Let's face it... Microsoft wants you to use Microsoft, so when it can, it creates technologies that make it easier for you to do so. Automatic Virtual Machine Activation (AVMA) is one of those tools. I remember when Microsoft got into the server virtualization game, it really had very little to compete with VMware, other … Continue reading Automated Virtual Machine Activation
Hyper-V
Hyper-V Server Clustering Network Issue: Validation Failed?
If I've told you once I've told you a thousand times... When you build a Failover Cluster on Windows Server make sure you run the Validation Tests... and make sure those tests succeed (or at the very least nothing FAILS... Warnings are acceptable). So as I sit at a client trying to cluster two Hyper-V … Continue reading Hyper-V Server Clustering Network Issue: Validation Failed?
Resize Live Virtual Hard Drives
I have used Hyper-V for as long as there has been Hyper-V. Today I use it much less than I once did, but it is still handy for running VMs on my laptop. I run a particular VM called ‘Sandbox’ in which I do all sorts of things that I would not want to … Continue reading Resize Live Virtual Hard Drives
Where am I? HELP!
My colleague created a virtual machine for me in our datacentre a few weeks ago. (Thanks Michael!) Earlier this week I needed to create a second virtual machine to cluster with it, and I felt that the best way to maximize my resources completely would be to create another virtual machine identical to the first. … Continue reading Where am I? HELP!
New (and Free!) E-Books
Last month I posted an updated list of free ebooks that Microsoft Press offers (Free E-Books… Way beyond PDF Files!) which was extremely well received. Well today I was given information that MS Press released two new ebooks this month, both of which are extremely of interest to a lot of my readers. Microsoft System … Continue reading New (and Free!) E-Books
Converting Fixed Size VHDs to Dynamic Sized VHDs
I was called in to help a company recently with a small Hyper-V environment. They created a 2TB VHD file (they had good reasons for not using .vhdx files, but the steps in this article will work for both versions). They realized that they had unnecessarily created the drive as a 2TB Fixed Size disk … Continue reading Converting Fixed Size VHDs to Dynamic Sized VHDs
Hyper-V 2008 R2: Still good enough?
I manage a vSphere environment at work, and it is a real change from the last few years when I spent all of my time talking about Hyper-V. I want to be clear - it is not better or worse, it is just... different. We have a number of virtualization hosts, plus a physical domain … Continue reading Hyper-V 2008 R2: Still good enough?
Surface Pro 3: Two weeks later
Are there problems with it? Yes. Do I absolutely love it? I love my kids and my dogs... but I suppose I do like it as much as I have ever liked a laptop or tablet... and I have had quite a few of them over the years! What are the problems? There is really only … Continue reading Surface Pro 3: Two weeks later
Standardize your Hosts: Simplify your Life
For several years I have been speaking and writing about desktop deployment to standardize your client system environment. What about your servers? What about your hypervisors? A couple of years ago VMware introduced Host Profiles into vCenter Server which allow you to take all of the settings from one host and then apply them to … Continue reading Standardize your Hosts: Simplify your Life
Another tough exam…
As a subject matter expert (SME) on virtualization, I was neither excited nor intimidated when Microsoft announced their new exam, 74-409: Server Virtualization with Windows Server Hyper-V and System Center. Unlike many previous exams I did not rush out to be the first to take it, nor was I going to wait forever. I actually … Continue reading Another tough exam…
Building the IT Camp with PowerShell Revisited
I always said I am not hard to please… I only need perfection. So when I wrote my PowerShell script to build my environment the other day I was pleased with myself… until I realized a huge flaw in it. Generation 1. Actually to be fair, there is nothing wrong with Generation 1 virtual machines … Continue reading Building the IT Camp with PowerShell Revisited
Building an IT Camp with PowerShell
I have been telling people for a couple of years that if they want to ensure a good future in the IT field there are two things to learn: System Center and PowerShell. I unfortunately am quite good with one, but have been referring to myself as a scripting luddite for quite some time. It … Continue reading Building an IT Camp with PowerShell
Managing Hyper-V Virtual Machines with Windows PowerShell
Warning: The following post was written by a scripting luddite. The author readily admits that he would have difficulty coding his way out of a paper bag, and if the fate of the world depended on his ability to either write code or develop software then you had better start hoarding bottled water and cans … Continue reading Managing Hyper-V Virtual Machines with Windows PowerShell
Counting Down the Classics with the US IT Evangelists
“On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…” “Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall…” “Thirty-five articles on Virtualization…” All of these are great sing-along songs, whether for holidays, camping, bus-rides, or comparing virtualization technology. Each one is a classic. Wait… you’ve never heard the last one? That’s okay, we … Continue reading Counting Down the Classics with the US IT Evangelists
Hyper-V CPU Compatibility Mode
it is pretty well known that for Live Migration to work in Hyper-V, the CPUs on the hosts must be of the same family (Intel to Intel, AMD to AMD). However it is not as simple as that. Both companies are constantly improving their products, so a CPU that Intel makes in 2013 will have … Continue reading Hyper-V CPU Compatibility Mode
