[ngw] (OT) GroupWise, VMWare ESXi, ZCM, etc...

[Raymundo Magno]

The ESXi is just a modified Linux kernel so you can use SSH, winSCP and all the other linux tools at your disposal.

Here is one DR method: 
You would still have to backup each server using your current methods. First bring down a vm guest, make of copy of the vm guest files (5-10 files total) and move the copies off of the server. By doing so, you are taking an image of a vm guest. If the  vm host hardware breaks, you would just rebuild the VM Host software (ESXi) and import the .vmx file to restore the image and perform the file restore using your backup software. 
 
Ray Magno
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>>> "Kenneth Etter" <kle at msktd.com> 4/16/2010 3:42 PM >>>
Kevin,
 
Thanks for the reply.  If the bare metal host breaks...and everything is on the server hard drives...how do I get things back in operation?  Or are you assuming that the VMs are not on the bare metal host?
 
Regards,
Ken


>>> "Kevin Parris" <KPARRIS at ed.sc.gov> 4/16/2010 3:34 PM >>>
There is at least one advantage to putting *everything* in a VM environment - mobility.  If you've got it hosted on a 1.0Ghz box and it can't keep up, you don't have to re-install or migrate or whatever, you just get a host ready on a 2Ghz box, copy the guest over, tweak host config and start it up.  whammo you've got new horsepower deployed.

I can't think of any downsides to virtualizing everything, these days.  Some will say they have to get every last ounce of performance from something, but I call those the rare exception cases.  Or maybe some specialty applications claim they are unsupported in VM environment, but that just means the developers haven't caught up to the modern world (or the app has some really exotic requirements).  With suitable equipment now, the VMware overhead isn't really very much to worry about.

And recovery, just thought of that - if you have a system running on bare metal, and that box breaks, getting that system back into operation without fixing that particular box can be tricky.  But if the bare metal host for your VM breaks, you may be able to get the guests back in operation on anything you have handy that can run a VM host environment.

No, I don't work for VMware or receive any consideration from them.  I just love the virtualization way of doing things.

>>> "Kenneth Etter" <kle at msktd.com> 04/16/10 3:11 PM >>>
We are a small business - 65 employees.  I currently have one NetWare 6.5 server running GW8(MTA, POA, and GWIA) and ZfD 7.  I'm getting ready to purchase some new server hardware.  My original thought was to get three new servers.  Move the GW8 stuff onto the first running SLES or OES.  Setup ZCM 10 on the second (I assume SLES).  And setup ESXi on a third to host some VMs so I could replace a few auxilliary PCs doing individual tasks in my server room.  Due to lack of hardware, I haven't had a chance to play with ESXi yet.  I'm also fairly new to Linux, although I do have GMS and Reload running on SLES.  Does this sound reasonable?  Or does anyone have a better suggestion?  Thanks!

Regards,
Ken Etter

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