Blog Posts

Alright, time to talk desktops. Many of our customers are talking about virtualizing and streaming operating systems to desktops, laptops, blades and even thin clients, so this has quickly become a topic we discuss on a daily basis.

In this post, I'll cover what you need to use something like Citrix Provisioning Server to stream a desktop OS down to a PC, as well as how to license properly for centralized VMs.

Streaming a Desktop Operating System
You need Software Assurance (SA) to do this! So, if you want to use something like Citrix Provisioning server to 'stream' a Windows Vista or XP OS down to blades, desktops etc; the rights to do this exist in Vista Enterprise, which you can only get as a part of Software Assurance. For more information:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/enterprise/benefits/licensing.mspx

Virtualize Desktops, connect via a Windows Desktop
If you have a desktop, laptop, or basically a device that is capable of running a Windows Operating system, you need to purchase VECD (Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop) for Software Assurance from Microsoft. This is an add-on, per desktop subscription license which is termed the same as your Software Assurance.

If you do not have Software Assurance on your desktops, you need to purchase it (if within 90 days of desktop purchase) and then add VECD for SA. If its been more than 90 days since your desktop purchase, you will need to purchase the Vista Upgrade/SA license, then VECD for SA.

Virtualize Desktops, connect via a Mac
You can purchase a Windows Vista Volume Upgrade License/SA for your Macs, and then install Windows Vista Enterprise via Apple Bootcamp or VECD for SA to access a centralized desktop VMs. You can even PXE boot your Mac to Citrix Provisioning Server due to the benefits of Software Assurance.

Virtualize Desktops, connect via a Thin Client
If you have a thin device that is unable of running a full Windows desktop operating system, you can purchase VECD for Thin Clients. This is subscription-based as well, and is available via Open Value, Select, Enterprise and Campus/Academic agreements.

That should cover almost every option of licensing Windows desktops for virtualized environments and streaming. Just remember that you can't 'move' your OEM licenses that come with PCs; those live and die with the hardware. You can add Software Assurance to them to get Vista Enterprise, diskless benefits etc, and even subscribe to VECD for SA. However, if you throw away that PC, you lose the OEM license and everything that goes with it. You can 'move' your SA to another OEM PC based on the term left, but that can be pretty complex, so you should talk to your Microsoft Licensing Specialist about that.

Hope this helps.

Nathan

Check out my 'Understanding Microsoft Licensing for Virtualized Environments' presentation: http://www.vmworld.com/people/nathan.coutinho?view=documents

It's good to know RCLI, to get information and enable features on your ESXi host, such as snmp. But, I'm having an issue with enabling snmp. I'm receiving an error that says something to the sort, Remote.fault... something or other. Very frustrating.

Well, when I figure it out I'll post a document. On the plus side, my flavor coffee this morning is tasty.

1. {font:'Arial','sans-serif'}{size:10pt}Ensure the network adapter you want to use
   is currently connected{font:'Times New Roman','serif'}
   
   root@server root# esxcfg-nics –l
   Name PCI
   Driver Link Speed Duplex
   Description
   vmnic0 06:00.00 tg3
   Up 1000Mbps Full Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme
   BCM5721 Gigabit Ethernet
   vmnic1 07:00.00 tg3
   Up 1000Mbps Full Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme
   BCM5721 Gigabit Ethernet
   
   Up indicates that the network adapter is
   available and functioning.
2. List
   the current virtual switches
   
   root@server root# esxcfg-vswitch –l
   Switch Name Num Ports Used Ports
   Configured Ports Uplinks
   vSwitch0
   32
   3
   32
   vmnic0
   
   PortGroup Name Internal
   ID VLAN ID Used Ports Uplinks
   VM
   Network
   portgroup2
   0
   0 vmnic0
   
   In the above example, there
   exists a virtual machine network named "VM Network" and no
   Service Console portgroup. For illustration, we will create a new virtual
   switch and place the service console portgroup on it.
3. Create
   a new virtual switch:
   
   root@server root# esxcfg-vswitch –a vSwitch1
4. Create
   the Service Console portgroup on this new virtual switch:
   
   root@server root# esxcfg-vswitch –A “Service Console”
   vSwitch1
   
   Because there is a space in the
   name we chose (Service Console), we must enclose it in
   quotation marks.
5. Uplink
   vmnic1 to the new virtual switch:
   
   root@server root# esxcfg-vswitch –L vmnic1 vSwitch1
6. If
   you need to assign a VLAN, use the command:
   
   root@server root# esxcfg-vswitch -v <VLAN>
   -p “Service Console” vSwitch0
   
   where <VLANID> is the VLAN number. A zero here specifies no VLAN.
7. Verify
   the new virtual switch configuration:
   
   root@server root# esxcfg-vswitch –l
   
   Switch Name Num Ports Used Ports
   Configured Ports Uplinks
   vSwitch0
   32
   3
   32
   vmnic0
   
