esxMigrator released and Equallogic at VMworld

vizioncore appears to have another winner with esxMigrator. Their approach is simple, and cost effective. Platespin’s PowerConvert V2V with v6.0 is another tool that can be useful. VMware will make the migration from ESX2.x to VI3 less painful in v3.01.

Look for Nashua, NH based EqualLogic to be featured at this year’s VMworld in Los Angeles. The IP , iSCSI SAN market is booming and with native iSCSI support from VMware with Vi3 , this should really boost iSCSI focused OEMs such as EqualLogic. A new report released from Forrester Research (arguably a Top 3 analyst firm globally) endorses IP SANs and says “Choose IP-Based Storage Over Fibre Channel When Possible”…

esxMigrator – It is a warm migration, so the destination VM is powered off, but the source is still powered on and can be used. There are options to manage when you would like to cut over to the new VM (manual or automatically).

The ONLY downtime is the couple minutes it would take to reboot the VM.

Of course, whatever migration path a customer uses, we still recommend as a best practice to take a esxRanger backup prior to migrating.

esxMigrator – 1-25 VM migrations (one time use)
List Price: $1000.00

esxMigrator – 1-100 VM migrations (one time use)
List Price: $2500.00

esxMigrator – unlimited VM migrations
List Price: $7500.00

Vizioncore also works with professional service organizations (my company is one of them) , in case you want to hire a company to do the migrations for you.

The VIB Begins

The President’s Daily Brief (PDB), sometimes incorrectly referred to as the President’s Daily Briefing or the President’s Daily Bulletin, is a top secret document produced each morning for the President of the United States.

My Top Secret brief is similar to the PDB It is intended to provide you with new intelligence warranting attention, and analysis of sensitive situations.

It will not be issued daily and it won’t relate to national security – it will however contain important and useful information.

Brief Bio – Began a virtualization practice more than 4 years with Expert Server Group. Helped start several VMUG’s (Vmware User Group) across the United States and is recognized as having one of the largest , if not the largest, virtualization client bases in the US (Vmware, Platespin, VizionCore)

8/31 Deadline for Maintenance Renewal
What you should know now – urgent action is required. If your Vmware ESX 2.x licences are not currently covered by maintenance (SnS – Gold or Platinum), it is important that you have coverage by the end of this month. ESX 2.x licences that are covered will receive free upgrades to Vi3 Standard Edition. If you don’t have coverage by 8/31, you will not be able to renew your maintenance and you won’t be eligible for the free upgrade to Vi3 Standard Edition.

8/30 Update – Good news, Vmware is not going to enforce this 8/31 deadline

Which Edition is right for you?
http://www.vmware.com/products/vi/

12/31 Deadline for Promotion to Vi3 Enterprise – the Price Triples in 2007
You can upgrade to Vi3 Enterprise Edition and receive the new / additional products (HA, DRS and consolidated back) for $1000 list price per 2 way (plus Sns) if you purchase by 12/31/06
This price will increase to $3000 in January 2007