51.
What is a VMware VCP & a VCDX?
The VCDX builds on the VCP. To become a VCDX, you must first be a VCP and then you are required to pass 2 more advanced tests and present a VMware Infrastructure Design plan to a certification board.
You can learn more about the VCP and VCDX certifications at the VMware Certification Portal.
52.
What is a virtual datastore?
53.
Why should I try virtualization on my desktop PC?
While virtualization is still a new concept to some admins, it has been adopted by so many more. In my opinion, understanding virtualization isn’t hard, it allows you so much flexibility and power, and you need less hardware. When it comes to desktop virtualization you could, for example, run a Windows Server with Exchange 2007 and Linux Server running Apache, all inside your laptop or desktop computer – amazing! Plus, there are free desktop virtualization products like Microsoft Virtual PC which are easily installed. So, if you haven’t tried virtualization, I encourage you to try it out today by downloading Microsoft Virtual PC or VMware Server.
54.
What is the Open Virtual Machine Format?
With OVF, you are able to download VMs directly from the Internet and immediately import & start that VM. Plus, there only needs to be a single file format stored on sites where VMs are downloaded.
55.
Can I virtualize all my servers or should some servers or applications not be
virtualized?
Virtualized servers can support just about any amount of CPU, RAM, Disk, and Network bandwidth that is required by an application. Additionally, virtualized servers can support special peripherals such as USB, Serial (COM), and Parallel (LPT) ports for special application needs.
Of greatest concern is the virtualization of high performance applications such as SQL and Exchange. However, I have even virtualized these applications without end users noticing. Typically, the only servers that I do not virtualize are DNS servers (which are usually Windows AD Servers) as a DNS server will be needed by the virtualized servers to function.
You can read VMware customer case studies and Microsoft customer case studies to learn more about what types of server virtualization successes they have experienced.
56.
What are the drawbacks to virtualization?
Likely, if you choose an enterprise virtualization product, you will need to spend money on virtualization software. It may also be necessary to purchase servers with more RAM (or upgrade existing unneeded
servers) to be virtualization host servers (however you will be able to get rid of many servers with less RAM once they are virtualized).
If you do not already have one, you will likely need an iSCSI or Fibre Channel (FC) storage area network (SAN) to support some of the enterprise virtualization features. Also, keep in mind that as servers are more consolidated, if a single server goes down, you could loose as many as 50 virtual guest servers. With the servers being so consolidated, “all your eggs are in one basket” (or a few baskets), as they say. Because of this, you will need to choose servers that are as redundant and reliable as possible as your virtualization hosts.
Still, all of this investment in time, hardware, and software will be worth it, in the end, as you will realize so many benefits
57.
How do I manage my virtualized servers?
With Microsoft Hyper-V, you would manage your server using the Hyper-V Manager MMC.
58.
How much do virtualization products cost?
VMware ESX Server – range in price from $500 to $6000 depending on the number of features and the level of service/support you choose
Microsoft Hyper-V - $999 for Windows Server 2008 Standard with Hyper-V Citrix/Xen Server - $780 for XensServer Standard
VMware Server - FREE Microsoft Virtual Server - FREE VMware Workstation - $189 Microsoft Virtual PC - FREE
59.
Will Microsoft overtake VMware as the market virtualization leader?
However, VMware has, in my opinion, at least a 2-3 year technological lead in the number of features that it offers and its general development. More importantly, VMware has developed a huge enterprise, and more recently, a strong SMB customer base. VMware has 10 years of virtualization experience, every Fortune 500 company uses its products, 92% of the Fortune 1000 use ESX, VMware as 11 virtualization patents, and over 100,000 customers worldwide.
On the other hand, as of this month, Microsoft just released their first enterprise virtualization product (Hyper-V) and that product is missing many of the features that it was originally advertised to have. While those features may come in the next version, even with those features, they will still be far behind VMware in the functionality of their Enterprise virtualization product and their customer base.
60.
How much money can my company save with Server consolidation using
virtualization?
VMware ROI/TCO Calculator
Microsoft Integrated Virtualization ROI Tool Intel Virtualization Calculator
With these calculators, you can help justify your server consolidation project. In the end, I know that you will be very satisfied with your savings, both in recurring costs and in administrative time savings.
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