   PortGroup Name Internal
   ID VLAN ID Used Ports Uplinks
   Service Console
   portgroup5
   0 1
   vmnic0
   
   Switch Name Num Ports Used Ports
   Configured Ports Uplinks
   vSwitch1
   64 1
   64 vmnic1
   
   PortGroup Name Internal
   ID VLAN ID Used Ports Uplinks
   Service Console
   portgroup14 0
   1 vmnic1
8. Create
   the vswif (Service Console) interface. For example:
   
   root@server root# esxcfg-vswif –a vswif0 –i
   192.168.1.10 –n 255.255.255.0 –p “Service Console”
   ‘Vnic’ warning Generated New Mac address, 00:50:xx:xx:xx:xx for vswif0
   
   Nothing to flush.
9. Verify
   the configuration:
   
   root@esx# esxcfg-vswif –l
   Name Port
   Group IP
   Address Netmask
   Broadcast Enabled DHCP
   vswif0 Service Console 192.168.1.10
   255.255.255.0 192.168.1.255
   true false

VMworld 2008 came to Vegas and swept the virtualizaiton industry by storm. While the physical conference may have ended, the conference sessions, labs, blogs and discussions will live on year-round.

VMworld 2008 Sessions & Labs will be posted to VMworld.com at the end of this week and will be available to all paid attendees of VMworld 2008. For breakout sessions, this includes streaming flash presentations (audio over slides), PDF downloads of all presentations and MP3 podcasts. For labs, this includes PDF downloads of all presentation and manuals.

As an added bonus, VMworld 2008 attendees will get access to all sponsor keynotes as PDFs, MP3s and streaming flash presentations. (VMware, Cisco, Dell, EMC, HP, IBM, Intel, NEC, NetApp, Symantec)

Check VMworld.com on Friday, 10/3 for the release of this content.

Year-round participation
Be sure to participate in discussions with the community on VMworld.com to share questions, comments and documents related to any sessions and labs you view. You can also create or continue a personal blog to share your experiences or knowledge of any session topics.

Enter the Virtual Pavilion as a fun and easy way to navigate through all VMworld.com content as a year-round virtual conference. Within the pavilion, you will find virtual exhibitor booths sponsored by virtualization vendors sharing their community offerings with visitors.

Cheers,
~Tony

VMWorld 2008 est terminé, mais il a laissé une impression qui va perdurer. Que ce soit l'anticipation des nouvelles fonctionnalités ou même l'imaginaire d'atteindre l'utopie informatique, nous avons vécu une expérience enrichissante. Les prochains mois sont déjà remplis du suivi à donner à toute cette information.

Les vendeurs auxquels j'ai parlé se disaient très satisfaits de leur salon, que ce soit en raison du nombre de participants, par un achalandage soutenu, ou même par l'enthousiasme des congressistes. Les ateliers étaient remplis et plusieurs d'entre nous ont tiré profit des contacts informels et des échanges d'informations. J'en sors satisfait et prêt à recommander l'expérience à quiconque.

Le plus grand défi est maintenant d'analyser toutes les informations pour en extraire un contenu pratique. Tout ce qui a été présenté ne s'applique pas nécessairement dans les environnements de PME, même si avec un peu d'ingéniosité on peut l'adapter.

J'étais venu pour obtenir des informations sur l'évolution de VMware et étudier certains produits avec lesquels j'étais moins familier. Je voulais voir ce qu'il y avait de nouveau dans le monde du stockage, des logiciels de gestion d'un environnement virtuel et de tout ce qui pouvait intéresser le monde de l'éducation. J'en ai eu plein la vue et assez de contacts pour encombrer ma boîte de courrier électronique. Il ne reste plus qu'à analyser, structurer, synthétiser et présenter tout ça; c'est que je vais faire dans les prochains jours.

À bientôt.

I've posted all of the pictures I took during VMworld 2008 to our site. There are some great pictures including the party and hotel. Here is the link - - http://www.delltechcenter.com/album/46895/VMWorld+2008

Todd