.

IT Operations: Key to Unlocking Your Private Cloud
The message was loud and clear that the next frontier would be a focus on modernizing and updating IT processes. VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger made an excellent point when he said that the infrastructure was modernized, but our internal processes and operations are still the same. His point was, we cannot update and modernize the infrastructure and keep the same old processes and approaches. I completely agree.

Posted by Elias Khnaser on 09/05/20127 comments

It's End-User Computing Day at VMworld

As far back as I can remember, VMworld has always been a fantastic conference to attend, filled with innovation, great sessions and an overall aura of energy and excitement. This year was no different, with the conference living up to its traditions with one caveat: The keynotes were not impressive, were lacking the traditional wow factor and just felt very dull this year. I thought maybe the first keynote was that way because it was basically outgoing-CEO Paul Maritz handing over the torch to incoming-CEO Pat Gelsinger. Then the next day, CTO Steve Herrod's keynote was also lacking. I most definitely did not walk away from either keynotes feeling that I need to further investigate the technologies they highlighted. That was disappointing.

Posted by Elias Khnaser on 08/29/20123 comments

VMworld Preview, Plus "Bye, Bye, Bye" To vRam Entitlements

If you are not yet in the VMworld 2012 spirit, boy do I have news for you to help get you warmed up. Do you hate vRam? Well, if you do, you'll be happy to hear that VMware is rumored to be killing that program. That announcement is supposed to happen at VMworld, but CRN's Kevin McLaughlin is playing spoiler and broke it as a news piece a few days ago. I can't personally confirm or deny that what Kevin wrote is true, but I do know that if VMware makes such an announcement, it will still be greeted with cheering. I fully expect tears of joy and applause to follow, with an emotional moment similar to what follows when a tyrant falls.

Posted by Elias Khnaser on 08/22/20123 comments

How To Give Windows Server 2012 Users a Traditional User Experience

Windows Server 2012 is here, and like many of you who have downloaded it and tested it, I have been messing around with the new operating system for a while now. I've been exploring new features and capabilities, some of which I like, and others I don't care for all that much. All in all, however, I think both Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 will be successful over time and I say that because the user experience will take some getting used to.

Posted by Elias Khnaser on 08/20/201216 comments

Teradici PCoIP Supports Windows Remote Desktop Session Host

Teradici intends on shipping its PCoIP technology for Windows Remote Desktop Session Host this December. When I first read the news I was pleasantly surprised but immediately had a hundred questions that went like this: "Well, how would that work?" I'll summarize here somewhat in this blog, but stay tuned because at VMworld I intend on having a deeper conversation with Teradici and will most certainly be reporting back.

PCoIP for RDSH is very simply just another protocol that connects to RDSH, nothing more. Citrix XenApp has the ICA/HDX protocol, and it also has an entire software stack that extends the feature capabilities of native RDSH. If we were to compare them from a feature set, capabilities, and maturity perspective, Citrix still is the best choice. But here is the best part: Teradici just dragged Citrix to come play on its turf. Here's what I mean:

Posted by Elias Khnaser on 08/13/20123 comments

How To: Use VMXNET3 with Citrix Provisioning Services 6.1

At Citrix Synergy this past May, I presented a session on best practices for using XenDesktop on vSphere. Later on, I also recorded a webinar on the topic. In one of my recommendations, I stress the importance of using the VMXNET3 adapter when using Provisioning Services server and target devices. As a matter of fact, I take that further by proclaiming that there should be no reason at all that your virtual machines are not running on the VMXNET3 adapter -- whether they are Citrix related or not, it should be the default.

Posted by Elias Khnaser on 08/08/20122 comments