Shared RDM LUN between non-clustered vmware virtual machines

Requirement:

Have 2 VMs based on OS Oracle Enterprise Linux that will host oracle 10g database. The requirement is to share multiple LUNs between these two nodes (VMs).

I implemented 'sharing RDM Luns' by following the below procedure.

1. Create the required LUNs on SAN and present it to the ESX hosting the VM1.
2. ESX --> configuration --> Storage Adapters --> Scan for newly presented LUNs.
3. VM1 -->
       Edit Settings -->
         Add Hard Disk -->
            Raw Device Mappings -->
              Select and configure a LUNx -->
                Select a Datastore (Store with the VM1, for ease access later) -->
                  Select Compatibility Made (Physical or Virtual, Anything is fine) -->
                    (Imp) Advanced Options --> Virtual Device Node should be different controller than what is used by the base OS Disk (usually OS disk uses 0:0). So, select 1:0 from the drop down

                     Finish --> You will see a new SCSI Controller added on the Edit Settings window just above the new Mapped RDM LUN.

(Imp) Select the new SCSI Controller, on the right pane you will see SCSI Bus Sharing, Change it to Virtual (if the VMs sharing the RDMs will be on same host). Choose Physical (if the VMs are/will be hosted on different hosts).
Click OK on the Edit Settings screen.

To add the same LUN to VM2:
VM2 -->
       Edit Settings -->
         Add Hard Disk -->
            Existing Disk -->
              Browse the Datastore (or the VM folder within) and select the RDM (vmdk file) which was added to VM1.
                    (Imp) Advanced Options --> Virtual Device Node should be different controller than what is used by the base OS Disk (usually OS disk uses 0:0). So, select 1:0 from the drop down

                     Finish --> You will see a new SCSI Controller added on the Edit Settings window just above the new Mapped RDM LUN.

(Imp) Select the new SCSI Controller, on the right pane you will see SCSI Bus Sharing, Change it to Virtual (if the VMs sharing the RDMs will be on same host). Choose Physical (if the VMs are/will be hosted on different hosts).
Click OK on the Edit Settings screen.

Login to VM1 --> Make the disks online and create required partition.
Login to VM2 --> The same shared disks need to be detected and brought online.

Now you can use these shared disks between the 2 VMs.

In case if you want to share multiple RDM LUNs, then choose the Virtual Device Node as 1:1 1:2 1:3 so on.

Thanks for reading the post!

RHEV 3.1 (Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization)

Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization (RHEV) is Red Hat Inc.'s server virtualization platform.
RHEV Manager, also called the RHEV-M management console, provides a Web Interface for managing virtual machines (VMs) running on physical nodes. The nodes themselves can be configured with the RHEV-H hypervisor or as Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) servers with a virtualization entitlement. In an effort by Red Hat to be 100% open source, RHEV management is browser-based and can be accessed from any platform. RHEV does not mandate any specific storage requirements, but it contains a central storage repository. The underlying kernel-based virtual machine (KVM) hypervisor is integrated into the Linux kernel, which allows for cost savings as well as security and performance improvements over other platforms.
The latest version of the platform, RHEV 3.1, includes live migration, intelligent power management and support for up to 2 TB of RAM per VM.
 A new management interface and snapshot updates

Important storage improvements in RHEV 3.1

RHEV 3.1 also boasts some significant storage features. First, the inclusion of more storage types, such as direct LUN access and Red Hat Storage (Gluster file system) means storage is more flexible. In RHEV 3.1, you can also perform storage migration, which adds a new layer of flexibility. A VM configured in one storage domain cannot be connected to another storage domain.
Support for storage migration facilitates live migration of a VM from one storage domain to another storage domain. This means administrators who want to migrate VMs to a new SAN don't need to wait hours until the VM disk file (VMDK) is copied over to the other site. And because RHEV 3.1 supports live migration, there is no delay in this process.
Quota support, which allows you to put quotas on the use of RAM, storage and CPU a VM can consume, will be a boon to data centers. Because RHEV is built on top of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, it can take advantage of new features in the Linux kernel, including cgroup, which is the underlying technology in quota support.

What is Zerto? - BC/DR Solution

Zerto provides enterprise-class business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) solutions for virtualized infrastructure and cloud. Zerto won Best of Show at VMworld 2011, as well as 2011 Product of the Year Gold Award because our software, Zerto Virtual Replication, is the industry’s first hypervisor-based replication solution for tier-one applications. Zerto Disaster Recovery solutions replace traditional array-based BCDR that was not built to deal with virtual environments.

More details at http://www.zerto.com/

(Solved) SQL Server 2008 R2 Uninstallation:No feature were installed during the setup execution

I had to clean uninstall SQL Server 2008 R2 before I could plan fresh installation of SQL Server 2012. 
I tried uninstalling SQL Server 2008 R2 from Control Panel --> Add/Remove Programs. However, I was getting the below error.

