Vmware Vi 3.01, GSX to Vi3 Migrations

The buzz is – “The upgrade path in the ESX 3.0.1 release will significantly reduce the upgrade downtime in going from an ESX 2.x to ESX 3.x environment for customers using VirtualCenter. Using VMotion and Relocate, customers will be able to migrate their ESX 2 / VMFS 2 virtual machines to the new ESX 3 / VMFS 3 environment one at a time without any downtime.”

It will be interesting to see how VizionCore’s esxMigrator will be different and add value – I am sure that they will find a way.

Platespin V2V with PowerConvert 6.0 can migrate from ESX 2.x to Vi3 with no downtime with the LiveTransfer feature. Clients can purchase V2V migrations for less than $60 per migration instead of burning through more costly universal conversions.

What also works , but it doesn’t seem to be advertised is using PowerConvert 6 V2V to move from GSX 3.x to Vi3. There is one caveat however; the Vmware Tools auto updating is only certified for conversion from GSX 3.2.

A new product for Vmware from Russia:
Veeam Monitor is an easy-to-use utility that allows you to receive performance information about your VMs. It has been designed to make it easier for you to monitor the performance and general resource usage of your VMs on the VMware Server or VMware Workstation.
More information can be found here http://veeam.com/veeam_monitor.asp

Vmware’s Next BlockBuster? 9-11 , Serving Those That Served Us

Vmware’s recent acquisition of Akimbi (Slingshot now called LabManager) will get a lot of looks after VMware brings LabManager to market after VMWorld. This product should give VMware a boost and possibly the second largest revenue stream after its flagship product ESX or Vi3.

Last week, I saw a demo of Slingshot given to one of the largest software companies on the East Coast. The IT Engineering manager was floored; he said this would reduce some tasks from days to minutes. This new product will allow VMware and its business partners to offer solutions to the “other side of the house” – Test/Dev. If provisioning and setup time in test/dev is taking over 50% of your time; if reproducing defects is too difficult; if server sprawling is a costly concern and server consolidation a mandate – then check out VMware’s virtual lab automation solution. There is a limited beta program that will close Sept 15th – if you would like to apply and get in , please send me a note or call.

In the days following the attacks of September 11th, 2001, I looked for answers and for an outlet to put anger, sadness and fear to good use. A few of my friends and colleagues, who also felt the same way wanted to do something (anything) during America’s darkest hour.

What we did is form a group to “serve those that served us” – to provide assistance to our Veterans that needed help. (http://dedicatedpatriots.com) The National Alliance of Dedicated Patriots has no political affiliation. We don’t discuss politics. We are not right or left. We are not conservative or liberal. What we do is simple: We Serve Those Who Have Served Us – Our Veterans.

In the five years since its birth, the NADP has done much. It has raised money for the homeless, fed the hungry, and lent a helping hand for those who had no place to turn. It continues to thrive on the hard work of its members that I am proud to call my friends. From out of any tragedy goodness can come.

Tuna in the Boat and VMware Reinstatement Fees

I took my first tuna ever on Friday; a beautiful “baby” bluefin tuna – around 70 lbs.

It was caught about 20 miles off of Gloucester MA at Stellwagen Bank.

Stellwagen Bank is an underwater plateau at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay, formed by the same processes that formed outer Cape Cod. As the ice sheets of the last Great Ice Age retreated, they left behind sand, gravel and rock. At one point in time (perhaps 12,000 years ago), Stellwagen Bank was actually above sea level, but as sea level rose and the glaciers continued to melt, the bank gradually submerged beneath the sea.

New News from Vmware – released today -

Reinstatement Fees

VMware will be introducing a penalty for customers who renew late. As of 1st September, 2006, Vmware and its business partners will start quoting lapsed renewals with a 20% reinstatement fee. VMware will continue to accept all old quotes until 30th September, 2006. This fee is calculated on all prior SnS agreements and one year of forward agreements added to the line level.

Back SnS + one year of forward SnS x 20% = reinstatement fee

GSX Quotes and Orders

As GSX is now discontinued, customers wishing to renew their GSX license will be charged the VMware Server SKU and $350 for Gold SnS or $450 for Platinum SnS. New orders for GSX will no longer be accepted. Please note that customers do not have to be under current SnS to upgrade for free to VMware Infrastructure 3 Starter Edition, there is a zero value SKU that must be used and 12 months of SnS must be purchased.