 

Also tried removing the individual SQL Components through the below command, as per the article http://sqlblog.com/blogs/aaron_bertrand/archive/2010/10/25/fun-with-software-uninstalling-sql-server-2008-r2-evaluation-edition.aspx

rem DisplayName
msiexec /x "GUID"
However, it did not help.

Solution worked for me was:
1. Re-run the SQL Installation Media, add few more features to the SQL Installation on the machine.
2. Now, from the Add/Remove Programs, uninstall SQL Server 2008 R2 Setup --> Select the installed instances/default instance and remove.
3. If you see any shared features installed that also need to be removed (possibly before step 2 above), for proper SQL Server Uninstallation.
4. Refresh the Add/Programs, now the SQL Server Setup should not be listed in there.

Thank You!

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is a type of computing that relies on sharing computing resources rather than having local servers or personal devices to handle applications.
In cloud computing, the word cloud (also phrased as "the cloud") is used as a metaphor for "the Internet," so the phrase cloud computing means "a type of Internet-based computing," where different services -- such as servers, storage and applications -- are delivered to an organization's computers and devices through the Internet.
 
Cloud Computing have gained a lot of interest recently. In simple English cloud computing is a concept that aims to enable end-users to easily create and use software without a need to worry about the technical implementations, software’s physical hosting location, hardware specifications, efficiency of data processing, and so forth. This paper is a little effort to understand the business opportunity Cloud Computing offers & also to explore the current scenario.

Cloud Computing Service Offerings

Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) displaces in-house servers, storage and networks by providing those resources on-demand.

Platform as a service (PaaS) adds a layer to the infrastructure, providing a platform upon which applications can be written and deployed.

Software as a service (SaaS) refers to applications running on cloud infrastructures, typically delivered to the end user via a web browser.
 
 
Characteristics of Cloud Computing
On-demand access. Cloud computing offers rapid fulfillment of demand for computing and has the continuing ability to fulfill that demand as required.
Elasticity. Computing is provided in the amount required and disposed of when no longer needed.
Pay per use. Much like a utility, cloud resource charges are based on the quantity used.
Connectivity. All of the servers are connected to a high-speed network that allows data to flow to the Internet, as well as between computing and storage elements.
Resource pooling. The cloud provider’s infrastructure is shared across some number of end customers, providing economies of scale at the computing and services layers.
Abstracted infrastructure. The cloud end customers do not know the exact locations or the type(s) of computer(s) their applications are running on. Instead, the cloud provider provides performance metrics to guarantee a minimum performance level.

Market Size & Project growth
Research outfit Gartner describes this opportunity as the most hyped subject in the IT industry. IDC, another leading firm, estimated that cloud IT spending was at $16,325 million in 2008 and would reach $42,270 million by 2012.CAGR of 27%. It means this Cloud computing will not even crack 10% of $493,173 million (by 2012) IT Spending 2 years from now. But the IT Suppliers have started focusing more on the cloud Computing and hence this could trigger the wave of the cloud computing from 2013.

Outlook and Future
Many of the current cloud end customers use price as their primary decision criterion. As a result, service providers’ offerings tend toward a least common denominator, determined by the realities of providing cloud services at the lowest possible price. At the same time, the cloud-computing market is becoming more crowded. Due to this many of the End users / Clients go by the lowest pricing decisions. I would suggest the decision should be made by careful examination of the cloud computing characteristics as described above. But whatever the analysts, rating companies say, I still believe this is an Opportunity in Its Infancy. Nevertheless to say this has got the huge potential to grow & great cost reductions for the companies in near future by 2012.To get rains with this cloud, service provider’s needs to realize the gaps in the service offerings & the Client/ Company CIO's needs to scale up towards this wonderful computing. Again this is going to be the next wave in the IT industry.

VCAP-CIA

The VCAP-CIA (VMware Certified Advanced Professional – Cloud Infrastructure
Administration) certification validates the ability to install, configure, and
administer complex, single and multi-tenant public/private/hybrid VMware vCloud
environments. Achieving VCAP-CIA status shows that one have advanced cloud
administration experience and can:

• Configure and maintain vCloud Director
• Manage vSphere resources
• Manage vCloud Director resources
• Manage complex vCloud Director networks
• Manage security
• Manage catalogs and vApps

 Get VCAP-CIA Certified

To achieve VCAP-CIA status, must complete two core components:

1. Have one of the following certifications:
   • VMware Certified Professional – Cloud (VCP-Cloud)
   • VMware Certified Professional 5 – Data Center Virtualization (VCP5-DCV)
   • VMware Certified Professional 5 – Desktop (VCP5-DT)
2. Pass the VCAP-CIA exam Before you can schedule your VCAP-CIA exam, you must request authorization.

Note: If you use the VCP5-DT or VCP5-DCV certification as your pre-requisite, upon passing the VCAP-CIA exam you will also inherit the VCP-Cloud certification.

VCAP-CIA Links

• Prepare for the Exam
• Exam Blueprint
• VCAP Community
• Knowledge Base Forum
• vCloud Director Instructional Videos
• Take the Exam - (Exam can only be scheduled through Authorization Request)
• VCAP-CIA Authorization Request